A laptop device includes a personal computer, a cellular transceiver, a speakerphone, and a hybrid communications control unit. The device has connectors for attaching a headset, cellular control unit, land telephone line, and additional speakers and microphones. The micro-processor-controlled hybrid communications control unit includes a modem, a data access arrangement, and a tone generator as well as digital, analog, and power switches. The hybrid communications control unit switches the communications components and provides, under program control, the proper protocols, level, and impedance matching to connect the modem, speakerphone, headset, speaker/microphone, or cellular control unit to the landline or to the cellular network via the transceiver. Matching and switching operations are automatic and transparent to the user. The unit can also connect two of the terminal devices or connect the cellular and landlines for call relaying. The device is capable of connecting plural calls at the same time. The hybrid communications control unit may be controlled by its internal firmware, by toggle switches, or by commands issued from the personal computer.

Portable hybrid communication system and methods

A device and method of providing wireless communications is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes determining that a plurality of wireless networks are concurrently available to provide wireless communication for a telephone device wherein the plurality of wireless networks include different types of networks, selecting one of the plurality of wireless networks based, at least in part, one or more rules, establishing a first wireless communication link with a remote device via the selected network, and wherein the one or more rules are configured to reduce a cost of communicating data. Other embodiments may include various other selection criteria for selecting a network such as, for example, the available bandwidth of one or more of the networks and the type of data to be communicated.

Portable communications device and method

The cellular telephone data communication system and method involves the use of a mobile data processing interface and a cooperating static data processing interface to effectively transmit data over a cellular telephone system. Each data processing interface includes a processor which operates in the transmitting mode to add an error control correction data format to data received from an external data source. The data is divided into packets and provided to a modem which is uniquely operated to eliminate the action of the modem scramble system and to remain active in spite of a carrier signal loss. The modem is deactivated or disconnected by a disconnect signal from the processor, and when carrier signal loss occurs, this disconnect signal is provided only after the lapse of a delay period without the resumption of the carrier signal. The error control correction data format causes a receiver to evaluate the received data for error and to retransmit an acknowledgment signal for each acceptable packet of received data. In the absence of an acknowledgment signal, the processor will again provide a data packet to the modem for retransmission. Also, the processor will determine the frequency of error in the received data from the acknowledgment signals and subsequently adjust the data packet size in accordance with this error frequency.

Cellular telephone data communication system and method

A system for connecting a computer to both cellular and landline telephone systems is disclosed. A cellular modem has a single RJ-11 jack for interfacing either to a landline jack or to a signal processing cable connected to a cellular transceiver. The analog data transmission signals of the modem, which are compatible with landline "tip" and "ring" lines, are provided on the third and fourth pins of the RJ-11 connector. When the modem is to be used as a landline modem, the RJ-11 connector is connected directly to a standard landline telephone jack using an ordinary modular telephone wire. When used with a cellular transceiver, the modem generates transceiver operation commands according to a predefined generic command language which is not specific to a particular transceiver. The generic commands are transmitted in serial digital form on the fifth terminal of the RJ-11 connector. The signal processing cable acknowledges the commands received via a serial digital signal transmitted to the second terminal of the RJ-11 connector. The signal processing cable then transmits control signals to the transceiver, with the signals being appropriate to the type of cellular transceiver used, to produce the function requested by the modem's universal command.

System and method for interfacing computers to diverse telephone networks

A system including a portable computer with a central processing unit and associated software, and a modem with an output jack carrying data transmit (TX), data receive (RX), tip, ring, and programmable digital input/output (DIO) lines sufficient to facilitate control of a large number of alternative telephone access devices. The operation and functions of the tip, ring, TX, RX and programmable DIO lines are controlled in a preferred embodiment by software in the modem under the control of the software in the computer. In a preferred embodiment, a user operates the software in the computer to specify a type or model of telephone access device being used with the modem, and the RX, TX, tip and ring lines are rendered either operable or inoperable, and a required subset of the programmable DIO lines are caused to operate in a manner necessary to achieve interactive control of an attached telephone access device.

Programmable universal interface system

A facsimile machine including a data processing system for processing data to be transmitted and received data according to a predetermined manner, which system typically comprises a MODEM, a buffer and a CODEC. The facsimile machine includes two or more interface units dedicated for performing a wire communication function for communicating image data in a wire communication mode using a telephone network and a radio communication function for communicating image data in a radio or wireless communication mode using radio waves. The radio/wire switchable facsimile machine includes a switch which switchingly establishes the wire mode or the radio mode. In one embodiment, the switch is manually operated. In a second embodiment the switch automatically establishes either one of the wire and radio modes in accordance with the current status of a predetermined signal, typically an off-hook signal, which indicates whether the handset of a telephone unit is hooked or unhooked or whether the microphone of a radio set is hooked or unhooked.

Shuichi Takahashi

Papers

Dual connection mode equipped communication control apparatus