Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
ADAPTIVE OMNI-MODAL RADIO APPARATUS
AND METHODS FOR NETWORKING THE SAME
This application is a division of Application Serial Number 2,179,151,
filed internationally on December 15, 1994 and entered nationally in Canada on
June 1-4, 1996.
~~~keround of the Invention
This invention relates generally to frequency and protocol agile,
wireless communication devices and systems adapted to enable voice and/or
data transmission to occur using a variety of different radio frequencies,
transmission protocols and radio infrastructures.
Many communication industry experts believe that a personal
information revolution has begun that will have as dramatic an impact as
did the rise of personal computers in the 1980's. Such experts are
predicting that the personal computer will become truly "personal" by
allowing virtually instant access to information anytime or anywhere.
There exists no consensus, however, on the pace or form of this
revolution.
For example, the wireless communication industry is being
fragmented by the emergence of a substantial number of competing
2 0 technologies and services including digital cellular technologies (e.g.
TDMA, E-TDMA, narrow band CDMA, and broadband CDMA),
geopositioning services, one way and two-way paging services, packet data
services, enhanced specialized mobile radio, personal computing services,
two-way satellite systems, cellular digital packet data (CDPD) and others.
2 5 Fragmenting forces within the wireless communication industry have been
further enhanced by regulatory actions of the U.S. government. In
particular, the U.S. government is preparing to auction off portions of the
radio spectrum for use in providing personal communication services (PCS)
in a large number of relatively small contiguous regions of the country.
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The U.S. government is also proposing to adopt regulations which will
encourage wide latitude among successful bidders for the new radio
spectrum to adopt innovative wireless technologies.
Until the market for wireless communication has experienced an
extended "shake-out" period it is unlikely that a clear winner or group of
winners will become apparent. Any portable unit which is capable of
interacting with more than one service provider or radio infrastructure
would obviously have advantages over a portable unit which is capable of
accessing only a single service provider. Still better would be a portable
unit which could be reprogrammed to interact with a variety of different
service providers. Previous attempts to provide such mufti modal units
have produced a variety of interesting, but less than ideal, product and
method concepts.
Among the known mufti-modal proposals is a portable telephone,
disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,127,042.to Gillig et al., which is adapted
to operate with either a conventional cordless base station or cellular base
station. U.S. Patent No. 5,179,360 to Suzula discloses a cellular telephone
which is capable of switching between either an analog mode of operation
or a digital mode of operation. Yet another approach is disclosed in U.S.
Patent 4,985,904 to Ogawara directed to an improved method and
apparatus for switching from a failed main radio communication system to
a backup communication system. Still another proposal is disclosed in
U.S. Patent No. 5,122,795 directed to a paging receiver which is capable
of scanning the frequencies of a plurality of radio common carriers to
detect the broadcast of a paging message over one of the carriers serving
a given geographic region. In U.S. Patent No. 5,239,701 to Ishii there is
disclosed a radio receiver which is responsive to an RF signal containing
a plurality of channel frequencies, each having broadcast information, and
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a circuit for producing a wide band version of the received RF signal and
a circuit for producing a narrow band version of the received RF signal.
While mufti-modal in some regard, each of the technologies
disclosed in the above listed patents is highly specialized and limited to a
S specific application. The systems disclosed are clearly non-adaptive and
are incapable of being easily reconfigured to adapt to different transmission
protocols or different radio infrastructures. Recently, Motorola has
announced beta testing of a system called "MoNet" which will allegedly
allow users to operate on whatever wireless network happens to be
available using protocol and frequency agile radio modems. The MoNet
technology will be integrated in both networks and mobile devices and will
permit first time users to fill out an electronic application, transmit it,
and
receive a personal ID to allow the user to operate on any of several mobile
networks yet receive just one bill. .Another provider of an open system
is Racotek of Minneapolis, Minnespta which offers client server
architecture designed to be portable across different mobile devices, host
platforms, and radio infrastructures.
While the limited attempts to deal with the fragmentation of the
wireless communication industry have bad some merits, no one has yet
disclosed a truly self adaptive, omni-modal wireless product which enables
an end user to access conveniently various wireless services in accordance
with a selection process which is sufficiently under the control of the end
user.
~ummanr of the Iny~ntion
A fundamental objective of the subject invention is to overcome the
deficiencies of the prior art by providing a truly omni-modal wireless
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system and method which is adaptive to the selectively variable desires of
the end user and is reconfigurable to allow maximum utilization of the total
radio frequency spectrum assigned in any given geographic are for wireless
communication.
Another more specific object of the subject invention in the
provision of a product, including multiple portable products in the hands
of plural individual users, wherein each portable product would be capable
of utilizing any one of the wireless data services within a given geographic
area based on a user determined criteria such as: (1) the cost of sending a
data message, (2) the quality of transmission link (signal strength,
interference actual or potential), (3) the potential for being dropped from
the system (is service provider at near full capacity), (4) the security of
transmission, (5) any special criteria which the user could variably program
into his omni-modal wireless product based on the user's desires or (6) any
one or more combinations of the above features that are preprogrammed,
changed or overridden by the user.
Yet another object of the subject invention is to provide an omni-
modal wireless product which would allow for enormous product
differentiation. For example original equipment manufacturers (OEM's)
could provide specialized interface features for the end user. Each OEM
could provide specialized hardware controls appropriate for various user
groups.
Another object of the subject invention is to provide plural omni-
modal wireless products which would allow for adaptive service provider
selection based on user experience with specific service providers.
A more specific object of the subject invention is to provide plural
omni-modal wireless products which would have the effect of inducing
intense competition for customers among various wireless data service
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providers based on quality of service and price by allowing the user to
easily and conveniently identify the service providers that best meet the
user's performance requirements.
Another object of the invention is to provide a network of omni-
modal wireless products and service providers which is designed to provide
the most business and profit making potential to the service providers who
best meet the varying demands of the greatest number of omni-modal
wireless product users.
Still another objective of the subject invention is to promote and
encourage introduction of innovative technology which will satisfy the
desires of end users to receive the best possible quality wireless service at
the lowest possible cost by promoting real time adaptive price and service
competition among cell service providers.
Another objective of the subject invention is to allow wireless
service providers to broadcast electronically as part of any 'handshaking"
procedure with a omni-modal wireless product information such as (1) rate
information and (2) information regarding system operating characteristics
such as percent of system capacity in use and/or likelihood of being
dropped.
Still another objective of the subject invention is to create a user
oriented source enrollment and billing service in the wireless data market
by establishing uniform standard for "handshakes" to occur between cell
service providers and omni-modal wireless products.
A more specific object of the invention is to provide a standard chip
or chipset including a radio transceiver specifically designed to be used in
all types network of wireless service providers adapted to interact with a
population of omni-modal wireless products.
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A more specific object of the invention is to provide a network of
wireless service providers adapted to interact with a population of omni-
modal wireless products.
A still more specific object of the invention is to provide a standard
radio chip or chipset adapted for use in all types of omni-modal wireless
products including a variety of operational modes including operation on
the U.S. public analog cellular telephone network (AMPS).
Still another object of the invention is to provide a standard radio
chip or chipset for use in all types of omni-modal wireless products
including circuitry for both voice and data communications over AMPS.
Other supported communications protocols would include CDPD which is
a packet data service based on the AMPS network.
A more specific object of this invention is to provide a network of
wireless service providers adapted to interact with a population of omni-
modal wireless products within a given geographic area in a manner to
permit the wireless service providers to "borrow" radio frequencies from
other wireless service providers within the same geographic region. As a
cellular service provider in a given region fords that one of its service
areas
or cells has become nearly or fully loaded, frequency could be borrowed
from a competitor, such as a PCS provider serving the same region.
Selected omni-modal wireless product users in the overloaded area would
be told to switch their omni-modal to the "leased" frequency but to use the
non-PCS communications protocol appropriate to the type of service
desired by the user. Implementation of this method broadly within a given
geographic region will have the effect of insuring that the available radio
spectrum is used to its maximum capacity to serve the needs of the wireless
users on a real time basis.
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The invention thus provides according to a first aspect, for a cellular radio
communication network operating over a predetermined frequency range
subdivided in
frequency into frequency bands, the network comprising at least a first
independent
radio communication system and a second independent radio communication system
each providing radio telecommunication service over a common geographic
region.
The method for using the frequency range comprises the steps of: assigning
from the
predetermined frequency range at least one first frequency band to be used as
a control
channel by the first independent radio communication system; assigning from
the
predetermined frequency range at least one second frequency band to be used as
a
control channel by the second independent radio communication system; and
sharing
by the first independent radio communication system and the second independent
radio
communication system frequency bands in the portion of the predetermined
frequency
range not assigned as control channels to provide radio telecommunication
service to a
plurality of subscribers located in the common geographic region.
According to a second aspect, the invention provides for a method of using a
frequency range in connection with cellular radio communication network
operating
over a predetermined frequency range subdivided in frequency into frequency
bands,
the network comprising at least a first independent radio communication system
and a
second independent radio communication system each providing radio
telecommunication service over a common geographic region. The method for
using
the frequency range comprises the steps of: assigning from the predetermined
frequency range at least one first frequency band to be used as a control
channel by the
first independent radio communication system; assigning from the predetermined
frequency range at least one second frequency band to be used as a control
channel by
the second independent radio communication system; assigning from the
predetermined frequency range a predetermined portion of the predetermined
frequency range to be used by the first independent radio communication system
to
provide radio telecommunication service to a plurality of subscribers located
in the
geographic region; and sharing by the first independent radio communication
system
and the second independent radio communication system frequency bands in the
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portion of the predetermined frequency range not assigned as control channels
or
assigned exclusively to the first independent radio communication system, to
provide
radio telecommunication service to the plurality of subscribers located in the
geographic region.
According to a third aspect, the invention provides for a cellular
communications network providing service over a frequency range comprising a
plurality of first frequency bands and a plurality of second frequency bands.
The
network comprises a plurality of independent radio communications systems,
each of
the independent systems providing service in a coverage area, the coverage
areas of
each of the independent systems having a common area, each of the independent
systems being assigned one or more of the first frequency bands for use as
control
channels for each independent system and providing service over the plurality
of
second frequency bands on a shared basis.
According to a fourth aspect, the invention provides for a method, performed
by
a first wireless service provider operating within a given geographic region,
for
ensuring that radio spectrum available within the given geographic region is
used
efficiently, thereby enabling the first wireless service provider to better
serve the
communication needs of a user having a frequency agile wireless device. The
method
comprises establishing an agreement or relationship with a second wireless
service
provider operating within the given geographic region, wherein, under the
agreement
or relationship, the second wireless service provider agrees to allow the
first wireless
service provider to temporarily borrow radio spectrum licensed to the second
wireless
service provider so that the first wireless service provider can provide a
communication service to the user; and temporarily borrowing radio spectrum
licensed
to the second wireless service provider under the terms of the agreement or
relationship.
According to a fifth aspect, the invention provides for a method, performed by
a
first wireless service provider operating within a given geographic region,
for ensuring
that radio spectrum available within the given geographic region is used
efficiently,
thereby enabling the first wireless service provider to better serve the
communication
needs of a user having a frequency agile wireless device. The method comprises
establishing an agreement or relationship with a second wireless service
provider
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operating within the given geographic region, wherein, under the agreement or
relationship, the second wireless service provider agrees that, under pre-
determined
conditions, it will temporarily transfer to the first wireless service
provider a right to
use radio spectrum licensed to the second wireless service provider to provide
service
to the user of the first wireless service provider; and accepting, from the
second
wireless service provider, the transfer of the temporary right to use radio
spectrum
allocated to the second wireless service provider.
According to a sixth aspect, the invention provides for a method, performed by
a
first wireless service provider operating within a given geographic region,
for ensuring
that radio spectrum available within the given geographic region is used eff
ciently so
as to serve a service need of a customer of the first wireless service
provider, wherein
the customer has a frequency agile wireless device. The method comprising
establishing an agreement with a second wireless service provider operating
within the
given geographic region, wherein, under the agreement, the second wireless
service
provider agrees to allow the first wireless service provider to use radio
spectrum
allocated to the second wireless service provider to provide service to
customers of the
first wireless service provider; receiving a request for service transmitted
to the first
wireless service provider from the customer's frequency agile wireless device;
and
using a portion of the radio spectrum allocated to the second wireless service
provider
to provide the service requested by the customer.
According to a seventh aspect, the invention provides for a method performed
in
connection with an environment where a first wireless service provider
operating
within a given geographic area has been allocated a first portion of the radio
frequency
spectrum and a second wireless service provider operating within the given
geographic
area has been allocated a second portion of the radio frequency spectrum. The
method
is performed by the first wireless service provider for ensuring that, within
the given
geographic region, the radio frequency spectrum is used efficiently. The
method
comprises receiving from the second wireless service provider permission to
use the
second portion of the radio frequency spectrum allocated to the second
wireless
service provider to provide sezvice to a user having a frequency agile
wireless device;
receiving a request for service transmitted to the first wireless service
provider from
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the user's frequency agile wireless device; and using the second portion of
the radio
frequency spectrum to provide the requested service to the user.
According to a eighth aspect, the invention provides for a method for
participating in a radio spectrum market to promote the efficient use of radio
spectrum
by a first wireless network and a plurality of other wireless networks
operating in
overlapping geographic areas using communication protocols which may differ
and to
whom corresponding portions of the radio spectrum have been licensed,
respectively,
by a governmental authority, for exclusive use andlor control by each wireless
network
to provide wireless services to a plurality of subscribers of the
corresponding wireless
network having wireless access devices capable of accessing the corresponding
wireless network using radio spectrum and a communication protocol appropriate
to
the corresponding wireless network. The method comprises the steps of
establishing a
business arrangement between the first wireless network and one or more of the
other
wireless networks participating in the market under which the right to use
licensed
radio spectrum may be transferred from one wireless network to another
wireless
network participating in the business arrangement; and performing at least one
of the
following steps: i. periodically transferring the right to use radio spectrum,
licensed to
the first wireless network, to a second wireless network pursuit to the
business
arrangement for expanding the capacity of the second wireless network to grant
access
to the subscribers of the second wireless network using the transferred radio
spectrum
and the communication protocol employed by the second wireless network, and
ii.
periodically accepting a transfer of the right to use radio spectrum, licensed
to a second
wireless network, to the first wireless network pursuant to the business
arrangement
for expanding the capacity of the first wireless network to grant access to
the
subscribers of the first wireless network using the transferred radio spectrum
and the
communication protocol employed by the first wireless network.
According to a ninth aspect, the invention provides for a method for
participating in a radio spectrum market to promote the efficient use of radio
spectrum
by a first wireless network and a plurality of other wireless networks
operating in
overlapping geographic areas and to whom corresponding portions of the radio
spectrum have been licensed, respectively, by a governmental authority, for
exclusive
use and/or control by each wireless network wherein a portion of the radio
spectrum
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licensed to each wireless network is used for network control to provide
wireless
services to a plurality of subscribers of the corresponding wireless network
having
wireless access devices capable of accessing the corresponding wireless
network using
radio spectrum appropriate to the corresponding wireless network. The method
comprises the steps of establishing a business arrangement with one or more of
the
other wireless networks participating in the market under which the right to
use
licensed radio spectrum may be transferred from one wireless network to
another
wireless network participating in the business arrangement; and performing at
least
one of the following steps: i. periodically transferring the right to use
radio spectrum,
licensed to the first wireless network and not used for wireless network
control, to a
second wireless network pursuit to the business arrangement for expanding the
capacity of the second wireless network to grant access to the subscribers of
the
second wireless network using the transferred radio spectrum, and ii.
periodically
accepting a transfer of the right to use radio spectrum, licensed to a second
wireless
network and not used for wireless network control, to the first wireless
network
pursuant to the business arrangement for expanding the capacity of the first
wireless
network to grant access to the subscribers of the first wireless network using
the
transferred radio spectrum.
According to a tenth aspect, the invention provides for a method for operating
a
radio spectrum market to promote the efficient use of radio spectrum by a
plurality of
wireless networks operating in overlapping geographic areas and to whom
corresponding portions of the radio spectrum have been licensed, respectively,
by a
governmental authority, for exclusive use andlor control by each wireless
network of
the corresponding portion of the radio spectrum to provide wireless services
to a
plurality of subscribers of the corresponding wireless network having wireless
access
devices capable of accessing the corresponding wireless network using radio
spectrum
appropriate to the corresponding wireless network and allowing subscribers to
select
the wireless network for access based on operating information relating to the
wireless
services offered by the network. The method comprises the steps of:
establishing a
business arrangement among two or more of the wireless networks participating
in the
market under which the right to use licensed radio spectrum may be transferred
from
one wireless network to another wireless network participating in the business
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arrangement; conveying operating information to the access devices relating to
the
wireless services offered by each wireless network; and periodically
transferring the
right to use radio spectrum, licensed to one of the wireless networks, to a
second
wireless network pursuit to the business arrangement for expanding the
capacity of the
second wireless network to grant access to the subscribers of the second
wireless
network using the transferred radio spectrum in response to more subscribers
choosing
to access the second wireless network based on the operating information
conveyed to
the access devices regarding the second wireless network.
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
_ 'J _
These objects, and others which will be apparent to those skilled in
the art upon review of the specification, are achieved in the present
invention by an omni-modal radio circuit implemented by a standard radio
computing chip or chipset which can serve as a computer (special or
general purpose), or as an interface to a general purpose personal
computer. The chip preferably includes a modem and associated
processing circuits. So that it can perform at least basic processing
functions such as displaying data, accepting input, etc., the chip may also
incorporate at least a basic microprocessor. The processor may provide
only predetermined functions, accessible through a standard applications
programming interface, or in more advanced designs the processor can run
. other software or firmware added by the product maker. Exemplary
processor functions of the chip include radio network interface control (call
placement, call answering), voice connection, data transmission, and data
input/output. The chip can be used to implement a variety of omni-modal
devices and can provide computing resources to operate fundamental
communications programs.
Brief Description of the Drawing
Figures 1A and 1B are block schematic diagrams of an omni-modal
radio communications circuit according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a block schematic diagram of an advanced cellular
telephone implemented using an omni-modal radio communications circuit
according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a block schematic diagram of a personal communicator
implemented using an omni-modal radio communications circuit according
to the present invention;
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Figure 4A is a plan view of the front of a data transmission and
display radiotelephone implemented using an omni-compatible radio
communications circuit; Figure 4B is a plan view of the back of a data
transmission and display radiotelephone implemented using an omni-
5 compatible radio communications circuit; Figure 5 is a block
schematic diagram of a telephone/pager implemented using the present
omni-modal radio communications circuit;
Figure 6A is a block schematic diagram of a dual mode
cellular/cordiess landline telephone implemented using the present omni
10 modal radio communications circuit;
Figure 6B is a flowchart showing a method of operation of a dual
mode cellular/cordless landline telephone according to the present
invention;
Figure 7 is a block schematic diagram of a personal computer
15 incorporating an omni-modal radio communications circuit;
Figure 8 is a block schematic diagram of a special purpose radio
data transmitting device implemented using an omni-modal radio
communications circuit;
Figure 9 is a flowchart showing a radio system selection method by
20 which information carriers are selected according to varying specified
criteria;
Figure 10 is a flowchart showing a method of broadcasting local
carrier information to facilitate carrier selection by customers for a
particular information transmission task;
25 Figure 11 is a flowchart showing a handshake sequence for
arranging information transmission using the omni-modal device of the
present invention;
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
_g_
Figure 12 is a plan view of a modular implementation of the omni-
modal radio communications circuit of the present invention installed in a
cellular telephone;
Figure 13 is a plan view of a modular implementation of the omni-
modal radio communications circuit of the present invention installed in a
personal computer;
Figure 14 is a block schematic diagram showing a system for
relaying paging signals to the omni-modal device of the present invention
using a cellular telephone system; and
Figure 15 is a flowchart showing a method of relaying paging
signals to the omni-modal device of the present invention.
he ~i e~ ~escrintion of the Preferre-d Embodiments
A preferred embodiment of a standardized radio processing circuit
1 is shown in Figures 1A and 1B. The standardized radio processing
circuit 1, shown in Figures 1A and 1B taken together, may be implemented
on a single VLSI chip or on a set of VI,SI chips making up a chipset. As
will be seen, this chip or chipset provides a standard building block which
can be used to make a plurality of consumer products that provide data
transmission capability. As will be seen later with reference to Figures 2
through 8, by adding minimal external components to the standardized
circuit 1, a wide variety of products can be produced. Also, as will be
seen, the standardized circuit 1 can be advantageously implemented on a
removable card with a standardized interface connector or connectors, so
that it can then be selectively inserted into and removed from a variety of
devices to provide the devices with radio information transmission
capability.
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In terms of the preferred functional and operational characteristics
of circuit 1, it is particularly significant that this circuit provides a
multi-
modal or omni-modal communications capability. That is, circuit 1 can be
adjusted by the user, or automatically under stored program control, to
transfer information over at least two different radio communications
networks, and preferably all networks available in a particular area within
the frequency range of the transceiver of circuit 1.
Examples of radio communications networks which circuit 1 may be
designed to use include commercial paging networks; the U.S. cellular
telephone network or Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS); alternative
cellular telephone network standards such as the European standard;
digitally modulated radiotelephone systems operating under various
encoding techniques such as TDMA, CDMA, E-TDMA, and BCDMA;
Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD); Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio
(ESMR); ARDIS; Personal Cellular Systems (PCS); RAM; global
positioning systems; FM networks which transmit stock prices or other
information on subcarriers; satellite-based networks; cordless landline
telephones (such as 49 Mhz and particularly 900 Mhz systems); and
wireless LAN systems. Preferably, circuit 1 is also designed to use the
landline/public switched telephone network (PSTN).
As another feature, the omni-modal circuit 1 may perform local
positioning calculations to accurately determine its location by monitoring
precisely synchronized timing signals which may be broadcast by cell sites
for this purpose. If such timing signals were provided, the omni-modal
circuit 1 could receive the signals, determine the relative time delay in
receiving at least three such signals from different transmitter locations,
and triangulate to determine the distance of the omni-modal circuit to each
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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of the transmitters. If the omni-modal circuit 1 is installed in a vehicle,
this information may be used to determine the location of the vehicle.
As will be seen, for each system which can be accessed by circuit
1, appropriate cross connections are provided between the radio circuit or
landline interface, as selected, and voice or data sources and destinations.
The appropriate cross connections are established under program control
and include conversions between digital and analog signal forms at
appropriate points in cases where a signal in one form is to be transmitted
using a method for which a different signal form is appropriate. The
operating parameters of the transceiver may be optimized by a digital
signal processor for either voice or data transmission.
In addition, a library of command, control and data transmission
protocols appropriate for each supported system may be included in circuit
l, and the device can implement the correct protocols by consulting a
lookup table during transmissions to obtain the data channel protocols
appropriate to the system selected. In another embodiment, the library of
command, control, and data transmission protocols may be replaced, or
supplemented, by information transatitted aver the radio frequencies to the
device by the carrier, or information downloaded from a hardwired
connection to another device. Flash memory, EEPROMs, or non-volatile
RAM can be used to store program information, permitting replacement or
updating of the operating instructions used by the device.
As examples, the library functions accessible by the device (and also
by external devices which may call the library functions) may include the
following: Select RF modulation frequency; select RF modulation
protocol; select data formatting/conditioning protocol; transmit data in input
stream using selected network and protocol; select output; select input;
select datalvoice mode; answer call; generate DTMF tones and transmit on
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selected network; scan for control channels/available systems; obtain cost
information for current selected system; obtain cost information for all
systems; obtain operating quality information for current system; obtain
operating quality information for all systems; request transmission channel
in system; obtain signal strength for current channel; obtain signal strength
for all active systems; and initiate a transmission on the selected network.
Figure 1A shows a block schematic diagram of a preferred
embodiment of an omni-modal radio communication radio frequency (RF)
circuit. In the example shown, the RF circuit includes antenna 2, diplexer
4, amplifier 6, transmit mixer 8, receiver mixer 10, programmable local
oscillator 12, modulation selector switches 14 and 16, analog detector-
demodulator 18, digital demodulator 20, analog modulator 22, digital
modulator 24, voice grade channel output 26, digital output 28, voice grade
channel input 30, and digital input 32.
Voice grade channel output 26 is connected to analog detector-
demodulator 18 and digital output 28 is connected to digital demodulator
20. Analog detector-demodulator I8 and digital demodulator 20 are
selectively connected to receiver mixer 10 through switch 14. Receiver
mixer 10 is connected to both local oscillator 12 and diplexer 4. Diplexer
4 is connected to antenna 2. These components provide radio frequency
receive circuitry that allows selective reception and demodulation of both
analog and digitally modulated radio signals.
Voice grade channel input 30 is connected to analog modulator 22
and digital input 32 is connected to digital modulator 24. Analog
modulator 22 and digital modulator 24 are selectively connected to transmit
mixer 8 through switch 16. Transmit mixer 8 is connected to both local
oscillator 12 and amplifier 6. Amplifier 6 is connected to diplexer 4 and
diplexer 4 is connected to antenna 2. These components comprise radio
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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frequency transmit circuitry for selective transmission of analog or digitally
modulated radio signals.
The operation of the omni-modal radio communication RF circuit
shown in Figure 1A will now be described in more detail. Antenna 2
5 serves to both receive and transmit radio signals. Antenna 2 is of a design
suitable for the frequency presently being received or transmitted by the RF
circuit. In the preferred embodiment, antenna 2 may be an antenna
suitable for receiving and transmitting in a broad range about 900 Mhz.
However, different antennas may be provided to permit different
10 transceiver ranges, including dipole, yagi, whip, micro-strip, slotted
array,
parabolic reflector, or horn antennas in appropriate cases.
Diplexer 4 allows antenna 2 to receive broadcast radio signals and
to transmit the received signals to the demodulators 18 and 20, and to
allow modulated radio signals from modulators 22 and 24 to be transmitted
15 over antenna 2. Diplexer 4 is designed so that signals received from
amplifier 6 will be propagated only to antenna 2, while signals received
from antenna 2 will only be propagated to receiver mixer 10. Diplexer 4
thus prevents powerful signals from amplifier 6 from overloading and
destroying receiver mixer 10 and demodulators 18 and 20.
