Wireless network connection system and method
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a device, system, method and computer-program product for transferring information between a host computer and a wireless network. The device and system comprise an operatively linked mass storage module and modem module. The mass storage module is configured to transfer information with a host computer. The modem module is configured to transfer information with one or more wireless networks. Communication between the host computer and the mass storage module is at least in part using file system input/output protocols. One or more virtual drivers are provided on the host computer to enable communication with the modem module without installation of modem specific drivers.
1. A system for transferring information between a host computer and a wireless network, said system comprising:
a mass storage module, said mass storage module operatively linked, using one of a wired or wireless communication link, to said host computer via a mass storage device communication module provided on said host computer, said mass storage device communication module configured to obtain data from and provide data to said host computer;
a modem module operatively linked to said mass storage module and configured to receive data from and send data to said wireless network; and
a virtual modem module provided on said host computer;
wherein instructions stored in the mass storage module configure said virtual modem module to communicate between said host computer and said modem module via said mass storage device communication module, said communication being performed, at least in part, using a file system communication protocol for reading and writing files that does not require the installation of drivers specific to the modern module, wherein the host computer communicates with the modem module through the virtual modem module.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mass storage module is operatively linked to said host computer system via a Universal Serial Bus (USB).
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual driver module is stored on the mass storage module and is provided to said host computer.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication protocol for reading and writing files is Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual modern module is configured using the virtual driver module.
6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the host computer is a laptop.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network is a WLAN.
8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the host computer communicates with the virtual modern using TCP/IP communication protocol.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions are stored in a Flash memory of the mass storage module.
10. A wireless communication device for transferring information between a host computer and a wireless network, said wireless communication device comprising:
a mass storage module, said mass storage module configured to be operatively linked, using one of a wired or wireless communication link, to said host computer via a mass storage device communication module provided on said host computer, said mass storage device communication module configured to obtain data from and provide data to said host computer; and
a modem module operatively linked to said mass storage module and configured to receive data from and send data to said wireless network;
wherein instructions stored in the mass storage module configure a virtual modem module, provided on said host computer, to communicate between said host computer and said modem module via said mass storage device communication module, said communication being performed at least in part using a file system communication protocol for reading and writing files that does not require the installation of drivers specific to the modern module, wherein the host computer communicates with the modem module through the virtual modem module.
11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the mass storage module is operatively linked to said host computer system via Universal Serial Bus (USB).
12. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the communication protocol for reading and writing files is Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).
13. The wireless communication device according to claim 10 , wherein the virtual modem module is configured using one or more virtual driver modules.
14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the virtual driver modules are stored on the mass storage module and provided to said host computer.
15. A method for transferring information between a host computer and a wireless network using a wireless communication device which includes a mass storage module and an operatively linked modem module configured to send and receive data from the wireless network, the method comprising:
coupling the wireless communication device to the host computer via a mass storage communication module provided on the host computer, thereby operatively connecting the mass storage module and modem module to the host computer, using one of a wired or wireless communication link; using instructions stored in the mass storage module, configuring a virtual modem module provided on the host computer to communicate between the host computer and the modem module via the mass storage communication module; and
communicating between the host computer and the modem module, the communicating being performed at least in part using a file system protocol for reading and writing files that does not require the installation of drivers specific to the model module, wherein the host computer communicates with the modem module through the virtual modem module.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the virtual modem module is configured using one or more virtual driver modules.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the virtual driver modules are stored on the mass storage module and are provided to said host computer.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the virtual driver modules are automatically provided to said host computer for operation upon first connecting the wireless communication device to the host computer.
19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the virtual driver modules are automatically provided to said host computer for operation based at least in part on user input.
20. A computer program, stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, for transferring information between a host computer and a wireless network using a wireless communication device which includes a mass storage module and an operatively linked modem module configured to send and receive data from the wireless network, the computer program comprising code which, when loaded into memory and executed on a processor, is adapted to perform the following:
coupling the wireless communication device to the host computer via a mass storage communication interface provided on the host computer, thereby operatively connecting the mass storage module and modem module to the host computer, using one of a wired or wireless communication link;
using instructions stored in the mass storage module to configure a virtual modem module provided on the host computer to communicate between the host computer and the modem module via the mass storage communication module; and
communicating between the host computer and the modem module, the communicating being performed at least in part using a file system protocol for reading and writing files that does not require the installation of drivers specific to the model module, wherein the host computer communicates with the modem module through the virtual modern module.