Abstract:
A wireless terminal is described whose software are more easily upgradable than many in the prior art. Furthermore, the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an arrangement in which a user can easily: (1) upgrade the software in a wireless terminal, (2) change the parameters affecting the operation of the wireless terminal, (3) enable and disable features and options on the wireless terminal, (4) install software modules onto the wireless terminal and remove them, (5) reconfigure the reconfigurable hardware on the wireless terminal, (6) extract performance data from the wireless terminal for analysis and testing of the wireless terminal, and (7) load contact information (e.g., names and associated telephone numbers, etc.) onto the wireless terminal. Furthermore, the user can easily do any of these functions in the field, himself or herself, without having to visit, or send the wireless terminal to, an authorized service facility.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to wireless telecommunications in general, and, more particularly, to both a radio card and a wireless terminal that are easily reconfigured and upgraded. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As time progresses, more and more people are discovering and appreciating the advantages that wireless terminals (e.g., cellular telephones, pagers, computers with wireless modems, etc.) provide over their traditional wireline counterparts. In general, there are two principal advantages of wireless terminals with respect to wireline terminals. The first advantage is the mobility that is afforded to the user of a wireless terminal because the wireless terminal need not be tethered in order to have a telecommunications link. The second advantage is the fact that wireless terminals largely obviate the need for in-building wiring and cabling, which is expensive and difficult to install. This last advantage is true whether the wireless terminal is portable or not. In fact, it is becoming increasingly popular to link desktop computers and other less-than-easily portable machines with wireless technologies rather than traditional wired solutions. 
     Although most cellular telephones and pagers are manufactured with fully-integrated and permanently installed radios that are manufactured to operate in accordance with one or more air interfaces (e.g., 800 MHz IS-41 AMPS, 800 MHz IS-54 TDMA, 800 MHz IS-95 CDMA, 800 MHz IS-95 GSM, etc.), it is generally considered disadvantageous and uneconomical for computers, personal digital assistants, and some other wireless terminals to be manufactured with a permanently installed radio. There are several reasons for this disparity. First, many computer users don&#39;t want a radio in their computer at all, and, therefore, don&#39;t want to pay for a radio that they have no intention of using. Second, for those users who do want a radio in their computer, there is a great diversity in the type of radios that they might want. For example, some users might want a radio that transmits and receives voice and data at the 1800 MHz IS-95 PCS standard, others might want a radio that transmits and receives data only at the 2400 MHz Bluetooth standard, and some might want a radio that transmits and receives voice only at the 800 MHz IS-41 AMPS standard. Therefore, the permanent installation of a radio into a computer that is suitable for one user is most likely to be unsuitable for another. 
     To deal with this dilemma, many manufacturers have adopted a modular approach in which a host device (e.g., a computer, a personal digital assistant, etc.) comprises a slot or bay with a standardized form factor and standardized wireline electrical interface that accepts and interoperates with a separately manufactured radio. In general, the mechanical and electrical engineering are such that it is quick and easy for a user to insert the radio into the host device and to remove it as desired. The modular approach to this dilemma is advantageous because it enables a user to buy one host device, to separately buy one or more radios that are suitable for the user&#39;s needs, and to insert the appropriate radio into the host device as appropriate. 
     The most popular of these modular approaches is defined by the well-known Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (hereinafter “PCMCIA” or “PC Card”) card interface, in which the radios resemble a thick credit card. Although some PC Cards function as radios, other PC Cards are available that function as: modems, hard drives, Ethernet cards, and flash memory. FIG. 1 depicts an isometric drawing, in the prior art, of the spatial relationship of a PCMCIA radio card to a notebook computer with a PCMCIA card interface as the radio card is being inserted into the computer. 
     One disadvantage of radio cards in the prior art is that it is difficult, if not impossible, to upgrade their software when a bug is discovered or when a new software release is available. Therefore, the need exists for a radio card whose software is easily upgradable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first illustrative embodiment of the present invention is a radio card whose software is more easily upgradable than many radio cards in the prior art. Furthermore, the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an arrangement in which a user can easily: (1) upgrade the software in a radio card, (2) change the parameters affecting the operation of the radio card, (3) enable and disable features and options on the radio card, (4) install software modules onto the radio card and remove them, (5) reconfigure the reconfigurable hardware on the radio card, (6) extract performance data from the radio card for analysis and testing of the radio card, and (7) load contact information (e.g., names and associated telephone numbers, Internet addresses, etc.) onto the radio card. Furthermore, the user can easily do any of these functions in the field, himself or herself, without having to visit, or send the radio card to, an authorized service facility 
     To accomplish this, the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention exploits the cooperative relationship that exists between a radio card and a computer with a radio card interface. When the radio card is designed and manufactured with an alterable memory for storing data and software, the computer can be used to easily upgrade and change the data and software on the radio card. Furthermore, if the radio card comprises reconfigurable hardware (e.g., a field-programmable gate array, etc.) whose components are interconnected in a topology that is determined by information provided to the reconfigurable hardware (i.e., a “hardware definition”) and stored in an alterable memory, then the computer can be used to easily reconfigure the reconfigurable hardware by altering the hardware definition stored in the alterable memory. This is advantageous because it facilitates major changes in the functionality provided by the radio card (e.g., from an 800 MHz IS-41 cellular card to a 2400 MHz Bluetooth data card, etc.). 
