Communication card with standalone and master operational states

A communication card with standalone and master operational states, comprising:

• a controller;
• a flash storage unit, coupled with said controller, for storing data used by said controller;
• a wireless modem, coupled with said controller, for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless network in response to instructions received from said controller;
• a battery, coupled with said controller, with said flash storage unit and with said wireless modem, for supplying power to said controller, to said flash storage unit, and to said wireless modem;
• and
• a connector, coupled with said controller, for connecting the communication card to a host,
• wherein the communication card (i) operates in a standalone mode when said connector is not connected to the host, and (ii) operates as a master of the host when said connector is connected to the host, providing display information to the host.

A method for determining the operational state of a communication card, comprising:

• providing a communication card that has at least two operational states, namely, (i) the communication card operating in a standalone mode, and (ii) the communication card connected to a host and operating as a master of the host;
• monitoring a signal on the communication card;
• and
• if the monitored signal has a voltage level lower than a designated threshold, then concluding that the communication card is in the standalone mode;
• otherwise, concluding that the communication card is connected to the host.

A computer readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computing device to determine the state of a communication card that has at least two operational states, namely, (i) the communication card operating in a standalone mode, and (ii) the communication card connected to a host and operating as a master of the host, by:

• monitoring a signal on the communication card;
• and
• if the monitored signal has a voltage level lower than a designated threshold, then concluding that the communication card is in a standalone mode;
• otherwise, concluding that the communication card is connected to the host.

A communication card with standalone and master operational states, comprising:

• a card connector for connecting a communication card to a host, comprising a plurality of pins, the pins comprising:
• a connector for incoming and outgoing audio signals;
• a connector for a power supply;
• and
• a universal serial bus (USB) connector;
• a communication bus, wherein (i) no signals are routed to the communication bus when the card operates in a standalone mode, and (ii) secure digital (SD) card signals are routed to the communication bus when the card is connected to the host using a set of functionalities assigned to said connector pins, with the card operating as a master of the host;
• and
• circuitry for automatically detecting whether the card is operating in a standalone mode or in a master mode.

A communication system, comprising:

• a communication card comprising:
• a controller;
• a flash storage unit, coupled with said controller, for storing data used by said controller;
• a wireless modem, coupled with said controller, for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless network in response to instructions received from said controller;
• a battery, coupled with said controller, with said flash storage unit and with said wireless modem, for supplying power to said controller, to said flash storage unit, and to said wireless modem;
• and
• a card connector, coupled with said controller, for connecting the communication card to a host;
• and
• a host comprising:
• a plug for said card connector, for connecting the host to said communication card;
• and
• a user interface for said communication card,
• wherein said communication card (i) operates in a standalone mode when said card connector is not connected to said host plug, and (ii) operates as a master of the host when said card connector is connected to said host plug, providing display information to the host.

A communication system, comprising:

• a communication card, comprising:
• a card connector for connecting a communication card to a host, comprising a plurality of pins;
• a communication bus, wherein (i) no signals are routed to the communication bus when the card operates in a standalone mode, and (ii) secure digital (SD) card signals are routed to the communication bus when the card is connected to the host using a set of functionalities assigned to said connector pins, with the card operating as a master of the host;
• circuitry for automatically detecting whether the card is operating in a standalone mode or in a master mode;
• and
• a host comprising:
• a plug for said card connector, for connecting the host to said communication card;
• and
• a user interface for said communication card.

A host device for a communication card, comprising:

• a controller;
• and
• a connector, coupled with said controller, for connection with a wireless communication card,
• wherein said controller does not provide wireless communication functionality when said connector is not connected with the communication card, and wherein said controller operates as a slave to the communication card when said connector is connected to the communication card.