WO1996010229A9 - Procedes et appareil pour un dispositif modulaire de telecommunications - Google Patents

Procedes et appareil pour un dispositif modulaire de telecommunications

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Publication number
WO1996010229A9
WO1996010229A9 PCT/US1995/012287 US9512287W WO9610229A9 WO 1996010229 A9 WO1996010229 A9 WO 1996010229A9 US 9512287 W US9512287 W US 9512287W WO 9610229 A9 WO9610229 A9 WO 9610229A9
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
circuitry
module
data
pager
modem
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1995/012287
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO1996010229A1 (fr
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/313,414 external-priority patent/US5611055A/en
Priority claimed from US08/330,752 external-priority patent/US5550861A/en
Application filed filed Critical
Priority to AU37580/95A priority Critical patent/AU3758095A/en
Publication of WO1996010229A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996010229A1/fr
Publication of WO1996010229A9 publication Critical patent/WO1996010229A9/fr

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Definitions

  • This invention relates to modular computer peripherals and to circuitry for providing an interface between a host computer and multiple peripheral devices. More particularly, the invention relates to means for interfacing multiple electronic devices such as modems, pagers, faxes, or other circuitry to a host computer via a single PCMCIA slot and to peripherals comprising modular components that are operable independently from the host computer.
  • WO 95/18491 published July 6, 1995, would advantageously need only one PCMCIA slot to use both modem and pager communication devices.
  • Such devices are not without drawbacks, however, and there are instances when a professional does not need, or want, to carry all of the devices in the aforementioned office-in-a-briefcase. For example, while attending a business lunch, the professional may desire to carry only a pager, without bringing a laptop computer.
  • PCT Publication No. WO 95/18491 permits removal of the combined pager/fax/modem device from the laptop to provide pager functionality without the laptop.
  • the combined pager/modem device requires bulkier packaging than either the pager or PCMCIA modem alone.
  • the relatively fragile transition between the thin PCMCIA card portion of the device and the bulkier pager portion of the device is vulnerable to bending stresses. It would therefore be advantageous to be able to separate the pager component of the combined pager/fax/modem peripheral from the remaining components. In this way, the pager may be carried separately or coupled to the remainder of the combination peripheral and installed in a laptop computer, as the user desires.
  • circuitry In order to separate the pager from the remainder of the pager/fax/modem device, circuitry must be provided so that the computer can selectively communicate with either the fax/modem or the pager. Furthermore, the fax/modem portion must be capable of operation regardless of whether the pager is attached or not.
  • the PCMCIA specification provides for a 15 pin peripheral connector, or auxiliary port, which is intended to allow a PCMCIA card to connect to the external world.
  • the auxiliary port has been used to connect a PCMCIA device to, for example, a network, a telephone line, or an external floppy diskette drive. Often such connections utilize a subset of the 15 pins available in the auxiliary port connector. Additional circuitry on a PCMCIA device may make it possible to configure some of the unused pins as a serial bus for connecting additional devices to the host computer.
  • the pager portion and fax/modem portion of the peripheral are combined, the pager draws power from the laptop computer via the fax/modem PCMCIA card. Since the pager draws power from the laptop, it is not necessary to provide a separate power source (e.g. a battery) for the pager when it is coupled to the fax/modem.
  • a separate power source e.g. a battery
  • the term host computer is used to refer to a general purpose computer system capable of storing, loading, and executing a wide variety of application programs. Host computers typically support large displays and keyboards, as well as many input/output ports for coupling to external devices. An IBM PC compatible, or Apple Macintosh, are examples of host computers, as that phrase is used herein. Summary of the Invention
  • the modules may include a holster or support module that carries bulky items such as batteries and display devices, so that the peripheral or a functional module thereof can be used separately from a host computer.
  • An interface and protocol is defined for utilizing a subset of the 15 pins in a PCMCIA auxiliary port as a serial expansion bus to permit implementation of certain of the modular features of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a host computer and two illustrative embodiments of a modular peripheral constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGS. 2A through 2E are perspective views of the first illustrative embodiment of modular peripheral Of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a host computer and typical internal functional circuitries of the modular peripheral of FIGS. 2.
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B depict in block diagram form, respectively, the arrangement of a host computer, and a
  • FIGS. 5A-C depict pinout diagrams for an auxiliary port connector of a PCMCIA card.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic showing in block diagram form typical internal circuitry for a prior art
  • FIG. 7 is a more detailed block diagram schematic of the modular peripheral of FIG. 3 constructed in accordance with principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8A-C are flow charts illustrating the operation of the auxiliary port interface.
  • FIGS. 9A through 9D are, respectively, a perspective view of the alternative illustrative embodiment of the modular peripheral of FIG. 2 comprising a fax/modem/pager 20 in a PCMCIA form factor, an illustrative view of a holster to permit independent operation of the pager portion of the modular peripheral of FIG 9A, and cross sectional views modular peripheral of FIG. 9A and of the holster of
  • FIG. 10 is an illustrative block diagram of the internal circuitries of the modular peripheral of
  • FIGS. 9. Detailed Description of the Invention
  • the present invention relates generally to the design of modular devices which combine the functionality of several otherwise separate peripherals; which can be coupled to a host computer to act as a computer peripheral; and which also can be operated in a stand-alone mode independent of a host computer.
  • the present invention also relates to methods and circuitry for a host computer to selectively communicate with multiple devices embedded in one or more peripheral expansion cards.
  • Peripherals designed in accordance with the present invention may have multiple functional modules, at least one of which is capable of operation independent of the host computer, and may be separable from the remaining modules of the peripheral device.
  • a first exemplary embodiment of the invention described hereinafter is that of a modular computer peripheral combining a fax/modem module with a pager module, wherein the pager module is separable from the fax/modem module, and both modules are operable regardless of whether the two modules are coupled to each other or not.
  • An alternative embodiment of the present invention is that of a peripheral comprising a module including fax/modem/pager circuitry in a PCMCIA form factor and a support module or holster that provides power, interface, and display functions for the pager circuitry when the peripheral is not connected to a host computer.
  • the fax/modem module may instead, or in addition, include data, voice and cellular capabilities, while the pager module may include any wireless communications capabilities, including two way communications.
  • Modular peripheral 10 contains circuitry for providing a variety of communication functions, and is composed of two separable modules: a radio frequency paging module 10A and a fax/modem module 10B.
  • modular peripheral 20 includes module 20A having circuitry for fax/modem and paging functions, but lacking power and user interface components, and holster 2OB for providing support for module 20A when used separately from host computer 100.
  • FIGS. 2A through 2E details of the first illustrative exemplary modular peripheral 10 are described.
  • pager module 10A is shown coupled to PCMCIA fax/modem module 10B.
  • fax/modem module 10B When inserted into PCMCIA slot 102 of host computer 100 of FIG. 1, fax/modem module 10B is substantially enclosed within host computer 100, with side 11 of pager module 10A substantially abutting the side of host computer 100.
  • PCMCIA card connector 12 provides electrical coupling between peripheral device 10 and host computer 100 to provide for data transfer therebetween, as described hereinafter.
  • FIG. 2B illustrates pager module 10A separated from fax/modem module 10B.
  • Mechanical coupling between the two modules is provided by tenons 13, which fit into corresponding mortises (not visible in FIG. 2B) in the endface of fax/modem module 10B.
  • a detent mechanism between the mortise and tenons ensures that the two modules do not separate inadvertently.
  • Electrical coupling between the two modules 10A and 10B is provided by 15 pin connector 14 which mates to a standard 15 pin PCMCIA auxiliary port (not visible in FIG. 2B) on fax/modem 10B.
  • pager module 10A includes a user interface comprising display area 15 and multi-mode switch 16.
  • the display area 15 is preferably an LCD display and displays menus and messages to the user.
  • Multi-mode switch 16 controls operation of pager module 10A, and is used, for example, in selecting menu options when the pager module is used separately, as described hereinbelow.
  • Switch 16 preferably is designed with multiple sets of contacts so that the part of the switch pressed by the user is discernable by the circuitry of pager module 10A.
  • the function of the multimode switch is dependent upon the operating mode of the pager, for example, the switch can be used for navigating through menus by pressing various parts of the switch to choose and select menu items, or for scrolling a lengthy message which may be too large to be displayed all at once. Pressing on the right or left side of the multimode switch may then cause, for example, a lengthy message to scroll forward or backward respectively.
  • FIGS. 2C and 2D pager module 10A is shown, respectively, separated from battery pack 30 and coupled to battery pack.
  • Battery pack 30 has a pair of mortises and a 15 pin connector for mechanically and electrically coupling the battery pack to pager module 10A, substantially as describe above in conjunction with coupling between fax/modem module 10B and pager module 10A.
  • Batteries, for example 2 'AAA' cells are contained within battery pack 30 to provide power to pager module 10A through 15 pin connector 14.
  • Exemplary battery pack 30 also has flat projection 32, which in cooperation with the pager module, functions as a clip, for attaching the pager to a belt or pocket of the user. As shown in FIG.
  • pager module 10A includes three position "on-off" switch 17, which in addition to turning the pager on, also controls whether pager module 10A operates in a "beeping mode" or a silent mode, i.e., uppn receipt of an incoming page, the pager either emits audible beeps or vibrates.
  • Pager module 10A includes feed-through port 18, which is substantially identical to a PCMCIA device auxiliary port connector. As further described hereinbelow with respect to auxiliary port 55 of FIGS. 4 and 4B, port 18 enables fax/modem module 10B to be coupled to a telephone network, even when pager module 10A is attached. Signals from fax/modem 10B are simply passed through from 15 pin connector 14 to feed-through port 18. A conventional adaptor cable may then be plugged into feed-through port 18 to couple fax/modem module 10B to a telephone line.
  • Modular peripheral 10 preferably includes interface circuitry 40, modem circuitry 42, switching circuitry 43, telephone interface circuitry 44, pager circuitry 46, antenna 48 and display circuitry 50.
  • Interface circuitry 40 connects modem circuitry 42 and pager circuitry 46 to host 100, which may be a conventional desktop computer, a portable personal computer, personal communicator or other suitable data processing device.
  • interface circuitry 40 contains a standard integrated circuit for performing interfacing functions and a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) for serial to parallel and parallel to serial data conversion, for example, part No. DNE5001, available from the Dr. Neuhaus Engineering Company of Hamburg, Germany. As illustrated in FIGS.
  • fax/modem module 10B conforms to the Type II Extended Personal Computer (PC) Card specification promulgated by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) of Sunnyvale, California.
  • Modem circuitry 42 enables communication via telephone line 52, and is based on a standard set of integrated circuits that is compatible with most of the widely used modem modulation and control standards.
  • modem circuitry 42 has a send and receive facsimile capability and a voice capability, which enables host 100 in combination with modular peripheral 10 to function as a telephone answering machine.
  • Pager circuitry 46 includes a conventional radio-frequency receiver to perform functions related to wireless communications, such as receiving pages and electronic mail (e-mail) messages, via antenna 48. Paging messages decoded by paging circuitry 46 are displayed on display 50. Paging and e-mail messages received by paging circuitry 46 may also be provided for display or processing to host 100.
  • e-mail electronic mail
  • Switching circuitry 43 of the present invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8A-C.
  • the foregoing circuit components, in combination with switching circuitry 43, enable modular peripheral 10 of the present invention to provide a number of modem/paging/e-mail capabilities not available with previously known devices.
  • Module 10A of modular peripheral 10 performs the functions of conventional pagers/e-mail receivers.
  • Module 10B provides a compact device offering full fax/modem and telephone answering capabilities for a host device. Exemplary detailed circuitries for modules 10A and 10B of modular peripheral 10 are disclosed, for example, in aforementioned PTO Publication No. WO 95/18491.
  • Modem module 10B is constructed in accordance with the PCMCIA specification and includes PCMCIA connector and interface circuitry 40 (see FIG. 3) , enabling modem module 10B to be plugged into a PCMCIA expansion slot to make electrical contact with corresponding PCMCIA interface circuitry 104 in host computer 100.
  • PCMCIA interface circuitry 40 and 104 provide a parallel data path, currently 8 or 16 bits, for communicating information between host 100 and modem module 10B.
  • modem module 10B also includes standard 15-pin PCMCIA auxiliary port 55 for connection to telephone wall jack 110 through adaptor cable 112.
  • modular peripheral 10 includes the addition of pager module 10A.
  • modem module 10B and host computer 100 are coupled through PCMCIA interface circuitry 40 and 104.
  • pager module 10A interposed between modem module 10B and telephone wall jack 110 is pager module 10A.
  • Pager module is coupled to the modem module by plugging directly into auxiliary port 55 of modem module 10B.
  • an adaptor cable could be used to connect pager module 10A to auxiliary port 55.
  • Pager module 10A which includes standard 15-pin PCMCIA auxiliary port 14 (see FIG. 2B) , is connected to telephone system wall jack 110 using adaptor cable 112.
  • FIG. 5A shows a pinout diagram with a common pin assignment used in previously known PCMCIA modems. Only two signals, TIP and RING are needed to connect to the telephone system; hence, only pins 14 and 15 are used.
  • a modem interface for use with cellular telephones is also known and its pinout is shown in FIG. 5B.
  • additional signal paths are necessary between the modem and cellular telephone.
  • the R ⁇ and T ⁇ signals, pins 4 and 6 respectively, are for data received and transmitted by the modem.
  • Pin 1 GND, provides a common ground or voltage reference between the cellular telephone and the modem.
  • CEL_CLK, pin 10 synchronizes data transfer between the two devices, while pins 2 and 8, DAA/CELL and CEL_BUSY respectively, are used for call setup and monitoring functions.
  • a pin selection is chosen to be compatible with the pinout of FIGS. 5A and 5B.
  • pin 11 (DATA_FROM_HOST) is used to carry data from host computer 100 to pager module 10A and pin 12
  • DATA_TO_HOST is used to carry data from the pager module to the host.
  • Control of the host-pager module interface is managed by the pager asserting a signal on pin 9 (CONTROL) under direction of the host computer, as described hereinbelow.
  • Data pump 125 in conjunction with modem control circuitry 124 encodes the serial bit stream in a manner suitable for transmission through the telephone network. Reception of data occurs in the reverse order, with data pump 125 and modem control circuitry 124 decoding a received signal to recover a serial bit stream. That bit stream is then converted into parallel data by UART 122 for communication to host computer 100.
  • host computer 100 may send commands to modem 120 to change various configuration parameters that control operation of the modem, for example, setting the modem baud rate.
  • commands are comprised of a sequence of data values beginning with an attention code or signal, followed by one or more command codes with their associated parameters, and ending with a command termination character. Commands sent to the modem are not recognized or acted upon until receipt of the termination character.
  • modems have a default command termination character, many modems have the capability of redefining the command termination character under program control. With respect to FIG.
  • a secondary device for example pager module 10A
  • a primary device for example, fax/modem module 10B
  • host computer 100 controls the interface to the secondary device by sending a "connect" command comprising a preselected command code to the primary device.
  • the particular command code is programmed into software running on the host computer, possibly as a configuration option, and is selected so that it does not correspond to actual command codes recognized by the primary device.
  • the command code must not include the command termination character currently being used by the primary device, so as to prevent the primary device from acting on the "connect" command.
  • the host computer When host computer 100 later reestablishes a connection with the primary device, the host computer transmits the command termination character for the primary device, terminating any pending command sequences in the primary device. The primary device will then try to act on the command sequence, which was meant for the secondary device. The resulting error message can be used by the host as a way of confirming reestablishment of the connection to the primary device.
  • the secondary device (illustratively pager module 10A) also receives, via the DATA_FROM_HOST line, data sent to the primary device (illustratively, fax/modem module 10B) .
  • the secondary device Upon recognizing the preselected command sequence, the secondary device asserts a control signal.
  • the control signal When the control signal is asserted, the data path from the host to the primary device is blocked and a data path from the secondary device to the host is established via the DATA_TO_HOST line.
  • host computer 100 sends another (or even the same) command code to the secondary device, causing it to release the control signal, thereby reestablishing the data paths between the host computer and the primary device.
  • pager module 10A is interfaced to fax/modem module 10B that includes modem circuitry 42 and PCMCIA interface 40.
  • Modem circuitry 42 comprises UART 122, modem control circuitry 124, and data pump 125, which function as described above with respect to FIG. 6.
  • fax/mode module 10B also includes switching circuitry 130 added in the data paths between UART 122 and modem control circuitry 124.
  • switching circuitry 130 added in the data paths between UART 122 and modem control circuitry 124.
  • the control signal is driven to a default state by resistor 131.
  • This causes multiplexers (MUXes) 132 and 133 to couple UART 122 to modem control circuitry 124, thus the fax/modem module of modular peripheral 10 functions normally.
  • a suitable MUX for use as MUXes 132 and 133 is a CD4053 triple 2-channel multiplexer/demultiplexer IC manufactured by National Semiconductor of Santa Clara, California.
  • Serial data sent from UART 122 to modem control circuitry 124 is also sent along the DATA_FROM_HOST line to pager module 10A.
  • the pager module receives and recognizes a preselected command code, it asserts a control signal on the CONTROL line as described previously herein.
  • An asserted control signal causes MUXes 132 and 133 to disconnect the signal paths between UART 122 and modem control circuitry 124.
  • a mark signal is provided to the input of modem control circuitry 124 by pullup resistor 134.
  • the DATA_TO_HOST line carrying data from pager module 10A is thus supplied to UART 122, to be delivered to the host. Accordingly, serial data from pager circuitry 46 is sent to host computer 100 via MUX 132 and UART 122.
  • control circuitry In addition to circuitry in the fax/modem module 10B, control circuitry must be provided in the secondary device, for example pager module 10A, to receive and recognize the connect command and to assert a control signal on the CONTROL line.
  • This control circuitry comprises, for example a microcontroller or microprocessor, although a icrosequencer or programmable logic device may also be used.
  • An Intel 8031 microprocessor available from Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California, is an exemplary microprocessor suitable for use as control circuitry in the second device.
  • auxiliary port 55 of the fax/modem module 10B are fed through to the corresponding pins on auxiliary port 18 of pager module 10A. This arrangement allows the primary device (fax/mode module 10B) to still be connected to other devices, like alternate telephone equipment, whether or not the secondary device (pager module 10A) is installed.
  • FIGS. 8A-C operation of an auxiliary port interface in accordance with the present invention is described.
  • An illustrative routine shown in FIG. 8A is executed on host computer 100 for connecting to a secondary device, for example pager module 10A, via auxiliary port 55.
  • the routine checks an internally maintained status indicator, step 200, to determine whether the device is already connected.
  • step 202 If the host is already connected to the secondary device the routine returns an indication of success, step 202. If the connection is not already established then the host sends a connect command, step 204, consisting of a unique command code, to the primary device.
  • the command code may be a single data value, or may be multiple data values sent in sequence, and is unique in the sense that it is not recognized as a command by the primary device.
  • host computer 100 transmits an attention signal, step 206, for example a "break" signal, followed by a connect command, step 208.
  • the routine After transmitting the connect command, the routine sets up a timeout interval, step 210, and waits for an acknowledgement from the secondary device, step 212. If the acknowledgment is received prior to expiration of the timeout then a successful indication is returned, step 202; otherwise, if the timeout period is determined to have expired, step 216, for example, because the secondary device is not attached, the routine returns an indication of failure, step 214.
  • FIG. 8B An illustrative routine in accordance with the present invention by which a host disconnects from a secondary device attached via an auxiliary port of the primary device, and reconnects to the primary device itself, is shown in FIG. 8B. If the host is already connected to the primary device, step 220, then no action is required, otherwise a disconnect command is sent, step 222. In either case a successful indication is returned, step 224.
  • FIG. 8C an illustrative routine, executed on the secondary device attached via the auxiliary port of the primary device, is described for establishing a communications link between the secondary device and the host computer.
  • the secondary device Upon power up or reset, the secondary device enters the disconnected state, box 230, and loops waiting for a connect command. For a two part command code, the device continually receives data sent to the primary device by the host computer, step 232, and monitors that data to detect an attention signal, step 234.
  • the secondary device waits for a connect command from the host, step 236. If the next data value received is the connect command, step 238, the secondary device asserts a control signal, step 240, which disconnects the primary device and connects the secondary device, as described hereinabove. Alternatively, if the next data value is not the connect command the secondary device returns to the disconnected state, box 230, and resumes waiting for an attention signal, step 234.
  • the secondary device After asserting the control signal, step 240, and establishing a communication path to the host computer, the secondary device transmits an acknowledgement to the host, step 242, and enters the connected state, box 250.
  • the secondary device receives commands from the host, step 252, which are executed by the secondary device, step 254.
  • commands recognized by the secondary device are application specific, but must include at least connect and disconnect commands. Additional commands may include, for example, commands directing the secondary device to transmit e-mail messages to the host computer, or commands changing configuration parameters of the secondary device.
  • step 256 the secondary device releases the control signal, step 258, and enters the disconnected state, box 230.
  • the communication path from the secondary device to the host is then discontinued and the path between the primary PCMCIA device and host is reestablished.
  • the secondary device may restart the disconnected state over again, waiting for an attention signal, or the secondary device may continue to wait for a connect command.
  • a check for a timeout condition after receipt of the attention signal and before receipt of the connect command may also be included.
  • switching circuitry similar to that shown in FIG. 7, also may be included in pager module 10A or other device connected via the modem auxiliary port.
  • a third device such as a GPS receiver or wireless network interface card, could also be coupled between the pager module auxiliary port 18 and the telephone wall jack 122.
  • the host computer 100 could then send a first command code to establish a connection to the pager module, as described hereinabove, followed by a second command code causing the GPS receiver to assert a control signal to disconnect the pager and establish a connection with the host computer as described previously.
  • the switching circuitry may be designed to propagate the control signal up a daisy- chain of devices, thus allowing the daisy-chained device to switch off, or disconnect, the primary device and all additional devices at one time.
  • Each additional device may have its own unique command code to which it responds, provided that none of the command codes could be recognized by any of the intervening components of the daisy-chain. In this manner, numerous devices could be cascaded in daisy-chain fashion to the primary PCMCIA device and thereby share a single PCMCIA interface.
  • signal lines may be utilized in addition to the DATA_FROM_HOST, DATA_TO_HOST and CONTROL lines.
  • Specifically hardware flow control signals may also be employed to regulate the data transfer rate between host and device.
  • a data available signal may be provided for the secondary device to indicate it has data available without first requiring the host to establish a connection with the secondary device to determine its status.
  • Modular peripheral 20 includes module 20A containing circuitry for providing a variety of communication functions, including fax/modem and paging functions, as described in connection with peripheral device 10, and holster module 20B that enables operation of selected portions of module 20A when disconnected from host computer 100.
  • Module 20A conforms to the Type II Extended Personal Computer (PC) Card specification promulgated by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) of Sunnyvale, California.
  • PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
  • a peripheral designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention may fit on peripheral cards having dimensions either smaller than or larger than a Type II PCMCIA card, depending upon the amount and type of circuitry incorporated into the peripheral.
  • PCMCIA card connector 21 When inserted into PCMCIA slot 102 of host computer 100, PCMCIA card connector 21 provides electrical coupling between module 20A and host computer 100 to provide for data transfer therebetween. PCMCIA card connector 21 also provides power from host computer 100 to the circuitry of module 20A.
  • Retractable antenna 22 remains external to the shell of the host computer and can be extended or retracted as needed to improve reception of radio signals.
  • Attached to antenna 22 is dual use plug 23 which covers an auxiliary port (not shown) of module 20A when the port is not in use, and also functions to hold antenna 22 in its retracted position when it does not need to be extended.
  • exemplary holster 20B is described that enables modular peripheral 20 to be used as a pager independent of host computer 100.
  • holster 20B is shaped so as to form a receptacle into which module 20A may be inserted. Ledges 24 along the length of holster 20B engage shoulders 25 on module 20A and act to retain it in place.
  • the receptacle may be completely enclosed to form a slot into which the PCMCIA form factor peripheral device is inserted.
  • a plug 26 made up of parallel pins of various lengths is located at one end of the holster, and is designed to mate with PCMCIA card connector 21 of module 20A. When fully inserted into holster 20B, the pins of plug 26 mate with PCMCIA card connector 21 to provide electric coupling between holster 20B and module 20A. This coupling both provides power to module 20A and provides a path for transferring data between holster 20B and module 20A.
  • Holster 2OB is also provided with a user interface comprising a display area 27 and switches 28A and 28B.
  • the display area 27 is preferably an LCD display and displays menus and messages to the user. Switches 28A and 28B control operation of the pager circuitry of module 20A and are used, for example, in selecting menu options when the device is used as a pager separate from host computer 100.
  • switches 28A and 28B are dependent upon the operating mode of the pager, for example, one or both switches may be used for navigating through menus by pressing one switch to display several menu items and the other to select a particular menu item. Pressing one of the switches two or more times in rapid succession may be used to change the functions performed by the switches so that instead of navigating through menus, the switches can be used to scroll a lengthy message which may be too large to be displayed all at once.
  • switches 28A and 28B may include turning the pager on or off, and selecting whether the pager "beeps" or vibrates when a message is received.
  • switches 28A and 28B may be combined into a single multimode switch as described hereinabove with respect to modular peripheral 10.
  • switches 28A and 28B may be replaced by, or augmented by, voice recognition circuitry.
  • Special purpose integrated circuits such as the MSM6679 voice recognition processor (VRP) manufactured by OKI Semiconductor of Sunnyvale, California, for example, offer speaker independent voice recognition for limited vocabularies, as well as speech generation capabilities for voice prompting. This would allow verbal commands, such as "scroll” or "next", to scroll the display or display the next message, instead of, using buttons and menu selections.
  • voice recognition technology may be used to eliminate the need for buttons or switches, retaining the switches provides for a "silent" mode of user-device interaction.
  • holster 20B also contains a power supply 29, for example 2 •AAA' cells (not shown) , to provide power to the pager circuitry of module 20A through plug 27.
  • Holster 20B may also include a belt clip (not shown) for attaching the pager to a belt or pocket of the user.
  • module 20A includes PCMCIA interface circuitry 40, modem circuitry 42, switching circuitry 43, telephone line interface 44, pager circuitry 46 and antenna 48.
  • Switching circuitry 43 includes switching circuitry 130 as described above with respect to FIG. 7, so that host computer 100 may selectively communicate with either the fax/modem circuitry or the pager circuitry of modular peripheral 20. Operation of this circuitry is as described above with respect to modular peripheral 10 in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8A-C.
  • Module 20A preferably receives power from host computer 100 via PCMCIA interface 40 so a separate power source (e.g. a battery) is not required when the peripheral is installed in the host.
  • Software executed on host computer 100 is used to control the operation of the circuitry of module 20A and to effect data transfers between host computer 100 and fax/modem circuitry 32 and pager circuitry 36.
  • the software preferably provides a user interface to the circuitry of module 20A, allowing a user to set operating modes and parameters of the fax/modem, as well as to select and display messages received and decoded by pager circuitry 46. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide pager circuitry 46 with a built-in user interface when module 20A is installed in host computer 100. Rather, by removing the bulky battery and user interface components, the pager/fax/modem circuitry can be dimensioned to fit on a single PCMCIA peripheral card. Still referring to FIG. 10, holster 20B includes a power supply and a user interface 49 for those instances when modular peripheral 20 is to be used as a stand-alone pager.
  • Holster 20B therefore preferably includes interface circuitry 47, an output device (display 27) , an input device (switches 28A and 28B) , and battery 29.
  • Interface circuitry 47 enables a user to operate pager circuitry 46 via input device 28 and output device 27, for example, to receive radio pages.
  • holster 20B is adapted to accept PCMCIA card connector 21 via plug 26.
  • the fax/modem module may instead, or in addition, include data, voice and cellular capabilities
  • the pager module may include any wireless communications capabilities, including two way communications.
  • Other circuitry which could benefit from the principles of this invention include cellular telephone, navigation equipment, wireless LAN adapters, or data storage devices. However, it is not necessary to include a fax/modem and/or pager circuitry within the peripheral device.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un périphérique d'ordinateur (10) offrant simultanément les fonctions de plusieurs dispositifs, par exemple un récepteur de recherche de personnes (10A), un télécopieur (10B), et un modem. Ce périphérique d'ordinateur (10), conçu en un ou plusieurs modules séparables, ou composants fonctionnels, comporte en outre un module assurant l'interface du périphérique avec un ordinateur central (100). L'un au moins des composants fonctionnels peut être utilisé directement comme entité intégrée au périphérique d'ordinateur, ou être séparé du reste du périphérique d'ordinateur et être utilisé comme module fonctionnel autonome, s'il est pourvu d'une alimentation par batterie (30) ou d'une alimentation intégrée à une coquille de protection (20B). L'invention concerne également des circuits et des procédés applicables à une interface série normalisée, permettant à un ordinateur central (100) de se connecter sélectivement à, et de communiquer avec, un ou plusieurs dispositifs à bus PCMCIA connectés au bus série, l'interface acceptant plusieurs dispositifs montés en guirlande à partir d'un seul dispositif à bus PCMCIA.
PCT/US1995/012287 1994-09-27 1995-09-26 Procedes et appareil pour un dispositif modulaire de telecommunications WO1996010229A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU37580/95A AU3758095A (en) 1994-09-27 1995-09-26 Methods and apparatus for modular communications device

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/313,414 US5611055A (en) 1994-09-27 1994-09-27 Method and apparatus for implementing a PCMCIA auxiliary port connector for selectively communicating with peripheral devices
US08/313,414 1994-09-27
US08/330,752 1994-10-28
US08/330,752 US5550861A (en) 1994-09-27 1994-10-28 Modular PCMCIA modem and pager
US40868695A 1995-03-21 1995-03-21
US08/408,686 1995-03-21

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996010229A1 WO1996010229A1 (fr) 1996-04-04
WO1996010229A9 true WO1996010229A9 (fr) 1996-08-15

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PCT/US1995/012287 WO1996010229A1 (fr) 1994-09-27 1995-09-26 Procedes et appareil pour un dispositif modulaire de telecommunications

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AU (1) AU3758095A (fr)
WO (1) WO1996010229A1 (fr)

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US6760600B2 (en) * 1999-01-27 2004-07-06 Gateway, Inc. Portable communication apparatus
DE19947070B4 (de) * 1999-09-30 2006-06-29 Fujitsu Siemens Computers Gmbh Anordnung mit einem Modul und einem Moduleinbausatz
DE10064698A1 (de) * 2000-12-22 2002-07-18 Living Solutions Gmbh Personenrufsystem
GB2370422A (en) * 2000-12-22 2002-06-26 Ubinetics PC card module with battery
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