Wireless handset communication system

• US 7,103,380 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NetAirus Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Ditzik
• Inventors: Ditzik, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US09/391,966
• Time in Patent Office: 2,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/556, 455/550, 455/557, 455/11.1, 455/569, 455/403, 455/422, 455/462, 455/463, 455/465, 455/568, 455/15, 455/16, 455/41, 455/3.05
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A small light weight modular microcomputer based computer and communications systems, designed for both portability and desktop uses. The systems make use of a relative large flat panel display device assembly (2), an expandable hinge device (10), battery power source (9), keyboard assembly (16), and wireless communications devices (32, 51). The systems are capable of bi-directional realtime communications of voice, audio, text, graphics and video data. Both wire-based or wireless communications methods and devices are implemented. Wireless communications devices may include one or more telephone-like handsets (14) and/or earset (34). The wireless communication devices may include one or more antennae (32). Systems can be configured in a portable arrangement similar to conventional notebook computers, but can be quickly and easily disassembled and re-assembled for office desktop uses. Systems may consist of a base computer unit (100) comprising wireless communication devices may act as a relay station relaying voice and other data between the handset or earset and external wide area communications networks. The system may be capable of performing, personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, conventional notebook computer, desktop computer functions.

Claims

1. A method for handset unit communication comprising the following steps in any order:

a) transmitting first data via wireless communication to a local area communication base unit a relatively short distance away;

b) receiving second data via wireless communication from the local area communication base unit a relatively short distance away;

c) using said handset unit to communicate, selectively, the first and second data to and from the local area communication base unit and to communicate third and fourth data to and from an external wide area network, wherein the communication of the first, second, third and fourth data are not necessarily performed simultaneously, and wherein the transmit power level of the handset unit when transmitting to the local area communication base unit is lower than when transmitting to the external wide area network; and

d) wherein the first and second data include data formatted for computer e-mail.

2. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 1, wherein said handset unit is configured to a personal digital assistant (PDA) having PDA functions in addition to handset unit communication functions.

3. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 1, wherein said handset unit is a cellular telephone unit.

4. The method for handset unit communication recited in claim 1, wherein the handset communicates with multiple handset units or earset units.

5. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 1, wherein said handset unit is adapted to access the Internet.

6. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 1, wherein said handset unit is configured to function as a hands free speakerphone, wherein a user has an option to speak toward a microphone located on the handset unit, wherein the distance from the user'"'"'s mouth is substantially larger than a conventional telephone handset.

14. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless voice and computer data is relayed to the external wide area network by the local area base unit.

7. A method for handset unit communication comprising the following steps in any order:

a) directly communicating bi-directional wireless voice and computer data including wireless data networking communicating data selectively to and from a local area base unit and an external wide area network;

b) transmitting a first wireless radio frequency (RF) signal comprising said data selectively to said local area base unit and to the external wide area network, wherein the data is not necessarily transmitted simultaneously to the local area base unit and to the external wide area network and wherein the first wireless RF signal transmit power level transmitted to the local area base unit is lower than the power level required to transmit the signal to the external wide area network;

c) receiving a second wireless RF signal comprising said data from said local area base unit; and

d) wherein said handset unit data includes data formatted for e-mail.

8. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 7, wherein said handset unit is configured to data networking functions communicating with one or more handset units forming a local area network.

9. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 7, wherein the handset unit is configured to communicate with said external wide area network, wherein the external wide area network is substantially the Internet.

10. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 7, wherein said handset unit communicates with an earset unit.

11. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 7, wherein said handset unit is a wireless cellular telephone unit.

12. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 7, wherein said handset unit is configured to send and receive e-mail via said external wide area network.

13. The method for handset unit communication as recited in claim 7, wherein said handset unit is configured to communicate voice and audio information.