Personal digital assistant having satellite communications capacity
First Claim
1. A communications module, configured to be mounted to a handheld communications device and operative to interface with the handheld computing device, the communications module comprising:
- a global positioning system that determines the location of the module relative to a standard set of coordinates; and
an L-band transceiver, operative to transmit data directly to a satellite relay, that broadcasts the determined location at a frequency within the L-band of the electromagnetic spectrum and receives location data for at least one other communications module; and
an electrically conductive enclosure that substantially encompasses the L-band transceiver and comprises a conductive back plate configured such that at least a portion of the handheld computing device can be mechanically mounted to the conductive back plate, the electrically conductive enclosure being operative to facilitate the dissipation of heat produced by the L-band transceiver and to shield the L-band transceiver from electromagnetic interference, such that the communications module can be connected to the handheld computing device and removed from the handheld computing device without substantial invasion of the handheld computing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for utilizing personal digital assistants in a portable communications system. A personal digital assistant includes a global positioning system module, an L-band transceiver, and a processing system. The global positioning system module produces location information associated with the position of the personal digital assistant. The L-band transceiver broadcasts the location information to a network of at least one other personal digital assistant and receives location information from at least one other personal digital assistant within the network via a communications satellite. The processing system provides messages to the L-band transceiver and updates a display associated with the personal digital assistant according the received location information and the location information produced at the global positioning system module.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A communications module, configured to be mounted to a handheld communications device and operative to interface with the handheld computing device, the communications module comprising:
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a global positioning system that determines the location of the module relative to a standard set of coordinates; and an L-band transceiver, operative to transmit data directly to a satellite relay, that broadcasts the determined location at a frequency within the L-band of the electromagnetic spectrum and receives location data for at least one other communications module; and an electrically conductive enclosure that substantially encompasses the L-band transceiver and comprises a conductive back plate configured such that at least a portion of the handheld computing device can be mechanically mounted to the conductive back plate, the electrically conductive enclosure being operative to facilitate the dissipation of heat produced by the L-band transceiver and to shield the L-band transceiver from electromagnetic interference, such that the communications module can be connected to the handheld computing device and removed from the handheld computing device without substantial invasion of the handheld computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification