Wireless communication module for mobile communication

• US 20070161404A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Willcom Incorporated (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Willcom Incorporated (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawasaki, Kenji, Kawai, Hiroshi, Kobayashi, Kazuaki, Fukumoto, Junichi, Funayoshi, Hideto, Hanazuka, Takao, Akiyama, Tsukasa, Yasujima, Nozomu
• Application Number:
  US11/480,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20070161404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

To reduce costs of developing mobile communication terminals such as PHS communication terminals and facilitate development of mobile communication terminals by a manufacturer that does not have wireless communication technology. A new wireless communication module that is a separate small module comprising only wireless communication portion and a new terminal supporting the wireless communication module are proposed. The wireless communication module of the invention is used by being inserted to a corresponding slot of a terminal supporting the wireless communication module of the invention that has a configuration excluding wireless communication portion from a conventional mobile communication terminal. The present invention reduces burdens of development on terminal manufacturers. The invention also enables a manufacturer that does not have wireless communication technology to develop an original terminal.

Claims

1. A wireless communication module for mobile communication that is removably inserted to an apparatus having a corresponding slot with a portion of said wireless communication module positioned outside said slot and operates as a mobile communication terminal together with said apparatus, comprising:

an internal antenna transmitting and receiving radio signals;

an interface circuit transmitting and receiving encoded voice signals and data signals to and from said apparatus;

a first conversion unit converting encoded voice signals and data signals received from said apparatus via said interface circuit into signals of a format that is appropriate for wireless communication via said internal antenna;

a second conversion unit converting radio signals received via said internal antenna into encoded voice signals and data signals of a format that is appropriate for communication with said apparatus via said interface circuit; and

a control unit transmitting and receiving said data signals to and from said apparatus via said interface circuit.

2. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, wherein said control unit detects a data communication speed in a radio link layer, and switches to a speed corresponding to said detected speed using one of signal lines that constitute said interface circuit to perform communication with said apparatus.

3. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, further comprising an error correction unit correcting errors that are caused in a radio link layer.

4. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit that has stored therein a Personal Identity Number (PIN), a Personal Unblock Key (PUK), and an authentication program, wherein

when said wireless communication module is inserted to said apparatus, or when said apparatus is powered on with said wireless communication module inserted therein, said authentication program causes said wireless communication module to transmit a signal for prompting a user to input a PIN to said apparatus;

allow operation of said wireless communication module if a correct PIN is input by the user via said apparatus;

lock the operation of said wireless communication module if a wrong PIN is input by the user via said apparatus more than a predetermined number of times; and

not allow the operation of said wireless communication module unless a correct PUK is input by the user via said apparatus.

5. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication module is used in a wireless communication system that provides Short Message Service, and said wireless communication module sends received data relating to Short Message Service to said apparatus via said interface circuit in the same format as it is received.

7. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, wherein signal lines for transmitting and receiving encoded voice signals are separate from signal lines for transmitting and receiving data signals in said interface circuit.

8. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna terminal.

10. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that has stored therein one or more wireless operation algorithms, wherein said wireless communication module selects and uses an algorithm appropriate for said apparatus from said one or more wireless operation algorithms in response to a signal received from said apparatus that indicates the type of said apparatus.

11. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, wherein when strength of radio wave received via said internal antenna is below a predetermined level, said wireless communication module sends an alert signal indicating it to said apparatus.

12. The wireless communication module according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication module automatically detects a baud rate used by said apparatus.

6. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

13-14. -14. (canceled)

15. An apparatus for mobile communication having a slot, a wireless communication module having an internal antenna being removably inserted to said slot with a portion of said wireless communication module positioned outside said slot, said apparatus operating as a mobile communication terminal together with said module, comprising;

an interface circuit transmitting and receiving encoded voice signals and data signals to and from said wireless communication module;

a voice input device;

a voice output device;

a data input device;

a data output device;

a first unit decoding encoded voice signals received from said wireless communication module via said interface circuit, and encoding voice signal received from said voice input device to send the encoded voice to said wireless communication module; and

a second unit presenting via said data output device data that is included in data signals received from said wireless communication module via said interface circuit, and for sending via said interface circuit data signals that include data received via said data input device to said wireless communication module.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said apparatus is configured to be able to transmit/receive a command or data to and from said wireless communication module via said interface circuit during a telephone call.

