System and process for supporting multiple wireless standards with a single circuit architecture

Claim 2

A communication system for communicating at least one transmit first information signal and at least one receive first information signal through a common antenna, the communication system comprising: a handset for processing receive baseband information signals and generating transmit baseband information signals; a first number of modules, each module removably couplable to the handset for converting the transmit baseband information signals into the at least one transmit first information signal, and for converting the at least one receive first information signal into receive baseband information signals; wherein each removably couplable module enables communication in accordance with at least one communication standard when coupled to the handset; wherein the handset comprises a modulator for modulating the transmit baseband information signals with a transmit IF LO to generate a second transmit IF information signal, and a demodulator for demodulating a second receive IF information signal with a receive IF LO to generate the receive baseband information signals; and wherein at least one module comprises a transmitter for upconverting the second transmit IF information signal to generate the at least one transmit first information signal, and a receiver for downconverting the at least one receive first information signal to generate the second receive IF information signal.

Claim 3

A communication system as recited in claim 1 : the handset further including an IF LO frequency generator for generating the transmit IF LO and the receive IF LO.

Claim 4

A communication system for communicating at least one transmit first information signal and at least one receive first information signal through a common antenna, the communication system comprising: a handset for processing receive baseband information signals and generating transmit baseband information signals; a first number of modules, each module removably couplable to the handset for converting the transmit baseband information signals into the at least one transmit first information signal, and for converting the at least one receive first information signal into receive baseband information signals; wherein each removably couplable module enables communication in accordance with at least one communication standard when coupled to the handset; and wherein the handset comprises a transmit IF variable gain amplifier, transmit IF filter, and a modulator, coupled for amplifying, filtering, and modulating the transmit baseband information signals with a transmit IF LO to generate a first transmit IF information signal, and a receive IF filter, receive IF variable gain amplifier, and demodulator coupled for filtering, amplifying, and demodulating a first receive IF information signal with a receive IF LO to generate the receive baseband information signals; and wherein at least one module comprises a transmit upconverter mixer for upconverting the first transmit IF information signal to generate the at least one transmit first information signal, and a receive downconverter mixer for downconverting the at least one receive first information signal to generate the first receive IF information signal.

Claim 5

A communication system for communicating at least one transmit first information signal and at least one receive first information signal through a common antenna, the communication system comprising: a handset for processing receive baseband information signals and generating transmit baseband information signals; a first number of modules, each module removably couplable to the handset for converting the transmit baseband information signals into the at least one transmit first information signal, and for converting the at least one receive first information signal into receive baseband information signals; wherein each removably couplable module enables communication in accordance with at least one communication standard when coupled to the handset; and wherein the handset comprises a transmit IF variable gain amplifier, transmit IF filter, and a modulator, coupled for amplifying, filtering, and modulating the transmit baseband information signals with a transmit IF LO to generate a first transmit IF information signal, and a receive IF filter, receive IF variable gain amplifier, and demodulator coupled for filtering, amplifying, and demodulating a first receive IF information signal with a receive IF LO to generate the receive baseband information signals; and wherein at least one module comprises a transmit upconverter mixer for upconverting the first transmit IF information signal to generate the at least one transmit first information signal, and a receive downconverter mixer for downconverting the at least one receive first information signal to generate the first receive IF information signal.

Claim 6

A process for communicating at least one transmit first information signal and at least one receive first information signal through a common antenna utilizing a common handset and any one of a first number of removably couplable modules, the process comprising: locating within the common handset a baseband processor for processing receive baseband information signals and generating transmit baseband information signals within the handset; locating within the handset a modulator for modulating the transmit baseband information signals with a transmit IF LO to generate a second transmit IF information signal, and a demodulator for demodulating a second receive IF information signal with a receive IF LO to generate the receive baseband information signals; optimizing in accordance with at least one communication standard a modulator, transmitter, receiver, and demodulator co-located within each module for converting the transmit baseband information signals into the at least one transmit first information signal, and for converting the at least one receive first information signal into receive baseband information signals; and removably coupling any one of the first number of modules optimized for operating within at least one locally available wireless network to the handset to enable communication with the wireless network; and wherein at least one module comprises a transmitter for upconverting the second transmit IF information signal to generate the at least one transmit first information signal, and at least one module comprises a receiver for downconverting the at least one receive first information signal to generate the second receive IF information signal.

Claim 7

A process for communicating at least one transmit first information signal and at least one receive first information signal through a common antenna utilizing a common handset and any one of a first number of removably couplable modules, the process comprising: locating within the common handset a baseband processor for processing receive baseband information signals and generating transmit baseband information signals within the handset; locating within the handset a modulator for modulating the transmit baseband information signals with a transmit IF LO to generate a second transmit IF information signal, and a demodulator for demodulating a second receive IF information signal with a receive IF LO to generate the receive baseband information signals; optimizing in accordance with at least one communication standard a modulator, transmitter, receiver, and demodulator co-located within each module for converting the transmit baseband information signals into the at least one transmit first information signal, and for converting the at least one receive first information signal into receive baseband information signals; and removably coupling any one of the first number of modules optimized for operating within at least one locally available wireless network to the handset to enable communication with the wireless network; and wherein at least one module comprises a transmitter for upconverting the second transmit IF information signal to generate the at least one transmit first information signal, and at least one module comprises a receiver for downconverting the at least one receive first information signal to generate the second receive IF information signal.

Claim 8

A process as recited in claim 4 , further including the steps of: reading an identifier within the coupled module which identifies the at least one communication standard associated with that module; accessing instructions stored within the handset for performing baseband processing in accordance with the identified at least one communication standard; and performing baseband processing according to the instructions.

Claim 9

A process as recited in claim 4 , further including the steps of: transferring instructions stored in the coupled module into the handset, the instructions for processing data in accordance with the at least one communication standard associated with that coupled module; and performing baseband processing according to the instructions.

Claim 10

A process as recited in claim 4 further including the steps of: accessing instructions stored in the coupled module for processing data in accordance with the at least one communication standard associated with the module; and performing baseband processing according to the instructions.

Claim 11

A process as recited in claim 4 , further including the steps of: transferring instructions from an outside source into the handset, the instructions for processing data in accordance with the at least one communication standard associated with the coupled module; and performing baseband processing according to the instructions.