     A further advantage of the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention is that when the computer is connected to a data network (e.g., the Internet, etc.), software upgrades, software modules, hardware definitions, and other data can be downloaded from the data network for installation into the radio card. For example, if a particular radio card does not support caller ID, the user of the radio card can download the caller ID software module from the Internet and install it into the radio card to enable the radio card to support caller ID. 
     And yet another advantage of the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention is that performance data can be extracted from the radio card for analysis and testing of the radio card, and the testing and analysis can be performed either: (1) by the computer itself, or (2) by transmitting the performance data via a data network for analysis by a remote computer system, or (3) by a combination of the two. 
     The first illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises: 
     (1) a radio card comprising: 
     (a) a first alterable memory for storing a first plurality of instructions, and 
     (b) a radio comprising programmable logic that executes the first plurality of instructions, and 
     (2) a computer comprising: 
     (a) a wireline connection to a data network for receiving the first plurality of instructions via the data network, and 
     (b) a wireline radio card interface for providing the first plurality of instructions to the radio card for storage in the first alterable memory. 
     The second illustrative embodiment of the present invention is a wireless terminal whose software is more easily upgradable than many wireless terminals in the prior art. Furthermore, the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an arrangement in which a user can easily: (1) upgrade the software in a wireless terminal, (2) change the parameters affecting the operation of the wireless terminal, (3) enable and disable features and options of the wireless terminal, (4) install software modules into the wireless terminal and remove them, (5) reconfigure the reconfigurable hardware in the wireless terminal, (6) extract performance data from the wireless terminal for analysis and testing of the wireless terminal, and (7) load contact information (e.g., names and associated telephone numbers, Internet addresses, etc.) into the wireless terminal. Furthermore, the user can easily do any of these functions in the field, himself or herself, without having to visit, or send the wireless terminal to, an authorized service facility. 
     To accomplish this, the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention exploits the cooperative relationship that can exist between a wireless terminal and a computer with either: (1) a wireline interface (e.g., a serial interface, a parallel interface, etc.), or (2) a wireless interface (e.g., an infrared interface, etc.), or (3) both #1 and #2. When the wireless terminal is designed and manufactured with an alterable memory for storing data and software, the computer can be used to easily upgrade and change the data and software in the wireless terminal. Furthermore, if the wireless terminal comprises reconfigurable hardware (e.g., a field programmable gate array, etc.) whose components are interconnected in a topology that is determined by a hardware definition and stored in an alterable memory, then the computer can be used to easily configure the reconfigurable hardware by altering the hardware definition in the alterable memory. This is advantageous because if facilitates major changes in the functionality provided by the wireless terminal. 
     A further advantage of the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention is that when the computer is connected to a data network (e.g., the Internet, etc.), software upgrades, software modules, hardware definitions, and other data can be downloaded from the data network for installation into the wireless terminal. 
     And yet another advantage of the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention is that performance data can be extracted from the wireless terminal for analysis and testing of the wireless terminal, and the testing and analysis can be performed either: (1) by the computer itself, or (2) by transmitting the performance data via a data network for analysis by a remote computer system, or (3) by a combination of the two. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts an isometric drawing of the spatial relationship of a PCMCIA radio card to a notebook computer with a PCMCIA card interface, in the prior art, as the radio card is being inserted into the computer. 
     FIG. 2 depicts an isometric drawing of the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of some of the components in radio card  202 , which is depicted in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of the operation of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 depicts an isometric drawing of the salient components of the second illustrative embodiment, which comprises a wireless terminal that interfaces with a notebook computer via: (1) a wireless interface, or (2) a wireline interface, or (3) both a wireless interface and a wireline interface. 
     FIG. 6 depicts an isometric drawing of notebook computer  501  in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram of some of the components in wirless terminal  502 , which is depicted in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 2 depicts an isometric drawing of the salient components of the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention,  200 , which comprises: computer  201 , radio card  202 , processor  203 , modem  204 , wireline radio card interface  212 , modem interface  213 , modem  214 , and display  221 , interconnected as shown. 
     Computer  201  is a notebook computer, as is well-known in the art, and provides the functionality described in this specification and in the drawings. Although only the wire frame and some components of computer  201  are depicted in FIG. 2, computer  201  advantageously also comprises: a keyboard, a pointing device for a graphical user interface (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, etc.), a CD-ROM/DVD drive, a power supply, a hard drive, a speaker, and a microphone, in well-known fashion. Because these components are all well-known to those skilled in the art, they are not shown in FIG. 2 so that the following discussion can focus on those components that are most germane to an understanding of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, although computer  201  is depicted in FIG. 2 as having a clamshell-notebook design, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that, in some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the size, shape, and weight of computer  201  can vary considerably and can include, for example, but without limitation, a hand-held design, a tower design, a desktop design, etc. 
     The heart of computer  201  is processor  203 , which is advantageously a general purpose processor that is capable of directing computer  201  to perform the functionality described in this specification and in the drawings. For example, processor  203  is capable of receiving data, hardware definitions, software, software modules (e.g., .d 11  files, etc.), contact information, etc. from a data network via modem  214  and modem interface  213  and transmitting to radio card  202  via wireline radio card interface  212 , under the direction of a user of computer  201 . In addition, processor  203  is capable of receiving data, hardware definitions, software, software modules (e.g., .d 11  files, etc.), contact information, etc. from a media (e.g., a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, non-volitale RAM, etc.) and transmitting to radio card  202  via wireline radio card interface  212 , under the direction of a user of computer  201 . Furthermore, processor  203  is capable of receiving data, hardware definitions, software, software modules, contact information, performance data, etc., from radio card  202  via wireline radio card interface  212  and transmitting it to a data network via modem  214  and modem interface  213 , under the direction of a user of computer  201 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use processor  203 . 
     Computer  201  advantageously comprises wireline radio card interface  212  that is compliant with the Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (hereinafter “PCMCIA” or “PC Card”) standard interface for mechanically and electrically interfacing with radio card  202 . In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, computer  201  comprises a non-PC Card standard electrical and mechanical interface for interfacing with radio card  202 . Furthermore, in some alternative embodiments of the present invention, radio card  202  electrically and mechanically interfaces with computer  201  without any portion of it being within computer  201 . Radio card  202  can transmit information to and receive information from processor  203  via wireline radio card interface  212 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use wireline radio card interface  212 . 
     Computer  201  also advantageously comprises modem  204 , which provides a connection, in well-known fashion, to a data network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, etc. In particular, modem  204  enables computer  201  to receive information (e.g., data, hardware definitions, software, software modules, contact information, etc.) reliably from other computers via the data network and to reliably transmit data to other computers via the data network. The connection between modem  204  and the data network can be a wireline connection, wireless connection or combination of wireline and wireless connections. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use modem  204 . 
     Radio card  202  comprises a radio and a wireline radio card interface  212  that advantageously corresponds to the Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association (hereinafter “PCMCIA” or “PC Card”) standard. In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, radio card  102  has a non-PC Card form factor and a non-PC Card compatible wireline radio card interface. In whichever case, after reading this disclosure it will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use radio card  102  with any form factor and any wireline radio card interface. 
     Display  221  is a liquid crystal display, as is well-known in the art, and aids the user of computer  201  in working with radio card  202  via computer  201 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use display  221 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of the components in radio card  202 . Radio card  202  advantageously comprises: radio  301 , radio frequency amplifier  302 , duplexor  303 , antenna  304 , RF front end  305 , and wireline radio card interface  212 . 
     Radio frequency amplifier  302 , duplexor  303 , antenna  304 , RF front end  305 , and wireline radio card interface  312  are all well known to those skilled in the art and need not be discussed further. 
     Radio  301  comprises all of the hardware and software necessary or desirable to receive signals via wireline radio card interface  312  and to prepare them for transmission via antenna  304  and to receive signals via antenna  304  and to prepare them for transmission via wireline radio card interface  312 . Radio  301  advantageously comprises: programmable logic  311 , reconfigurable hardware  312 , non-reconfigurable hardware  313 , first alterable memory  314   a  and second alterable memory  314   b,  which can: (1) comprise one or more individual semiconductor devices, and (2) can be mapped into either one or two memory spaces. 
     The wireless interface (ie., all of the characteristics that define the signals transmitted by, and received by, radio  301 ) of radio  301  is advantageously flexible, and is, at any one time determined by programmable logic  311 , reconfigurable hardware  312 , non-reconfigurable hardware  313 , and the instructions, data and hardware definition stored in first alterable memory  314   a  and second alterable memory  314   b.  In other words, the fundamental nature of radio  301 , as well as its specific features and parameters, is advantageously alterable. 
     Programmable logic  311  is hardware (e.g., a microprocessor, a microcontroller, etc.) that executes a plurality of instructions (i.e., software) stored in first alterable memory  314   a.  Because the nature of radio  301  depends, at least in part, on the nature of the instructions stored in first alterable memory  314   a,  radio  301  can be changed, for example, from a time-division multiple access wireless terminal to a code-division multiple access wireless terminal, completely or in part, by changing the nature of the instructions stored in first alterable memory  314   a.  Furthermore, the instructions stored in first alterable memory  314   a  can be upgraded at any time via wireline radio card interface  312 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use programmable logic  311  and first alterable memory  314   a.  Furthermore, it will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use software for programmable logic  311  and how to download them from computer  201  into first alterable memory  314   a.    
     Reconfigurable hardware  312  is a set of analog or digital hardware components (e.g., capacitors, resistors, NAND gates, multiplexors, etc.) or both that are interconnected into a circuit in accordance with a hardware definition stored in second alterable memory  314   b.  For example, reconfigurable hardware  312  could comprise a field programmable gate array, as is well-known to those skilled in the art. For example, reconfigurable hardware  312  can perform one function (e.g., a reed-solomon decoder, a multiplier, etc.) at one time in accordance with one hardware definition stored in second alterable memory  314   b,  and can, perform an entirely different function (e.g., a modulator, a signal strength analyzer, etc.) at another time in accordance with a different hardware definition. Therefore, the function performed by reconfigurable hardware  312  is defined by the hardware definition stored in second alterable memory  314   b,  and can be changed or upgraded at any time via wireline radio card interface  312 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use reconfigurable hardware  312  and second alterable memory  314   b.  Furthermore, it will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use hardware definitions for reconfigurable hardware  312  and how to download them from computer  201  into second alterable memory  314   b.    
     One way of understanding a difference between programmable logic  311  and reconfigurable hardware  312  is by understanding that the topology of the hardware components in programmable logic  311  is fixed, regardless of the instructions in first alterable memory  314   a,  whereas the topology of the hardware components in reconfigurable hardware  312  is not fixed, but is determined by the hardware definition stored in second alterable memory  314   b.  Furthermore, the functionality provided by programmable logic  311  is controlled by software in first alterable memory  314   a,  whereas the functionality provided by reconfigurable hardware  312  is determined by the inherent nature of the components in reconfigurable hardware  312  and their interconnected topology, which is itself determined by the hardware definition in second alterable memory  314   b.    
     Because every radio, regardless of the frequencies, modulation schemes, and access technology used all have some common components (e.g., a power supply and power regulator, etc.), radio  301  also comprises non-reconfigurable hardware  313 . Non-reconfigurable hardware  313  can perform either analog or digital functions and is fixed. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use non-reconfigurable hardware  313 . 
     It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use programmable logic  311 , reconfigurable hardware  312 , non-reconfigurable hardware  313 , first alterable memory  314   a  and second alterable memory  314   b  so that they cooperate to provide all of the necessary and desirable functionality of radio  301 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of the steps performed by the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     At step  401 , application software for computer  201  is obtained either: (i) by downloading it from a data network and via modem  204 , or (ii) by loading it into computer  201  off of a CD-ROM, magnetic disk, or other removable medium. This software enables computer  201  to work with a user of computer  201  to: (1) upgrade the software in radio card  201 , (2) enable and disable the parameters affecting the operation of radio card  201 , (3) enable and disable features and options on radio card  201 , (4) install software modules onto radio card  201  and remove them, (5) reconfigure the reconfigurable hardware on radio card  201 , (6) extract performance data from radio card  201  for analysis and testing, and (7) load contact information (e.g., names and associated telephone numbers, etc.) onto radio card  201 . In the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturer of radio card  202  ships a CD-ROM with radio card  202  that enables a user of radio card  202  to perform the above functions. As part of step  401 , the application software for computer  201  is executed, which might assist in the performance of step  402 , and which enables computer  201  to perform steps  403  to  411 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  401 . 
     At step  402 , software, data, hardware definitions, software modules, and contact information for downloading onto radio card  202  are obtained. Advantageously, these items can be obtained either: (i) by downloading it from a data network and via modem  204 , or (ii) by loading it into computer  201  off of a CD-ROM, magnetic disk, or other removable medium. In the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturer of radio card  202  makes available, via the Internet, software upgrades, hardware definitions, data and software modules for owners of radio cards like radio card  202 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  402 . 
