Personal communications server

• US 20050215286A1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brass, Richard I., Wecker, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An improved system and method for a personal communications server is provided. The system and method may provide seamless multi-functional wireless communications for different integrated applications desired by a user. To this end, a computing device with a telecommunications interface is provided for coupling to a mobile phone network. The computing device may be without an attached audio input and output device, but may include a network interface for coupling with an external audio input and output device to receive audio from the mobile phone network and/or to send audio to the mobile network. A computer with a network interface may also be coupled with the computing device to receive data from a mobile phone network and/or to send data to the mobile network.

Claims

1. A system for handling phone services, comprising:

a computing device without an attached audio input and output device, the computing device having a telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network; and

a computer without a telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network, the computer having a network interface for coupling with the computing device to receive data from the mobile phone network.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an audio input and output device external to the computing device, the audio input and output device having a network interface for coupling with the computing device to receive audio from the mobile phone network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the network interface for coupling with the computing device to receive data from the mobile phone network comprises a network interface for coupling with the computing device to send data to the mobile phone network.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the network interface for coupling with the computing device to receive audio from the mobile phone network comprises a network interface for coupling with the computing device to send audio to the mobile phone network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network comprises a telecommunications interface for coupling to a Global System for Mobile Communications network.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network comprises a telecommunications interface for coupling to a Code Division Multiple Access network.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network comprises a telecommunications interface for coupling to a General Packet Radio Services network.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network comprises a telecommunications interface for coupling to a Global System for Mobile Communications Internet Protocol network.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the network interface for coupling with the computing device comprises a personal area network interface.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein network interface for coupling with the computing device comprises a local area network interface.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the network interface for coupling with the computing device comprises a wide area network interface.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein the audio input and output device external to the computing device comprises a headset.

13. The system of claim 2 wherein the audio input and output device external to the computing device comprises a conference station.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display coupled to the computing device.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the display comprises a notification indicator.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the notification indicator comprise a light.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the display uses at least one member of the set comprising visual, audible, and tactile representations.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising a button coupled to the computing device for providing input to operating the computing device.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the button comprises an application button dedicated for operating a particular application.

20. The system of claim 1 further comprising an authentication interface operably coupling an authentication host to the computing device.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the authentication interface comprises USB connectivity and smart card functionality for the computing device to operate as a readerless smart card.

22. A system for handling phone services, comprising:

a computing device without an attached audio input and output device, the computing device having a telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network; and

an audio input and output device external to the computing device, the audio input and output device having a network interface for coupling with the computing device to receive audio from the mobile phone network.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the network interface for coupling with the computing device to receive audio from the mobile phone network comprises a network interface for coupling with the computing device to send audio to the mobile phone network.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network comprises a telecommunications interface for coupling to a Global System for Mobile Communications network.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network comprises a telecommunications interface for coupling to a Code Division Multiple Access network.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network comprises a telecommunications interface for coupling to a General Packet Radio Services network.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the telecommunications interface for coupling to a mobile phone network comprises a telecommunications interface for coupling to a Global System for Mobile Communications Internet Protocol network.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein the network interface for coupling with the computing device comprises a personal area network interface.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein network interface for coupling with the computing device comprises a local area network interface.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein the network interface for coupling with the computing device comprises a wide area network interface.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein the audio input and output device external to the computing device comprises a headset.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein the audio input and output device external to the computing device comprises a conference station.

33. The system of claim 22 further comprising a display coupled to the computing device.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the display comprises a notification indicator.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the notification indicator comprise a light.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein the display uses at least one member of the set comprising visual, audible, and tactile representations.

37. The system of claim 22 further comprising a button coupled to the computing device for providing input to operating the computing device.

38. The system of claim 22 wherein the button comprises an application button dedicated for operating a particular application.

39. A system for handling phone services, comprising:

means for coupling a computing device without an attached audio input and output device to a mobile phone network; and

means for coupling an audio input and output device to the computing device for receiving audio from the mobile phone network.

40. The system of claim 39 further comprising means for coupling the computing device to a computer without a telecommunications interface for receiving data from the mobile phone network.