GB2482104A

GB2482104A - A portable communications hub having a detachable cellular transceiver and communication ports for connecting devices to the hub

Info

Publication number: GB2482104A
Application number: GB1006932.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hodgson; Matthew Lees
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-26
Filing date: 2010-04-26
Publication date: 2012-01-25
Also published as: GB201006932D0

Abstract

A portable communications hub 10 is provided having a plurality of interconnected communication ports 30, 32, 34 for connection to a telephone, a fax machine and a computer network. Communication over a local cellular network is provided through the communication ports 30, 32, 34 and a detachable transceiver, e.g. wireless dongle 20, connected to a cellular network port 18 with all communication made through the hub 10 being chargeable to a single user account. Additional USB ports 28 may be provided for connecting mice, printers, keyboards, cameras and flash drives to the hub 10. An LCD 22 may be disposed on the top surface of the hub 10 to convey information relating to the communications that pass through the hub 10. The hub 10 facilitates the rapid establishment of office facilities, provided that a cellular network is proximate.

Description

Title: Portable Communications Hub The present invention relates to a portable communications hub and in particular but not exclusively to a portable communications hub for establishing an office environment, for example, on construction sites.

Background to the Invention

In the construction industry, a site office is typically established as a central point from which the site is managed and through which communications are directed.

Daily communication may, for example, involve liaison with suppliers over deliveries, progress updates to the management team, and amendments to the architectural plans by customers. Communication may take the form of emails, faxes and/or telephone calls and therefore such a site office usually requires an electrical power supply, water and a telephone land line.

However, the installation of a telephone land line from a telephone service provider can take between 6 and 8 weeks, which creates problems for the early flow of information around site. Furthermore, whilst some construction companies resort to using mobile or cellular phones for telephone communication or for accessing the internet, other firms prefer the use of fax machines. When there are many parties involved in a construction contract, for example, finns of electricians, plumbers, and builders, tracking and monitoring the cost of a project is difficult without a fully equipped and functioning office.

The aim of the present invention is to substantially overcome these problems and to facilitate the rapid establishment of a cohesive office environment on any site.

Statement of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided portable communications hub comprising a hub housing having a cellular network port, a detachable transceiver adapted to be connected to the hub though the cellular network port for establishing a wireless connection to a cellular network, a plurality of communication ports for connecting one or more communication devices to the hub, and an interface for directing communication between the cellular network port and at least one of the communication ports, in which all chargeable communications passing through the hub are chargeable to a single user account.

The portable communications hub is advantageous because it facilitates the rapid establishment of an office environment on any construction site or temporary site where communications are required. For effective operation, a cellular network connection is required. The hub enables the flow of communication via several types of communications devices to occur at a very early stage of a construction project.

The transceiver, which transmits and receives communications, is detachable because the removal of the transceiver, perhaps overnight, can be used to prevent unauthorised use of the hub. For example, in a secure office, without the transceiver, the risk of confidential information accidentally becoming a part of the public domain upon arrival would be substantially eliminated because the information could not simply be transmitted until such a time as the secure office were ready to receive the information.

The housing, typically a shell, provides a framework upon which the hub components may be arranged. The housing also protects the potentially delicate hub components from environmental damage, such as heat and dust.

The plurality of ports may be used for receiving one or more telephone or fax plugs, thereby permitting multiple and simultaneous use of the hub and its facilities.

The portable communications hub may comprise a smart card smart card through which the cost of each communication is charged. The smart card is typically used to identify the hub to the mobile phone service provider. However, communication with the Emergency Services (e.g. police, fire, coastguard services) globally is often possible without the use of a smart card.

The smart card may be a subscriber identity module (a SIM card') for use with the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular network. The GSM network is the most popular standard for mobile telephony systems in the world. For use globally, it is envisaged that the hub may be compatible with alternative cellular networks and technologies and the smart card is selected as appropriate to the local cellular network.

The smart card may be fax enabled. This facilitates the transmission of faxed documents through the hub.

A display may be disposed on an external surface of the housing. This display may be used to permanently identify the owner(s) of the hub or the name of the construction project in case the hub is moved and becomes misplaced. This is beneficial when there are many contractors working on a particular construction site.

The display may be a liquid crystal display screen. Data or information may be conveyed on the screen, which may be dynamic. In other words, information on the screen can be updated over time, perhaps on a daily or weekly basis. The screen can thus be used as an effective tool in project management.

The display may be adapted to display data relating to the communication that passes through the hub. This enables project or site managers to monitor the duration of communications such as telephone calls, to help improve time management.

