US6067583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular, reconfigurable components methods for wireless data transfer between a computer and a communications system
Assignee: Gateway Inc
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Filing: 1998-04-14
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Granted: 2000-05-23
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Expires: 2018-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A wired modem normally plugs directly into a computer and connects to a telephone system by wired connection to a wall jack. This same modem can be used in a wireless configuration by plugging it into a single-module base station unit located near the wall jack and containing a baseband-to-wireless transceiver. A single module remote station plugs into the computer in place of the modem, and contains another baseband-to-wireless transceiver for communicating wireless data with the base station. The base and remote stations duplicate very little of the functionality performed by the modem, making the modem easily replaceable in either wired or wireless configurations.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy G. Gilbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1684; G06F1/1698; H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; G06F1/1656; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M1/72409; H04M1/72412; H04M1/725; H04M11/00; H04M11/06; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/18; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A modular system for communicating data to and from a fixed-position telephone-line connector of a telephone system, comprising: a computer for processing baseband digital data, including; a computer interface connector for transmitting and receiving said interface data; a wired modem packaged as a unitary physical module, including; a modem interface connector adapted to mate with said computer interface connector, a modem telephone-line connector, modem electronics circuits for converting baseband data at said modem interface connector to and from modulated data at said modem telephone-line connector, a remote station packaged as a unitary physical module separately from said modem, including; a remote-station interface connector mating with said computer interface connector, a remote-station antenna for radiating and receiving wireless data, a remote-station transceiver for converting baseband data at said remote-station interface connector to and from wireless data at said remote-station antenna; a base station packaged as a unitary physical module separately from said modem, including; a base-station interface connector adapted to mate with said modem interface connector, a base-station antenna for radiating and receiving wireless data to and from said base station, a base-station transceiver for converting baseband data at said base-station interface connector to and from wireless data at said base-station antenna; a wire coupling said modem telephone-line connector to said telephone-line connector of said telephone system, whereby data may be communicated to and from said fixed-position telephone line via either wired or wireless connection with said computer, using the same modem module in both cases.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A modular system for communicating data to and from a fixed-position telephone-line connector of a telephone system, comprising: a computer for processing baseband digital data, including; a computer interface connector for transmitting and receiving said interface data; a wired modem packaged as a unitary physical module, including; a modem interface connector adapted to mate with said computer interface connector, a modem telephone-line connector, modem electronics circuits for converting baseband data at said modem interface connector to and from modulated data at said modem telephone-line connector, a remote station packaged as a unitary physical module separately from said modem, including; a remote-station interface connector mating with said computer interface connector, a remote-station antenna for radiating and receiving wireless data, a remote-station transceiver for converting baseband data at said remote-station interface connector to and from wireless data at said remote-station antenna; a base station packaged as a unitary physical module separately from said modem, including; a base-station interface connector adapted to mate with said modem interface connector, a base-station antenna for radiating and receiving wireless data to and from said base station, a base-station transceiver for converting baseband data at said base-station interface connector to and from wireless data at said base-station antenna; a wire coupling said modem telephone-line connector to said telephone-line connector of said telephone system, whereby data may be communicated to and from said fixed-position telephone line via either wired or wireless connection with said computer, using the same modem module in both cases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said wired modem is packaged as a unitary physical module.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said wired modem includes a further data interface connector on said package.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said wired modem includes a modem power connector on said package separate from said modem interface connector for receiving power from an external source other than said computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said wired modem further includes a controller coupled to said modem electronics circuits for controlling the flow of data within said modem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
138 words
A wireless adapter for a data-processing system having a computer including a computer interface connector for accepting a modem interface connector of a wired modem, the modem having a modem telephone-line connector for accepting a wire to a telephone-system connector, said adapter comprising: a remote station for converting baseband data to and from wireless data, including a remote-station interface connector mating with said computer interface connector for transferring baseband data to and from the computer, and a remote-station antenna for radiating and receiving converted wireless data; and a base station for converting baseband data to and from wireless data, including a base-station interface connector adapted to mate with said modem interface connector for transferring baseband data to and from the modem, and a base-station antenna for radiating and receiving converted wireless data to and from said remote station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
A wireless adapter for a data-processing system having a computer including a computer interface connector for accepting a modem interface connector of a wired modem, the modem having a modem telephone-line connector for accepting a wire to a telephone-system connector, said adapter comprising: a remote station for converting baseband data to and from wireless data, including a remote-station interface connector mating with said computer interface connector for transferring baseband data to and from the computer, and a remote-station antenna for radiating and receiving converted wireless data; and a base station for converting baseband data to and from wireless data, including a base-station interface connector adapted to mate with said modem interface connector for transferring baseband data to and from the modem, and a base-station antenna for radiating and receiving converted wireless data to and from said remote station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An adapter according to claim 6 wherein said remote station is packaged as a unitary physical module.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An adapter according to claim 6 wherein said base station further includes a controller coupled between said base station interface connector and said base station transceiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An adapter according to claim 6 wherein said base station further includes a base station power input connector for receiving power from an external power source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An adapter according to claim 9 wherein said base station further includes a base station power output connector for supplying power to said modem.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An adapter according to claim 6 wherein said modem includes a further modem interface connector for baseband data, said further modem interface connector being couplable to said computer for employing said modem directly in said computer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for adapting to wireless operation a data-processing system having a computer normally directly coupled to a wired modem coupled by a wire to a telephone-system connector, said method comprising: coupling a remote station directly to said computer; coupling a base station directly to said wired modem; coupling said wired modem to said telephone system by a physical connection; converting modulated data from said telephone system to baseband data in said modem; converting said baseband data from said modem to wireless data in said base station; transmitting said wireless data from said base station to said remote station; converting said wireless data from said base station to baseband data in said remote station; and transmitting said baseband data from said remote unit to said computer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for adapting to wireless operation a data-processing system having a computer normally directly coupled to a wired modem coupled by a wire to a telephone-system connector, said method comprising: coupling a remote station directly to said computer; coupling a base station directly to said wired modem; coupling said wired modem to said telephone system by a physical connection; converting modulated data from said telephone system to baseband data in said modem; converting said baseband data from said modem to wireless data in said base station; transmitting said wireless data from said base station to said remote station; converting said wireless data from said base station to baseband data in said remote station; and transmitting said baseband data from said remote unit to said computer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising: converting baseband data from said computer to wireless data in said remote station; transmitting said wireless data from said remote station to said base station; converting said wireless data from said remote station to baseband data in said base unit; converting baseband data from said base station to modulated data in said modem; and transmitting said modulated data from said modem to said telephone system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said modem is coupled to said telephone system by a wire.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said wire is located at least partially inside said base station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said baseband data from said modem is converted directly to wireless data in said base station.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said wireless data from said base station is converted directly to said baseband data in said remote station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said wireless data is radio-frequency data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said wireless data is infrared data.
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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) | 2003-05-23 | 2003-11-22 | 2004-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-23 | 2007-11-22 | 2008-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-23 | 2011-11-22 | 2012-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |