US 2002/0058533 A1 · Modem for selectively connecting to a land line or to a cellular telephone

Abstract

A modem is incorporated into a laptop computer and directly connected to either a cellular phone, a land line, or both. The modem is provided with two connectors, one for connection with a cellular phone or external DAA, the other for connection to a normal land line via an internal DAA. The modem selectively enables either the connector for the cellular phone or external DAA, or the connector for its internal DAA. The modem defaults to selecting the cellular phone or external DAA if it is connected, and only if they are not connected selects the internal DAA. These defaults can be overridden by user commands. Further, the modem can independently power down a connected internal DAA, external DAA, or cellular phone to conserve power.

Claims5

Dependent claims

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether an external data access arrangement is connected and the step of selecting the internal data access arrangement each further comprise the steps of:

sending a signal instructing any connected data access arrangement to respond with a code;
attempting to receive said code;
and
determining if any received code is a valid code indicating a proper data access arrangement.

1 more element

A method for establishing a communications link using a modem that includes a cellular phone connector, an external data access arrangement connector, and an internal data access arrangement, comprising the steps of:

determining whether an operational cellular phone is connected to the cellular phone connector;
determining whether an external data access arrangement is connected to the external data access arrangement connector;
if the operational cellular phone is connected, selecting the operational cellular phone for establishing a communications link;
if the external data access arrangement is connected, selecting the external data access arrangement for establishing a communications link;
and
if neither an external data access arrangement nor an operational cellular phone is connected, selecting the internal data access arrangement for establishing a communications link.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/953,211Filed 17 Sep 2001

Priority

6 Nov 1992

Published

16 May 2002

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H04W 88/02
Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices: terminal devices
H04M 11/06
Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems: simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g.…
Y02D 30/70
Reducing energy consumption in communication networks: in wireless communication networks
H04W
Wireless communication networks

Family

Application07/972,949Continuation in part · filed 6 Nov 1992

Application07/973,625Continuation in part · filed 9 Nov 1992

Application08/148,661Division · filed 5 Nov 1993

Application08/148,661Continuation in part · filed 5 Nov 1993

Application09/953,211Division · filed 17 Sep 2001

US 5,428,671 ARelated patent

US 6,295,460 B1Related patent

US 2002/0058533 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Modem for selectively connecting to a land line or to a cellular telephone

Life of this patent

Modem for selectively connecting to a land line or to a cellular telephone

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5