Command input device combinable with portable communication apparatus

• US 7,526,315 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific Plasma, LLC
• Inventors: Lou, Chin-Kuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh; Sonny
• Application Number:
  US10/697,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20040180693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 455/557, 455/566, 455/90.3, 463/36, 463/37, 463/39
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A command input device for use with a digital data processing system and a portable communication apparatus includes a signal connector and a command generator. The signal connector is detachably plugged to a socket of the portable communication apparatus. The command generator is electrically connected to the signal connector and asserts a command signal to the digital data processing system via local wireless transmission modules of the portable communication apparatus and the digital data processing system.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a portable communication apparatus capable of communicating with a base station, said portable communication apparatus having a first local wireless transmission module; and

a command input device capable of being combined with said portable communication apparatus, and further capable of asserting a command signal to a second local wireless transmission module of a personal computer via said first local wireless transmission module of said portable communication apparatus, wherein said command input device does not have a wireless transmission module.

2. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second local wireless transmission modules comprise one or more devices selected from the group consisting of bluetooth transmitters, bluetooth receivers, and bluetooth transceivers.

3. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said portable communication apparatus comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a cell phone and a personal digital assistant.

4. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said command input device is connectable with said portable communication apparatus via a signal connector.

5. The communication system according to claim 4 wherein said portable communication apparatus is adapted to supply electrical power to said command input device via said signal connector.

6. The communication system according to claim 4 wherein said signal connector is selected from the group consisting of an RS 232 signal connector, a universal serial bus (USB) connector and an IL 1394 signal connector.

7. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said command input device is integrated into said portable communication apparatus.

8. The communication system according to claim 1 wherein said command input device is selected from a group consisting of a cursor control device, a game pad and a keyboard.