20 The receive path of the omni-modal RF circuit comprises receiver
mixer 10, which is connected to, and receives an input signal from,
diplexer 4. Receiver mixer 10 also receives a reference frequency from
local oscillator 12. Receiver mixer 10 converts the signal received from
diplexer 4 to a lower frequency signal and outputs this intermediate
25 frequency on output line 36 to switch 14. Switch 14 is connected through
control line 38 to a microprocessor (not shown). Control line 38
selectively controls switch 14 to pass the intermediate frequency signal on
output line 36 to either analog detector-demodulator 18 or to digital
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
- 14-
demodulator 20. This selection is controlled based upon the type of signal
currently being received. For example, if the omni-modal circuit 1 is
tuned to an analog communication system, switch 14 would be connected
to analog detector demodulator 18. If, however, the omni-modal circuit 1
is receiving a digital modulated signal, switch 14 would be in a state to
allow an intermediate frequency on output line 36 to be transmitted to
digital demodulator 20.
Analog detector demodulator 18 receives analog signals through
switch 14 from receiver mixer 10 on output line 36. Analog detector
demodulator converts the RF modulated signal received as an intermediate
frequency into a voice grade channel or VGC. The voice grade channel
may comprise an audio frequency spectrum going from approximately 0 Hz
to approximately 4 KHz. Analog detector demodulator 18 is designed for
demodulation of analog radio frequency signals. For example, analog
detector demodulator would be capable of demodulating a frequency
modulated (FM) radio signals. Analog detector demodulator 18 may also
be capable of demodulating amplitude modulated (AM) radio signals.
Digital demodulator 20 is designed to demodulate digital signals
received from receiver mixer 10 through switch 14. Digital demodulator
20 is designed to demodulate digital signals such as, for example, pulse
code modulation (PCM), time division multiple access (TDMA), code
division multiple access (CDMA), extended time division multiple access
(E-TDMA) and broad band code division multiple access (BCDMA)
signals. The output 28 from digital demodulator 20 could consist of a
digital bit stream.
The transmit circuitry of the omni-modal RF circuit will now be
described in detail. Analog voice grade channel signals can be received
over analog input 30 which is connected to analog modulator 22. Analog
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
-15-
modulator 22 acts to modulate the received voice grade channel onto an
intermediate frequency signal carrier. Analog modulator 22 would be
capable of modulating frequency modulation (FM) or amplitude modulation
(AM) signals, for example.
As can be seen in Figure 1 A, analog modulator 22 is connected to
switch 16. The intermediate frequency output from analog modulator 22
on output line 42 is sent to switch 16. Switch 16 is connected to a
microprocessor (not shown) in a manner similar to switch 14 described
above. Switch 16 is capable of selectively connecting transmit mixer 8 to
either analog modulator 22 or digital modulator 24. When switch 16 is
connected to analog modulator 22 through output line 42, analog modulated
signals are transmitted to transmit mixer 8.
Digital input can be received by the transmit portion of the RF
modulator circuitry through digital input 32. Digital input 32 is connected
to digital modulator 2~4 which acts to modulate the received digital data
onto an intermediate frequency RF carrier. Digital modulator 24 may
preferably be capable of modulating the signal into a PCM, TDMA, E-
TDMA, CDMA and BCDMA format. The output 44 of digital modulator
24 is connected to switch 16. Switch 16 can be controlled through control
line 40 to select the digital modulated signal on output 44 and to selectively
transmit that signal to transmit mixer 8.
Transmit mixer 8 is connected to programmable local oscillator 12
which is capable of generating frequencies that cover the frequency
spectrum of the desired communication systems. Transmit mixer 8
operates in a manner well known in the art to convert the intermediate
frequency signal received from switch 16 to a radio frequency for
transmission over a radio communication system. The output of transmit
mixer 8 is connected to amplifier 6. Amplifier 6 acts to amplify the signal
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
- 16-
to insure adequate strength for the signal to be transmitted to the remote
receiving station. Amplifier 6 may be connected to control circuitry to
allow the power output of amplifier 6 to be varied in accordance with
control signals received from the control circuitry. The output of amplifier
6 is connected to diplexer 4 and, as described above, to antenna 2. Fee
1B is a block schematic diagram of the input and control circuitry of omni-
modal circuit 1. As can be seen from Figure 1B, the input and control
circuitry comprises speaker I00, microphone 102, voice processing
circuitry 104, digital to analog converter 106, analog to digital converter
108, first selection switch 122, microprocessor 110, memory 112, data
input 114, data output 116, data processing circuitry 118, second selector
switch 120 and modem I24.
Microprocessor 110 is connected to memory 112 and operates to
control the input circuitry as well as the programmable local oscillator 12
and switches 14 and 16 shown in Figure IA. Memory 112 can contain
both data storage and program information for microprocessor 110.
Microprocessor 110 may be any suitable microprocessor such as an Intel
80X86 or Motorola 680X0 processor. Memory I12 contains a program
that allows microprocessor 110 to selectively operate the voice processing
circuitry, data processing circuitry and switches to select the appropriate
transmission channel for the communication signal currently being
processed. In this manner, microprocessor 110 allows omni-modal circuit
1 to selectively operate on a plurality of radio communication systems.
As can be seen in Figure 1B, an externally provided speaker I00
and microphone 102 are connected to voice processing circuitry 104.
Voice processing circuitry 104 has output I42 and input 144. Voice
processing output 142 is connected to switch 122. Similarly, voice
processing input 144 is connected to switch 122. Switch 122, which may
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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be an electronic analog switch, comprises two single pole double throw
switches which operate in tandem to selectively connect voice output 142
and voice input 144 to appropriate data lines. Switch 122 is connected
through control line 146 to microprocessor 110. Control line 146 allows
microprocessor 110 to selectively operate switch 122 in response to
commands received from the user or in response to a program in memory
112. In a first position, switch 122 connects voice processing input 144 to
voice grade channel output 126. Referring to Figure 1A, voice grade
output 126 is connected to the output 26 of analog detector demodulator
IO 18. In this manner, voice processing circuitry 104 is able to receive
demodulated analog voice signals from analog detector demodulator 18.
When voice processing input 144 is connected to 126, voice processing
output 142 will be connected to voice input 130. As can be seen in Figure
1A, voice input 130 is connected to voice grade channel input 30 of analog
modulator 22. In this manner, voice processing circuitry 104 can transmit
voice through the transmit circuitry of Figure 1A.
if switch 122 is changed to its alternate state, voice processing input
144 will be connected to digital to analog converter 106. Digital to analog
converter 106 is connected to digital input 128 which, referring to Figure
1 A, is connected to digital output 28 of digital demodulator 20. Digital to
analog converter 106 acts to receive a digital information bit stream on .
digital input 128 and to convert it to an analog voice grade channel. The
analog voice grade channel from digital to analog converter 106 is sent
through voice input 144 to voice processing circuitry 104. Voice
processing circuitry 104 can then amplify or alter the voice grade channel
signal to the taste of the user and outputs the signal on speaker 100. Voice
processing output 142 is connected to analog to digital converter 108 which
in turn is connected to digital output 132. Digital output 132 is connected
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
-18-
in Figure 1A to digital input 32 and to digital modulator 24. In this
manner, voice processing circuitry 104 is capable of transmitting a voice
or other analog voice grade channel signal through a digital modulation
system.
As noted above, omni-modal circuit 1 is capable of transmitting data
over a plurality of radio frequency communication systems. As can be
seen in Figure 1B, data input 114 and data output 116 are connected to
data processing circuitry 118. Data input 114 allows the processing
circuitry to receive data from any number of user devices. The format of
the data received on data input 114 may be variable or standardized
depending on the circuitry provided in data processing circuitry 118. For
example, data input 114 may use a standard RS-232 serial interface to
receive data from a user device. Data input 114 may also use a parallel
twisted pair or HPIB interface as well. Data output 116 similarly transmits
data in a format compatible with the equipment being used by the user.
Data processing circuitry 118 is connected to microprocessor 110 which
acts to control the formatting and conditioning of the data done by data
processing circuitry 118. For example, data processing circuitry 118 may
add protocol information or error correction bits to the data being received
on data input l I4. Conversely, data processing circuitry 118 may act to
remove overhead bits such as protocol or error correction bits from the
data prior to its output on data output 116. Data processing circuitry 11$
is connected to switch 120 through data output 150 and data input 152.
Switch 120 operates in a manner similar to that described with respect to
2~ switch 122 above. Switch 120 is connected to microprocessor 110 through
control line 148. Microprocessor I10 operates to control switch 120 to
selectively connect the data output 150 to either digital circuit output 140
or to modem input 156. Switch 120 also operates to connect digital data
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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input 152 to either digital input 138 or digital modem output 154. Modem
124 may be any standard modem used to modulate digital data onto an
analog voice grade channel. For example, modem 124 may incorporate a
modem chip set manufactured by Rockwell International Corporation that
receives digital data and modulates it into a 4 KHz band width for
transmission over standard telephone systems. Modem input 156 receives
data from data processing circuitry 118 through data input 152 and switch
120. The data received over modem input 156 is modulated onto a voice
grade channel and output on modulated. modem output 136. Modulated
modem output 136 is connected to voice grade channel input 30 of analog
modulator 22 shown in Figure 1A. Similarly, digital modem output 154
receives demodulated baseband signal from modem I24. The modulated
data signal is received by modem 124 from modem input 134, which is
connected to voice grade channel output 26 of analog detector demodulator
18. Modem 124 acts to demodulate the data received over modem input
134 and outputs a digital data stream on digital modem output 154. This
digital data stream is connected through switch 120 and data input 152 to
data processing circuitry' 118. As described above, data processing
circuitry 118 conditions and formats the data received from the modem and
outputs the data to the user on data output 116. If the user has selected a
digital RF transmission system, it is not necessary to use modem 124. In
this case, switch 120 is operated so that the digital data output 150 from
data processing circuitry 118 is connected through digital output 140.
Digital output 140 is connected to digital input 32 of digital modulator 24
shown in Figure 1A. Similarly, data input 152 to data processing circuitry
118 is connected through digital input 138 to digital output 2$ of digital
demodulator 20 shown in Figure 1A.
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
-20-
As is readily apparent from the above discussion, Figures 1A and
1B together depict a radio frequency communication system that is capable
of operating over a plurality of different radio channels and is further
capable of transmitting either analog or digital data information signals as
well as analog or digital voice signals. The system is also capable of
transmitting a 4Khz voice grade channel having both data and voice
simultaneously present.
Figure 1B broadly depicts the operation of the circuit which involves
the selection by the microprocessor 110 of either a voice or data call.
Once this selection is made, the data is then sent to the RF modulation
circuitry shown in Figure 1A. The RF modulation circuitry is capable of
modulating or demodulating either analog or digital signals.
Circuit 1 is designed to facilitate product differentiation by
companies malting use of circuit 1 as a standard building block for radio
voice and/or data communications devices. For example, each
manufacturer may provide specialized interface features for the user, and
specialized hardware controls appropriate for various user groups. Circuit
1 is particularly advantageous in facilitating these goals in that it provides
microprocessor 110 and memory 112 that allow manufacturers to customize
the operation of the circuit with little or no additional components.
Furthermore, circuit 1 could be pre-programmed with a series of primitives
that would allow a manufacturer to quickly and easily integrate the complex
features of the device into a use friendly consumer product.
Referring next to Figure 2, a block schematic diagram of an
advanced cellular telephone implemented using an omni-modal radio
communication circuit 1 shown in Figure 1 is depicted. The omni-modal
radio communication circuit of Figures 1A and 1B is shown in outline form
as reference number 1. Also shown in Figure 2 are speaker 100,
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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microphone 102, digital data input 114, digital data output 116 and
universal digital inputloutput interface 158. As can be seen from Figure
2, the present radio communications circuit allows a cellular phone to be
constructed with the addition of minimal components. The advanced
cellular phone of Figure 2 includes keypad 202, display 204 and interface
connector 206. Keypad 202 and display 204 are connected to interface
connector 206. Interface connector 206 connects with the universal digital
input/output interface 158 which connects to the omni-modal radio
communications circuit 1 depicted in more detail in Figures 1A and 1B.
Keypad 202 may be any keypad used with telephone devices.
Similarly, display 204 can be any display used with standard cellular
telephones or other computing devices. For example, display 204 could be
a light-emitting diode (LED) or a liquid crystal display (LCD) as
commonly used with telephones, calculators and/or watches.
As shown in Figure 2, keypad 202 and display 204 connect through
interface connector 206 to universal digital inputloutput interface 158 of the
omni-modal RF circuit. The universal digital input/output interface 158
allows the omni-modal circuit 1 to be connected with a variety of electronic
devices including keypad 202 and display 204. It is contemplated that
universal digital input/output interface 158 may comprise one connector or
a plurality of connectors each having different data protocols transmitted
and received therein. For example, universal input/output interface 158
may include a keyboard or keypad interface circuit as well as a display
interface circuit. The keypad interface circuit would include necessary
circuitry for buffering key strokes and receiving key input data from a
keyboard. The display driver circuitry would include a memory and
processor necessary for the display of data stored in the display memory.
In this manner, the omni-modal circuit 1 is capable of interacting with
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
many different keypads and display devices. In one preferred embodiment,
the universal interface connector includes a serial addressable interface
wherein the components connected to the serial interface have a unique
address byte assigned to each component. This allows the serial interface.
to communicate with a plurality of devices sequentially. Keypad 202 for
example may be assigned an address byte of 001, while display 204 would
be assigned address byte of 002. When the universal interface desires to
communicate from microprocessor 110 shown in Figure 1B with the
keypad or display, the appropriate address would be included in the data
sent to the universal interface connector. Keypad 202 and display 204
would monitor the data coming across the universal interface 158 and
would respond only to those bytes having an appropriate address
corresponding to the selective device.
The advanced cellular phone of Figure 2 includes digital data input
114 and digital data output 116. This allows the phone to transmit digital
computer data without the need of bulky external interface devices. For
example, it is often necessary to use a tip and ring interface emulator to
communicate over a cellular network from a computer or other data
source. With the present invention, however, it is only necessary to
connect to the digital data input 114 and to the digital data output 116.
The data protocol used on these may be any protocol suitable for data
communication, but in the preferred embodiment would be a RS 232 serial
interface. By connecting a computer serial interface port to data input 114
and data output 116, data may be transmitted using the omni-modal circuit
1. The microprocessor 110 and memory 112 shown in Figure 1B would
configure the internal circuitry of the omni-modal circuit for data
transmission.
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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Also shown in Figure 2 are speaker 100 and nucrophone 102.
Speaker 100 and microphone 102 may be standard speakers and
microphones used on cellular telephones and are adapted to allow the omni-
modal circuit 1 to transmit voice communications over a cellular radio
network.
Figure 3 is a block schematic diagram of a personal communicator
implemented through the use of the omni-modal circuit 1 shown in Figures
1A and 1B. As shown in Figure 3, the personal communicator includes
omni-modal circuit 1, personal communicator computing circuitry 302,
telephone handset 318, and interface circuitry comprising data input 114,
data output 116, and universal interface 158.
The personal communicator computing circuitry 302 includes display
304, microprocessor 306, memory 308, input device 316, data interface
jack 310 and RJ-11 jack 312. As can be seen in Figure 3, the
1S microprocessor 306 is connected to the display 304, the memory 308, the
input device 316 and to the data interface jack 310 and RJ-11 jack 312.
The personal communicator computing circuitry 302 acts to allow
the user to interface and process data in a manner known to those of skill
in the art. For example, display 304 may include an LCD display panel
and may be color or black and white. Microprocessor 306 may include an
Intel 80X86 microprocessor ar any other microprocessor manufactured by
Intel or Motorola or other computer , processing chip manufacturers.
Memory 308 includes random access memory (RAM) and read-only
memory (ROM) necessary for the functioning of the computing device.
Input device 316 may be a keyboard or a pen-based interface or other
interface including voice recognition that allows for data to be input to the
personal communicator computing circuitry 302. Microprocessor 306 is
interfaced through data interface jack 310 to data input 114 and data output
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
-24-
116 of the omni-modal circuit. This allows the personal communicator
computing circuitry 302 to transmit data using the omni-modal circuit 1.
Also, as seen in Figure 3, microprocessor 306 is connected through
universal interface 158 to microprocessor 110 in the omni-modal circuit 1.
This permits the microprocessors 306 and 110 to exchange control and
operating information with each other. Should the microprocessor desire
to make a data call, microprocessor 306 can instruct the microprocessor
110 shown in Figure 1B of the omni-modal circuit 1 to initiate a data call
through a designated service provider. In response to such command from
microprocessor 306, microprocessor 110 shown in Figure 1B may initiate
a switching action and configure the omni-modal circuit 1 to transmit data
over a selected service provider. To increase the flexibility of the personal
communicator computing device, an RJ-11 jack 312 is included. The RJ-
11 jack is connected to the data lines from the microprocessor 306 and
allows the personal communicator computing device to transmit data over
a standard landline telephone.
In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the omni-
modal circuit 1 can transmit data over a landline telephone line using R3-11
jack 312 and modem 124 shown in Figure 1B. The microprocessor 306
of the personal communicator computing device would transmit data
through data interface jack 310 and data input 114 to the omni-modal
circuit 1. The omni-modal circuit 1, would receive the data at the data
processing circuitry 118 and transmit the data through data output 150 and
modem input 156 to modem 124 shown in Figure 1B. Modem 124 would
then modulate the data onto a voice grade channel and transmit the
modulated data signal on modem output 154 through switch 120 and data
input 152 to data processing circuitry 118. The data processing unit may
then transmit the data over data output 116 and into microprocessor 306
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
through interface jack 310 shown in Figure 3. The microprocessor 306
may then route the data through auxiliary data output line 314 to RJ-11
jack 312. Tn this manner, the personal communicator computing circuitry
302 is able to send data over standard landline telephone lines without the
use of a second additional modem. The modem in the omni-modal circuit
1 serves two functions allowing the personal communicator user to send
data through his standard landline wall jack or over a wireless network
depending on the availability of each at the time the user desires to send
the data.
Also shown in Figure 3 is handset 318. In the preferred
embodiment of the personal communicator, the speaker 100 and
microphone 102 would be embodied in a separate handset 318. This
handset 318 would connect to the omni-modal circuit 1 through an
appropriate interface connection.
Figures 4A and 4B depict a communication device 402 employing
the omni-modal circuit 1 of the present invention, and having an integrated
display device for conveying information to a user. Figure 4A shows the
front of the communication device 402 that could serve as a cellular phone.
The device 402 includes speaker 100, antenna 2, microphone 102 and key
pad buttons 406. In this regard, the external features of the device are
similar to those of a standard commercially available cellular phone. As
shown in Figure 4B, the device is unique in that it incorporates an
expanded display 404 and control buttons 408, 4I0, 412 for the display of
information to the user. For example, the display 404 could convey airline
flight information to the user while they are connected with an airline
representative. In response to a user request, the airline representative
could transmit flight information to the user's communication device 402,
which would then display this information on the display 404. The user
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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could then cycle through the information using increment button 408 and
decrement button 4I0. When the user desired to select a given flight, they
could indicate assent by pressing the enter button 412, This information
would then be transmitted digitally to the airline representative's computer.
The capabilities of the omni-modal circuit 1 facilitate its use in a
device as shown in Figures 4A and 4B. Since the device is programmable
through the use of microprocessor 110 and memory 112 {Figure 1B), it is
capable of switching between voice and data modes of operation. This
allows the user to conduct a voice conversation and then to receive data for
display on the integrated display device. Alternatively, the omni-modal
circuit could access another communication service to receive data for
display, or it might receive data over a subchannel during the conversation.
This would be particularly advantageous if the user desired to continue a
voice call while continuing to receive data information, as in the case of
15 the airline flight selection example given above.
Referring next to Figure 5, a block schematic diagram of a
telephone/pager device using the omni-modal circuit 1 is shown. As can
be seen from Figure 5, the telephone/page device includes keypad, 502,
display 504 and control circuitry 506. The keypad 502 is connected to
20 control circuitry 506. Display 504 is also connected to control circuitry
506, Control circuitry 506 is further connected through universal digital
input/output interface 158 to the microprocessor 110 of the omni-modal
circuit shown in Figure IB.
The combination telephone/pager device shown in Figure 5 is
25 generally similar in design to the advanced cellular telephone shown in
Figure 2. One particularly advantageous aspect of the omni-modal circuit
1 is its ability to provide a great degree of flexibility in the design and
implementation of communication circuits. For different implementations
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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external to the omni-modal circuit, the memory 112 shown in Figure 1B
can be reprogrammed to provide different functions through microprocessor
110 for the universal digital interface 158.
In Figure 5, the telephone/pager implementation includes control
circuitry 506 which receives information through the universal digital
interface I58 from microprocessor 110. The control circuitry can then
determine whether or not a page signal has been received by the omni-
modal circuit 1 and if so it can display the appropriate information on
display 504. If, however, control circuitry 506 receives information from
microprocessor 110 that a telephone call has been received or is being
used, then control circuitry 506 can appropriately display the telephone
information on display 504. Similarly, control circuitry 506 can receive
information from keypad 502 and selectively process this information
depending on the current mode of operation. For example, if the device
shown in Figure 5 is in pager mode, control circuitry 506 may allow
keypad input to cycle through stored paging messages. If however, the
device shown in Figure 5 is in telephone mode, control circuitry 506 may
process the keypad information received from keypad 502 as telephone
commands and transmit control signals through interface 158 to
microprocessor 110 to cause a telephone call to be placed. Further, control
circuitry 506 can actuate alarm 508 which may be a audible alarm such as
a beeping or a vibration generator. Alarm 508 serves to notify the user
when a telephone call or page is received.
Figure 6A is a block schematic diagram of a dual mode
cellular/cordless landline telephone is disclosed. The dual mode device
includes key pad 602, optional display 604, handset 606, and interface
connector 608. The key pad 602 and optional display 604 are connected
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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to microprocessor 110 (Figure 1B) through interface connector 608 and
universal digital interface 158.
Key pad 602 allows a user to provide information to microprocessor
110 for operating the dual mode device. For example, the user may
operate the key pad to indicate that a certain call should be made on the
cordless telephone network and not on the cellular network. To the
contrary, the user may specify that the cellular network was to be used by
operating the key pad 602 to so indicate.
One particularly preferred embodiment of a dual mode device may
be programmed to allow for automatic selection of either a cellular
communications network or a cordless telephone landline network. This
is particularly advantageous in that a cordless telephone landline network
is often considerably cheaper to access than is a cellular telephone network.
Therefore, if the device will automatically access a cordless telephone
network whenever one available, and use the cellular network only we
absolutely necessary, the user can achieve substantial savings while still
having a single, portable, communications unit that operates over a large
geographic area. If the user requests service while within his home, for
example, the cordless telephone system would be used and the user would
be charged a minimal amount. If the user were to place a call while away
from his home a greater charge would be incurred. The user, however,
would use the same communications equipment regardless of where the
service was used, and the service selection would appear transparent to the
user.
Figure 6B is a flowchart of one method that may be used to
implement this embodiment. The process of Figure 6B begins 650 by
determining if the user has activated the device to request communications
services 652. If the user has not requested communication services, the
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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devices continues to check for a user request. If a user request is detected,
the device then determines if it is within range of a cordless telephone
landline system 654. If the device is within range of a cordless telephone
landline system, then the device services the user's request using the
cordless landiine communication system 662 and the process terminates
664. If the device is not within range of a cordless landline network, then
the device determines if it is within the service range of a cellular phone
system 656. If the device is within range, the user's request is serviced
using the cellular phone system 660 and the process terminates 664. If the
device is not within range of a cellular system, then the device issues an
alert to the user to indicate that no service is available '658 and the
process
terminates 664.
Although Figure 6A and the above discussion focus on a dual mode
cellular/cordless landline telephone, it should be understood that the a
device in accordance with the present invention may include the ability to
access additional communication systems. For example, it may be
desirable to have a device substantially as shown in Figure 6A, but having
the ability to access a personal communication service (PCS) network in
addition to the cellular and cordless landline systems. This would allow
the user to achieve further cost savings while seamlessly moviag
throughout a given geographic area.
Referring next to Figure 7, a block schematic diagram of a personal
computer 702 incorporating an omni-modal circuit 1 is shown. As can be
seen in Figure 7, computer 702 includes antennae 2 and an interface port
704 that allows for a integrated circuit card to be inserted into the
computer. As shown in Figure 7, the interface port 704 has installed
therein a removable card 701 comprising an omni-modal circuit 1. The
omni-modal radio communications card 701 includes connector 706, which
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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may include data input 114, data output 116 and universal digital interface
158 shown in Figure 1B. This connector allows the onsni-modal radio
interface card 701 to communicate with the computer through a
corresponding mating connector 708 inside the personal communicator.
This allows the microprocessor 110 on the omni-modal radio
communications card 701 to communicate with the memory and
microprocessor contained in the computer 702. In a preferred
embodiment, the omni-modal radio communications card 701 is in the form
of a PCMCIA card adapted to interface into a standard slot in a portable
or other computing device. Figure 7 also shows an optional telephone
handset 710 which may be interfaced to the radio communication interface
card 701. Optional handset 710 includes speaker 100 and microphone 102,
and serves to allow for voice communication over radio network service
providers that provide such capability.
The omni-modal radio communication card 701 also has an external
RJ-11 data jack 712. The external RJ-11 data jack 712 allows omni-modal
communications card 701 to transmit data over a telephone landline circuit
using a common RJ-11 interface cable. Omni-modal communications card
701 includes a modem 124 in Figure 1B for modulating digital data onto
a voice grade channel suitable for transmission over a landline telephone
connection.
Therefore, the radio communications card 701 serves as a modem
to the personal computer and a separate modem card or external modem
is not necessary in order to transmit data over a laudline jack. The
microprocessor 110 in the omni-modal circuit card 701 allows the circuitry
to select either landline transmission via external RJ-11 jack 712 or cellular
radio transmission through antennae 2. This may be accomplished for
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
-31
example through an analog switch circuit as disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
4,972,457.
Figure 8 is a block schematic diagram of a special purpose radio
data transmitting device 801 that is implemented using the omni-modal
circuit. It is often desirable to be able to construct a device that will be
capable of operating to send data wirelessly. For example, it may be
desirable to include such a device in a vending machine or gasoline pump.
Device 801 may then relay data at a predetermined time concerning the
amount of consumables (e.g. food, beverages, gasoline, etc.) still
remaining in stock. In this manner, it is not necessary to have a person
physically inspect the device and evaluate the remaining stock, which
would be considerably more expensive.
The omni-modal circuit 1 of the present invention can be used to
implement a system as described above. Referring to Figure 8, the omni-
modal circuit I is connected to a data source 802 through data lines 806
comprising data input line 114 and data output line 116. Additionally,
microprocessor 110 (Figure 1B) is connected to the data source through
universal digital interface 158 and control line 804. The resulting omni-
modal device 801 can be programmed to access a selected communications
service at a periodic interval and to transmit data from the data source at
that time. 'This function can be included in the library of functions
available on circuit 1. After accessing the communications service,
microprocessor I 10 may instruct data source 802 using control line 804 to
transmit data over data Lines 806. Of course, the omni-modal device 80I
will have the circuits necessary to use a plurality of different transmission
networks. However, because of mass production and the availability of
predetermined designs it may be desirable to use the standard building
block circuit 1 to implement limited-purpose devices which will be used
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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with only one or two systems, even though these limited purpose devices
will use only a portion of the built-in capabilities of circuit 1.
In addition to functions directly related to radio communications and
modulation, the library may desirably include other functions which enable
desirable computing features. For example, data displaying, electronic
mail storage, retrieval, and composition, and other computing functions
may be included in the library. In addition, if a high powered processor
is provided, the library may be expanded to include substantial operating
system functions so that circuit 1 can be used to construct full-fledged
personal computers and personal communicators capable of running third
party applications programs.
As described above, circuit 1 will be capable of utilizing any one of
the wireless data services within a given geographic area. The selection
of the service to be used can be made manually by the user, or can be
selected automatically. Referring to Figure 9, circuit 1 may have a
preprogrammed routine for selecting information carriers based on varying
criteria. As shown in Figure 9, the criteria for selecting a carrier may be
varied by the user. Possible criteria include the cost of sending a data
message; quality of transmission link (signal strength, interference actual
or potential); available bandwidth on a carrier for data transmission (or
transmission speed supported); potential for being bumped off the system
or having transmissions delayed (that is, is the service provider at nearly
full capacity); security of transmission; or other special criteria which the
user or the device may establish based on the user's individual priorities.
As another example, the length of a data message to be transmitted may be
considered as a factor in selecting the carrier. If the length of the proposed
message is made known to circuit 1, this information can be used in
conjunction with pricing information to determine the lowest cost route.
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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For example, for very short messages a paging service or cellular digital
packet data (CDPD) service might be selected. For longer messages, such
as fax or data file transmission, a circuit switched connection with high
speed data transfer capacity (such as AMPS cellular) may be more eost
effective.
Information about the costs and services offered by carriers in the
area will be made available to the omni-modal circuit 1 for use in this
competitive selection process, either through pre-programming by the user
or selling organization or by transmission of the information in a manner
described elsewhere herein.
The carrier may be selected by any one of the characteristics of the
available competing carriers. For example, a given user may be price
sensitive, and wish to always employ the lowest cost transmission method.
Another user may have time-critical communications needs (e.g. securities
IS trading or news reporting) and may prefer the most reliable or the highest
speed transfer regardless of price.
In determining the cost of a particular transmission, circuit 1
preferably first determines the type and quantity of data to be transmitted.
For example, if the user has selected a function of transmitting a file or an
electronic mail message, circuit 1 will determine the length of the message
and file. This information is then used in determining the projected cost
of transmitting the data on each system. For example, for a short E-mail
message, the expected cost for an AMPS cellular system will be the cost
of making a one-minute call. For a packet radio system, the expected cost
will be the length of the message divided by the number of characters per
packet, times the cost per packet. As long as the basis for carrier charges
is provided to circuit 1, the cost factors relevant for any particular message
can be calculated. Thus, circuit 1 can intelligently predict relative costs of
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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transmitting over various networks and can operate with a Iow-cost
preference dependent on characteristics of an individual message. Different
low-cost transmission modes are appropriately selected for messages having
different characteristics.
A more sophisticated approach than pure low-cost selection allows
the user to assign weights to different competitive factors (price, signal
clarity, transmission speed or other factors) depending on the individual
preferences and needs of the user. Based on the assigned weights, the
circuit then calculates a "score" for each available system and selects the
system with the highest score. As an example, a user may instruct the
circuit to select carriers based 60 ~ on the ratio of the lowest price to the
price of the particular carrier and 40 ~ on normalized signal strength. If
the cast to send the message on System I is $.50 (signal strength 2), the
cost on System II is $.60 (signal strength 4), the. cost on System III is
$0.85 (signal strength 5) and the cost on System N is $0.50 (signal
strength 1 ) circuit 1 would calculate scores of:
System I: 0.60 (0.50/0.50) + 0.40 (215) = 0.76
System lI; 0.60 (0.50/0.60) + 0.40 (4/5) = 0.82
System III: 0.60 (0.50/0.85) + 0.40 (5/5) = 0.75
System IV: 0.60 (0.50/0.50) + 0.40 (1/5) = 0.68
so System II would be selected. With the same systems available, if the
user preferred a selection based 80 9& on cost and only 20 °.b on
signal
quality, the scores would be
System I: 0.80 (0.50/0.50) + 0.20 (2/5) = 0.88
System II: 0.80 (0.50/0.60) + 0.20 (4/5) = 0.83
System III: 0.80 (0.50/0.85) + 0.20 (5!S) = 0.67
System IV: 0.80 (0.50/0.50) + 0.20 (ll5) = 0.84
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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and System I would be selected. Of course, the application of this
weighted selection criteria is not limited to, and is not necessarily based
on,
price and signal strength. Any number of criteria, including these or
others, can be considered in a formula to meet the individual user's needs.
S The criteria for a particular user are stored in a user profile in the
memory
of circuit 1. Preferably, a default user profile corresponding to the
preferences of a Iarge number of users is established. Then, the individual
user can change his or her user profile to establish different selection
parameters and preferences at any time through appropriate input to circuit
1.
Particularly desirable selection algorithms may also take multiple
. factors into account by employing branching algorithms to select the
carrier. For example, one multistage selection process based on multiple
criteria would operate as follows. Initially, systems which are incapable
of performing the desired function would be eliminated from consideration.
For example, if the user wants to place a voice call, data-only systems
would not be considered. As another example, if the user wants to send
a fax to a customer and a given network has no capability of transmitting
fax information to a specified telephone number, that system would not be
considered for the proposed task. Next, among the systems available,
circuit 1 may predict the lowest cost route based on a formula accounting
for the message length and the costs of the available systems, including
consideration of any long-distance surcharges implied by the destination of
the information transfer. Finally, users may also prefer that circuit 1
automatically avoid selecting carriers which are suffering performance
degradatioas because of capacity limits, or which have a particularly weak
signal at the location of the user. In this way, if the carrier which would
otherwise be preferred will not be able to provide a fast, accurate
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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information transfer at the time from the user's location, the carrier that is
the "next best" according to the primary programmed selection criteria (cost
in this example) may be automatically selected. A tradeoff between signal
quality and cost may also be arbitrated by the weighing method described
above.
Preferably, any one or combination of the above selection criteria
is available in the circuit 1 and the selection criteria can be selected,
programmed, changed or overridden by the user. Adaptive service
provider selection may be implemented based on user experience. That is,
the information transmission track record of circuit 1 with a particular
service provider (e.g. error rate, dropped connections, transmission time)
can be stored and updated, and this information can be used as a weighted
factor in selecting service providers. In this way, service providers
providing poor services can be avoided in cases where more desirable
alternatives are available.
The market and consumer implications of the present invention are
substantial, in that the circuits and methods of the present invention tend
to introduce intense competition for customers among various wireless
carriers. The present invention automatically identifies service providers
that best meet the user's performance requirements. In this way, service
providers that meet the varying demands of the most user will have a large
market share and maintain full usage of their available frequency spectrum.
The invention therefore allows the users to drive the market by creating
price and service competition among carriers.
In addition, the omni-modal capability of the present invention
facilitates a free market for the use of frequency spectrum. Circuit 1 can
be activated to select a specified channel frequency, but may be activated
to use command, control, and data protocols on that channel that are
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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normally appropriate for different channels, if the carrier controlling the
frequency has authorized another carrier to temporarily use the first
carzier's channel. As an example, a local AMPS cellular telephone carrier
may have open channels, which may be temporarily "rented" to a Specialized
Mobile Radio (SMR) carrier which is experiencing heavy traffic on its
assigned channels. The SMR carrier may then direct persons requesting
SMR service to operate on the "rented" channel, but using 5MR protocols
rather than the AMPS protocols which would normally be appropriate to
that channel. This method of operation maximizes the efficient use of
14 available frequencies by allowing carriers to shrink and expand the number
of channels available based on current demand. During rush hours, when
AMPS traffic is high, additional channels might be reallocated to AMPS
by market forces; that is, the AMPS carrier will rent additional channels
from under-utilized carriers to provide the services desired by the public
at that time. At other times, demand for other systems may increase, and
AMPS or other cazriers may rent their under-utilized bandwidth to carriers
having a substantial demand. This might occur, for example, if a network
providing status reporting services from remotely located equipment
(vending machines, gas pumps, etc.) is designed to transmit a large volume
of data during late night or early morning hours. If the remotely located
equipment is provided with an omni-tunable device, the status report
network can rent channels from other carriers and use multiple channels to
service its customers. In this way, economic incentives are established to
ensure that airwave channels are assigned to their most productive use at
all times, and the anti-competitive effects of carrier monopolies established
by FCC channel assignments are reduced.
Referring to Figure 9, one method for evaluating system selection
is shown. The process begins 902 with the determination by the omni-
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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modal circuit 1 of whether a data of voice service is desired 904. If a data
service is desired, the circuit 1 obtains price information 908 for the
available data service providers. If a voice service is desired, the circuit
1 obtains voice pricing information 906. Once this pricing information is
obtained, the circuit 1 evaluates the information to make a service provider
selection based on the criteria supplied from the user. Once this selection
is made, circuit 1 is configured for accessing the selected service provider
912 and establishes a connection with that provider 914. Once the user has
completed his use of the selected service provider, the process ends 916.
10 Figure 10 is a flowchart showing steps useful in a method according
to the present invention for "advertising" available Garner services in a
geographic area. In this method, wireless service providers broadcast
electronically, as part of any "handshaking" procedure with an omni-modal
product, information such as rate information, information specifying
system operating characteristics such as system utilization, the likelihood
of being dropped, and other factors noted above which may be desirably
considered in carrier selection. This information may be broadcast in each
geographical region by a jointly operated or government-operated
transmitter operating at a predetermined frequency. Circuit 1 may then be
operated to scan the predetermined "service advertising" channel and obtain
necessary information for use in selecting carriers. On a government
operated channel, government-collected statistics on the operation of the
various carriers in the area may be transmitted as a consumer service to
further encourage service competition and assist users in selecting the most
25 appropriate carrier.
Alternatively, individual carriers may broadcast pricing information
on individual command channels. Pricing can be changed on a dynamic
basis to maintain a desired system load level. In fact, in one preferred
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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embodiment, an automated price negotiation can be performed in which the
circuit 1 transmits an indication of the type and amount of information
which is to be transmitted, and the carrier responds by quoting a price for
the transmission. Such quotes can be obtained from multiple carriers and
the lowest cost transmission mode can be selected, or the quoted prices can
be factored into an equation that considers other factors in addition to
price, as disclosed previously. As part of this scheme, radio carriers may
implement a dynamic demand curve evaluation program iii which system
load and profitability are constantly monitored. The evaluation program
may also monitor the percentage of requested quotes which are not
accepted. in this way, the radio carrier's system can dynamically adjust
prices to maximize revenue to the carrier at all times, based on a real-time
model of the current demand curve for airtime service in the area.
One method in which system information could be distributed to
users is shown in Figure 10. The. process starts 1002 by contacting a
selected service provider 1004. The service provider provides information
to a central location as discussed above. Once the information for the first
selected service provider is complete, the process determines if other
service providers exist 1008. If other providers exist, the process 1004 and
1006 is repeated for each additional service provider. When service
information is compiled for all service providers, the process compiles and
formats the information into a standard reporting form the is
understandable to all mobile units 1010. The process then determines the
proper modulating frequency and protocol for the desired geographic area
1012 and broadcasts this information to aU mobile users on the selected
frequency and using the selected protocol 1014. Once the information has
been broadcast to the users, the process ends 1016.
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
Referring next to Figure 11, a flowchart showing a handshake
sequence for arranging information transmission using the om.ni-modal
circuit 1 of the present invention is shown. The process begins 1102 with
the omni-modal circuit 1 accessing a service provider 1104 and receiving
carrier cost information from the service provider 1106. The omni-modal
circuit 1 may also receive additional information from the service provider
such as signal quality, system resources, and available bandwidth. The
circuit 1 then stores the information received from the service provider
1108. The circuit determines if other service providers exist 1110 and, if
they do, repeats the above steps to acquire cost and availability information
for each service within the omni-modal circuit's range.
Once information has been acquired for all available service
providers, the information is evaluated I 112. This evaluation could consist
of a simple determination based on a single factor, or could include more
complex calculations relating to weigh~.ng of given factors and qualities.
The results of the evaluation are used to select a service provider to
process the users pending request for services. A connection is established
1114 on the selected service provider, and the user's request is processed,
after which the process ends I l I6.
Figure 12 is a view of a cellular radiotelephone 1200 which is
generally of the type and configuration described above with reference to
Figure 2. However, radiotelephone 1200 is constructed using a modular
omni-modal circuit 1 constructed on a removable card 1204 which is
provided with a standardized connector or connector (for example, a
PCMCIA connector) 1205 to establish all necessary interface connections
to a plurality of receiving devices in the manner described above with
reference to Figure 7.
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As can be seen in Figure 12, a telephone shell 1202 containing a
battery power supply, microphone, speaker, keypad, and antenna 2 has a
receiving slot 1206 for receiving card 1204 carrying circuit 1. When card
1204 is installed in telephone shell 1202, connector 1205 mates with
5 connector 1208 within slot 1206 and the external components of the shell
1202 are operatively combined with card 1204 to create a functional multi-
modal cellular telephone.
Figure 13 illustrates the installation of the same card 1204 in a
notebook sized computer 1302, whereby the computer 1302 is provided
10 with complete omni-modal network access. By using the same card 1204
containing standardized circuit 1 to provide radio network access for
various devices, the user can avoid maintaining multiple accounts or
telephone numbers, yet can communicate by radio using many devices.
For example, a receiving slot for card 1204 could be provided in the user's
15 automobile, and insertion of card 1204 upon entering the car would activate
cellular communicatioas capability in the car. The same card 1204 can be
readily transferred between the car, a portable handset shell as shown in
Figure 12, and a computer as shown in Figure 13 for data transmission.
The omni-modal circuit of the present invention can perform both
20 page receiving and other functions, such as placing cellular telephone
calls.
However, since only a single transmitting and receiving circuit is provided,
when the device is in use on a non-paging communications network such
as an AMPS cellular telephone system, any pages directed to the device
may not be received. The present invention provides a solution to this
25 potential problem in which the paging system control is interconnected with
other networks) such as the local AMPS cellular system. It should be
understood that while connection of the pager system to the AMPS system
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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is shown as an example, such connections may be provided between any
systems used by the omni-modal circuit I to achieve similar objectives.
Figure 14 is a block schematic diagram of a paging relay system
according to the present invention for use with omni-modal circuits 1 that
support pager functions and also a non-pager network function such as
cellular telephone operation. Figure 14 shows a paging system 1400 which
is connected in a conventional manner by lines 1406 to a broadcast antenna
1408 which transmits pager signals to pager devices such as the omni-
modal circuit 1 shown in the Figure. In addition, Figure 14 shows a
10 cellular telephone network office 1402 which is connected to control the
operation of the cellular telephone cell site transmitter 1412 by lines 1410.
Significantly, the paging system 1400 is connected to the cellular
telephone network office 1402 by lines 1404 which permit transfer of
operational and control information between the paging system 1400 and
cellular telephone network office 1402. Because of the connection of lines
1404, the paging system can determine whether the omni-modal device 1
is engaged in a cellular call and will thus be unable to receive a page,
Figure 15 is a flowchart showing a preferred operation of the pager
and other (for example AMPS) systems interconnected as described with
reference to Figure 14. In block 1502, the pager system first determines
by reference to stored records whether the pager device which is to be
contacted is an omni-modal circuit 1 which may be engaged in data
transmission with another system at the time of any given page. If not, the
page can be sent by the usual broadcast method in block 1504. If an omni-
modal circuit 1 is involved in the paging operation, the pager system then
contacts any connected networks which might be in use by omni-modal
device 1 and inquires whether the device is in fact using such networks in
block 1506. If not, the omni-modal device is presumed to be available for
CA 02573184 2007-O1-25
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receiving a page and control transfers to block 1504 for transmission of the
page by conventional methods. If circuit 1 is in use, the pager system
determines whether delivery by the alternate network may be accomplished
in block 1508. This may be determined by appropriate factors, including
whether the network (e.g. AMPS) is capable, of and willing to deliver the
page information to circuit 1, and whether the user of circuit 1 has
subscribed to this service.
If delivery by the alternate network is not available, control transfers
to block 1510 which imposes a time delay. The page information is stored,
and after some appropriate period of time, control transfers to block 1506
and the pager system again attempts to determine whether the page can be
transmitted by conventional means.
If the alternative network is able to deliver the page and this service
is to be provided, control transfers from block 1508 to block 1512 and the
page is transmitted over the alternative system. In the case of the AMPS
system, the page information may be transmitted as a momentary
interruption in an ongoing conversation, as information provided on a
command channel, as subaudible information (e.g. in a band from 0 to 300
Hz), or by another appropriate method.
