JPH11103331A - Function extension card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a function extension card by which a personal computer connects even to a LAN and is configured to make data communication with another personal computer at a remote place through the use of a portable telephone set. SOLUTION: The function extension card is provided with a LAN function circuit 1 that connects a personal computer PC2 connecting to the function extension card C to a local area network, a portable telephone data communication function circuit 2 connecting to a portable telephone set WT making data communication with a radio base station 20 and a composite function multiplex control circuit 3 that operates selectively or simultaneously the LAN function circuit 1 and the portable telephone data communication function circuit 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal function expansion card, and more particularly to a function expansion card connected to a local area network and a portable telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable telephones have become widespread, and portable telephones provided with a data connection connector at a rear end or a side thereof capable of performing data communication have become widespread.

It is required to connect a computer, for example, a portable personal computer to another wireless terminal or a local area network using a wireless terminal capable of performing such data communication.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 7-212814 (hereinafter referred to as prior art document) discloses an antenna, a radio unit, a radio control unit, a call control unit, a suspension control unit, as shown in FIG. It shows that a connection device having an interface unit is provided to connect to a wired LAN, and that a wireless unit relays a wireless base station to connect a wireless terminal to a wired LAN.

[0005]

As described above, it is necessary for the connection device described in this prior art to be provided with a radio unit, a radio control unit, a call control unit, a relay control unit, an interface unit, and the like. Yes, it is a large stationary device, so it is not portable and cannot be used anywhere other than where this connection device is installed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to use a portable telephone such as a portable telephone or a personal handy phone (PHS) and connect a function expansion card between the portable telephone and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer). End-users can freely select a personal computer connected to a LAN or a remote PC from a personal computer without using a large stationary device, or can access this LAN from a remote PC. It is.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a function expansion card includes a local area network function circuit 1, a portable telephone data communication function circuit 2, Is provided, and is connected between the mobile phone WT and the personal computer PC2. Of course, the mobile phone WT is intended for a mobile phone provided with a data communication terminal.

[0008] The personal computer PC2 has a multitask control unit 4 for simultaneously controlling interrupt requests from a plurality of input devices.
, LAN communication processing unit 6-1 and mobile phone connection processing unit 6
-2 is provided, and the LAN function circuit 1 and the cellular phone data communication function circuit 2 are selectively selected via the connection device control unit 6 according to an input from the user interface 7, or It can be operated at the same time.

For example, when transmitting data from the personal computer PC2 to a personal computer on the local area network LAN, the user selects and inputs an item to be transmitted to the local area network LAN from a menu on the user interface 7 of the personal computer PC2. . Thereby, the LAN communication processing unit 6-1 of the connection device control unit 6 is operated, and the LAN function circuit 1 is operated by the multifunction control circuit 3 via the multitask control unit 4.

When the personal computer PC2 sends the data to be transmitted by the user from the device data input / output control section 5 to the multifunction multiplex control circuit 3, the LAN function circuit 1 converts the data into LAN data and converts the data to LAN data. To the local area network LAN. When a destination is added to the transmission data, the destination personal computer connected to the local area network LAN receives it. If there is no destination, all the personal computers having the same protocol as the personal computer PC2 receive it.

When performing data communication from the personal computer PC2 to the remote personal computer PC1, the user selects and inputs a mobile phone communication item from a menu on the user interface 7 of the personal computer PC2. Thereby, the mobile phone connection processing section 6-2 for performing the connection processing with the mobile phone of the connection device control section 6 is operated, and the multitask control section 4 is operated.
The portable telephone data communication function circuit 2 is operated by the multifunction multiplex control circuit 3 via.

Thus, when the user inputs the telephone number of the telephone to which the personal computer PC1 he / she wants to transmit is connected through the user interface 7 and sends the transmission data from the device data input / output control unit 5 to the multifunction multiplex control circuit 3, The mobile phone data communication function circuit 2 operates to call-control the mobile phone, and temporarily stores the transmission data in a buffer. When the mobile phone WT is connected to the personal computer PC1 via the wireless base station 20, the data held in the mobile phone data communication function circuit 2 is transferred to the personal computer WT via the mobile phone WT and the wireless base station 20. PC1
Sent to

When data communication is performed from a remote personal computer PC1 to a personal computer connected to a local area network LAN, the personal computer PC2 is operated in advance, and the LAN function circuit 1 and the portable telephone data communication function are transmitted from the user interface 7 to the personal computer PC2. If the circuit 2 is controlled to be in the operating state, data communication can be performed from the personal computer PC1 to the local area network LAN.

As described above, according to the present invention, the LAN function circuit 1 and the cellular phone data communication function circuit 2 are provided in the function expansion card.
And the multifunction multiplexing control circuit 3 selectively controls one of the LAN function circuit 1 and the mobile phone data communication function circuit 2 to an operation state or controls both of them to an operation state. Selectively perform data communication between a personal computer connected to the card and a remote computer or a personal computer connected to a local area network, or perform local area communication connected to this function expansion card. Data communication can be performed between a personal computer connected to the network and a remote personal computer.

[0015]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be explained based on FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the function expansion card of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the present invention.

In the figure, WT is a mobile phone, C is a function expansion card, PC is a personal computer, LAN is a local area network, 1 is a LAN function circuit, 2 is a mobile phone data communication function circuit, and 3 is a multifunction multiple control circuit. 4 is a multitask control unit, 5 is a device data input / output control unit, 6 is a connected device control unit, 7 is a user interface, and 8 is a CP.
U and 9 are main memories and 10 is a hard disk drive.

The mobile phone WT performs wireless data communication with the wireless base station 20 and is a mobile phone or a personal handy phone having an interface such as a data communication terminal. A radio unit 11 having a transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting and receiving, for example, a 1 MHz data output signal of 1 GHz or 2 GHz
To a transmission frequency signal, or 1GHz or 2G
A wireless control unit 12 converts a received signal of 1 Hz into a data signal of 1 MHz, a call control unit 13 for performing call control for making a call to a communication destination, and the like.

The function expansion card C is, for example, for expanding the functions of a personal computer.
A network such as a network is connected to the LAN, and data communication with a remote PC 1 is enabled via a mobile phone. The function expansion card C includes a LAN function circuit 1, a mobile phone data communication function circuit 2, and a multifunction multiplex control circuit 3.

The LAN function circuit 1 connects the personal computer PC2 to L
.. Connected to the LAN to communicate with personal computers PC3-0, PC3-1,... Connected to the LAN. A data transmission / reception unit 1-0 which converts an analog signal into a digital signal at the time of reception, and converts, for example, 16-bit parallel personal computer data into LAN serial data at the time of transmission or reception. In the case of, the reverse conversion is performed or LA
It has a LAN data / frame processing unit 1-1 for performing frame processing for N frames and managing collision between transmission data and reception data, and a memory buffer 1-2 for temporarily storing transmission / reception data. .

The portable telephone data communication function circuit 2 is connected to the portable telephone WT and sends data from the personal computer PC2 to the remote personal computer PC1, or is transmitted from the remote personal computer PC1 via the portable telephone WT. It transmits and receives data to and from the mobile phone WT, and controls the conversion of 8-bit parallel data from the wireless data processing unit 2-1 to wireless serial data and vice versa. The data communication interface unit 2-0 performs conversion of wireless data received from the mobile phone WT into an 8-bit parallel data format that can be decoded by the personal computer PC2, and conversely, transmits data from the personal computer PC2 to the mobile phone WT. 8-bit data excluding unnecessary wireless data unique to personal computers in data A wireless data processing unit 2-1 for converting or its inverse in data, and includes a memory buffer 2-2.

The wireless data processing unit 2-1 is constituted by a processor such as a microprocessor. The multiple function multiplex control circuit 3 selectively operates the LAN function circuit 1 and the mobile phone data communication function circuit 2 or simultaneously operates both of them, and is used for the personal computer PC2 when transmitting wirelessly from the personal computer PC2. A communication port interface 3-1 for converting the 16-bit parallel data into 8-bit parallel data and for performing the reverse conversion,
Among the data for the personal computer PC2, the computer system interface 3-2 for outputting the data for the LAN as, for example, the 16-bit parallel signal, and either the LAN function circuit 1 or the cellular phone data communication function circuit 2 according to an instruction from the personal computer PC2. A multifunction multiplex control unit 3-3 for controlling one or both of them to an operation state is provided.

The function expansion card C further includes a personal computer interface C-0 which is an interface with the personal computer PC2. The personal computer PC2 to which the function expansion card C is connected is provided with the multitask control unit 4 capable of controlling multiple interrupts for a plurality of interrupt signals such as an interrupt from a keyboard and an interrupt from a mouse, and the personal computer PC2. When receiving interrupt signals input from a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, these signals are transmitted to the multitask control unit 4 or the personal computer PC2.
The device data input / output control unit 5 for outputting output data from the PC to the function expansion card C side, and the LAN communication processing unit 6-1 which is a LAN application for performing connection control according to the data when sending the data to the LAN. A connection device control unit 6 that performs communication processing based on a mobile phone connection processing unit 6-2, which is a mobile phone connection application that performs connection control according to the communication process when transmitting to a mobile phone, a personal computer keyboard, A user interface 7 such as a mouse and a display screen is provided. The multitask control unit 4 can use a multitask OS such as Windows NT (registered trademark). The personal computer PC2 includes a processor 8 such as a microprocessor for controlling the entire personal computer PC2, a main memory 9, a hard disk drive 10 as an auxiliary storage device, and the like.

Next, using the personal computer PC2 using the function expansion card of the present invention, (1) the personal computer PC2
A description will be given of a case where data is transmitted / received to / from a personal computer above, (2) a case where data is transmitted from a personal computer PC2 to a remote personal computer PC1, and a case where (3) data is transmitted from a remote personal computer PC4 to a personal computer PC3 on a LAN. I do.

(1) When the personal computer PC2 transmits and receives data to and from the personal computer PC3 on the LAN When the user displays a menu on the display of the personal computer PC2 and transmits data to the personal computer on the LAN connected to the function expansion card C Is input from the user interface 7 by selecting a LAN transmission / reception item.

With this selection, the user interface 7 selects the LAN communication processing unit 6-1 from the connection device control unit 6 and performs an operation based on the LAN application.
As a result, the LAN function circuit 1 is activated by the multifunction control circuit 3 of the function expansion card C via the multitask control unit 4 and the device data input / output control unit 5.

Then, in the personal computer PC2, the transmission data created by the user in advance is read out from the main memory 9, and the device data input / output control unit 5 transmits the data to the personal computer PC2.
A code indicating that this is an output is added, and the data is output in the format of personal computer data.

This transmission data is transmitted to the LAN function circuit 1 via the multiplex function control circuit 3, and is converted into serial data for LAN by the LAN data / frame processing unit 1-1 and subjected to framing processing. Data transmission / reception unit 1
The data is converted into analog data from −0 and transmitted to the LAN. Then, the data is received by a personal computer having the same protocol as the personal computer PC2 among the personal computers connected to the LAN. Of course, an address can be given to specify the personal computer to be received.

When receiving data transmitted from the LAN, the user selects a LAN transmission / reception item from the menu via the user interface 7 in the same manner as described above, and operates the LAN application by the connection device controller 6 in the same manner as described above. LAN function circuit 1 of function expansion card C
To the operating state.

The personal computer PC3 whose protocol matches that of the personal computer PC2 among the personal computers connected on the LAN.
When the LAN function circuit 1 receives the data from −0, the LAN function circuit 1 converts the serial bit data into, for example, 16-bit parallel data for the personal computer PC 2, and transmits this to the personal computer PC 2 via the multifunction multiplex control circuit 3. Send out. The device data input / output control unit 5 converts this data into data that can be processed by the personal computer PC2, adds an address for recognizing the personal computer PC3-0 as the transmission source, and outputs the data. Is stored.

Thereafter, when the user selects a received data output item from the screen of the personal computer PC2 by using, for example, a mouse, the multitask control unit 4 detects an interrupt from this mouse and performs a process for another interrupt. Even at this time, the processing for this is performed in parallel in a time-division manner, and the directory indicating the transmission source of the received data held in the hard disk drive 10 is displayed on the display screen of the personal computer PC2.

In order for the user to specifically view the received content, the user performs a log-in process from the screen and then performs a data copy process, so that the received content can be output on the display screen.

(2) When data is transmitted from the personal computer PC2 to the remote personal computer PC1 When a user displays a menu on the display of the personal computer PC2 and selects a mobile phone communication item, the data is input from the user interface 7.

