Portable computer network

• US 6,009,247 A
• Filed: 10/29/1996
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Staples, John LeRoy, Olyha, Robert Stephen, Cina, Michael Frank, Gaucher, Brian Paul, Mok, Lawrence Shungwei, Kaufman, Richard Ian, Lanzetta, Alphonso Philip, Greier, Paul Francis, Ponnapalli, Saila, Canora, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US08/739,248
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 395/281-283, 395/309, 395/856, 395/857, 395/858, 395/200.8, 395/200.57, 395/200.58, 395/200.79, 455/556-557
• US Class Current: 710/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A portable or notebook type computer communication interface that permits portable computers to be reliably used in a data processing network. The interface involves communication circuitry, special device inputs and power monitoring and charging. A flexible portable computer wireless time and frequency division network is formed using a time and frequency division multiplexed communication channel assignment feature that together with a wireless link establishes a unique direct communication channel between data processing devices on different levels with data packet type transmission security. The principle permits each portable computer in the network to communicate with any other and any and all can transmit and receive at the same time.

Claims

1. In a portable computer network, the intercommunication method comprising the steps of:

arranging at least one portable computer device in a first network level,

arranging at least one portable computer device in a second network level,

each said portable computer device on said first and said second network level being a battery powered portable computer positioned in a supporting structure,

said supporting structure providing power, electrical connection to data processing and a battery monitoring and charging capability,

providing a wireless communication between each said portable computer in said first level and each said portable computer in said second level,

each said wireless communication including, in each said portable computer, a sending-receiving series of a microcontroller, a modem, a frequency transciever and an antenna, and,

maintaining in each said portable computer device in said first network level a time division multiplexed gated channel assignment program that provides a serially in time communication channel for each said portable computer in said second network level.

2. The intercommunication method of claim 1 wherein said wireless link involves an electromagnetic wave transmission.

3. The intercommunication method of claim 1 wherein said wireless link involves an optical wave transmission.

4. In a portable computer network, an interface for a battery powered portable computer having external data processing and power connections, comprising in combination:

a supporting structure within which said battery powered portable computer is positioned,

said supporting structure providing electrical connection to said data processing and power connections of said portable computer,

said supporting structure further providing wireless communication and battery maintenance including a sending-receiving series of a microcontroller, a modem, a frequency transciever and an antenna, and,

with input capability to said microcontroller for signals from attachment devices for said portable computer.

5. The user interface of claim 4 wherein said wireless communication involves electromagnetic wave transmission.

6. The user interface of claim 4 wherein in said wireless communication including said sending-receiving series of a microcontroller, a modem, a frequency transciever and an antenna, said microcontroller and said frequency transciever are controlled by a phase locked loop frequency synthesizer.