Systems and methods for a multi-platform wireless modem

• US 7,024,223 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Wietfeldt, Richard Dominic
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US10/091,953
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/558, 455/95, 455/39, 455/41.2, 455/507, 709/200, 709/217, 709/237, 709/221, 709/228, 332/101, 332/119, 332/109, 329/311, 329/312, 375/130, 375/219, 375/222
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits

Abstract

A standard interface for interfacing a wireless modem assembly with a host device comprises a primary serial interface, a secondary serial interface, and a differential serial interface for supporting communication between the wireless modem assembly and the host device. The standard interface can be implemented in a standardized connector, such as a 70-pin connector having unused pins for future feature expansion. The standard interface also provides for other interfaces including, for example, power, modem status, audio, voice, general purpose input/output, and subscriber identification.

Claims

1. A wireless modem, comprising:

a standard wireless modem assembly including a standard interface for interfacing the wireless modem assembly with a host device, the standard interfacing including

a primary serial interface configured to support data communication between the host device and the wireless modem assembly;

a secondary serial interface configured to support data communication between the host device and the wireless modem assembly or to support data communication internal to the wireless modem assembly; and

a differential serial interface configured to support data communication between the host device and the wireless modem assembly using a differential signal pair; and

a core module configured to be removably secured in the standard wireless modem assembly;

the core module including a radio frequency section configured for interfacing the wireless modem to other devices over a wireless communication channel and a baseband section configured for communication information between the host device and the other devices, the core module further being configured to communicate with the host device through the standard interface.

2. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises comprising a power interface and a ground interface to the wireless modem assembly.

3. The standard interface of claim 2, wherein the power interface supports LVTTL signaling.

4. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises a wireless modem assembly status interface.

5. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises at least one ADC input to the wireless modem assembly.

6. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises a power standby input to the wireless modem assembly.

7. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises a JTAG interface.

8. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises a plurality of GPIO.

9. The wireless modem of claim 8, wherein the second serial interface is mutlitplexed with at least one of the plurality of GPIO interfaces.

10. The wireless modem of claim 9, wherein the SIM interface comprises a SIM-DATA, SIM-CLK, SIM-RESET, SIM-REMOVED, and SIM-VCC signals.

11. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises a SIM interface configured to support data communication between the host device and a SIM card included in the wireless modem assembly.

12. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises comprising an audio interface configured to provide a buzzer output to the host device, a speaker output to the host device, a microphone input to the wireless modem assembly, and a digital voice interface between the host device and the wireless modem assembly.

13. The wireless modem of claim 12, wherein the speaker output comprises a differential signal pair.

14. The wireless modem of claim 12, wherein the microphone input comprises a differential signal pair.

15. The wireless modem of claim 12, wherein the digital voice input comprises a DV-CLK, DV-FRAME, DV-TXDATA, and DV-RXDATA signals.

16. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises comprising a sleep mode indicator output to the host device configured to indicate where the wireless modem assembly is on or off.

17. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises a power mode indicator output to the host device configured to indicate whether the wireless modem assembly is in a sleep mode.

18. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface further comprises a wake up input to the wireless modem assembly configured to interface a wakeup signal to the wireless modem assembly.

19. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the primary serial interface is optionally included if the differential serial interface is included in the standard interface.

20. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the primary serial interface supports a maximum data rate of 115 Kbps.

21. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the primary serial interface is a universal serial interface that includes a TXD, RXD, CTS, RTS, DTR, and DSR signals.

22. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the primary serial interface supports a maximum data rate of 2.5 Mbps.

23. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the primary serial interface supports a minimum data rate of 38.4 kbps.

24. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the secondary serial interface is a universal serial bus interface comprising a TXD2 and RXD2 a signals.

25. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the secondary serial interface supports a maximum data rate of 115 Kbps.

26. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the secondary serial interface supports a maximum data rate of 38.4 Kbps.

27. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the differential serial interface supports a maximum data rate of 2.5 Mbps.

28. The wireless modem of claim 1, wherein the standard interface is implemented in a 70-pin connector.

29. A wireless modem, comprising:

a standard wireless modem assembly including a standard interface, the standard interface including;

a basic function interface configured to provide at least one serial data communication interface between a host device and a wireless modem assembly;

a SIM interface configured to provide a data communication interface between the host device and a SIM card included in the wireless modem assembly; and

an audio interface between the host device and the wireless modem assembly; and

a core module configured to be removably secured in the standard wireless modem assembly;

the core module including a radio frequency section configured for interfacing the wireless modem to other devices over a wireless communication channel and a baseband section configured for communication information between the host device and the other devices, the core module further being configured to communicate with the host device through the standard interface.

30. The wireless modem of claim 29, wherein the basic function interface further comprises a power and a ground interface to the wireless modem assembly, a wireless modem assembly status interface, at least one ADC input to the wireless modem assembly, a power standby input to the wireless modem assembly, a JTAG interface between the host device and the wireless modem assembly, and a plurality of GIPO inputs/outputs between the host device and the wireless modem assembly.

31. The wireless modem of claim 30, wherein the power interface comprises:

a power indicator output to the host device configured to indicate whether the wireless modem assembly is on or off;

a sleep mode indicator output to the host device configured to indicate whether the wireless assembly is in sleep mode; and

a wake up input to the wireless modem assembly configured to the interface a wakeup signal to the wireless modem assembly.

32. The wireless modem of claim 30, wherein the secondary serial interface is multiplexed with at least one of the plurality of GPIO.

33. The wireless modem of claim 30, wherein the differential serial interface support a maximum data rate of 2.5 Mbps.

34. The wireless modem of claim 29, wherein the audio interface is configured to provide a buzzer output to the host device, a speaker to the host device, a microphone input to the wireless modem assembly, and a digital voice interface.

35. The wireless modem of claim 29 wherein the basic function interface further comprises:

a primary serial interface configured to support data communication between the host device and the wireless modem assembly;

a secondary serial interface configured to support data communication between the host device and the wireless modem assembly or to support data communication internal to the wireless modem assembly; and

an optional differential serial interface configured to support data communication between the host device and the wireless modem assembly using a differential signal pair.

36. The wireless modern standard interface of claim 35, wherein the primary serial interface is optionally included if the differential serial interface is included in the standard interface.

37. The wireless modem of claim 35, wherein the primary serial interface supports a maximum data rate of up to 2.5 Mbps if the differential serial interface is not included and a maximum data rate of 115 Kpbs if the differential serial interface is included.

38. The wireless modem of claim 35, wherein the primary serial interface supports a minimum data rate of 38.4 Kbps.

39. The wireless modem of claim 35, wherein the secondary serial interface is a universal serial bus interface comprising a TXD2 and a RXD2 signals.

40. The wireless modem of claim 35, wherein the secondary serial interface supports a maximum data rate of 115 Kbps.

41. The wireless modem of claim 35, wherein the secondary serial interface supports a minimum data rate of 38.4 Kbps.

42. The wireless modem of claim 29, wherein the SIM interface comprises a SIM-DATA, a SIM-CLK, a SIM-RESET, a SIM-REMOVED, and a SIM-VCC signals.

43. The wireless modem of claim 29, wherein the standard interface is implemented in a 70-pin connector.

44. The wireless modem of claim 43, wherein the connector includes unused pins for future feature expansion.