Systems and methods for a multi-mode wireless modem

• US 7,319,715 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Souissi, Slim S., Loh, Michael, Gordon, Humphrey
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, DON NGUYEN
• Application Number:
  US10/028,080
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 375/220, 375/130, 455/557, 455/442, 361/683, 379/93.29
• US Class Current: 375/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
• 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 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A multi-mode modem comprises a first device configured to communicate with a first communication system, a second device configured to communicate with a second communication system, a processor communicatively coupled the first and second devices, and a control function configured to place the device in one of the following communication modes: 1) communication with the first communication system; 2) communication with the second communication system; 3) simultaneous communication with both the first and second communication systems; or 4) gateway communication between the first and second communication systems.

Claims

1. A multi-mode modem card comprising a standard form factor and configured to interface with a host device, the multi-mode modem card including:

a primary modem card configured to communicate with a first communication system;

an interface configured to receive a secondary modem card comprising a smaller form factor than the primary modem card, the secondary modem card including a secondary device configured to communicate with a second communication system; and

an interface device configured to interface the primary and secondary modem cards with a host processor in the host device, wherein the interface device comprises;

a host device interface;

a primary device interface; and

a secondary device interface;

wherein the primary device interface is a serial data interface, and wherein the interface device is further configured to receive address and data information from the host device and convert it into serial data that can be communicated over the primary device interface.

2. The multi-mode modem card of claim 1, wherein the host device interface comprises address and data lines.

3. The multi-mode modem card of claim 1, wherein the interface device is further configured to receive data information from the primary device interface and convert it into data and address information that can be communicated over the host device interface.

4. The multi-mode modem card of claim 3, wherein the primary device interface is a universal serial bus interface.

5. The multi-mode modem card of claim 4, wherein the primary device interface includes a pulse code modulation interface for voice data.

6. The multi-mode modem card of claim 1, wherein the secondary device interface comprises address and data lines, and wherein the interface device is configured to interface the address and data lines on the host processor interface with the address and data lines on the secondary device interface.

7. The multi-mode modem card of claim 1, wherein the secondary device interface is a Compact Flash interface, and wherein the secondary modem card is a Compact Flash modem card.

8. A system for wireless communication, comprising:

a host device comprising a processor;

a multi-mode modem card comprising a standard form factor configured to interface with the host device, the multi-mode modem card including;

a primary device configured to communicate with a first communication system, and

an interface configured to receive a secondary modem card comprising a smaller form factor than the multi-mode modem card, the secondary modem card including a secondary device configured to communicate with a second communication system, and

an interface device coupled with at least one of the primary and secondary devices, the interface device configured to interface the primary and secondary devices with the host processor; and

a control function configured to place the multi-mode modem card in one of the following communication modes;

communication with the first communication system, or

communication with the second communication system

wherein the control function is further configured to place the multi-mode modem in simultaneous communication with both the first and second communication systems; and

wherein the interface device comprises;

a host device interface;

a primary device interface; and

a secondary device interface

wherein the primary device interface is a serial data interface, and wherein the interface device is further configured to receive address and data information from the host device and convert it into serial data that can be communicated over the primary device interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor comprises the control function.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface device is configured to interface the processor with the primary device, and wherein the control function is configured to:

query the primary device to determine if communication with the first communication system is available; and

query the secondary device to determine if communication with the second communication system is available.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control function is further configured to query the second device only if communication with the first communication system is not available.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the host device interface comprises address and data lines.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface device is further configured to receive data information from the primary device interface and convert it into data and address information that can be communicated over the host device interface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the primary device interface is a universal serial bus interface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the primary device interface includes a pulse code modulation interface for voice data.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the secondary device interface comprises address and data lines, and wherein the interface device is configured to interface the address and data lines on the host device interface with the address and data lines on the secondary device interface when required.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the secondary device interface is a Compact Flash interface, and wherein the secondary modem card is a Compact Flash modem card.

18. A system for wireless communication, comprising:

a host device comprising a processor;

a multi-mode modem card comprising a standard form factor configured to interface with the host device, the multi-mode modem card including;

a primary device configured to communicate with a first communication system, and

an interface configured to receive a secondary modem card comprising a smaller form factor than the multi-mode modem card, the secondary modem card including a secondary device configured to communicate with a second communication system, and

an interface device coupled with at least one of the primary and secondary devices, the interface device configured to interface the primary and secondary devices with the host processor; and

a control function configured to place the multi-mode modem card in one of the following communication modes;

communication with the first communication system, or

communication with the second communication system

wherein the control function is further configured to place the multi-mode modem in simultaneous communication with both the first and second communication systems;

wherein the control function is further configured to place the multi-mode modem in gateway communication between the first and second communication systems.