The visual display may be adapted to display data stored on the smart card, for example the name of the telephone service provider or the telephone number of the hub. This is beneficial for users of the hub, who do not use the hub on a regular basis as the data or information is readily available.

The visual display may he adapted to display the cost charged to the user account.

This is useful for monitoring the cumulative cost of communications for a project.

This cost information may be itemised for each communication device within the hub, or it may be a total cost. Alternatively, since the user account may belong to an individual project worker, the cost information may be the communication spend due to a particular worker to date in any one financial year or project period.

The visual display may be adapted to display the credit remaining on a user account.

This is advantageous when the communications budget is fixed for a project or period of time and it is important to monitor how much credit remains.

The detachable transceiver may be a wireless dongle. In this anangement, wireless communication between the hub and the cellular network is via a proximate mobile phone handset. The wireless dongle also can be used to transfer data wirelessly between one of more of the communication devices in a conventional manner.

The wireless dongle may be a broadband wireless dongle. This arrangement is desirable as it facilitates a direct connection to the cellular network, obviating the need for a proximate mobile phone handset. Such a dongle is also useful for accessing the internet and typically avoids the need for a separate smart card because the unique identification of the user is stored within the dongle.

The hub may comprise a router integral to the hub. Having a router is useful as it assists the traffic of data between a network of communication devices and the cellular phone network. Furthermore, the router means that more than one local area network may take advantage of the benefits of the hub. Having the router in-built with the hub avoids the need for a separate router, thereby saving space in use.

The router may be operable wirelessly, making for a safer working environment due to the lack of wires as possible trip hazards. Furthermore, having a wireless router is convenient particularly for visiting contractors, who have Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops and printers. Such Wi-Fi devices can wirelessly connect to the hub, and accessing the internet via the wireless network created by using a wireless router.

The hub may comprise a detachable memory device. This may beneficially act as an additional data store for data produced by any of the communication devices.

At least one of the plurality of communication ports may be a USB port for facilitating connection of a USB device to the hub. Many peripheral devices such as pen drives' or mp3 devices connect to computers, either desktops or laptops, via USB ports. At least one USB port is convenient as so many electronic devices are connectable using USB ports.

At least one of the plurality of communication ports is adapted for connection to a local area network having at least one node. A computer network can thus be established on site, with all appliances or nodes on that network being able to communicate with all the other communication devices or nodes on the network.

Multiple users can then access the internet using one internet connection, and charge a single telephone number.

At least one node may be a printer. At least one node may be a computer. At least one node may be a scanner.

At least one of the plurality of communication ports may be adapted for connection to a photocopier. The cost of photocopying may then be captured by the hub.

The hub may be adapted to be powered by an AC mains power supply or a DC power supply.

Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of portable communications hub in one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the hub of Figure 1 as part of a communications network;

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a portable communications hub is indicated generally at 10. The hub 10 includes a housing 12, which is typically a rectangular shell having four substantially vertical and planar sidewalls 14, and a substantially planar top surface 16 perpendicular to and adjoining an upper edge of the hub sidewalls 14. A cellular network port 18 is provided on the top surface 16 of the housing 12. A detachable transceiver 20 for establishing a wireless connection to a cellular network is connected to the cellular network port 18. The detachable transceiver 20 in this arrangement is a commonly available broadband wireless dongle, available from a number of mobile phone service providers. It has inbuilt user identification. A rectangular liquid crystal display (LCD) 22 is disposed on the top surface 16 of the hub 10, and is adapted to convey information relating to the communications that pass through the hub 10. This information may be dynamic and regularly updated. A further display area 24 is located adjacent to the LCD display 22.

An antenna 26 of a wireless router is also disposed on the top surface 16 of the hub 10. This enables computers in the vicinity of the hub 10 to wirelessly connect to the hub 10, and then to take advantage of the hub facilities, such as printing or scanning, or roaming the internet using the hub user account.

The housing 12 also accommodates three vertically aligned USB ports 28 on one of the hub sidewalls 14. These USB ports 28 are useful for connecting USB devices, such as mice, printers, digital keyboards, digital cameras, and flash drives, to the hub 10. Three further ports are provided on a sidewall of the hub: a telephone socket 30 is provided for connection to a telephone handset; a network port 32 is provided for connection to a computer network; and a fax socket 34 is provided for connection to a fax machine. Two additional network ports 32 are provided on a second hub sidewall 14. Electrical power to the hub is achieved by means of mains electricity through a conventional 3-pin plug 36. However, a battery may be used within the hub 10 either to replace the mains power source or as an emergency back-up. The housing 12 also accommodates a fax-enabled SIM card (not shown).

