Patent US2853555A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5635940A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5635940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Communication configurator and method for implementing same
Assignee: H&S1
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Filing: 1994-02-02
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Granted: 1997-06-03
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Expires: 2014-02-02
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
2026-10-27 18:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/50; H04L61/5084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for configuring the communications of digital equipment, comprising the steps of: (a) storing configuration information to configure at least one communication process implemented by a digital equipment; (b) communicating location information to the digital equipment through a position input, said position input comprising a receiver responsive to at least one of a Global Positioning System signal and a LORAN system signal; (c) determining the location of the digital equipment; and (d) reconfiguring said at least one communication process implemented by said digital equipment utilizing the configuration information and the determined location, said reconfiguring including at least reconfiguring a telephone number, such that a subsequent digital communication can be properly made by said digital equipment by dialing said reconfigured telephone number.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for configuring the communications of digital equipment, comprising the steps of: (a) storing configuration information to configure at least one communication process implemented by a digital equipment; (b) communicating location information to the digital equipment through a position input, said position input comprising a receiver responsive to at least one of a Global Positioning System signal and a LORAN system signal; (c) determining the location of the digital equipment; and (d) reconfiguring said at least one communication process implemented by said digital equipment utilizing the configuration information and the determined location, said reconfiguring including at least reconfiguring a telephone number, such that a subsequent digital communication can be properly made by said digital equipment by dialing said reconfigured telephone number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of determining the location using a wireless network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 2, further including the steps of: (a) transmitting a plurality of identifiers corresponding to a plurality of geographic locations; and (b) connecting a receiver to the position input for receiving the identifiers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method as recited in claim 3, further including the steps of: (a) connecting error detection and correction circuits to the position input; and (b) transmitting additional error detection and correction bits along with the identifiers; and (c) detecting and correcting errors in the identifiers utilizing the error detection and correction circuits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further including the steps of: (a) entering location identifiers provided by a user; and (b) determining the location using the location identifiers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further including the steps of: (a) detecting format errors in the location information; and (b) translating the location information into a proper format; and (c) detecting ambiguity errors in the location; and (d) resolving the ambiguity errors in the location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
The method as recited in claim 6, further including the steps of: (a) translating the location information into a proper format using a first heuristic method comprising the steps of: collecting a plurality of location information readings and computing an average value of the location information readings; and anticipating a current location by extrapolating past location information; and (b) resolving the ambiguity errors in the location using a second heuristic method comprising the steps of: storing a threshold value; collecting a set of locations with a confidence level of accuracy above the threshold value; and repeatedly configuring the communications process using a location from the set of locations with descending confidence levels of accuracy until configuring the communications process is successful.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as recited in claim 7, further including the steps of: (a) entering location identifiers provided by a user to override or aid the first heuristic method; and (b) entering 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 the location identifiers provided by the user using a keyboard or a pointing device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 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 location using the pointing device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further including the steps of configuring the at least one communication process with a baud rate corresponding to each telephone number.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as recited in claim 11, further including the steps of configuring the at least one communication process with a number of data bits, a number of start bits, a number of stop bits and a parity check corresponding to each telephone number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further including the steps of: (a) linking a configuration process into a communications application; and (b) reconfiguring the digital equipment utilizing the configuration process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further including the steps of: (a) operating the digital equipment with an operating system; (b) determining the operating system interrupts used to configure the communication process of the digital equipment; (c) replacing the operating system interrupts with a configuration process; and (d) reconfiguring the digital equipment utilizing the configuration process.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for configuring digital equipment comprising: (a) a storage for storing configuration information including at least telephone dialing information for configuring at least one communication process, including configuring a telephone number, of the digital equipment; (b) a wireless position input including a receiver for receiving location information from at least one of a Global Positioning System and a LORAN system; (c) a processor attached to and controlling the position input for receiving the location information, and attached to an controlling the storage for storing configuration information; and (d) a configuration process running in the processor for determining the location of the digital equipment, and for reconfiguring the at least one communication process, including said telephone number, of the digital equipment utilizing the determined location and configuration information.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for configuring digital equipment comprising: (a) a storage for storing configuration information including at least telephone dialing information for configuring at least one communication process, including configuring a telephone number, of the digital equipment; (b) a wireless position input including a receiver for receiving location information from at least one of a Global Positioning System and a LORAN system; (c) a processor attached to and controlling the position input for receiving the location information, and attached to an controlling the storage for storing configuration information; and (d) a configuration process running in the processor for determining the location of the digital equipment, and for reconfiguring the at least one communication process, including said telephone number, of the digital equipment utilizing the determined location and configuration information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 15, further including error correction and detection circuits disposed between the position input and the processor for detecting and correcting errors in the location identifiers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 15, wherein determining the location of the digital equipment uses location identifiers entered by a user.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 15, wherein the configuration process comprises: (a) a mechanism translating the location information into a proper format; and (b) a mechanism determining the geographic location of the digital equipment; and (c) a mechanism resolving ambiguities in the location of the digital equipment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
