Portable hybrid communication system and methods

Abstract

A laptop device includes a personal computer, a cellular transceiver, a speakerphone, and a hybrid communications control unit. The device has connectors for attaching a headset, cellular control unit, land telephone line, and additional speakers and microphones. The micro-processor-controlled hybrid communications control unit includes a modem, a data access arrangement, and a tone generator as well as digital, analog, and power switches. The hybrid communications control unit switches the communications components and provides, under program control, the proper protocols, level, and impedance matching to connect the modem, speakerphone, headset, speaker/microphone, or cellular control unit to the landline or to the cellular network via the transceiver. Matching and switching operations are automatic and transparent to the user. The unit can also connect two of the terminal devices or connect the cellular and landlines for call relaying. The device is capable of connecting plural calls at the same time. The hybrid communications control unit may be controlled by its internal firmware, by toggle switches, or by commands issued from the personal computer.

I claim:  
     
       1. A portable hybrid communications system comprising: 
       (a) entry means for entering a data signal;  
       (b) public telephone network connection means for accessing a public telephone network in response to public telephone accessing control signals;  
       (c) modem means for modulating and demodulating data signals;  
       (d) cellular transceiving means for accessing a cellular network in response to cellular network accessing control signals;  
       (e) analog switch means connected to the public telephone network connection means, to the cellular transceiving means, and to the modem means;  
       (f) digital data connecting means for selectively creating a digital data transmission connection with the cellular transceiving means;  
       (g) central processing means connected with said entry means, said public telephone network connection means, said modem means, said analog switch means, and said digital data connection means for generating public telephone accessing control signals and cellular network accessing control signals and for selectively operably connecting the modem means to either the public telephone network or the cellular network so that the central processing means may transmit or receive information over the public or cellular network.  
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the entry means is a personal computer interfaced to the central processing means. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  having means to selectively control power application to the cellular transceiving means. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein signal sensing means responsive to incoming cellular or public telephone network calls signals the user that an incoming call condition exists. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the central processing means may selectively operably connect an active cellular network line to an active public telephone network line for call relaying. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein a cellular antenna associated with the cellular radiotelephone transceiving means is retractable into a case housing the system. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  wherein the central processing means resides on a circuit board which fits in a card slot of the personal computing means. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7  wherein the card slot is a modem card slot. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  further including voice signalling means for generating and receiving voice signals connected to the central processing means, wherein the central processing means selectively operably connects said voice signalling means to either the public telephone network connection means or the cellular transceiving means. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein the central processing means may selectively operably connect the modem means to either the cellular transceiving means or the public telephone network connection means, while the central processing means may operably connect the voice signal generating and receiving means to the other of the cellular transceiving means or public telephone network connection means, permitting simultaneous voice and data communications. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9  wherein the central processing means selectively produces a first processing method when data signals are transmitted or received using the public telephone network and a second processing method when data signals are transmitted or received using the cellular transceiving means. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9  wherein signal sensing means responsive to an incoming cellular or public telephone network call cause the central processing means to connect the call selectively to a data or voice terminal means associated with the system. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9  wherein the voice signalling means is a speakerphone built into a case housing the personal computing means. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9  having means for connecting one or more external voice signal generating and receiving devices which the central processing means may selectively operably connect to either the cellular transceiving means or the public telephone network connection means. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14  wherein one of the external voice signal generating and receiving devices is a telephone headset. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14  wherein the central processing means generates all the signals which cause the cellular transceiving means to transmit and receive voice signals over the cellular network. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14  having sensing means to sense the connective status of the external voice signal generating and receiving devices. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17  wherein signal sensing means responsive to incoming cellular or public telephone network calls cause these calls to be connected selectively to a data or voice terminal means associated with the system, where the choice of terminal means to be connected depends on the terminal means available and on a preselected priority when a plurality of terminal means are available. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 14  wherein one of the external voice signal generating and receiving devices is a cellular control unit. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19  including means to selectively control the application of power to the cellular control unit and cellular transceiving means. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 19  wherein the cellular control unit has means for information display or audio signalling, and wherein the central processing means transmit signals to the cellular control unit, causing the control unit to display information or signal audibly. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 19  wherein the cellular control unit has input means for accepting user input and wherein the central processing means accepts signals from the control unit representative of the user input. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 19  wherein the cellular control unit has a microphone and speaker, and wherein means are provided for selectively transmitting signals from the central processing means to the cellular control unit to enable or disable the microphone and speaker. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 19  wherein the central processing means may control operation of the system such that the cellular control unit functions to transmit and receive signals over the public telephone network while the cellular transceiver is disabled. 
     
