Methods and apparatus for a flexible wireless communication and cellular telephone system
First Claim
1. A cellular mobile device comprising:
- a communication component having a processor within a housing that facilitates communication with one or more cellular network systems, each cellular network system providing wireless communication for the cellular mobile device;
a plurality of interfaces in the housing, each configured to physically and logically couple any one of a plurality of interchangeable modular cellular device cartridges to the communication component, wherein each cellular device cartridge enables communication over a specific cellular network system of the one or more cellular network systems, and is coupled to the communication component through a respective interface of the plurality of interfaces, and wherein each modular cartridge of the plurality of modular cellular device cartridges includes a set of wireless communication components that provide a set of wireless communication features, the wireless communication components including a resident antenna and an RF or baseband processing subsystem; and
a processing component within the communication component operable to utilize a cellular network system of the one or more cellular network systems supported by a corresponding installed cellular device cartridge, the processing component further operable to select an antenna resident in the installed cellular device cartridge or an antenna within the housing for communication over the cellular network system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communication system including flexible wireless handsets with modular electronic components selected for operation within multiple systems. The units may be configured for removable connection to a variety of cartridges to provide a versatile communication device. A cartridge may be selected for the replacement of one or more existing cartridges within the handset to provide varying degrees of flexibility including the selection of a different featureset for the handset and compatible operation within different wireless systems. Methods are further provided for upgrading and reconfiguring cellular telephones and wireless communication devices for operation within different systems. A flexible wireless telephone with an original removable cartridge may include later-substituted cartridges to improve or change the featureset of the telephone, and may also enable a user to replace the internal electronics of a handset with different internal electronics for use within a different wireless system. A consumer may be thus provided with extended use the same flexible wireless telephone handset yet still migrate to a new wireless system by installing cartridges with desired featuresets within the selected wireless telephone system(s).
116 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A cellular mobile device comprising:
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a communication component having a processor within a housing that facilitates communication with one or more cellular network systems, each cellular network system providing wireless communication for the cellular mobile device; a plurality of interfaces in the housing, each configured to physically and logically couple any one of a plurality of interchangeable modular cellular device cartridges to the communication component, wherein each cellular device cartridge enables communication over a specific cellular network system of the one or more cellular network systems, and is coupled to the communication component through a respective interface of the plurality of interfaces, and wherein each modular cartridge of the plurality of modular cellular device cartridges includes a set of wireless communication components that provide a set of wireless communication features, the wireless communication components including a resident antenna and an RF or baseband processing subsystem; and a processing component within the communication component operable to utilize a cellular network system of the one or more cellular network systems supported by a corresponding installed cellular device cartridge, the processing component further operable to select an antenna resident in the installed cellular device cartridge or an antenna within the housing for communication over the cellular network system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A mobile modular system comprising:
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a cellular device having multiple user-data entry-components; and a plurality of cartridges concurrently coupled to said cellular device and including an electronic wireless communications component having a set of selected mobile device features for a cellular system, with said user-data entry-components being coupled to said electronic wireless communications component to associate a function thereto, with said cellular device being configured to selectively activate one of said plurality of cartridges with said function being defined by a subset of said set included in said one of said plurality of cartridges activated, wherein each cartridge enables communication over a specific cellular network system, and is coupled to the wireless communications component through an interface of a plurality of interfaces of the cellular device, and further wherein the function determines whether an antenna resident in a coupled cartridge or an antenna resident in the cellular device is used for communication over the specific cellular network system, and wherein each modular cartridge of the plurality of modular cellular device cartridges includes a set of wireless communication components that provide a set of wireless communication features, the wireless communication components including a resident antenna and an RF or baseband processing subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification