Portable communication device for providing phone calling service

• US 9,043,482 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2013
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FlexiJet Technologies Inc..
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US14/021,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20140018130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/230, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0622 in relation to access
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0656 Data buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic

Abstract

A portable communication device for phone calling is herein disclosed and enabled. The portable communication device includes a USB interface for connecting to an external USB port of a computing device for enabling phone calling services using the portable communication device. Upon connecting the portable communication device to the external USB port of the computing device, a phone calling software component or data stored in the portable communication device may execute for enabling phone calling services. The portable communication device may also include one or more ports, and may include an interface for Ethernet connection for connecting to the Internet and for making phone calls without the need for connecting the portable communication device to the external USB port. The portable communication device may further include a Wi-Fi wireless component for local wireless communication, and may be implemented as an adapter-sized dongle for providing phone calling services.

Claims

1. A portable communication device that is plug connectable to an external USB interface of a first computing device, the first computer device being a distinct device from the portable communication device, the portable communication device comprising:

a memory component that includes a memory area storing a phone calling software component; and

one or more controllers having means for managing communication and means for accessing the memory area;

wherein, while the portable communication device is plug connected to the external USB interface of the first computing device, the portable communication device is operable to;

draw power from the first computing device via the external USB interface of the first computing device for operating the portable communication device,

access at least part of the phone calling software component from the memory area, the accessing of at least part of the phone calling software component being facilitated, at least in part, by the one or more controllers,

provide at least part of the accessed phone calling software component to a phone calling application running and executing on the first computing device, the providing of at least part of the accessed phone calling software component being facilitated, at least in part, by the one or more controllers,

enable the phone calling software application running and executing at the first computing device to make phone calls with the phone calling software component provided by the portable communication device, and

enable phone calls through the portable communication device; and

wherein, upon disconnection of the portable communication device from the external USB interface of the first computing device, the portable communication device is further operable to connect the portable communication device to an Ethernet interface connection associated with a computing device, and upon connecting the portable communication device to the Ethernet interface connection, the portable communication device is further configured to enable phone calling service over the Ethernet interface connection; and

wherein the portable communication device is in the form of a portable dongle that enables phone calling either when the portable communication device is connected to the external USB interface of the first computing device, or when the portable communication device is connected to the Ethernet interface connection.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein, upon connecting to the external USB interface of the first computing device, the portable communication device is further configurable to enable wireless communication, Internet access, or Internet sharing, individually or in any combination, via the first computing device.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication component for local wireless communication with a second computing device that is distinct from the first computing device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein, after disconnection of the portable communication device from the external USB interface of the first computing device, at least part of the phone calling software application running and executing at the first computing device is configured to:

(1) exit, or

(2) terminate, or

(3) uninstall, or

(4) be removed.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more ports for connecting to another device for making phone calls.

6. A communication device that is plug connectable to an external USB port of a first computing device, the communication device being a portable device and previously being distinct from the first computing device, the communication device including:

a USB interface for plug connecting to the external USB port of the first computing device;

a memory component that includes a memory area;

data or software stored in the memory area, the data or software including a phone calling component; and

one or more controllers being configured for managing communication through the USB interface; and

wherein, subsequent to plug connecting the USB interface to the external USB port of the first computing device, the communication device being configured for;

drawing power over the USB interface from the first computing device for operating the communication device,

facilitating, at the first computing device, execution of at least part of a phone calling application running or executing at the first computing device,

accessing the data or software stored in the memory area of the communication device, the access facilitated, at least in part, by the one or more controllers included in the communication device,

executing, at least part of the data or software while the communication device is plug connected to the first computing device,

enabling the phone calling application running at the first computing device to make phone calls over the communication device; and

wherein, upon disconnecting the USB interface from the external USB port of the first computing device, the communication device further being operable for plug connecting the USB interface to an external USB port of a second computing device, and upon connecting the USB interface to the external USB port of the second computing device, the communication device is further configured for;

drawing power over the USB interface from the second computing device for operating the communication device,

enabling execution of at least part of a phone calling application running at the second computing device, and

enabling the phone calling application running at the second computing device to make phone calls over the communication device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the communication device and the first computing device;

