US5568536A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Selective reconfiguration method and apparatus in a multiple application personal communications device
Assignee: MediaTek Inc
•
Filing: 1994-07-25
•
Granted: 1996-10-22
•
Expires: 2014-07-25
Abstract
Abstract An option attach connector has a first indicator bit combination that alerts the device that a public switched telephone network connection has been made to it. The presence of the first indicator bit combination is a signal to the device that telephone, FAX, and E-MAIL communications applications are to be conducted over a PSTN link. The presence of the first indicator bit combination invokes a stored computer program to provide appropriate connections between the PSTN link and the telephone, FAX, and modem hardware in the device. The connections are made by an audio multiplexer that receives control signals from the system CPU, while executing the stored computer program. The program determines the communications application selected by the user and selectively configures the PSTN link to be connected to the either the ear piece and microphone for voice communications, or to the FAX/modem for FAX communications, or to the modem alone for E-MAIL communications. The absence of the option attach connector invokes a default indicator bit combination that alerts the device that a cellular telephone network connection is desired by the user. The presence of the default indicator bit combination is a signal to the device that telephone, FAX, and E-mail communications applications are to be conducted over a cellular network.
Inventors
- 👤 Byron K. Tiller
- 👤 David J. Allard
- 👤 Connie Y. Au
- 👤 Francis J. Canova, Jr.
- 👤 Daniel M. Hsieh
- 👤 Julie F. Goodwin
- 👤 Debra A. G. Johnson
- 👤 Charles S. Lanier
- 👤 James R. Lewis
- 👤 Jean L. Stout
- 👤 William Villafana
- 👤 Raymond L. Yee
- 👤 Russell S. Padgett
- 👤 Robert B. Ferrier
- 👤 Anthony F. Corkell
- 👤 Thomas T. Murakami
- 👤 Bradley J. DeBauche
- 👤 Wayne P. Whitley
- 👤 Neal A. Osborn
- 👤 Brent A. Beatty
- 👤 Roger L. Cox
- 👤 James C. Wulf
- 👤 Jose L. Rivero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M1/72409; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1656; H04M1/24; H04W; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
339 words
A system for providing selective reconfiguration in a multiple application personal communications device, comprising: a data storage in the device, for storing program instructions; a bus means in the device, coupled to said data storage; a data processor in the device, coupled to said data storage over said bus means, for executing said stored program instructions; a multiplexer means coupled to the data processor, for selectively interconnecting signal lines connected thereto, in response to control signals from the data processor; a voice transducer means coupled to said multiplexer means; a program means stored in the data storage, having a first portion for managing communications using a public switched telephone network; said program means having a second portion, for managing communications using a mobile radio telephone network; a decoding means coupled to the data processor and to the data storage, for selectively causing either said first portion or said second portion of said program means to be executed by the data processor; an option connector receptacle coupled to said decoding means; a first option attach connector having a terminal coupled to said public switched telephone network, for selective connection to said option connector receptacle; said terminal of said first option attach connector being coupled to said multiplexer means; a first connector identification means included with said first option attach connector, for identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means when said first connector is connected to said receptacle, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing the execution of said first portion of said program means; said first connector identification means included with said first option attach connector, identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means when said first connector is connected to said receptacle, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing said data processor to signal said multiplexer to couple said public switched telephone network to said voice transducer means; said decoding means causing said second portion of said program means to be executed when said first connector is not connected to said receptacle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
339 words
A system for providing selective reconfiguration in a multiple application personal communications device, comprising: a data storage in the device, for storing program instructions; a bus means in the device, coupled to said data storage; a data processor in the device, coupled to said data storage over said bus means, for executing said stored program instructions; a multiplexer means coupled to the data processor, for selectively interconnecting signal lines connected thereto, in response to control signals from the data processor; a voice transducer means coupled to said multiplexer means; a program means stored in the data storage, having a first portion for managing communications using a public switched telephone network; said program means having a second portion, for managing communications using a mobile radio telephone network; a decoding means coupled to the data processor and to the data storage, for selectively causing either said first portion or said second portion of said program means to be executed by the data processor; an option connector receptacle coupled to said decoding means; a first option attach connector having a terminal coupled to said public switched telephone network, for selective connection to said option connector receptacle; said terminal of said first option attach connector being coupled to said multiplexer means; a first connector identification means included with said first option attach connector, for identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means when said first connector is connected to said receptacle, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing the execution of said first portion of said program means; said first connector identification means included with said first option attach connector, identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means when said first connector is connected to said receptacle, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing said data processor to signal said multiplexer to couple said public switched telephone network to said voice transducer means; said decoding means causing said second portion of said program means to be executed when said first connector is not connected to said receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