With this selection, the user interface 7 is switched from the connection device controller 6 to the mobile phone connection processor 6-2.
Is selected and the operation by the mobile phone connection application is performed, and the multi-task control unit 4 passes through the device data input / output control unit 5 to the mobile phone data communication function circuit 2 by the multifunction multiplex control circuit 3 of the function expansion card C. To the operating state. At this time, a telephone number for the personal computer PC1 is input from the user interface 7.

Then, in the personal computer PC2, the transmission data created by the user in advance is read out from the main memory 9, and the device data input / output control unit 5 transmits this data to the personal computer PC2.
A code indicating that this is an output is added, and the data is output in the format of personal computer data.

This transmission data is transmitted to the multi-function multiplex control unit 3-
The data is converted to 8-bit data by the communication port interface 3-1 via the communication port 3 and transmitted to the mobile phone data communication function circuit 2 to remove unnecessary data peculiar to the personal computer. The data is converted into serial data for wireless communication from the interface unit 2-0 and output.

Since the mobile phone WT call controller 13 is connected to the remote personal computer PC1 via the radio base station 20, transmission data is transmitted to the personal computer PC1 and transmitted as a radio signal from the mobile phone WT. Done,
The data is transmitted to the personal computer PC1. The unprocessed data sent from the communication port interface 3-1 is held in the memory buffer 22.

(3) LAN from personal computer PC4 at remote location
When transmitting data to the upper personal computer PC In this case, when the user displays a menu on the display of the personal computer PC2 and selects the LAN transmission / reception item and the mobile phone communication item, the user interface 7 transmits the LAN communication processing unit 6- 1 and mobile phone connection processing unit 6
2 are selected and brought into an operating state.

At this time, the hard disk drive 10 of the personal computer PC2 has the personal computer PC4 and the personal computers PC3-0, PC3-1, and PC3 connected to the LAN.
The information of 3-2 ... is entered, and the personal computer PC3
., PC3-1, PC3-2,... Can be recognized.

Therefore, the remote PC 4 calls the PC 2 via the modem MOD such as a wired modem or a wireless modem, the public line, and the wireless base station 20.
When requesting the transmission of the data for the specific information A, the personal computer PC2 looks at the hard disk drive 10 and recognizes the personal computer, for example, PC3-0, which holds the data on the specific information A, and sends the specific information A from the personal computer PC3-0. Ask for the transmission of data about The data relating to the specific information A is transmitted from the personal computer PC3-0 to L.
When transmitted via the AN function circuit 1, the personal computer P
C2 is transmitted to the personal computer PC1 via the mobile phone data communication function circuit 2, the mobile phone WT, the wireless base station 20, and the like.

If there is no data for the personal computer holding the specific information in the hard disk drive 10 of the personal computer PC2, the personal computer PC2 stores the data relating to the specific information A in the LAN via the LAN function circuit 1. A broadcast signal for requesting a response is output, and the response is obtained.

This function expansion card is a PCMCIA (Pe
rsonal ComputerMemory Car
d International Associate
(ion) personal computer card.

In the above description, the personal computer PC2 has 16
Although an example of the bit operation has been described, the present invention is of course not limited to this.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained. (1) According to the present invention, a mobile phone network connection and a LAN connection can be made possible to a personal computer with one function expansion card.

(2) For example, by combining a portable personal computer with the function expansion card of the present invention, an access function to a personal computer connected to a LAN from a remote place can be held very easily.

(3) By using this function expansion card in a personal computer, data can be temporarily stored in a memory in the personal computer, so that the configuration of the data communication terminal device can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a function expansion card according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 LAN function circuit 2 Cellular phone data communication function circuit 3 Multifunction multiplex control circuit 4 Multitask control unit 5 Device data input / output control unit 6 Connection device control unit 7 User interface C Function expansion card WT Cellular phone

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A LAN function circuit for connecting a personal computer to which the card is connected to a local area network; a mobile phone data communication function circuit for connecting to a mobile phone for performing data communication with a wireless base station; A function expansion card comprising a multifunction multiplex control circuit for selectively or simultaneously operating the LAN function circuit and the mobile phone data communication function circuit.