Circuitry for activating a modem in a cellular telephone

• US 6,681,121 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2000
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Airbiquity Incorporated
• Inventors: Preston, Dan A., Preston, Joseph D., Proctor, Rod L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Persino, Raymond B
• Application Number:
  US09/625,159
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/414, 455/456, 455/457, 455/466, 455/550, 455/552, 455/553, 455/556, 455/557, 455/566, 455/569, 455/573, 455/575, 455/90, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/74.1
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A wireless telecommunication device, such as a cell phone, is coupled to a source of digital data which may comprise a GPS receiver. In one embodiment, a GPS receiver and inband signaling modem are integrated into the cell phone battery pack. A pushbutton on the battery pack is actuated by a user to trigger selected events such as formulating location data in the GPS receiver, encoding the location data in the IBS modem and inserting the resulting audio frequency tones into the voice channel of the cell phone for transmission over the voice channel of a digital, wireless telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A cellular telephone comprising:

a microphone for converting audio data into analog audio signals;

voice channel circuitry for encoding signals for transmission over a digital voice channel of a communications network;

a modem for converting digital data into analog digital data tones;

a switching circuit that selectively connects the microphone to the voice channel circuitry for converting the analog audio signals into encoded audio signals or selectively connecting the modem to the voice channel circuitry for converting the analog digital data tones into encoded digital data tones;

a button that activates the switching circuit to switch between the modem and the microphone; and

wherein the button and the modem are located on a cell phone battery pack.

2. A cellular telephone according to claim 1 including a hands free port extending out of the cellular telephone, the hands free port connecting the modem in the battery pack to the switching circuit in the cellular telephone.

3. A cellular telephone comprising:

a microphone for converting audio data into analog audio signals;

voice channel circuitry for encoding signals for transmission over a digital voice channel of a communications network;

a modem for converting digital data into analog digital data tones;

a switching circuit that selectively connects the microphone to the voice channel circuitry for converting the analog audio signals into encoded audio signals or selectively connecting the modem to the voice channel circuitry for converting the analog digital data tones into encoded digital data tones; and

including a menu selection screen on the cellular telephone that controls the switching circuit.

4. A method for transmitting data with a cellular telephone, comprising:

calling a number with the cellular telephone;

establishing a voice connection with the called number over a voice channel in the cellular telephone;

activating a modem in the cellular telephone to convert digital data into data tones; and

activating a switching circuit in the cellular telephone to connect the modem to the voice channel for transmission of the data tones to the called number;

depressing a button on the cellular telephone that automatically activates both the modem and activates the switching circuit to connect the activated modem to the voice channel; and

locating the button and the modem in a cellular telephone battery pack.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein depressing the button enables a global positioning receiver in the cellular telephone to supply the digital data to the modem.

6. A method for transmitting data with a cellular telephone, comprising:

calling a number with the cellular telephone;

establishing a voice connection with the called number over a voice channel in the cellular telephone;

activating a modem in the cellular telephone to convert digital data into data tones;

activating a switching circuit in the cellular telephone to connect the modem to the voice channel for transmission of the data tones to the called number; and

selecting a menu option on the cellular telephone to activate the modem and activate the switching circuit to connect the activated modem to the voice channel.

7. A mobile communication device comprising:

means for converting voice data into voice signals;

means for encoding the voice signals for transmission over a digital audio channel of a communications network;

means for converting digital data into digital data tones;

means for selectively connecting the voice signals to digital audio channel circuitry for converting the voice signals into encoded voice signals for transmission over the digital audio channel or selectively connecting the digital data tones to the digital audio channel circuitry for converting the digital data tones into encoded digital data tones for transmission over the digital audio channel; and

means for activating the connecting means;

wherein the activating means and the means for converting digital data into digital data tones are located in an external device.

8. A device according to claim 7 including means for mechanically attaching the external device to the mobile communications device while at the same time electrically coupling the means for converting digital data into digital data tones to the connecting means.

9. A device according to claim 7 including means for supplying GPS data to the converting means.