     
       25. Apparatus for controlling the path of voice and data signals in a communications system which comprises at least a speaker phone, a cellular transmit/receive unit ( TRU ),  a cellular  ( CU )  handset and a computer having at least a communications software program, a keyboard and an I/O port for communications, said apparatus for controlling comprising:    
       
         analog switching means structured to receive voice signals and data signals from a plurality of different predetermined input sources and to route the received voice signals and data signals to different predetermined selectable destinations, said routing being determined by control signals received by said analog switching means;  
       
       
         landline interface means operatively connected to said analog switching means, said landline interface means being structured to be connected to a landline;  
       
       
         TRU interface means operatively connected to said analog switching means, said TRU interface means being structured to be connected to the cellular transmit/receive unit;  
       
         cellular interface means operatively connected to said analog switching means, said cellular interface means being structured to be connected to the cellular  ( CU )  handset;    
       
         speaker phone interface means operatively connected to said analog switching means, said speaker phone interface means being structured to be connected to the speaker phone;  
       
       
         a modem operatively connected to said analog switching means; and  
       
       
         a central processing unit operatively connected to said analog switching means, landline interface means, TRU interface means, cellular interface means and said modem to receive sense signals therefrom and to send control signals thereto, said central processing unit being structured to be connected to the I/O port for communications of the computer. 
       
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claims  25  wherein said analog switching means comprises at least one analog multiplexer/demultiplexer unit operatively connected to receive an input from any one of said plurality of different predetermined input sources and provide an output to one of said different predetermined selectable destinations, said plurality of different predetermined input sources comprises the microphone of the cellular ( CU )  handset through the cellular interface means, the microphone of the speaker phone through the speaker phone interface means and the output of the modem, said different predetermined selectable destinations comprises the cellular transmit/receive unit through the TRU interface means and the landline through the landline interface means.   
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said analog switching means comprises at least one analog multiplexer/demultiplexer unit operatively connected to receive an input from any one of said plurality of different predetermined input sources and provide an output to one of said different predetermined selectable destinations, said plurality of different predetermined input sources comprises the cellular transmit/receive unit through the TRU interface means and the landline through the landline interface means, said different predetermined selectable destinations comprises the speaker of the cellular ( CU )  handset through the cellular interface means, the speaker of the speaker phone through the speaker phone interface means and the input of the modem.   
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said cellular interface means comprises amplifier means to amplify the signals from the microphone of said cellular ( CU )  handset to the analog switching means and to amplify the signals from the analog switching means to the speaker of said cellular  ( CU )  handset.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said TRU interface means comprises amplifiers means to amplify the signals from the analog switching means to the cellular transmit/receive unit and to amplify the signals to the analog switching means from the cellular transmit/receive unit. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said landline interface means comprises amplifier means to amplify the signals from the landline to the analog switching means and to amplify the signals to the landline from the analog switching means. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said computer, said speaker phone, said cellular transmit/receive unit, said cellular ( CU )  handset and said apparatus for controlling are built into a single portable unit.   
     
     
       32. In combination: 
       
         a computer having at least a communications software program, a keyboard and an I/O port for communications;  
       
       
         a speaker phone having at least a speaker and a microphone;  
       
         a cellular transmit/receive unit  ( TRU )  and a cellular  ( CU )  handset, sand cellular  ( CU )  handset including a microphone and a speaker;    
         apparatus for controlling the path of voice and data signals from and to said computer, said speaker phone, said cellular transmit/receive unit  ( TRU )  and said cellular  ( CU )  handset, said apparatus for controlling comprising:    
       
         analog switching means structured to receive voice signals and data signals from a plurality of different predetermined input sources and to route the received voice signals and data signals to different predetermined selectable destinations, said routing being determined by control signals received by said analog switching means;  
       
       
         landline interface means operatively connected to said analog switching means, said landline interface means being structured to be connected to a landline;  
       
       
         TRU interface means operatively connected to said analog switching means, said TRU interface means being structured to be connected to the cellular transmit/receive unit;  
       
         cellular interface means operatively connected to said analog switching means, said cellular interface means being structured to be connected to the cellular  ( CU )  handset;    
       
         speaker phone interface means operatively connected to said analog switching means, said speaker phone interface means being structured to be connected to the speaker phone;  
       
       
         a modem operatively connected to said analog switching means; and  
       
       
         a central processing unit operatively connected to said analog switching means, landline interface means, TRU interface means, cellular interface means and said modem to receive sense signals therefrom and to send control signals thereto, said central processing unit being structured to be connected to the I/O port for communications of the computer. 
       
