Systems and methods for utilizing an application from a native portable device within a non-native communications network

• US 7,130,424 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Marshall, Maria I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Application Number:
  US10/325,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20040123095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 713/153
• US Class Current: 380/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

The disclosed systems and methods include a native portable communications device having an application module that modifies communications between the portable device and a non-native communications device connected to a non-native communications network. The application module transforms communications between a native standard to a non-native standard to allow interoperability between the native portable communications device and the non-native communications device within the non-native communications network. Further, the application module may modify communications in other manners, such as to apply a security function to the communication. Additionally, the systems and methods may include a communications accessory for switching communications between the application module of the native device, the non-native device, and the non-native network. Thus, the native portable communications device and the associated methods of operation with the application module provide a mobile system that enables modified communications over various communications networks.

Claims

1. A communications accessory, comprising:

an interface system operable for communication with at least one non-native device, a portable device having an application module and a non-native communications network;

a switch mechanism having at least a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the switch mechanism allows communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network to be modified by the application module of the portable device, and wherein in the second mode the switch mechanism allows communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network without modification by the application module of the portable device;

wherein the switch mechanism receives a command signal from the portable device, the command signal directs the switch mechanism for operation in one of the first mode or the second mode; and

the switch mechanism comprises a multiplexer having at least a first state and a second state, wherein the multiplexer in the first state routes communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network through the portable device to achieve the first mode, wherein the multiplexer in the second state bypasses the portable device and routes communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network to achieve the second mode, and the command signal is operable for changing the multiplexer between the first state and the second state.

2. The communications accessory of claim 1, wherein the application module comprises an application selected from the group consisting of a security application, an encryption/decryption application, a voice application, a data application, a group communications application, and a video application.

3. The communications accessory of claim 1, wherein the interface system comprises a portable device interface, a non-native device interface and a non-native communications network interface, wherein the portable device interface comprises a first connector for transmitting communications to and from the portable device, wherein the non-native device interface comprises a second connector for transmitting communications to and from the non-native device, and wherein the non-native communications network interface comprises a third connector for transmitting communications to and from the non-native communications network.

4. The communications accessory of claim 1, wherein the interface system comprises a modem.

5. The communications accessory of claim 1, further comprising a power module system operable for charging a first battery of the portable device.

6. The communications accessory of claim 5, wherein the interface system comprises a connector system for connecting the portable device to the interface system and the power module system.

7. The communications accessory of claim 5, wherein the power module system is operable for charging a second battery while charging the first battery of the portable device.

8. The communications accessory of claim 1, further comprising a functional mechanism to control or supplement the operation of the communications accessory.

9. The communications accessory of claim 8, wherein the functional mechanism comprises a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanical input or output device, a haptic input or output device, a visual input or output device and an audio input or output device.

10. The communications accessory of claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a wireless phone, a satellite phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager device, and a two-way communications device.

11. The communications accessory of claim 1, wherein the application module comprises a security application, and wherein for an outgoing communication in the first mode the interface system receives a clear communication from the non-native device and sends the clear communication to the application module, and wherein the interface system receives a secure communication from the application module and sends the secure communication to the non-native communications network, wherein the secure communication represents the clear communication as modified by the security application.

12. The communications accessory of claim 1, wherein the application module comprises a security application, and wherein for an incoming communication in the first mode the interface system receives a secure communication from the non-native communications network and sends the secure communication to the application module, and wherein the interface system receives a clear communication from the application module and sends the clear communication to the non-native device, wherein tie clear communication represents the secure communication as modified by the security application.

13. The communications accessory of claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a wireless telephone and wherein the application module comprises a security application enabling encryption and decryption of communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network.

33. A method of modifying a communication between a non-native device and a non-native communications network utilizing the communications accessory of claim 1.

14. A secure communications accessory, comprising:

an interface system operable for communication with at least one-non-native device, a portable device having a security application and a non-native communications network;

a switch mechanism having a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the switch mechanism routes communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network through the security application of the portable device, and wherein in the second mode the switch mechanism connects the non-native device and the non-native communications network without routing communications through the security application of the portable device;

wherein the switch mechanism receives a command signal from the portable device, wherein the command signal directs the switch mechanism for operation in one of the first mode or the second mode; and

the switch mechanism comprises a multiplexer having at least a first state and a second state, wherein the multiplexer in the first state routes communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network through the portable device to achieve the first mode, wherein the multiplexer in the second state bypasses the portable device and routes communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network to achieve the second mode, and the command signal is operable for changing the multiplexer between the first state and the second state.

15. The secure communications accessory of claim 14, wherein the interface system comprises a modem.

16. The secure communications accessory of claim 14, further comprising a power module system operable for charging a battery associated with the portable device.

17. The secure communications accessory of claim 14, further comprising a functional mechanism to control or supplement the operation of the secure communications accessory.

18. The secure communications accessory of claim 17, wherein the functional mechanism comprises a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanical input or output device, a haptic input or output device, a visual input or output device, and an audio input or output device.