The hub 10 may also comprise an adapter intermediate the telephone or fax sockets and the wireless dongle, for facilitating VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) or FoIP (Fax over Internet Protocol) communication respectively. This arrangement is convenient because users may benefit from internet based telephone service providers and initiate telephone calls or send/receive faxes over the internet. This may lead to reduced communication costs.

In use, as indicated in Figure 2, office facilities may be rapidly established using a portable communications hub 10. For example, a fax machine 38, a telephone handset 40 and a local computer network 42 are individually connected into the hub via communication ports 34, 30, 32 respectively. In order to make a telephone call using the hub 10, the telephone handset 40 is connected through the hub 10 to the wireless dongle 20, which wirelessly connects the telephone handset 40 to a proximate telephone network 44, thereby enabling a conversation. The cost of the telephone call is charged to the user account associated with the wireless dongle 20. Faxes are sent and received through the hub 10 in a similar manner, charging the same user account.

If sent over the internet, faxes may be delivered either to an analogue fax machine or as an email attachment using an efax' service provider. Computers connected to the hub via the local computer network 42 may access the internet with the associated cost also being charged to the same user account. When other peripheral devices 46, such as printers, scanners and photocopiers are connected to the local computer network 42, the office is enhanced.

The portable communications hub is ideal for the rapid establishment of office facilities because it avoids the lengthy delays due to installation of telephone land lines experienced during the establishment of a normal office. Such an office may be established anywhere where there is a cellular network. The hub is versatile as it permits communication through a telephone, a fax machine, a computer or computer network or any USB device, via the local cellular network, with all communications made through the hub chargeable to a single user account. Scanners, printers and photocopiers may also all be connected to the hub.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A portable communications hub comprising a hub housing having a cellular network port, a detachable transceiver adapted to be connected to the hub though the cellular network port for establishing a wireless connection to a cellular network, a plurality of communication ports for connecting one or more communication devices to the hub, and an interface for directing communication between the cellular network port and at least one of the communication ports, in which all chargeable communications passing through the hub are chargeable to a single user account.
2. A portable communications hub according to claim 1, further comprising a smart card through which the cost of each communication is charged.
3. A portable communications hub according to claim 2, in which the smart card is fax enabled.
4. A portable communications hub according to claim 2 or 3, in which the smart card is a SIM card for use with the GSM cellular network.
5. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, in which a display is disposed on an external surface of the housing.
6. A portable communications hub according to claim 5, in which the display is a liquid ciystal display screen.
7. A portable communications hub according to claim S or 6, in which the display is adapted to display data relating to the communication that passes through the hub.
8. A portable communications hub according to any one of claims 5 to 7, in which the display is adapted to display data stored on the smart card.
9. A portable communications hub according to any one of claims 5 to 8, in which the display is adapted to display the cost charged to the user account.
10. A portable communications hub according to any one of claims 5 to 9, in which the display is adapted to display the credit remaining on a user account.
11. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, in which the detachable transceiver is a wireless dongle.
12. A portable communications hub according to claim 11, in which the wireless dongle is a broadband wireless dongle.
13. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, further comprising a router integral to the hub.
14. A portable communications hub according to claim 13, in which the router is operable wirelessly.
15. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, further comprising a detachable memory device.
16. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, in which at least one of the plurality of communication ports is a USB port for facilitating connection of a USB device to the hub.
17. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, in which at least one of the plurality of communication ports is adapted for connection to a local area network having at least one node.
18. A portable communications hub according to claim 17, in which the at least one node is a printer.
19. A portable communications hub according to claim 17, in which the at least one node is a computer.
20. A portable communications hub according to claim 17, in which the at least one node is a scanner.
21. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, in which at least one of the plurality of communication ports is adapted for connection to a photocopier.
22. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, in which the hub is adapted to be powered by an AC mains power supply or a DC power supply.
23. A portable communications hub substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows.CLAIMS1. A portable communications hub comprising a hub housing using a cellular network via a wireless broadband dongle, a plurality of communication ports for connecting one or more communication devices to the hub, and an interface for directing communication, in which all chargeable communications passing through the hub are chargeable to a single user account via the smart card.2. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, in which the detachable transceiver is a wireless dongle.3. A portable communications hub according to claim 2, in which the wireless dongle is a broadband wireless dongle.4. A portable communications hub according to any preceding claim, further comprising a router integral to the hub.5. A portable communications hub according to claim 4, in which the router is operable wirelessly. * * *I.* 6. A portable communications hub substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. ** * * * * * *0 **. .*. * S ** ** *� * * .S **.S