     
     
       33. The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein said analog switching means comprises at least one analog multiplexer/demultiplexer unit operatively connected to receive an input from any one of said plurality of different predetermined input sources and provide an output to one of said different predetermined selectable destinations, said plurality of different predetermined input sources comprises the microphone of the cellular ( CU )  handset through the cellular interface means, the microphone of the speaker phone through the speaker phone interface means and the output of the modem, said different predetermined selectable destinations comprises the cellular transmit/receive unit through the TRU interface means and the landline through the landline interface means.   
     
     
       34. The combination of  claim 32  wherein said analog switching means comprises at least one analog multiplexer/demultiplexer unit operatively connected to received an input from any one of said plurality of different predetermined input sources and provide an output to one of said different predetermined selectable destinations, said plurality of different predetermined input sources comprises the cellular transmit/receive unit through the TRU interface means and the landline through the landline interface means, said different predetermined selectable destinations comprises the speaker of the cellular ( CU )  handset through the cellular interface means, the speaker of the speaker phone through the speaker phone interface means and the input of the modem.   
     
     
       35. The combination of  claim 32  wherein said cellular interface means comprises amplifier means to amplify the signals from the microphone of said cellular ( CU )  handset to the analog switching means and to amplify the signals from the analog switching means to the speaker of said cellular  ( CU )  handset.   
     
     
       36. The combination of  claim 32  wherein said TRU interface means comprises amplifier means to amplify the signals from the analog switching means to the cellular transmit/receive unit and to amplify the signals to the analog switching means from the cellular transmit/receive unit. 
     
     
       37. The combination of  claim 32  wherein said landline interface means comprises amplifier means to amplify the signals from the landline to the analog switching means and to amplify the signals to the landline from the analog switching means. 
     
     
       38. The combination of  claim 32  wherein said computer, said speaker phone, said cellular transmit/receive unit, said cellular ( CU )  handset and said apparatus for controlling are built into a single portable unit.   
     
     
       39. A method of controlling the path of voice signals in a communications system which comprises at least a speaker phone, a cellular transmit/receive unit ( TRU )  having a telephone number, a cellular  ( CU )  handset, apparatus for controlling the path of voice and data signals having at least a CPU, an analog switching means, a TRU interface means, a landline interface means, a speaker phone interface means, a modem and a cellular interface means and a computer having at least a communications software program, a keyboard and an I/O port for communications, said method comprising the steps of:    
       
         placing the power switch of the cellular TRU to the ON position applying power to the cellular TRU;  
       
       
         sending a sense signal to the CPU indicating the power switch of the cellular TRU has been placed to the ON position;  
       
         placing the power switch of the cellular  ( CU )  handset to the ON position;    
         sending a sense signal to the CPU indicating the power switch of the cellular  ( CU )  handset has been placed to the ON position;    
         sending a control signal from the CPU to the cellular interface means to cause power to be applied to the cellular  ( CU )  handset; and    
         sending control signals from the CPU to the analog switching means to cause the analog switching means to switch the output of the microphone of the cellular  ( CU )  handset to the transmit input of the cellular TRU through the TRU interface means and to cause the analog switching means to switch the receive output of the cellular TRU to the speaker of the cellular  ( CU )  handset through the TRU interface means;    
         thereby allowing voice signals to be transmitted to and received from a location whose telephone number has been dialed on the cellular  ( CU )  handset and also allowing voice signals to be received from and transmitted to a location which has dialed the telephone number of the cellular TRU and the cellular  ( CU )  handset.   
     
     
       40. A method of controlling the path of voice signals in a communications system which comprises at least a speaker phone, a cellular transmit/receive unit ( TRU )  having a telephone number, a cellular  ( CU )  handset, apparatus for controlling the path of voice and data signals having at least a CPU, an analog switching means, a TRU interface means, a landline interface means, a speaker phone interface means, a modem and a cellular interface means and a computer having at least a communications software program, a keyboard and an I/O port for communications, said method comprising the steps of:    
       
         placing the power switch of the cellular TRU to the ON position applying power to the cellular TRU;  
       
       
         sending a sense signal to the CPU indicating the power switch of the cellular TRU has been placed to the ON position;  
       
       
         placing the power switch of the computer to the ON position applying power to the computer;  
       
       
         activating the speaker phone;  
       
       
         sending a sense signal to the CPU indicating the speaker phone has been activated;  
       
       
         sending control signals from the CPU to the analog switching means to cause the analog switching means to switch the output of the microphone of the speaker phone to the transmit input of the cellular TRU through the TRU interface means and to cause the analog switching means to switch the receive output of the cellular TRU to the speaker of the speaker phone through the TRU interface means; and  
       
       
         activating the communications software program in the computer;  
       
         thereby allowing voice signals to be transmitted to and received from a location whose telephone number and associated coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer and also allowing voice signals to be received from and transmitted to a location which has dialed the telephone number of the cellular phone system and a proper command - to - answer coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer.   
     
     
       41. A method of controlling the path of voice signals in a communications system which comprises at least a speaker phone, a telephone- type headset, a cellular transmit/receive unit  ( TRU )  having a telephone number, apparatus for controlling the path of voice and data signals having at least a CPU, an analog switching means, a TRU interface means, a landline interface means, a speaker phone interface means, a modem and a cellular interface means and a computer having at least a communications software program, a keyboard and an I/O port for communication, said method comprising the steps of:    
       
         placing the power switch of the cellular TRU to the ON position applying power to the cellular TRU;  
       
       
         sending a sense signal to the CPU indicating the power switch of the cellular TRU has been placed to the ON position;  
       
       
         placing the power switch of the computer to the ON position applying power to the computer;  
       
         activating the telephone - type headset;    
         sending a sense signal to the CPU indicating the telephone - type headset has been activated;    
         sending control signals to cause the analog switching means to switch the output of the microphone of the telephone - type headset to the transmit input of the cellular TRU through the TRU interface means and to cause the analog switching means to switch the receive output of the cellular TRU to the speaker of the telephone - type headset through the TRU interface means; and    
       
         activating the communications software program in the computer;  
       
         thereby allowing voice signals to be transmitted to and received from a location whose telephone number and associated coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer and also allowing voice signals to be received from and transmitted to a location which has dialed the telephone number of the cellular phone system and a proper command - to - answer coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer.   
     
     
       42. A method of controlling the path of voice signals in a communications system which comprises at least a speaker phone, a cellular transmit/receive unit ( TRU )  having a telephone number, a cellular  ( CU )  handset, apparatus for controlling the path of voice and data signals having at least a CPU, an analog switching means, a TRU interface means, a landline interface means, a speaker phone interface means, a modem and a cellular interface means and a computer having at least a communications software program, a keyboard and an I/O port for communications, said method comprising the steps of:    
       
         placing the power switch of the computer to the ON position applying power to the computer;  
       
       
         activating the speaker phone;  
       
       
         sending a sense signal to the CPU indicating the speaker phone has been activated;  
       
       
         sending control signals from the CPU to the analog switching means to cause the analog switching means to switch the output of the microphone of the speaker phone to the landline through the transmit lead of the landline interface means and to cause the analog switching means to switch the output of the landline, through the receive lead of the landline interface means, to the speaker of the speaker phone; and  
       
       
         activating the communications software program in the computer;  
       
         thereby allowing voice signals to be transmitted to and received from a location whose telephone number and associated coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer and also allowing voice signals to be received from and transmitted to a location which has dialed the landline telephone number of the system and a proper command - to - answer coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer.   
     
     
       43. A method of controlling the path of voice signals in a communications system which comprises at least a speaker phone, a telephone- type headset, a cellular transmit/receive unit  ( TRU )  having a telephone number, a cellular  ( CU )  handset, apparatus for controlling the path of voice and data signals having at least a CPU, an analog switching means, a TRU interface means, a landline interface means, a speaker phone interface means, a modem and a cellular interface means and a computer having at least a communications software program, a keyboard and an I/O port for communications, said method comprising the steps of:    
       
         placing the power switch of the computer to the ON position applying power to the computer;  
       
         activating the telephone - type headset;    
         sending a sense signal to the CPU indicating the telephone - type headset has been activated;    
         sending control signals from the CPU to the analog switching means to cause the analog switching means to switch the output of the microphone of the telephone - type headset to the landline through the landline interface means and to cause the analog switching means to switch the output of the landline, through the receive lead of the landline interface means, to the speaker of the telephone - type headset; and    
       
         activating the communications software program in the computer;  
       
         thereby allowing voice signals to be transmitted to and receive from a location whose telephone number and associated coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer and also allowing voice signals to be received from and transmitted to a location which has dialed the landline telephone number of the system and a proper command - to - answer coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer.   
     
