System and method for using a wireless enabled portable computer system as a wireless modem

• US 8,150,461 B1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Karstens, Rich, Robertson, Ryan, Kammer, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matharu, Manpreet
• Application Number:
  US11/810,190
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A method and system for using a wireless enabled portable computer system as a wireless modem. The portable computer system may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) having an internal wireless modem. The internal wireless modem, e.g., GSM radio, contains a communication port (port2) that communicates with a processor of the portable computer system. The portable computer system also contains another communication port (port1) that is externally available for connection to a second computer system. A software bridge is provided that copies commands and/or data from the port1 over to the port2 and vice-versa. The software bridge allows the second computer system to directly use the internal wireless modem of the portable computer system when the portable computer system is connected to the second computer. The connection to the second computer system can be made by a wired connection (e.g., serial interface, RS232) or by a wireless connection, e.g., Bluetooth or infra-red communication. The port1 and the port2 can be serial communication ports which may be UART compliant. The PDA thus extends wireless functionality to a second computer system (e.g., a notebook) using conventional connection mechanisms for communicating with the second computer system.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a first communication port for wirelessly connecting the portable electronic device to a first device;

an internal resource of the portable electronic device, the internal resource being configured to access a network;

a second communication port that connects to the internal resource; and

a processor that is configured to implement a communication bridge to exchange communication between the first communication port and the second communication port, wherein the processor is configured to run a software application that automatically implements the communication bridge in response to a user launching the software application, the software application automatically responding to a command that is transmitted wirelessly from the first device in order to implement the communication bridge to enable the first device to wirelessly access the network.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the network includes at least one of the Internet or a local area network (LAN).

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is at least one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a pager or a portable computer.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the internal resource includes at least one of a wireless modem or a wireless radio.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein wirelessly connecting the portable electronic device to the first device is established using at least one of a Bluetooth communication, an infrared communication, or the IEEE 802.11 communication.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device provides a LAN, the LAN including the first device and a second device.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the internal resource is configured to access the network using at least one of GSM, CDMA or TDMA.

8. A portable electronic device comprising:

a first communication port for wirelessly connecting with a computer system;

an internal wireless communication device of the portable electronic device, the internal wireless communication device being configured to access a network;

a second communication port that connects to the internal wireless communication device;

a memory; and

a processor that is configured to implement a communication bridge to exchange communication between the first communication port and the second communication port, wherein the processor is configured to run a software application that automatically implements the communication bridge in response to a user launching the software application, the software application automatically responding to a command that is transmitted wirelessly from the computer system in order to implement the communication bridge by executing instructions stored in the memory to enable the computer system to wirelessly access the network.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the network includes at least one of the Internet or a local area network (LAN).

10. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the portable electronic device is at least one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a pager or a portable computer.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the internal resource includes at least one of a wireless modem or a wireless radio.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein wirelessly connecting with the computer system is established using at least one of a Bluetooth communication, an infrared communication, or the IEEE 802.11 communication.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the portable electronic device provides a LAN, the LAN including the computer system and a second device.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the internal resource is configured to access the network using at least one of GSM, CDMA or TDMA.

14. A computer system comprising:

a host computer system;

a portable computer system wirelessly connected to the host computer system and comprising;

a first communication port for wirelessly connecting with the host computer system;

an internal wireless communication device being configured to access a network;

a second communication port that connects to the internal wireless communication device; and

a processor that is configured to implement a communication bridge to exchange communication between the first communication port and the second communication port, wherein the processor is configured to run a software application that automatically implements the communication bridge in response to a user launching the software application, the software application automatically responding to a command that is transmitted wirelessly from the host computer system in order to implement the communication bridge to enable the host computer system to access the network.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the network includes at least one of the Internet or a local area network (LAN).

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the portable computer system is at least one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a pager or a portable computer.

17. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the internal resource includes at least one of a wireless modem or a wireless radio.

18. The computer system of claim 14 wherein said internal wireless communication device performs protocol translation between a PPP communication protocol and a non-PPP communication protocol.

19. The computer system of claim 14 wherein said portable computer system further comprises a wireless Bluetooth compliant external communication device connected to said first communication port for communicating with said host computer system.

20. The computer system of claim 14 wherein said portable computer system further comprises a wireless infrared external communication device connected to said first communication port for communicating with said host computer system.