Wireless packet data communication apparatus and method

• US 6,278,706 B1
• Filed: 04/03/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Opuswave Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Opuswave Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Gibbs, Benjamin Kendrick, Bilgic, Izzet Murat, Mansfield, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Qureshi, Afsar M.
• Application Number:
  US09/055,110
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/349, 370/353, 370/355, 370/352, 370/401, 370/465, 375/222
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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 for establishing wireless communication comprising transmitting a request signal indicative of a request to establish communication with an external device external to a wireless communication device; determining at the wireless communication device based upon the request signal whether the external device communicates using a packet transmission protocol or a circuit switched transmission protocol; and if said external device communicates using a packet transmission protocol, transmitting subsequent communications from the wireless communication device directed to the external device using the packet transmission protocol.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a data terminal adapter that communicates to an external device using a first protocol; and

a mobile subsystem that communicates with said data terminal adapter and that communicates to an external device using a second protocol; and

a decoder;

wherein said mobile substystem receives a request signal comprising a request to establish communication with said external device and determines whether said external device communicates using said first protocol or said second protocol using said decoder.

2. A wireless communication device comprising:

a data terminal adapter that communicates to an external device using a first protocol;

a mobile subsystem that communicates with said data terminal adapter and that communicates to an external device using a second protocol;

wherein said mobile subsystem receives a request signal comprising a request to establish communication with said external device and determines whether said external device communicates using said first protocol or said second protocol;

said request signal comprising a telecommunications number and wherein said mobile subsystem comprises a number decoder that determines whether said external device communicates using said second protocol based upon said telecommunications number.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 2 wherein said number decoder comprises a network address and wherein said number decoder determines the network address associated with said external device by said telecommunications number.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 2 further comprising a processing device wherein said processing device communicates with wireless communication device across a single interface whether said wireless communication device communicates using said first protocol or said second protocol.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 4 wherein said processing device comprises a single client for communicating with said wireless communication device whether said wireless device communicates using said first protocol or said second protocol.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 2 wherein said mobile subsystem further comprises a subscriber identity module.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 2 further comprising a processing device that operates user applications.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 7 wherein said user applications comprise an e-mail application and world-wide web browser.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 2 wherein said external device comprises a network that communicates with said wireless communication device utilizing an internet protocol.

10. A wireless communication device comprising:

a switch comprising a first input, a second input, a first output and a second output, said switch coupling said first input to said first output or to said second output in response to a signal received at said second input;

a packet server comprising an input and an output, said input of said packet server coupled to said first output of said switch;

a data terminal adapter comprising an input and an output, said input of said data terminal adapter coupled to said second output terminal of said switch;

a transceiver coupled to said output of said data terminal adapter and to said output of said packet server; and

a decoder comprising an input and an output said output of said decoder coupled to said second input of said switch, wherein when said decoder receives a signal indicative of a request for connection to a service capable of communicating using packet transmission protocols said decoder provides a signal at said output of said decoder instructing said switch to couple said first input of said switch to said first output of said switch.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 10 further comprising a port coupled to said first input of said switch.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11 further comprising a computer having an output coupled to an input of said port.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 10 wherein said data terminal adapter communicates using an AT protocol.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein said decoder comprises a database, said database containing a plurality of service numbers each corresponding to a service capable of communicating using a packet transmission protocol, wherein said signal indicative of a request for connection to a service capable of communicating using a packet transmission protocol comprises a telecommunications number and said decoder determines whether said telecommunications number corresponds to a telecommunications number for a service capable of communicating using a packet transmission protocol.

15. The wireless unit of claim 14 wherein said database further comprises a network address associated with each telecommunications number corresponding to a service capable of communicating using a packet transmission protocol.

16. A device capable of wireless communication using packet transmission protocols and circuit switched transmission protocols comprising:

a first subsystem that operates user applications and issues a request to connect to a service external to said device;

a second subsystem that receives said request to said service and determines using a decoder whether said service is capable of communicating using a packet transmission protocol, if said service is capable of communicating using said packet transmission protocol said second subsystem communicating with said service using said packet transmission protocol and if said service is not capable of communicating using a packet transmission protocol said second subsystem communicating with said service using a circuit switched transmission protocol; and

a third subsystem that communicates with said second subsystem, said third subsystem communicating information indicative of access rights available to said device in communicating with said service.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said first subsystem comprises a mobile application subsystem, said second subsystem comprises a subscriber unit and said third system comprises a subscriber identity module.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said subscriber unit subsystem comprises a subscriber unit data terminal subsystem and a subscriber unit mobile subsystem, wherein said subscriber unit mobile subsystem communicates utilizing a packet transmission protocol and said subscriber unit data terminal subsystem communicates using a circuit switched protocol.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein said subscriber identity module comprises at least one telecommunications number and a network address associated with said at least one telecommunications number.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein said second subsystem comprises a number decoder and wherein said request comprising telecommunications number, said number decoder determining whether said telecommunications number corresponds to a service capable of communicating utilizing a packet transmission protocol.

21. The device of claim 16 wherein said first subsystem comprises a first internet address and said second subsystem comprises a second internet address, and wherein a message transmitted in a packet transmission protocol comprises said second internet address and wherein a message transmitted in a packet transmission protocol from said second subsystem to said first subsystem comprises said second internet address.

22. The device of claim 16 wherein said third subsystem comprises a function of said second subsystem.