16-18. -18. (canceled)

20-27. -27. (canceled)

28. An apparatus for mobile communication, having a slot for removably inserting a wireless communication module having an internal antenna with a portion of said wireless communication module positioned outside said slot, said apparatus operating as a mobile communication terminal for data communication together with said wireless communication module, comprising:

a first interface circuit for transmitting and receiving data signals to and from said wireless communication module;

a second interface circuit transmitting and receiving data signals to and from an external device; and

a conversion unit converting data signals received from said wireless communication module via said first interface circuit into data signals of a format appropriate for communication with an external device via said second interface circuit, and converting data signals received from an external device via said second interface circuit into data signals of a format appropriate for communication with said wireless communication module via said first interface circuit.

29-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A mobile communication terminal that consists of a wireless communication module and an apparatus having a corresponding slot, said wireless communication module being removably inserted to said slot with a portion of said wireless communication module positioned outside said slot, said wireless communication module comprising:

an internal antenna transmitting and receiving radio signals;

an interface circuit transmitting and receiving encoded voice signals and data signals to and from said apparatus;

a first conversion unit converting encoded voice signals and data signals received from said apparatus via said interface circuit into signals of a format that is appropriate for wireless communication via said internal antenna;

a second conversion unit converting radio signals received via said internal antenna into encoded voice signals and data signals of a format that is appropriate for communication with said apparatus via said interface circuit; and

a control unit transmitting and receiving said data signals to and from said apparatus via said interface circuit, said apparatus comprising;

an interface circuit for transmitting and receiving encoded voice signals and data signals to and from said wireless communication module;

a voice input device;

a voice output device;

a data input device;

a data output device;

a first unit decoding encoded voice signals received from said wireless communication module via said interface circuit, and for encoding voice received via said voice input device to send the same to said wireless communication module; and

a second unit presenting via said data output device data that is included in data signals received from said wireless communication module via said interface circuit, and for sending via said interface circuit data signals that include data received via said data input device to said wireless communication module.

36. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 35, wherein said control unit detects a data communication speed in a radio link layer, and switches to a speed corresponding to said detected data speed using one of signal lines that constitute interface circuit of said wireless communication module and said apparatus to perform communication between said wireless communication module and said apparatus.

38. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 35, wherein said wireless communication module further comprises a storage unit that has stored therein a Personal Identity Number (PIN), a Personal Unblock Key (PUK), and an authentication program, and

when said wireless communication module is inserted to said apparatus, or when said apparatus is powered on with said wireless communication module inserted therein, said authentication program causes said wireless communication module to

transmit a signal for prompting a user to input a PIN to said apparatus;

allow operation of said wireless communication module if a correct PIN is input by the user via said apparatus;

lock the operation of said wireless communication module if a wrong PIN is input by the user via said apparatus more than a predetermined number of times; and

not allow the operation of said wireless communication module unless a correct PUK is input by the user via said apparatus.

39. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 35, wherein said mobile communication terminal is used in a wireless communication system that provides Short Message Service, and said mobile communication terminal sends received data relating to Short Message Service from said wireless communication module to said apparatus via said interface circuit in the same format as it is received.

41. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 35, wherein said mobile communication terminal is configured to be able to transmit/receive a command or data during a telephone call via said interface circuit of said wireless communication module and said apparatus.

45. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 35, wherein when electric field strength received via said internal antenna is below a predetermined level, said wireless communication module sends an alert signal indicating it to said apparatus, and

said apparatus informs to a user that the user is approaching outside a service area in response to said alert signal received.

37. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

42-44. -44. (canceled)

46-55. -55. (canceled)

56. A mobile communication terminal that consists of a wireless communication module and an apparatus having a corresponding slot, said wireless communication module being removably inserted to said slot with a portion of said wireless communication module positioned outside said slot,

said wireless communication module comprising:

an internal antenna transmitting and receiving radio signals;

an interface circuit transmitting and receiving encoded voice signals and data signals to and from said apparatus;

a first conversion unit converting encoded voice signals and data signals received from said apparatus via said interface circuit into signals of a format that is appropriate for wireless communication via said internal antenna;

a second conversion unit converting radio signals received via said internal antenna into encoded voice signals and data signals of a format that is appropriate for communication with said apparatus via said interface circuit; and

control unit transmitting and receiving said data signals to and from said apparatus via said interface circuit,

said apparatus comprising;

a first interface circuit transmitting and receiving data signals to and from said wireless communication module;

a second interface circuit transmitting and receiving data signals to and from an external device;

a conversion unit converting data signals received from said wireless communication module via said first interface circuit into data signals of a format appropriate for communication with an external device via said second interface circuit, and for converting data signals received from an external device via said second interface circuit into data signals of a format appropriate for communication with said wireless communication module via said first interface circuit.

57-71. -71. (canceled)