Modular communication system

• US 20050176461A1
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Nilsen, Ryan M., Bachman, Bonnie J., Bozzone, Stephen O.
• Application Number:
  US10/776,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20050176461A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/551
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files

Abstract

A modular communication system (10) can include an adaptable communication module (12) having a transceiver (13) coupled to a processor (14) and memory (20), and a first interface block (24) coupled to the processor, and a host device (30) having a power source (36), a user interface (34), and a second interface block (46). The host device can be among a plurality of host devices having different user interfaces and the processor is adaptable to control the different user interfaces when the first interface block recognizes the second interface block. The module can further include a DSP (16) and a display (18) coupled to the processor as well as an antenna (11). A host device can be a phone, a wristwatch, a camera or video phone, an MP3 player, a heart rate monitor, a game controller, a toy, a stroller, or a crib among other devices.

Claims

1. A modular wireless communication module, comprising:

a transceiver coupled to a processor and memory; and

an interface block coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to operate in accordance with an identifier signal received from at least one among a plurality of host devices each having different user interfaces.

2. The modular wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the module further comprises a digital signal processor coupled to the processor.

3. The modular wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the module further comprises a display coupled to the processor.

4. The modular wireless communication module of claim 3, wherein the display presents content associated with a given host device among the plurality of host devices.

5. The modular wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the processor controls the operation of a given host device once coupled to the given host device.

6. The modular wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the module further comprises an antenna coupled to the transceiver.

7. A modular communication system, comprising:

a modular wireless communication module having a transceiver coupled to a processor and memory, and a first interface block coupled to the processor;

a host device having a power source, a user interface, and a second interface block, wherein the host device is one among a plurality of host devices having different user interfaces and the processor is adaptable to control the different user interfaces when the first interface block recognizes the second interface block of a given host device.

8. The modular communication system of claim 7, wherein the modular wireless communication module further comprises a digital signal processor coupled to the processor.

9. The modular communication system of claim 7, wherein the modular wireless communication module further comprises a display coupled to the processor.

10. The modular communication system of claim 9, wherein the display presents content associated with a given host device among the plurality of host devices.

11. The modular communication system of claim 7, wherein the processor controls the operation of a given host device once coupled to the given host device.

12. The modular communication system of claim 7, wherein the module further comprises an antenna coupled to the transceiver.

13. The modular communication system of claim 7, wherein a given host device among the plurality of host devices is selected from the group of a monolith phone, a flip phone, a wristwatch communicator, a camera phone, a video phone, a qwerty key-board host device, a pendant-shaped host device, an MP3 player device, a heart rate monitor, a game controller host, a toy, a stroller, and a crib.

14. An adaptable communication module, comprising:

a radio communication transceiver having a processor programmed to operate with and control a plurality of different host devices having different user interfaces; and

an interface block coupled to the processor for detecting at least one among the plurality of host devices.

15. The adaptable communication module of claim 14, wherein the adaptable communication module further comprises a presentation device coupled to the processor for presenting information associated with the adaptable communication module and a given host device among the plurality of host devices.

16. The adaptable communication module of claim 15, wherein the presentation device is selected from among a display and a speaker.

17. The adaptable communication module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of host devices each includes an interface block for interfacing with the interface block of the adaptable communication module.

18. The adaptable communication module of claim 14, wherein a given host device among the plurality of host devices is selected from the group of a monolith phone, a flip phone, a wristwatch communicator, a camera phone, a video phone, a qwerty key-board host device, a pendant-shaped host device, an MP3 player sport device, a heart rate monitor, a game controller host, a toy, a stroller, and a crib.

19. A host device for mating with a modular wireless communication module having a first interface block and a transceiver coupled to a processor, comprising:

a power source;

a user interface coupled to the power source; and

a second interface block, wherein the host device is one among a plurality of host devices having different user interfaces controlled by the processor when the first interface block recognizes the second interface block of the host device.

20. A method of reusing a modular wireless communication module among a plurality of different host devices, comprising:

selectively coupling the modular wireless communication module with a first host device having a first user interface;

recognizing the first host device to enable a processor within the modular wireless communication module to control the first host device and the first user interface;

selectively coupling the modular wireless communication module with at least a second host device having a second user interface; and

recognizing the second host device to enable the processor within the modular wireless communication module to control the second host device and the second user interface.