System and method for using a wireless enabled portable computer system as a wireless modem

• US 7,242,963 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kammer, David, Robertson, Ryan, Karstens, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Pablo N.
• Application Number:
  US10/824,756
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/90.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/558, 455544-546, 455/41.2, 455418-420, 455/41.3, 455/517, 375220-221, 370/386, 709/232
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A method and system for using a wireless enabled portable computer system as a wireless modem. The portable computer system may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) having an internal wireless modem. The internal wireless modem, e.g., GSM radio, contains a communication port (port2) that communicates with a processor of the portable computer system. The portable computer system also contains another communication port (port1) that is externally available for connection to a second computer system. A software bridge is provided that copies commands and/or data from the port1 over to the port2 and vice-versa. The software bridge allows the second computer system to directly use the internal wireless modem of the portable computer system when the portable computer system is connected to the second computer. The connection to the second computer system can be made by a wired connection (e.g., serial interface, RS232) or by a wireless connection, e.g., Bluetooth or infra-red communication. The port1 and the port2 can be serial communication ports which may be UART compliant. The PDA thus extends wireless functionality to a second computer system (e.g., a notebook) using conventional connection mechanisms for communicating with the second computer system.

Claims

1. A method of allowing a host computer to use an electronic device as a peripheral comprising:

receiving first commands and data over a communication link at a first communication port of said electronic device;

copying said first commands and data to a second communication port internal to said electronic device.

an internal wireless modem receiving said first commands and data from said second communication port;

said internal wireless modem sending second commands and data to said second communication port; and

copying said second commands and data from said second communication port to said first communication port.

2. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising said transmitting said second commands and data from said first communication port to said host computer system.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said first communication port and said second communication port are serial communication ports.

4. A method as described in claim in claim 3 wherein said serial communication ports are implemented using UART circuitry.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said electronic device is a personal digital assistant and wherein said first communication port is for communicatively coupling said personal digital assistant to said host computer system.

6. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising relaying information from a receive line (Rx) of said first communication port to a transmit line (Tx) of said second communication port.

7. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising relaying information from a receive line (Rx) of said second communication port to a transmit line (Tx) of said first communication port.

8. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising said bridge process performing protocol translation between a PPP communication protocol and a non-PPP communication protocol.

9. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising said wireless modem performing protocol translation between a PPP communication protocol and a non-PPP communication protocol.

10. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said first communication port is a wireless Bluetooth compliant external communication device for communicating with said host computer system.

11. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said first communication port is a wireless infrared external communication device for communicating with said host computer system.

12. A method as described in claim 5 further comprising communicatively coupling said host computer system to said electronic device at said first communication port of said electronic device.

13. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising a host computer system issuing said first commands and data over said communication link to said electronic device using a first communication port of said electronic device.

14. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said copying said first commands and data to a second communication port internal to said electronic device is performed by a bridge process implemented in said electronic device.

15. A method as described in claim 14 wherein said copying said second commands and data from said second communication port to said first communication port is performed by said bridge process.

16. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said second communication port is directly accessible to said host computer system.