U.S. patent application number 12/475529 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-08 for communication card with standalone and master operational states.
This patent application is currently assigned to Modu Ltd.. Invention is credited to Itay Cohen, Yaron Segalov, Itay Sherman.
Application Number | 20090254690 12/475529 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40096914 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090254690 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sherman; Itay ; et
al. |
October 8, 2009 |
COMMUNICATION CARD WITH STANDALONE AND MASTER OPERATIONAL
STATES
Abstract
A communication card with three operational states, including a
controller, a battery, a flash storage unit, a wireless modem, and
a connector for connecting the communication card to a shell host
and to an electronic device host, wherein the communication card
(i) operates in a standalone mode when the connector is not
connected to a device, (ii) functions as a master when the
connector is connected to the shell host, and (iii) functions as a
slave when the connector is connected to the electronic device
host. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also
described and claimed.
Inventors: |
Sherman; Itay; (Hod
Hasharon, IL) ; Cohen; Itay; (Raanana, IL) ;
Segalov; Yaron; (Tel Aviv, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Soquel Group, LLC
P.O. Box 691
Soquel
CA
95073
US
|
Assignee: |
Modu Ltd.
Kfar Saba
IL
|
Family ID: |
40096914 |
Appl. No.: |
12/475529 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
11827604 |
Jul 11, 2007 |
7552245 |
|
|
12475529 |
|
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60933793 |
Jun 8, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
710/301 ;
710/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 13/385 20130101;
Y02D 30/70 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/301 ;
710/16 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/00 20060101
G06F013/00 |
Claims
1.-13. (canceled)
14. A communication card with standalone and master operational
states, comprising: a controller; a flash storage unit, coupled
with said controller, for storing data used by said controller; a
wireless modem, coupled with said controller, for transmitting and
receiving data over a wireless network in response to instructions
received from said controller; a battery, coupled with said
controller, with said flash storage unit and with said wireless
modem, for supplying power to said controller, to said flash
storage unit, and to said wireless modem; and a connector, coupled
with said controller, for connecting the communication card to a
host, wherein the communication card (i) operates in a standalone
mode when said connector is not connected to the host, and (ii)
operates as a master of the host when said connector is connected
to the host, providing display information to the host.
15. The communication card of claim 14 further comprising circuitry
for determining whether said connector is connected to the
host.
16. The communication card of claim 14 wherein said battery
supplies power to the host when the host is connected to said
connector.
17. The communication card of claim 14 wherein the host has its own
battery, and wherein said battery is charged by the host's battery
when the host is connected to said connector.
18. The communication card of claim 14 further comprising a USB
connector coupled with said controller.
19. The communication card of claim 14 wherein said wireless modem
comprises an audio player.
20. A method for determining the operational state of a
communication card, comprising: providing a communication card that
has at least two operational states, namely, (i) the communication
card operating in a standalone mode, and (ii) the communication
card connected to a host and operating as a master of the host;
monitoring a signal on the communication card; and if the monitored
signal has a voltage level lower than a designated threshold, then
concluding that the communication card is in the standalone mode;
otherwise, concluding that the communication card is connected to
the host.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the monitored signal is a
battery voltage.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the designated threshold is
0.5V.
23. A computer readable storage medium storing program code for
causing a computing device to determine the state of a
communication card that has at least two operational states,
namely, (i) the communication card operating in a standalone mode,
and (ii) the communication card connected to a host and operating
as a master of the host, by: monitoring a signal on the
communication card; and if the monitored signal has a voltage level
lower than a designated threshold, then concluding that the
communication card is in a standalone mode; otherwise, concluding
that the communication card is connected to the host.
24. A communication card with standalone and master operational
states, comprising: a card connector for connecting a communication
card to a host, comprising a plurality of pins, the pins
comprising: a connector for incoming and outgoing audio signals; a
connector for a power supply; and a universal serial bus (USB)
connector; a communication bus, wherein (i) no signals are routed
to the communication bus when the card operates in a standalone
mode, and (ii) secure digital (SD) card signals are routed to the
communication bus when the card is connected to the host using a
set of functionalities assigned to said connector pins, with the
card operating as a master of the host; and circuitry for
automatically detecting whether the card is operating in a
standalone mode or in a master mode.
25. The communication card of claim 24 wherein said circuitry
senses voltages across said connector pins.
26. The communication card of claim 24 wherein said set of
functionalities comprises SD communication functionalities.
27. A communication system, comprising: a communication card
comprising: a controller; a flash storage unit, coupled with said
controller, for storing data used by said controller; a wireless
modem, coupled with said controller, for transmitting and receiving
data over a wireless network in response to instructions received
from said controller; a battery, coupled with said controller, with
said flash storage unit and with said wireless modem, for supplying
power to said controller, to said flash storage unit, and to said
wireless modem; and a card connector, coupled with said controller,
for connecting the communication card to a host; and a host
comprising: a plug for said card connector, for connecting the host
to said communication card; and a user interface for said
communication card, wherein said communication card (i) operates in
a standalone mode when said card connector is not connected to said
host plug, and (ii) operates as a master of the host when said card
connector is connected to said host plug, providing display
information to the host.
28. The communication system of claim 27 wherein said host user
interface comprises at least one speaker.
29. The communication system of claim 27 wherein said host user
interface comprises a microphone.
30. The communication system of claim 27 further comprising a
plurality of hosts, each host comprising: a plug for said card
connector, for connecting the host to said communication card; and
a different user interface for said communication card.
31. A communication system, comprising: a communication card,
comprising: a card connector for connecting a communication card to
a host, comprising a plurality of pins; a communication bus,
wherein (i) no signals are routed to the communication bus when the
card operates in a standalone mode, and (ii) secure digital (SD)
card signals are routed to the communication bus when the card is
connected to the host using a set of functionalities assigned to
said connector pins, with the card operating as a master of the
host; circuitry for automatically detecting whether the card is
operating in a standalone mode or in a master mode; and a host
comprising: a plug for said card connector, for connecting the host
to said communication card; and a user interface for said
communication card.
32. The communication system of claim 31 wherein said host user
interface comprises at least one speaker.
33. The communication system of claim 31 wherein said host user
interface comprises a microphone.
34. The communication system of claim 31 further comprising a
plurality of hosts, each host comprising: a plug for said card
connector, for connecting the host to said communication card; and
a different user interface for said communication card.
35. A host device for a communication card, comprising: a
controller; and a connector, coupled with said controller, for
connection with a wireless communication card, wherein said
controller does not provide wireless communication functionality
when said connector is not connected with the communication card,
and wherein said controller operates as a slave to the
communication card when said connector is connected to the
communication card.
36. The host device of claim 35 further comprising a battery for
supplying power to the wireless communication card, when said
connector is connected to the wireless communication card.
37. The host device of claim 35 further comprising a display for
displaying status information for the wireless communication card,
when said connector is connected to the wireless communication
card.
38. The host device of claim 35 further comprising a storage unit
for storing data accessed by the wireless communication card, when
said connector is connected to the wireless communication card.
Description
PRIORITY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/933,793, entitled COMMUNICATION CARD WITH THREE
OPERATIONAL STATES, filed on Jun. 8, 2007 by inventors Itay
Sherman, Itay Cohen and Yaron Segalov.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to communication cards that
may be connected to electronic devices and to shells, and that may
also operate in a standalone mode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Prior art communication cards include cards with connectors
that enable them to interface with different types of electronic
devices that serve as hosts. These cards generally include a radio
modem, a CPU with ancillary memories, a power source and possibly
data storage.
SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION
[0004] The present invention provides a novel communication card
(i) that may operate in a standalone mode, (ii) that may be
connected to a shell that is not an independent device and that
cannot operate without the communication card being connected
thereto, and (iii) that may be connected to an electronic device
that serves as the card's host. In state (ii) the communication
card functions as a master, and in state (iii) the communication
card functions as a slave.
[0005] There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention a communication card with three operational
states, including a controller, a battery, a flash storage unit, a
wireless modem, and a connector for connecting the communication
card to a shell host and to an electronic device host, wherein the
communication card (i) operates in a standalone mode when the
connector is not connected to a device, (ii) functions as a master
when the connector is connected to the shell host, and (iii)
functions as a slave when the connector is connected to the
electronic device host.
