Systems and methods for multi-mode wireless communication
View Patent ↗A device includes a wireless modem configured to communicate with a wireless network and an interface unit communicatively coupled to the wireless modem. The interface unit is configured to interface a host device to a portable computing device, interface the host device with the wireless network through the wireless modem, and interface the portable computing device with the wireless network through the wireless modem.
1. A device, comprising:
a wireless modem configured to communicate with a wireless network; and
an interface unit communicatively coupled to the wireless modem, the interface unit configured to:
interface a host device to a portable computing device;
interface the host device with the wireless network through the wireless modem; and
interface the portable computing device with the wireless network through the wireless modem.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the interface unit further comprises a signal converter configured to convert signals sent from the portable computing device and/or the host device to the wireless modem from a first type of signal used by the portable computing device and/or the host device to a second type of signal used by the wireless modem.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first type of a signal is a USB signal or a RS232 signal.
4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the second type of signal is a PCMCIA signal or a RS232 signal.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless modem comprises a signal converter configured to convert signals received from the interface unit to an appropriate signal type used by the wireless modem.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless modem is contained on a removable modem card, and wherein the device further comprises a slot configured to receive the removable modem card and to interface the removable modem card to the modem interface unit.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to interface the personal computing device and the host device to the World Wide Web through the wireless modem.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device and/or the host device through the wireless modem to a server connected to the wireless network for data communication.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device and the host device to the server simultaneously.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device through the wireless modem to a server connected to the wireless network for synchronizing information.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to interface the host device to the portable computing device through the interface unit for synchronizing information.
12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a docking station interface configured to interface the device to a docking station, the docking station configured to accept the portable communication device.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the docking station is configured to interface a power signal to the device through the docking station interface.
14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the docking station includes a wired modem, and wherein the docking station is configured to interface the portable computing device and/or the host device to a LAN through the wired modem.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device through the docking station interface to accessories attached to the docking station.
16. A system, comprising:
a server connected to a wireless network;
a portable computing device;
a host device; and
a device, comprising:
a wireless modem configured to communicate with the wireless network; and
an interface unit communicatively coupled to the wireless modem, the interface unit configured to:
interface the host device to the portable computing device;
interface the host device with the server through the wireless modem; and
interface the portable computing device with the server through the wireless modem.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the device further comprises a docking station interface configured to interface the device to a docking station, the docking station configured to accept the portable communication device.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the docking station includes a wired modem, and wherein the docking station is configured to interface the portable computing device and/or the host device to a LAN through the wired modem.
19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device through the docking station interface to accessories attached to the docking station.
20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the wireless modem is contained on a removable modem card, and wherein the device further comprises a slot configured to receive the removable modem card and to interface the removable modem card to the modem interface unit.
21. The system of claim 16 , wherein the server is configured to interface the personal computing device and the host device to the World Wide Web.
22. The system of claim 16 , wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device and/or the host device to the server for data communication.
23. The system of claim 16 , wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device and the host device to the server simultaneously.
24. The system of claim 16 , wherein the device is configured to interface the portable computing device to the server for synchronizing information.
25. The system of claim 16 , wherein the device is configured to interface the host device to the portable computing device through the interface unit for synchronizing information.