Interface for connecting computers to radio telephone networks

A modem interface for connecting a modem to facilitate data transmission over one of at least two types of public communications networks including at least one radiotelephone network which can be selectively accessed through associated communications network access devices connectable to the interface, comprising:

• a telephone connector having a plurality of pin connections including tip and ring pins located to operatively connect to a standard landline telephone cable carrying tip and ring lines;
• a first information bus for transmitting data signals between the modem and the access device and connected through said telephone connector to said tip and ring pins;
• a second information bus for carrying digital control signals from the modem for controlling dialing operations on said radiotelephone network, and connected to pin connections of said telephone connector other than said tip and ring pins;
• whereby said telephone connector provides a tip and ring interface between said modem and said communications network access device when said standard landline telephone cable is connected therebetween and provides a digital interface permitting the modem to control dialing operations of said communications network access device associated with said radiotelephone network when a cable providing connections to said second information bus is connected therebetween.

An interface circuit for connecting a computing device to one of a plurality of access devices for a radio communications network to achieve data transfer with a remote station, comprising:

• computer interface means for transferring information between the interface circuit and a portable personal computing device;
• cable means for establishing predetermined line connections to a specified one of said access devices in said radio communications network to control address specification and data transmission functions of the access device;
• information storage means for receiving and storing at least one of a plurality of possible program data sets defining digital control signals for at least one type of radio communications network access device bus, according to a standard protocol of said bus, and for defining line connections over which said signals are to be transmitted in conjunction with said predetermined line connections established by said cable means;
• and
• control means connected to the computer interface means, the cable means, and the information storage means for receiving operational commands from the portable personal computing device, and in response to said commands retrieving a program data set from the program storage means compatible with the access device connected to said cable means, generating addressing signals to initiate data transfer with the remote station using said access device and said radio communications network, and for transferring data with the remote station.

An interface circuit for connecting a computing device to an access device for a radio communications network to achieve data transfer with a remote station, comprising:

• computer connection means for receiving and processing information from a portable personal computing device and for processing and transmitting information to the portable personal computing device;
• control means connected to the computer connection means for receiving operational commands from the portable personal computing device, and in response to said commands retrieving a program data set and generating addressing signals to initiate data transfer with the remote station using said access device and said radio communications network;
• and
• an access-device-specific operating combination, including a cable means for establishing predetermined line connections to a specified one of said access devices in said radio communications network to control address specification and data transmission functions of the access device, said cable means having a connector compatible with a connector of the access device, and a program data set defining digital control signals for the access device in conjunction with said predetermined line connections.