The system for providing selective reconfiguration in a multiple application personal communications device of claim 1, which further comprises: an input means coupled to the data processor, for receiving a FAX application selection; a FAX/modem means coupled to said multiplexer means; said first connector identification means included with said first option attach connector, identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means when said first connector is connected to said receptacle, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing said data processor to signal said multiplexer to couple said public switched telephone network to said FAX/modem means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
The system for providing selective reconfiguration in a multiple application personal communications device of claim 1, which further comprises: an input means coupled to the data processor, for receiving an E-MAIL application selection; a modem means coupled to said multiplexer means; said first connector identification means included with said first option attach connector, identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means when said first connector is connected to said receptacle, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing said data processor to signal said multiplexer to couple said public switched telephone network to said modem means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system for providing selective reconfiguration in a multiple application personal communications device of claim 1, which further comprises: a voice transducer means coupled to said multiplexer means; a mobile radio telephone means coupled to said multiplexer means; said decoding means not identifying said first option attach connector, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing said data processor to signal said multiplexer to couple said mobile radio telephone means to said voice transducer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The system for providing selective reconfiguration in a multiple application personal communications device of claim 1, which further comprises: an input means coupled to the data processor, for receiving a FAX application selection; a FAX/modem means coupled to said multiplexer means; a mobile radio telephone means coupled to said multiplexer means; said decoding means not identifying said first option attach connector, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing said data processor to signal said multiplexer to couple said mobile radio telephone means to said FAX/modem means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
The system for providing selective reconfiguration in a multiple application personal communications device of claim 1, which further comprises: an input means coupled to the data processor, for receiving an E-MAIL application selection; a modem means coupled to said multiplexer means; a mobile radio telephone means coupled to said multiplexer means; said decoding means not identifying said first option attach connector, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing said data processor to signal said multiplexer to couple said mobile radio telephone means to said modem means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
215 words
A system for providing selective reconfiguration in a multiple application personal communications device that includes a data storage and a data processor, comprising: a multiplexer means coupled to the data processor, for selectively interconnecting signal lines connected thereto, in response to control signals from the data processor; an audio transducer means coupled to said multiplexer means; a program means stored in the data storage, for managing communications using either a public switched telephone network or alternately using a mobile radio telephone network; a decoding means coupled to the data processor and to the data storage, for selectively causing said program means to be executed by the data processor; a first option attach connector having a terminal coupled to said public switched telephone network and coupled to said multiplexer means, for selective connection to said decoding means, a first connector identification means included with said first option attach connector, for identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing the execution of said program means; said first connector identification means identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing said data processor to signal said multiplexer to couple said public switched telephone network to said audio transducer means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
215 words
A system for providing selective reconfiguration in a multiple application personal communications device that includes a data storage and a data processor, comprising: a multiplexer means coupled to the data processor, for selectively interconnecting signal lines connected thereto, in response to control signals from the data processor; an audio transducer means coupled to said multiplexer means; a program means stored in the data storage, for managing communications using either a public switched telephone network or alternately using a mobile radio telephone network; a decoding means coupled to the data processor and to the data storage, for selectively causing said program means to be executed by the data processor; a first option attach connector having a terminal coupled to said public switched telephone network and coupled to said multiplexer means, for selective connection to said decoding means, a first connector identification means included with said first option attach connector, for identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing the execution of said program means; said first connector identification means identifying said first option attach connector to said decoding means, and in response thereto, said decoding means causing said data processor to signal said multiplexer to couple said public switched telephone network to said audio transducer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 7, wherein said audio transducer means is a voice transducer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 7, wherein said audio transducer means is a FAX/modem.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1597163A
Cited
US4521645A
Cited
US4899377A
Cited
US4677653A
Cited
US4734928A
Cited
DE3703044A1
Cited
US4843326A
Cited
US4991197A
Cited
US5272747A
Cited
US4969836A
Cited
US5099426A
Cited
US4912756A
Cited
US5200991A
Cited
US5146486A
Cited
US5255312A
Cited
US5020090A
Cited
US5127041A
Cited
US5270704A
Cited
US5274693A
Cited
EP0481887A2
Cited
US5204947A
Cited
US5297249A
Cited
US5255306A
Cited
US5436960A
Cited
JPH05244243A
Cited
US5249218A
Cited
US5297030A
Cited
US5183404A
Cited
US5302947A
Cited
US5408520A
Cited
US5313596A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-22 | 2000-04-22 | 2000-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-22 | 2004-04-22 | 2004-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-22 | 2008-04-22 | 2008-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |