Patent ID: 6917280
Filing Date: 2005-07-12
Classification: G06F,H04W

Abstract:
1. A cradle and a portable communications device (PCD), the PCD including an externally accessible port from which communications data is accessible, the cradle being sized to accept and accepting the portable communications device (PCD) therein and comprising: a port connector coupling with the externally accessible port of the accepted PCD, such that the externally accessible port provides the cradle access to communications data from the PCD; a network connector coupling the cradle and by extension the accepted PCD to a central facility by way of a second network; and a network communications device interfacing between the port connector and the network connector, the network communications device being a modem, the cradle constructed such that a positive connection between the externally accessible port of the PCD and the port connector is achieved upon accepting the PCD in such cradle, the PCD normally being in radio communication with the central facility by way of a first network but such PCD currently being out of radio communication with the first network, the cradle coupling the accepted and currently out of radio communication PCD to the central facility by way of the second network and then by way of the first network in a serial manner, the central facility only being in direct communication with the first network and not the second network.