[0006] There is additionally provided in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention a method for determining the
operational state of a communication card, including providing a
communication card that has three operational states, namely, (i)
the communication card in a standalone mode (State I), (ii) the
communication card connected to a shell (State II), and (iii) the
communication card connected to a host (State III), monitoring a
first signal on the communication card, and if the first signal has
a voltage level lower than a first designated threshold, then
concluding that the communication card is in State I, otherwise,
concluding that the communication card is connected to a device,
and monitoring a second signal on the communication card, and if
the second signal has a voltage level lower than a second
designated threshold, then concluding that the communication card
is in State II, otherwise, concluding that the communication card
is in State III.
[0007] There is moreover provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a computer readable storage medium storing
program code for causing a computing device to determine the state
of a communication card that has three operational states, namely,
(i) the communication card in a standalone mode (State I), (ii) the
communication card connected to a shell (State II), and (iii) the
communication card connected to a host (State III), by monitoring a
first signal on the communication card, and if the first signal has
a voltage level lower than a designated threshold, then concluding
that the communication card is in State I, otherwise, concluding
that the communication card is connected to a device, and
monitoring a second signal on the communication card, and if the
second signal has a voltage level lower than the designated
threshold, then concluding that the communication card is in State
II, otherwise, concluding that the communication card is in State
III.
[0008] There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention a communication card with three
operational states, including a card connector for connecting a
communication card to a shell and to an electronic device,
including a connector for incoming and outgoing audio signals, a
connector for a power supply, a universal serial bus (USB)
connector, and a communication bus, wherein (i) no signals are
routed to the communication bus when the card operates in a
standalone mode (State I), (ii) secure digital (SD) card signals
are routed to the communication bus when the card is connected to a
shell (State II), with the card functioning as master, and (iii) SD
card signals are routed to the communication bus when the card is
connected to an electronic device (State III), with the card
functioning as a slave, and circuitry for automatically detecting
whether the card is operating in State I, State II or State
III.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention will be more fully understood and
appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a communication card
with three operational states, in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0011] FIG. 2 is a simplified flowchart of a method for a
communication card to detect the type of device it is connected to,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The present invention relates to a communication card that
is operable in three states; namely, (I) a standalone state, (II) a
state connected to a simple host, and (III) a state connected to a
complex host. In State II the simple host is a shell. The
communication card operates as a master and the shell operates as a
slave. Conversely, in State III the complex host is a consumer
electronics (CE) device. The communication card operates as a slave
and the CE device operates as a master.
[0013] In State I as a standalone, the card has its own user
interface and provides communication data and voice over radio
technology, in addition to other services including inter alia MP3
playing.
[0014] In State II connected to a simple host, the shell is not an
independent device and cannot operate without the communication
card being connected thereto. The shell may include only a display,
a keyboard and a simple non-volatile EEPROM storage chip.
Optionally, the shell may further include speakers, a microphone
and a secondary power source. The communication card supplies power
to the shell's keyboard, display speakers and microphone, and to
the card's own internal circuitry. The communication card uses the
shell's secondary power source to charge the card's internal power
source.
[0015] During initialization, after the communication card is
attached to the shell, or at boot time, static configuration
parameters are read from the EEPROM of the shell to the
communication card. Thereafter, the communication card provides the
shell with display information, in the form of screen shots such as
bitmap images.
[0016] In State III connected to a complex host, the CE device is
an independent device that operates independently of the
communication card, such as an MP3/MPP player or a digital camera.
Commands and information are shared, and sent over an SD control
bus during operation. The CE device includes its own CPU, user
interface and power source. The user interface for both the device
functionality and the communication card functionality operates
through the CE device. The interface to the CE device is via the
communication card connector, where pins on the connector have
specifically assigned functionalities and use specific
protocols.
[0017] It will thus be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
the interface to the shell is via the same communication card
connector as is the interface to the CE device, but the pins on the
connector generally have different functionalities and use
different protocols with the shell than those used with the CE
device.
[0018] The three operational states of the communication card are
summarized in TABLE I hereinbelow.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Three Operation States of a Communication
Card State I Standalone Card uses its own interface State II
Connected to a Card is master; Shell is slave simple host Shell
cannot operate without card Card provides shell with screen shots,
in the form of bitmap images, for display information Communication
is through SD bus State III Connected to a Card is slave; CE device
is master complex host CE device operates independently of card
Card provides shell with screen shots, in the form of bitmap
images, for display information Communication is through SD bus
[0019] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified block
diagram of a communication card with three operational states, in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 1, a communication card 100 includes a connector 105,
a controller 110, a flash storage unit 115, a battery subsystem
120, a USB connector 125 and a modem & applications processor
130. Modem 130 includes a radio frequency (RF) interface 135 and an
audio player 140. Wireless modem is coupled with an input device
145, which is a small keyboard, and an output device 150, which is
a small display.