19. The secure communications accessory of claim 14, wherein the portable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a wireless phone, a satellite phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager device, and a two-way communications device.

20. A communications accessory, comprising:

a non-native device interface system connectable with a non-native device;

a public switched telephone network interface system connectable with a public switched telephone network;

a portable device interface system connectable with a portable device having an application module;

a switch system for transmitting communications between at least two of the non-native device interface system, the public switched telephone network interface system and the portable device interface system;

wherein the switch system comprises at least a first connection state and a second connection state, wherein the first connection state connects the non-native device interface system and the public switched telephone network interface system through the portable device interface system such that the transmitted communications are modified by the application module, and wherein the second connection state connects the non-native device and the public switched telephone network and bypasses the portable device interface system;

wherein the portable device comprises a wireless telephone and wherein the application module comprises a security application enabling encryption and decryption of the transmitted communications; and

a default state of the switching mechanism comprises the second connection state, and further comprising a signaling system between the wireless telephone and the communications accessory for determining a connection between the wireless telephone and the communications accessory and for changing between the first connection state and the second connection state.

21. The communications accessory of claim 20, further comprising an output device having at least one output corresponding to at least one of the first connection state and the second connection state.

22. The communications accessory of claim 20, wherein the public switched telephone network interface system comprises a modem.

23. The communications accessory of claim 20, further comprising a housing having an open configuration exposing at least the switch system and a closed configuration for encasing at least the switch system, and further comprising an indicator system associated with the housing, wherein the indicator system indicates whether or not the housing has been in the open configuration.

24. The communications accessory of claim 20, further comprising a power module system operable for charging a battery associated with the wireless telephone.

25. A communications system, comprising:

a communications accessory having a interface system for transmitting communications, wherein the communications accessory is connectable with at least a non-native device and a non-native communications network;

a portable device having an application module, wherein the potable device is connectable with the communications accessory;

wherein the interface system has at least a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the interface system allows communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network to be modified by the application module of the portable device, and wherein in the second mode the interface system allows communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network without modification by the application module of the portable device;

wherein the interface system receives a command signal from the wireless telephone, and wherein the command signal directs the interface system for operation in one of the first mode or the second mode; and

the interface system comprises a multiplexer having at least a first state and a second state, wherein the multiplexer in the first state routes communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network through the wireless telephone to achieve the first mode, wherein the multiplexer in the second state bypasses the wireless telephone and routes communications between the non-native device and the non-native communications network to achieve the second mode, and the command signal is operable for changing the multiplexer between the first state and the second state.

26. The communications system of claim 25, wherein the portable device comprises a wireless telephone and wherein the application module comprises a security application enabling encryption and decryption of the transmitted communications when the interface system is in the first mode.

27. The communications system of claim 25, wherein for an outgoing communication in the first mode the interface system receives a clear communication from the non-native device and sends the clear communication to the security application, and wherein the interface system receives a secure communication from the security application and sends the secure communication to the non-native communications network, wherein the secure communication represents the clear communication as modified by the security application.

28. The communications system of claim 25, wherein for an incoming communication in the first mode the interface system receives a secure communication from the non-native communications network and sends the secure communication to the security application, and wherein the interface system receives a clear communication from the security application and sends the clear communication to the non-native device, wherein the clear communication represents the secure communication as modified by the security application.

29. The communications system of claim 26, wherein the interface system comprises a modem.

30. The communications system of claim 26, further comprising a power module system operable for charging a battery associated with the wireless telephone.

31. The communications system of claim 26, further comprising a functional mechanism to control or supplement the operation of the secure communications accessory.

32. The communications system of claim 31, wherein the functional mechanism comprises a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a mechanical input or output device, a haptic input or output device, a visual input or output device, and an audio input or output device.

34. A method of modifying a communication between a non-native device and a non-native communications network, comprising:

receiving a first communication from a first one of either the non-native device or the non-native communications network;

directing the first communication to a portable device having an application module;

receiving a second communication from the portable device, wherein the second communication comprises a transformation of the first communication effected by the application module;

directing the second communication to a second one of either the non-native device or the non-native communications network, where the first one and the second one are not the same;

receiving a command signal from the portable device; and

changing a switch system between a first state and a second state based on the received command signal, the first state connects the non-native device and the non-native communications network through the portable device, and wherein the second state bypasses a connection to the portable device and connects the non-native device to the non-native communications network.

35. The method of claim 34, where the application module includes a security application operable for encrypting or decrypting a communication, and where the first communication comprises a clear transmission and the second communication comprises a secure transmission encrypted by the security application.

36. The method of claim 35, where the application module includes a security application operable for encrypting or decrypting a communication, and where the first communication comprises a secure transmission and the second communication comprises a clear transmission decrypted by the security application.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising generating an output based on the state of the switch system, where the output signals the operation of at least one of the first state and the second state.

38. The method of claim 37, where the output is selected from the group consisting of an audible signal and a visual signal.

39. The method of claim 34, further comprising transmitting power to the portable device.