Multimode communication device and method for operating a multimode communication device

• US 6,138,010 A
• Filed: 05/08/1997
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alberth, William P. Jr., Rabe, Duane C., Rauch, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Application Number:
  US08/848,417
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 455/553, 455/552, 455/422, 455/432, 455/436, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90, 455/403, 455/343, 455/38.3, 455/574, 455/426
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• 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

A method and communication device (102) provide multimode communication with multiple autonomous communication systems including a first communication system (104) and a second communication system (106). Resources are dedicated to communication on the respective communication systems. To minimize product cost, resources are shared wherever possible between communication on respective modes. A system supervisor (304) prioritizes, schedules and controls communication between the communication device and the autonomous communication systems.

Claims

1. A method for operating a communication device, the communication device operable on a plurality of communication systems, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing first communication on a first communication system by initiating a communication link between the communication device and the first communication system using a first communication circuit and a shared communication resource of the communication device;

detecting a request to communicate on a second communication system, the second communication system being autonomous from the first communication system;

inactivating the first communication circuit while maintaining the communication link; and

establishing second communication on the second communication system using a second communication circuit and the shared communication resource of the communication device.