[0020] Also shown in FIG. 1 is a host device 160 with a host
connector 165 that may be connected to the communication card
connector 105. In accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, device 160 may be a shell and may be a CE device.
[0021] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
communication card 100 supports the three operational states in
TABLE I. Components 105-150 enable communication card 100 to
function as a standalone device. When host 160 is connected to
communication card 100, communication card 100 may operate as a
master or as a slave, and the SD communication between connectors
105 and 165 flows accordingly. Specifically, in State II
communication card 100 is the master and host 160 is the slave, and
in State III communication card 100 is the slave and host 160 is
the master.
[0022] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
communication card 100 automatically detects its operational
environment by monitoring the voltage on designated pins on the
connector. I.e., communication card 100 distinguishes between
States I-III based on voltage. CE devices and shells generally
drive the voltage on these pins differently, which enables
communication card 100 to discriminate whether or not it is
connected to device 160, and to detect the type of device 160 it is
connected to.
[0023] In this regard, reference is made to FIG. 2, which is a
simplified flowchart of a method for communication card 100 to
detect the type of host 160 it is connected to, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention. At step 210 controller 105
monitors the connector signal VBat_host, shown in FIG. 1. If the
VBat_host signal has a voltage level higher than logical zero
(i.e., 0.5V or higher), as determined at step 220, then controller
105 concludes that communication card 100 is connected to host 160.
Otherwise, if VBat_host is logical zero (i.e., below 0.5V), then at
step 230 controller 105 concludes that communication card 100 is
not connected to a host. As such, it will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that when host 160 is attached to communication
card 100, controller 105 detects this by monitoring VBat_host.
[0024] In order to detect which type of host 160 is connected to
communication card 100, controller 105 monitors the HOST INT/TYPE
signal, shown in FIG. 1. When connection to a host is detected, the
HOST_INT/TYPE signal is sampled at step 240. If HOST_INT/TYPE is a
logical zero (i.e., below 0.5V), as determined at step 250, then at
step 260 the controller concludes that host 160 is a simple shell.
Otherwise, if HOST_INT/TYPE is higher than logical zero (i.e., 0.5V
or higher), then at step 270 the controller concludes that host 160
is to a CE device.
[0025] The functionality of HOST_INT/TYPE for detecting the type of
host 160, is used when at the time host 160 is attached to
communication card 100. Afterwards, the signal HOST_INT/TYPE is
used as an interrupt signal.
[0026] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
SD_Vdd signal, shown in FIG. 1, may be monitored at step 210
instead of or in addition to the VBat_host signal. Whereas the
VBa_host signal generally indicates whether or not communication
card 100 is connected to host 160, the SD_Vdd signal generally
indicates whether or not host 160 is turned on.
[0027] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
threshold of 0.5V used in the above discussion is merely indicative
of a general pre-designated threshold that is used to detect
attached of the host to the communication card, and to detect the
type of the host.
[0028] When communication card controller 105 detects connection to
a CE device or a shell, the internal user interface of
communication card 100 is disabled at step 280. For CE devices,
communication card controller 105 receives user interface inputs,
and provides feedback as bitmap graphics BMP screen shots, or as
single messages, via the secure digital (SD) card bus. The CE
device controls the device's display and keyboard. For shell
devices, the communication card controller receives direct keyboard
strokes on the shell keyboard over an SD bus, and provides the
displayed image pixels/characters directly to the shell display
over the SD bus.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, in order to be
powered, shells connect their internal circuitry to the Vbat_CC
signal that connects to connector 105. If a shell 160 has a
secondary battery, then the secondary battery is connected to
Vbat_Host, which connects to communication card's battery subsystem
120 and is used to charge the communication card's internal
battery.
[0030] Similarly, the internal circuitry of a CE device 160 is
powered by connecting its internal power source to Vbat_Host. CE
device 160 does not use the Vbat_CC signal as a power source, but
may monitor it to detect when communication card 100 is connected
thereto, or to monitor the communication card's battery level.
[0031] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof.
It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes
may be made to the specific exemplary embodiments without departing
from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in
the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings
are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive
sense.
* * * * *