Wireless communication module system and method for performing a wireless communication

• US 7,286,850 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Visee, Maarten, Hoekstra, Frans Willem, Frielink, Frans
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US10/441,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455 20- 22, 455/41.1, 361/683, 375/322
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a wireless communication module system for use with a portable personal computer (PC) having a motherboard and an integral display screen. In one embodiment, the system includes a single wired interface having first and second ends, where the first end is coupled to the motherboard and the second end is coupled to the display screen and provides a connection port. The system further includes a wireless communication module having an antenna and an interface port removably coupled to the connection port. In this embodiment, the module also includes a transceiver configured to employ the antenna to transmit and receive radio communication signals, where the transceiver is further configured to employ the interface port to communicate with the motherboard. A method for performing a wireless communication and a wireless communication system incorporating the wireless communication module system or the method are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A wireless communication module system, for use with a portable personal computer (PC) having a motherboard and an integral display screen, comprising:

a single wired interface having first and second ends and configured to transmit raw digital data therebetween, said first end coupled to said motherboard, said second end coupled to said integral display screen and providing an external connection port physically accessible to a user during operation of said portable personal computer (PC); and

a wireless communication module, including;

an antenna,

an interface port removably coupled via a cable to said connection port, and

a transceiver configured to employ said antenna to transmit and receive radio communication signals, said transceiver further configured to employ said interface port to communicate said raw digital data with said motherboard via said single wired interface and wherein said transceiver includes;

a radio frequency modulator/demodulator;

a coder/decoder (Codec) coupled to said radio;

a baseband processor coupled to said Codec; and

a media access controller coupled to said baseband processor configured to employ said interface port to communicate said raw digital data with said motherboard.

2. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless communication module is detachably couplable to said integral display screen employing said interface port and adapted to be positioned distal to said motherboard so that interference is reduced.

3. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 1 wherein said connection port provides power to said wireless communication module.

4. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless communication module is positioned into an integrated receptacle of said integral display screen.

5. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 1 wherein said connection port is located in a position distal from said motherboard such that said wireless communication module is less susceptible to interference from said motherboard.

6. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 1 wherein said single wired interface includes multiple conductors therein.

7. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 6 wherein said connection port is a standard connection port selected from the group consisting of:

a universal serial bus (UBS);

a universal serial bus 2 (USB2);

a FireWire;

a Fire Wire 2;

an SD Memory Card (SDI/O); and

an optical port.

8. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless communication module is selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communications module;

a cellular communications module; and

a satellite communications module.

9. A method for performing a wireless communication for use with a portable personal computer having a motherboard and an integral display screen, comprising:

employing a single wired interface having first and second ends to receive and transmit raw digital data with said motherboard, said first end coupled to said motherboard, said second end coupled to said integral display screen and providing an external connection port physically accessible to a user during operation of said portable personal computer; and

performing said wireless communication with a wireless communication module, said wireless communication module including;

an antenna,

an interface port removably coupled to said connection port via a cable, and

a transceiver configured to employ said antenna to transmit and receive radio communication signals, said transceiver further configured to employ said interface port to communicate said raw digital data with said motherboard via said single wired interface and wherein said transceiver includes;

a radio frequency modulator/demodulator;

a coder/decoder (Codec) coupled to said radio;

a baseband processor coupled to said Codec; and

a media access controller coupled to said baseband processor configured to employ said interface port to communicate said raw digital data with said motherboard.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said wireless communication module is detachably couplable to said integral display screen employing said interface port and adapted to be positioned distal from said motherboard so that interference is reduced.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising providing power to said wireless communication module via said connection port.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising positioning said wireless communication module into an integrated receptacle of said integral display screen.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising locating said connection port in a position distal from said motherboard such that said wireless communication module is less susceptible to interference from said motherboard.

14. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said employing said single wired interface comprises employing said single wired interface having multiple conductors therein.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said providing said externally accessible connection port comprises providing a standard connection port selected from the group consisting of:

a universal serial bus (UBS);

a universal serial bus 2 (USB2);

a FireWire;

a FireWire 2;

an SD Memory Card (SDI/O); and

an optical port.

16. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein performing said wireless communication comprises performing said wireless communication with a wireless communication module selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communications module;

a cellular communications module; and

a satellite communications module.

17. A wireless communication system, for use with a digital network, comprising:

a wireless interface configured to provide an interface to said digital network; and

at least one wireless portable personal computer (PC) interfaced with said digital network via said wireless interface, said wireless portable PC including;

a motherboard and an integral display screen,

a single wired interface having first and second ends and configured to transmit raw digital data therebetween, said first end coupled to said motherboard, said second end coupled to said integral display screen and providing an external connection port physically accessible to a user during operation of said wireless portable PC, and

a wireless communication module, including;

an antenna,

an interface port removably coupled to said connection port via a cable, and

a transceiver configured to employ said antenna to transmit and receive radio communication signals, said transceiver further configured to employ said interface port to communicate said raw digital data with said motherboard via said single wired interface and wherein said transceiver includes;

a radio frequency modulator/demodulator;

a coder/decoder (Codec) coupled to said radio;

a baseband processor coupled to said Codec; and

a media access controller coupled to said baseband processor configured to employ said interface port to communicate said raw digital data with said motherboard.

18. The wireless communication system as recited in claim 17 wherein said wireless communication module is detachably couplable to said integral display screen and adapted to be positioned distal to said motherboard employing said cable so that interference is reduced.

19. The wireless communication system as recited in claim 17 wherein said connection port provides power to said wireless communication module.

20. The wireless communication system as recited in claim 17 wherein said wireless communication module is positioned into an integrated receptacle of said integral display screen.

21. The wireless communication system as recited in claim 17 wherein said connection port is located in a position distal from said motherboard such that said wireless communication module is less susceptible to interference from said motherboard.

22. The wireless communication system as recited in claim 17 wherein said single wired interface includes multiple conductors therein, and wherein said connection port is a connection port selected from the group consisting of:

a universal serial bus (UBS);

a universal serial bus 2 (USB2);

a FireWire;

a FireWire 2;

an SD Memory Card (SDI//O); and

an optical port.

23. The wireless communication system as recited in claim 17 wherein said wireless communication is selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communications module;

a cellular communications module; and

a satellite communications module.

24. A wireless communication module system, for use with a computing device having an encasing and a motherboard therein, comprising:

a single wired interface having first and second ends and configured to transmit raw digital data therebetween, said first end coupled to said motherboard, said second end coupled to an external connection port physically accessible to a user during operation of said computing device and located on said encasing at a position distal from said motherboard; and

a wireless communication module, including;

an antenna,

an interface port removably coupled to said connection port via a cable, and

a transceiver configured to employ said antenna to transmit and receive radio communication signals, said transceiver further configured to employ said interface port to communicate said raw digital data with said motherboard via said single wired interface, and said wireless communication module adapted to be positioned distal to said motherboard employing said cable so that interference is reduced, wherein said transceiver includes;

a radio frequency modulator/demodulator;

a coder/decoder (Codec) coupled to said radio;

a baseband processor coupled to said Codec; and

a media access controller coupled to said baseband processor configured to employ said interface port to communicate said raw digital data with said motherboard.

25. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 24 wherein said wireless communication module is detachably couplable to said encasing.

26. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 24 wherein said connection port provides power to said wireless communication module.

27. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 24 wherein said wireless communication module is positioned into an integrated receptacle of said encasing.

28. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 24 wherein said device is a personal data assistant (PDA), a portable computer, or a household appliance.

29. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 24 wherein said single wired interface includes multiple conductors therein.

30. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 29 wherein said connection port is a standard connection port selected from the group consisting of:

a universal serial bus (UBS);

a universal serial bus 2 (USB2);

a FireWire;

a FireWire 2;

an SD Memory Card (SDI/O); and

an optical port.

31. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 24 wherein said wireless communication module is selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communications module;

a cellular communications module; and

a satellite communications module.