     
       44. A method of controlling the path of data signals in a communications system which comprises at least a speaker phone, a cellular transmit/receive unit ( TRU )  having a telephone number, apparatus for controlling the path of voice and data signals having at least a CPU, an analog switching means, a TRU interface means, a landline interface means, a speaker phone interface means, a modem and a cellular interface means and a computer having at least a communications software program, a keyboard and an I/O port for communications, said method comprising the steps of:    
       
         placing the power switch of the cellular TRU to the ON position applying power to the cellular TRU;  
       
       
         sending a sense signal to the CPU indicating the power switch of the cellular TRU has been placed to the ON position;  
       
       
         placing the power switch of the computer to the ON position applying power to the computer;  
       
       
         sending control signals from the CPU to the analog switching means to cause the analog switching means to switch the output of the modem to the transmit input of the cellular TRU through the TRU interface means and to cause the analog switching means to switch the receive output of the cellular TRU to the input of the modem through the TRU interface means; and  
       
       
         activating the communications software program in the computer;  
       
         thereby allowing data signals to be transmitted to and received from a location whose telephone number and associated coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer and also allowing data signals to be received from and transmitted to a location which has dialed the telephone number of the cellular phone system and a proper command - to - answer coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer.   
     
     
       45. A method of controlling the path of data signals in a communications systems which comprises at least a speaker phone, a cellular transmit/receive unit ( TRU )  having a telephone number, a cellular  ( CU )  handset, apparatus for controlling the path of voice and data signals having at least a CPU, an analog switching means, a TRU interface means, a landline interface means, a speaker phone interface means, a modem and a cellular interface means and a computer having at least a communications software program, a keyboard and an I/O port for communications, said method comprising the steps of:    
       
         placing the power switch of the computer to the ON position applying power to the computer;  
       
       
         sending a control signal from the CPU to the analog switching means to cause the analog switching mean to switch the output of the modem to the landline through the transmit lead of the landline interface means and to cause the analog switching means to switch the output of the landline, through the receive lead of the landline interface means, to the input of the modem; and  
       
       
         activating the communications software program in the computer;  
       
         thereby allowing data signals to be transmitted to and received from a location whose telephone number and associated coding has been input on the keyboard of the computer and also allowing data signals to be received from and transmitted to a location which has dialed the landline telephone number of the system and a proper command - to - answer coding has been input on the keyboard of - the computer.   
     
     
       46. A portable hybrid communications control unit for selectively transmitting and receiving data over different telephone networks including a cellular network using a cellular transceiver, comprising 
       ( a )  entry means for entering a data signal;    
       ( b )  public telephone network connection means for accessing a public telephone network in response to public telephone accessing signals;    
       ( c )  modem means for modulating and demodulating data signals;    
       ( d )  cellular transceiving connection means adapted to be connected with a cellular transceiver for accessing a cellular network in response to cellular network accessing control signals;    
       ( e )  analog switch means connected to the public telephone network connection means, to the cellular transceiving connection means, and to the modem means;    
       ( f )  digital data connecting means for selectively creating a digital and data transmission connection with the cellular transceiving means; and    
       ( g )  central processing means connected with said entry means, said public telephone network connection means, said cellular transceiver connection means, said modem means, said analog switch means, and said digital data connection means for generating public telephone accessing control signals and cellular network accessing control signals and for selectively operably connecting the modem means to either the public telephone network or the cellular network through the cellular transceiver so that the central processing means may transmit or receive information over the public or cellular network.   
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 46  wherein the entry means is a personal computer interfaced to the central processing means. 
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 46  having means to selectively control power application to the cellular transceiver. 
     
     
       49. The system of  claim 46  wherein the central processing means may selectively operably connect an active cellular network line to an active public telephone network line for call relaying. 
     
     
       50. The system of  claim 46  wherein a cellular antenna associated with the cellular radiotelephone transceiver is retractable into a case housing the system. 
     
     
       51. The system of  claim 46  wherein the central processing means resides on a circuit board which fits in a card slot of the personal computing means. 
     
     
       52. The system of  claim 51  wherein the card slot is a modem card slot. 
     
     
       53. The system of  claim 46  further including voice signalling means for generating and receiving voice signals connected to the central processing means, wherein the central processing means selectively operably connects said voice signalling means to either the public telephone network connection means or the cellular transceiving connection means. 
     
     
       54. The system of  claim 53  wherein the central processing means may selectively operably connect the modem means to either the cellular transceiving connection means or the public telephone network connection means, while the central processing means may operably connect the voice signalling means to the other of the cellular transceiving connection means and public telephone network connection means, permitting simultaneous voice and data communications. 
     
     
       55. The system of  claim 46  wherein the central processing means selectively produces a first processing method when data signals are transmitted or received using the public telephone network and a second processing method when data signals are transmitted or received using the cellular transceiving connection means.