wherein, the communication device, which is a portable device, functions as a key for enabling the user of the communication device to make phone calls when the USB interface is plug connected to either the external USB port of the first computing device or the external USB port of the second computing device; and

wherein, the communication device is further connectable to an Ethernet interface for enabling phone calling over the Ethernet interface connection.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the memory area further includes a private memory area, and the private memory area further stores protected data or software that includes a phone calling component, the protected data or software facilitating execution of the phone calling software running at the first computing device.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein after disconnection of the USB interface from the external USB port of the first computing device, at least part of the phone calling application, which runs at the first computing device, is operable to:

(1) automatically exit, or

(2) automatically terminate, or

(3) automatically be removed, or

(4) automatically uninstall from the first computing device.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising one or more ports for connecting to another device for making phone calls.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the communication device is further configured to provide Internet sharing or Internet accessing via the first computing device when the USB interface is connected to the external USB port of the first computing device.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the one or more controllers are additionally configured for executing one or more of an encryption operation, a decryption operation, a conversion operation, an encoding operation, a decoding operation, a compression operation, and a decompression operation, individually or in any combination thereof.

12. The device of claim 6, further comprising a wireless communication component for local wireless communication with a third computing device that is distinct from the first computing device and the second computing device.

13. The device of claim 6, further comprising a public memory area that is accessible to the user of the communication device, the public memory area of the communication device storing at least a pointer related to an executable for facilitating at least one of:

(1) installing at least part of the phone calling application at the first computing device, or

(2) automatically running at least part of the phone calling application at the first computing device.

14. A portable communication device for phone calling connectable to an external USB port of the first computing device, comprising:

a memory component that includes a memory area for storing a phone calling software component;

a public memory area that is accessible to the user of the portable communication device, the public memory area storing at least a pointer to an executable related to at least part of the phone calling software component, the pointer being for facilitating at least one of an installation or a running of the phone calling software component at the first computing device; and

one or more controllers configured for managing communication and for accessing the memory area; and

wherein, subsequent to connecting the portable communication device to the external USB port of the first computing device, the portable communication device is operable for;

drawing power over the external USB port from the first computing device for operating the portable communication device,

accessing at least part of the phone calling software component from the memory area, the accessing of at least part of the phone calling software component being facilitated, at least in part, by the one or more controllers of the portable communication device while the portable communication device is plug connected to the external USB port of the first computing device,

providing, from the portable communication device to the first computing device, at least part of the phone calling software component while the portable communication device is plug connected to the external USB port of the first computing device,

facilitating at least part of an installing or a running of at least part of the phone calling software component at the first computing device by employing, at least in part, the pointer to the executable related to at least part of the phone calling software component, and

enabling phone calling from the first computing device to a second computing device while the portable communication device is plug connected to the external USB port of the first computing device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the portable communication device and the first computing device; and

wherein, upon disconnecting the portable communication device from the external USB port of the first computing device, the portable communication device is further operable for connecting the portable communication device to an interface associated with a computing device for enabling phone calling via the interface; and

wherein, the portable communication device further functions as a security key for enabling phone calling when the portable communication device is plug connected to the external USB port of the first computing device or when the portable communication device is connected to the interface associated with a computing device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, after disconnection of the portable communication device from the first computing device, at least part of the phone calling software component running at the first computing device is configured to:

(1) exit, or

(2) terminate, or

(3) be removed, or

(4) be uninstalled, from the first computing device.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more controllers are further configured for performing an operation that includes one or more of an encoding operation, a decoding operation, and a conversion operation.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising at least one interface for connecting to another device for making phone calls via the at least one interface, the at least one interface including an Ethernet interface.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the memory component that includes a memory area further includes a private memory area, data or software stored in the private memory area being implemented to be not viewable by the user of the portable communication device at the private memory area, and the private memory area storing at least part of a phone calling software component for execution at the first computing device.

19. The device of claim 14, further comprising a wireless communication component for local wireless communication.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the portable communication device is further configured to enable an operation that includes phone calls or Internet access with or via a mobile phone communicating with the portable communication device over the wireless communication component of the portable communication device.