32. A wireless communication module system, for use with a computing device having an encasing and a motherboard therein, comprising:

a wireless module interface coupled to said motherboard and configured to receive and transmit raw digital data with said motherboard, said wireless module interface is further configured to convert between said raw digital data and analog intermediate data for wireless network communication;

a wired interface having first and second ends and configured to transmit said analog intermediate data therebetween, said first end coupled to said wireless module interface, said second end coupled to an externally accessible connection port located on said encasing at a position distal from said motherboard; and

a wireless communication module, including;

an antenna,

an interface port removably coupled to said connection port via a cable, and

a radio module configured to employ said antenna to transmit and receive radio communication signals, said radio module further configured to employ said interface port to communicate with said wireless module interface and to convert between said radio communication signals and said analog intermediate data, said radio module is adapted to be positioned distal to said motherboard so that interference is reduced.

33. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 32 wherein said radio module includes a radio frequency modulator/demodulator.

34. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 32 wherein said wireless module interface includes a media access controller configured to communicate with said motherboard and having:

a coder/decoder (Codec) coupled to said wired interface, and

a baseband processor coupled to said Codec.

35. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 32 wherein said wireless communication module is detachably couplable to said encasing.

36. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 32 wherein said connection port provides power to said wireless communication module.

37. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 32 wherein said wireless communication module is positioned into an integrated receptacle of said encasing.

38. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 32 wherein said device is a personal data assistant (PDA), a portable computer, or a household appliance.

39. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 32 wherein said connection port is a standard connection port selected from the group consisting of:

a universal serial bus (UBS);

a universal serial bus 2 (USB2);

a FireWire;

a FireWire 2;

an SD Memory Card (SDI/O); and

an optical port.

40. The wireless communication module system as recited in claim 32 wherein said wireless communication module is selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communications module;

a cellular communications module; and

a satellite communications module.

50. The wireless communication module system of claim 32 wherein said externally accessible connection port is physically accessible to a user during operation of said computing device.

41. A method of performing wireless communication for use with a computing device having an encasing and a motherboard therein, comprising:

receiving and transmitting raw digital data between said motherboard and a wireless module interface coupled to said motherboard, and converting between said raw digital data and analog intermediate data for wireless network communication;

employing a wired interface having first and second ends to receive and transmit said analog intermediate data between said wireless module interface and an externally accessible connection port, said first end coupled to said wireless module interface, said second end coupled to said externally accessible connection port located on said encasing at a position distal from said motherboard; and

employing a wireless communication module to communicate to a wireless network, said wireless communication module including;

an antenna,

an interface port removably coupled to said connection port via a cable, and

a radio module configured to employ said antenna to transmit and receive radio communication signals, said radio module further configured to employ said interface port to communicate with said wireless module interface and to convert between said radio communication signals and said analog intermediate data, said radio module is adapted to be positioned distal to said motherboard so that interference is reduced.

42. The method as recited in claim 41 wherein said radio module includes a radio frequency modulator/demodulator.

43. The method as recited in claim 41 wherein said wireless module interface includes a media access controller configured to communicate with said motherboard and having:

a coder/decoder (Codec) coupled to said wired interface, and

a baseband processor coupled to said Codec.

44. The method as recited in claim 41 wherein said wireless communication module is detachably couplable to said encasing.

45. The method as recited in claim 41 further comprising providing power to said wireless communication module via said connection port.

46. The method as recited in claim 41 further comprising positioning said wireless communication module into an integrated receptacle of said encasing.

47. The method as recited in claim 41 wherein said device is a personal data assistant (PDA), a portable computer, or a household appliance.

48. The method as recited in claim 41 wherein said connection port is a standard connection port selected from the group consisting of:

a universal serial bus (UBS);

a universal serial bus 2 (USB2);

a FireWire;

a FireWire 2;

an SD Memory Card (SDI/O); and

an optical port.

49. The method as recited in claim 41 wherein said wireless communication module is selected from the group consisting of:

a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communications module;

a cellular communications module; and

a satellite communications module.

51. The method as recited in claim 41 wherein said externally accessible connection port is physically accessible to a user during operation of said computing device.