Systems and methods for multi-mode wireless communication

• US 6,915,142 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Wietfeldt, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/961,459
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/558, 455/344, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks

Abstract

A device includes a wireless modem configured to communicate with a wireless network and an interface unit communicatively coupled to the wireless modem. The interface unit is configured to interface a host device to a portable computing device, interface the host device with the wireless network through the wireless modem, and interface the portable computing device with the wireless network through the wireless modem.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a wireless modem configured to communicate with a wireless network; and

an interface unit communicatively coupled to the wireless modem, the interface unit configured to;

interface a host device to a portable computing device;

interface the host device with the wireless network through the wireless modem; and

interface the portable computing device with the wireless network through the wireless modem.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the interface unit further comprises a signal converter configured to convert signals sent from the portable computing device and/or the host device to the wireless modem from a first type of signal used by the portable computing device and/or the host device to a second type of signal used by the wireless modem.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first type of a signal is a USB signal or a RS232 signal.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second type of signal is a PCMCIA signal or a RS232 signal.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless modem comprises a signal converter configured to convert signals received from the interface unit to an appropriate signal type used by the wireless modem.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless modem is contained on a removable modem card, and wherein the device further comprises a slot configured to receive the removable modem card and to interface the removable modem card to the modem interface unit.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to interface the personal computing device and the host device to the World Wide Web through the wireless modem.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device and/or the host device through the wireless modem to a server connected to the wireless network for data communication.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device and the host device to the server simultaneously.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device through the wireless modem to a server connected to the wireless network for synchronizing information.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to interface the host device to the portable computing device through the interface unit for synchronizing information.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a docking station interface configured to interface the device to a docking station, the docking station configured to accept the portable communication device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the docking station is configured to interface a power signal to the device through the docking station interface.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the docking station includes a wired modem, and wherein the docking station is configured to interface the portable computing device and/or the host device to a LAN through the wired modem.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device through the docking station interface to accessories attached to the docking station.

16. A system, comprising:

a server connected to a wireless network;

a portable computing device;

a host device; and

a device, comprising;

a wireless modem configured to communicate with the wireless network; and

an interface unit communicatively coupled to the wireless modem, the interface unit configured to;

interface the host device to the portable computing device;

interface the host device with the server through the wireless modem; and

interface the portable computing device with the server through the wireless modem.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the device further comprises a docking station interface configured to interface the device to a docking station, the docking station configured to accept the portable communication device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the docking station includes a wired modem, and wherein the docking station is configured to interface the portable computing device and/or the host device to a LAN through the wired modem.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device through the docking station interface to accessories attached to the docking station.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless modem is contained on a removable modem card, and wherein the device further comprises a slot configured to receive the removable modem card and to interface the removable modem card to the modem interface unit.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the server is configured to interface the personal computing device and the host device to the World Wide Web.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device and/or the host device to the server for data communication.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device and the host device to the server simultaneously.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device to the server for synchronizing information.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to interface the host device to the portable computing device through the interface unit for synchronizing information.