119 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 18, wherein the mechanism translating the location information into a proper format uses a first heuristic method comprising the steps of:. collecting a plurality of location information readings and computing an average value of the location information readings; anticipating a current location by extrapolating past location information; and the mechanism resolving ambiguities in the geographic location uses a second heuristic method comprising the steps of: storing a threshold value; collecting a set of locations with a confidence level of accuracy above the threshold value; and repeatedly configuring the communications process using a geographic location from the set of locations with descending confidence levels of accuracy until configuring the communications process is successful.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 19, further comprising: (a) a mechanism entering location identifiers provided by a user for overriding or aiding in the translating location information into a proper format by the first heuristic method; and (b) a mechanism entering location identifiers provided by a user for overriding or aiding in the resolving ambiguities in the geographic location by the second heuristic method.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 17 or 20, wherein the location identifiers are entered by the user using a keyboard or a pointing device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 21, further including a map displayed in a graphical user interface for the user to select the location using the pointing device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 15, wherein reconfiguring the at least one communication process of the digital equipment uses a baud rate corresponding to each telephone number.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 23, wherein reconfiguring the at least one communication process of the digital equipment uses a number of data bits, a number of start bits, a number of stop bits and a parity check corresponding to each telephone number.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 15, wherein the configuration process is linked into a communications application.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
73 words
The digital equipment as recited in claim 15, further including: (a) an operating system for running the processor; and (b) at least one operating system interrupt service routine for configuring the at least one communication process; and (c) the configuration process being a device driver with at least one configuration process interrupt service routine for replacing the at least one operating system interrupt service routine for configuring the at least one communication process.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for configuring the communications of a portable computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) storing configuration information to configure at least one communication process of a portable computer system, said portable computer system including a central processing unit (CPU), an input/output (I/O) circuit, and a communications port coupled to said CPU by said I/O circuit, said communication process communicating with external digital equipment through said communications port of said portable computer system; (b) communicating current location information to the portable computer system through a wireless position input means including at least one of a Global Positioning System and a LORAN system; (c) determining the current location of the portable computer system from said current location information; and (d) reconfiguring the portable computer system utilizing the configuration information and the determined current location including re-configuring a telephone number of a remote digital system with which said portable computer system will communicate, such that a subsequent digital communication with said remote digital system via said port can be properly made by said portable computer system.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for configuring the communications of a portable computer system, comprising the steps of: (a) storing configuration information to configure at least one communication process of a portable computer system, said portable computer system including a central processing unit (CPU), an input/output (I/O) circuit, and a communications port coupled to said CPU by said I/O circuit, said communication process communicating with external digital equipment through said communications port of said portable computer system; (b) communicating current location information to the portable computer system through a wireless position input means including at least one of a Global Positioning System and a LORAN system; (c) determining the current location of the portable computer system from said current location information; and (d) reconfiguring the portable computer system utilizing the configuration information and the determined current location including re-configuring a telephone number of a remote digital system with which said portable computer system will communicate, such that a subsequent digital communication with said remote digital system via said port can be properly made by said portable computer system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 27 wherein said current location information is provided, at least in part, by a Global Positioning System (GPS).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 27 wherein said current location information is provided, at least in part, by a LORAN system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 27 wherein said current location information is provided, at least in part, by a wireless network.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as recited in claim 27 wherein said current 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 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as recited in claim 27 wherein said reconfiguring step modifies a telephone number.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 27 wherein said reconfiguring step modifies a baud rate of said communication process.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
127 words
A portable computer system comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); digital memory coupled to said CPU; input/output (I/O) circuitry coupled to said CPU; a communications port coupled to said I/O circuitry to communicate with said CPU; locator means coupled to said I/O circuitry to communicate with said CPU and to provide said CPU with current location information, said locator including a wireless receiver receptive to at least one of a Global Positioning System and a LORAN system; and processing means stored in said digital memory and executing on said CPU for processing said current location information and for controlling a communications process utilizing said communications port, wherein at least one communication protocol including a telephone number of said communications process is dependent upon said current location information.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
127 words
A portable computer system comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); digital memory coupled to said CPU; input/output (I/O) circuitry coupled to said CPU; a communications port coupled to said I/O circuitry to communicate with said CPU; locator means coupled to said I/O circuitry to communicate with said CPU and to provide said CPU with current location information, said locator including a wireless receiver receptive to at least one of a Global Positioning System and a LORAN system; and processing means stored in said digital memory and executing on said CPU for processing said current location information and for controlling a communications process utilizing said communications port, wherein at least one communication protocol including a telephone number of said communications process is dependent upon said current location information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
A portable computer system as recited in claim 34 wherein said locator means comprises a user input device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
A portable computer system as recited in claim 34 wherein said communications protocol comprises a communication rate.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
A portable computer system as recited in claim 34 wherein said communication protocol comprises an error checking protocol.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-02 | 2000-12-02 | 2001-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-12-02 | 2005-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-02 | 2008-12-02 | 2009-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |