Portable hybrid communication system and methods

Abstract

A laptop device includes a personal computer, a cellular transceiver, a speakerphone, and a hybrid communications control unit. The device has connectors for attaching a headset, cellular control unit, land telephone line, and additional speakers and microphones. The micro-processor-controlled hybrid communications control unit includes a modem, a data access arrangement, and a tone generator as well as digital, analog, and power switches. The hybrid communications control unit switches the communications components and provides, under program control, the proper protocols, level, and impedance matching to connect the modem, speakerphone, headset, speaker / microphone, or cellular control unit to the landline or to the cellular network via the transceiver. Matching and switching operations are automatic and transparent to the user. The unit can also connect two of the terminal devices or connect the cellular and landlines for call relaying. The device is capable of connecting plural calls at the same time. The hybrid communications control unit may be controlled by its internal firmware, by toggle switches, or by commands issued from the personal computer.

Description

BACKGROUND ARTTechnology offers the consumer many choices in communications hardware, allowing both data and voice transmission. These choices include portable computers with internal modems, hands-free speakerphones, landline telephones, and cellular telephones.Modern portable computers may be equipped with an internal modem and data access arrangement that allows the internal modem to be connected through an RJ-11 connector to the Public Switched Telephone Network. Examples of this technology include portable computers manufactured by Zenith and NEC. These portable computers generally include a speaker used for call progress monitoring; and this speaker is used strictly as an analog output device. The internal modems are used only for sending and receiving modulated digital information through the public switched telephone network. Methods of modulation include the Bell 212, Bell 103 CCITT V.21, CCITT V.22 and CCITT v.22 bis standards.Hands-free speakerphones can be found in many ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved portable hybrid communication system which can switch a modem onto either a landline or cellular telephone network.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved portable hybrid communication system which can sense the ON or OFF condition of the power to a transceiver unit.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel portable hybrid communication system with complete control of a cellular control unit, providing the necessary signals to the control unit for the control unit to function properly, and sensing all of the signals generated by the control unit, allowing use of the cellular control unit.

Problems solved by technology

Although this patent provides for modem, transceiver unit and control unit analog and digital control, it does not provide a method for connecting numerous communication devices selectively to both land line and cellular telephone networks.

None of these known devices or methods succeeds in achieving the functionality ultimately possible from the combination of a modem, portable computer, cellular phone, speakerphone, headset, and landline connection.

Prior to the invention disclosed herein, this combination was not conceived of in the art for a number of reasons, but primarily because the devices described were considered to be incompatible.

As another example, ordinary telephones do not provide the correct control signals to place calls on the cellular network, and cellular control units cannot be used as landline handsets.

Thus, an integrated portable unit which combines a personal computer, cellular transmitter, modem and speaker phone with headset, cellular control unit, and land telephone connections could not be implemented by merely wiring known devices together.

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