US5581261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication configurator and method for implementing same
Assignee: H&S1
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1996-12-03
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for communication configuring in digital equipment based on the location of the equipment includes a mechanism determining the location of the digital equipment and a mechanism configuring a communication channel of the equipment based on the location. The location may be determined using a Global Positioning System, Global Paging System, or similar wireless communication system, or by connection to a wired network. User input may also be used in determining, in part or in whole, the location of the digital equipment. Once the location of the digital equipment has been determined, the communication channel for the digital equipment is configured based upon the location using configuration data stored with the digital equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul L. Hickman
- 👤 Lawrence K. Stephens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/50; H04L61/5084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for configuring the communications of a portable computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) storing configuration information including telephone prefix codes for a plurality of geographical locations to configure at least one telephone communication connection process of a portable computer system, said telephone communication connection process communicating through a port of said portable computer system; (b) communicating current geographical location information to the portable computer system through a position input means; (c) determining the current geographical location of the portable computer system from said current location information; and (d) reconfiguring the telephone communication connection process of said portable computer system utilizing said current geographical location to access the configuration information including determining a proper telephone prefix code such that a subsequent digital communication via said port can be made by said portable computer system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for configuring the communications of a portable computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) storing configuration information including telephone prefix codes for a plurality of geographical locations to configure at least one telephone communication connection process of a portable computer system, said telephone communication connection process communicating through a port of said portable computer system; (b) communicating current geographical location information to the portable computer system through a position input means; (c) determining the current geographical location of the portable computer system from said current location information; and (d) reconfiguring the telephone communication connection process of said portable computer system utilizing said current geographical location to access the configuration information including determining a proper telephone prefix code such that a subsequent digital communication via said port can be made by said portable computer system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said current geographical location information is provided, at least in part, by a Global Positioning System (GPS).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said current geographical location information is provided, at least in part, by a LORAN system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said current geographical location information is provided, at least in part, by a wireless network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said current geographical location information is provided, at least in part, by a user input that is subsequently displayed on a screen of said portable computer system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining the current geographical location comprises the steps of: (a) detecting format errors in the current geographical location information; and (b) translating the current geographical location information into a proper format; and (c) detecting ambiguity errors in the current geographical location; and (d) resolving the ambiguity errors in the current geographical location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
The method as recited in claim 6 wherein; said step of translating the current geographical location information comprises the step of using a first heuristic method to: (a) collect a plurality of geographical location information readings and compute an average value of the location information readings; and (b) anticipate a current geographical location by extrapolating past location information; and wherein said step of resolving the ambiguity errors in the geographical location comprises the step of using a second heuristic method to: (a) store a threshold value; (b) collect a set of locations with a confidence level of accuracy above the threshold value; and (c) repeatedly configure the communications process using a geographical location from the set of geographical locations with descending confidence levels of accuracy until configuring the communications process is successful.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as recited in claim 7, further including the steps of: (a) entering geographical location identifiers provided by a user to override or aid the first heuristic method; and (b) entering geographical location identifiers provided by a user to override or aid the second heuristic method.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 5 or 8, further including the step of entering geographical location identifiers provided by the user using a keyboard or a pointing device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 9, further including the step of displaying a map in a graphical user interface for the user to select the current geographical location using the pointing device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said reconfiguring step modifies a telephone number in addition to said telephone prefix codes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said reconfiguring step includes modifying a baud rate of said communication process.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
A machine readable medium storing a configuration database including telephone prefix codes and storing program instructions which utilize said configuration database, said program instructions implementing the steps of: determining a current geographical location of a digital apparatus having a communications port; and utilizing said configuration database and said current geographical location to determine proper communication protocols including proper telephone prefix codes for an initiation of a telephone communication connection process through said communications port based upon said current geographical location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A machine readable medium storing a configuration database including telephone prefix codes and storing program instructions which utilize said configuration database, said program instructions implementing the steps of: determining a current geographical location of a digital apparatus having a communications port; and utilizing said configuration database and said current geographical location to determine proper communication protocols including proper telephone prefix codes for an initiation of a telephone communication connection process through said communications port based upon said current geographical location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A machine readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein said step of determining a current geographical location utilizes at least one of a Global Position System (GPS), LORAN system, wireless communication system, said communications port, and a user input.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine readable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said proper communications protocols further includes at least one of a baud rate, a communication word length, and an error correction protocol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USRE31254E
Cited
US4868863A
Cited
US4841561A
Cited
US5134648A
Cited
US5239670A
Cited
US5307465A
Cited
US5263177A
Cited
US5377261A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-06-03 | 2000-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-03 | 2004-06-03 | 2004-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-06-03 | 2008-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |