Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Combined circuit switching and packet switching
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-03
2001-08-21
Kizou, Hassan (Department: 2738)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Combined circuit switching and packet switching
C370S401000, C370S465000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278706
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Inventions
The field of the present inventions pertains to wireless communication systems, including among other things, a method and apparatus for wireless transmission of signals using both packet protocols and circuit switched protocols.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless communication systems are growing in size and number through out the world. A service that more and more wireless networks are providing is the transmission of data. Wireless networks also connect and interface with landline networks that do not use the same transmission protocols as the wireless networks. One group of popular protocols developed and used in landline networks for transmitting data are referred to as packet transmission protocols. These landline protocols are favored for transmitting data due to their robustness and flexibility.
Packet transmission protocols are especially common as Wide Area Network Protocols (WAN). Known packet protocols include X.25, TCP/IP and Frame Relay protocols. The TCP/IP protocol is used for transmission in Internet applications such as the World Wide Web (WWW), File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
A wireless communication unit operating according to the CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) protocol revision 1.1 established by the Wireless Data Forum, can transmit messages using a packet transmission protocol. Preferably, the wireless unit that is capable of transmitting data utilizing a CDPD protocol for data, should be able to switch between the packet data protocol and a circuit switched protocol depending on the service requested. However, in known wireless units switching between a packet protocol and a circuit switched protocol has required either manual user intervention or switching through the personal computer that the user is operating. Manual switching by the user either by physical switching or changing program settings is both time consuming and unreliable. Switching through the personal computer increases the processing overhead thereby decreasing the transmission rate. Further, switching by either the user or through the computer itself decreases the transmission rate since multiple interfaces may be required between the computer and the wireless transmission unit. An additional difficulty with having the switching capability reside in the computer or data device is that the computer operates using multiple clients, one for each protocol. The use of multiple clients increases the processing overhead and the complexity of the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS
The present invention comprises a wireless communication unit capable of communicating using both circuit switched transmission protocols and packet transmission protocols. The wireless communication unit is preferably able to switch between a circuit switched transmission protocol and a packet transmission protocol in a way which is transparent to the user, while at the same time minimizing the number of interfaces on the wireless communication unit and the number of clients that are required on a computer connected to the wireless communication unit.
In one embodiment a method for establishing wireless communication comprises transmitting a request signal to establish communication with an external device external to a wireless communication device; determining using the request signal the transmission protocol to be used for communication with the external device; if the external device communicates using a packet transmission protocol, transmitting from the wireless communication device to the external device using the transmission protocol of the external device.
In another embodiment a wireless communication device comprises a data terminal adapter that communicates with an external device using a particular protocol. A mobile subsystem communicates with the data terminal adapter. The mobile subsystem also communicates with the external device using a different transmission protocol. When the mobile subsystem receives a signal comprising a request to establish communication with the external device, it is determined which transmission protocol to use to communicate with the external device.
In yet another embodiment a wireless communication device comprises a multiple input and output switch. The switch couples the appropriate input to the appropriate output in response to a protocol signal. A packet server communicates with the switch and a data terminal adapter. A transceiver is coupled to the data terminal adapter and the packet server. A decoder is also coupled to the switch, wherein when the decoder receives a request signal for connection to a service capable of communicating using a particular protocol the decoder provides a protocol signal to the switch.
It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to create a wireless unit that can transmit signals both using a packet transmission protocol and a circuit switched transmission protocol, while maintaining an interface that is transparent to the user regardless of the transmission protocol used.
It is another object of an aspect of the present invention to create a wireless unit that can transmit signals both using a packet transmission protocol and a circuit switched transmission protocol, while minimizing the amount of configuration performed by the user.
It is yet another object of an aspect of the present invention to create a wireless unit that can transmit signals both using a packet transmission protocol and a circuit switched transmission protocol that has a uniform interface to the user regardless of the transmission protocol used.
This and other objects and aspects of the present invention are depicted and describe in the following drawings and detailed description thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4962499 (1990-10-01), Sennema
patent: 5008878 (1991-04-01), Ahmadi et al.
patent: 5305308 (1994-04-01), English et al.
patent: 5729544 (1998-03-01), Lev et al.
patent: 5867495 (1999-02-01), Elliott et al.
Bilgic Izzet Murat
Gibbs Benjamin Kendrick
Mansfield Carl
Kizou Hassan
Opuswave Networks, Inc.
Qureshi Afsar M.
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