     At step  403 , the software in first alterable memory  314   a  is upgraded, when necessary or desirable, with that obtained in step  402 . This step is advantageously performed by a user of computer  201  when an upgrade of the software on radio card  202  becomes available, or when the user of radio card  202  desires to fundamentally change the nature of radio card  202  (e.g., from a frequency-division multiple access voice cellular radio to a time-division multiple access local area network data radio, etc.). It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  403 . 
     At step  404 , parameters affecting the operation of radio card  202  are advantageously changed, if necessary or desirable. For example, when radio card  202  performs the functionality of an AMPS cellular telephone, the parameters that can be changed include, without limitation: 
     1. the choice of number of assignment module (i.e., “NAM”); 
     2. the acceptable system settings (e.g., “A only,” “B only,” “A then B,” “B then A,” etc.); 
     3. the telephone numbers associated with each speed dial button; and 
     4. changing the alerting options (e.g., enable audible alerting, disable audible alerting, enable escalating audible altering (in which successive rings get louder), etc.). 
     It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  404 . 
     At step  405 , features and options on radio card  202  are advantageously changed, if necessary or desirable. For example, when radio card  202  performs the functionality of an AMPS cellular telephone, the features and options that can be changed include, without limitation: 
     1. enabling and disabling caller ID; 
     2. enabling and disabling radio card  202  to accept and store voice mail; 
     3. enabling and disabling radio card  202  to receive and transmit short data messages; and 
     4. enabling and disabling speed dialing. 
     If radio card  202  is not equipped to perform one of these features or options, then in step  406 , the appropriate software module for that feature or option can be installed into radio card  202 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  405 . 
     At step  406 , software modules are advantageously added to radio card  202 , or removed, as necessary or desirable, to enable radio card  202  to perform various features and options. As stated above with respect to step  402 , the software modules are advantageously obtained over the Internet, over a data network, or from a medium such as a CD-ROM or floppy disk. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  406 . 
     At step  407 , hardware definitions are advantageously added to second alterable memory  314   b  in radio card  202 , or removed, as necessary or desirable, to enable reconfigurable hardware  312  to function as desired. As stated above with respect to step  402 , the hardware definitions are advantageously obtained over the Internet, over a data network, or from a medium such as a CD-ROM or floppy disk. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  407 . 
     At step  408 , contact information is advantageously added to radio card  202 , or removed, as necessary or desirable, to enable the user of radio card  202  to have available to them information about people, their telephone, fax and pager numbers, their addresses, etc. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  408 . 
     At step  409 , performance data is advantageously extracted from radio card  202  to facilitate the testing and analysis of radio card  202 , wireline radio card interface  212 , and the other radios that interact with radio card  202 . Illustrative performance data might include, but is not limited to: 
     1. average bit error rate in the last 24 hours; 
     2. the bit error rate for each minute of each call in the last hour; 
     3. the average transmitted power level for the last call made; 
     4. the average received power level for the last call made; and 
     5. the identity of the radio with which the last call was made. 
     Quite simply, the salient characteristic of the performance data is that it is any information that might assist in the testing and analysis of radio card  202 , wireline radio card interface  212  and any other radios that interact with radio card  202 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use radio card  202  to provide such performance data, and it will also be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  408 . 
     Because the performance data that is extracted from radio card  202  in step  409  can be processed and analyzed remotely, as well as locally by computer  201 , at step  410  the performance data is transmitted by computer  201 , via modem  204 , wireline data connection  214  and a data network to a remote computer for analysis. Perhaps, the remote computer is operated by the manufacturer of radio card  202 , or perhaps by the operator of the wireless system that radio card  202  uses. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  410 . 
     At step  411 , the performance data extracted from radio card  202  in step  409  is analyzed, either on computer  201  or on a remote computer, in well-known fashion, to provide some indication of how well radio card  202  is performing. One result of the analysis might be that changes might be necessary or desirable to radio card  202  to improve its performance, and these changes might be made as described in steps  402  through  408  above. By monitoring the performance of radio card  202 , and by upgrading and reconfiguring it as necessary or desirable, the long term performance of radio card  202  can be enhanced. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to perform step  411 . 
     After step  411  is performed, the process can stop if the user desires, or it can return to step  402  if the user desires to upgrade or reconfigure radio card  202  for any reason. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that many of the steps depicted in FIG. 4 can be performed in parallel, or in reverse order, or not at all, as the user deems necessary or desirable. 
     FIG. 5 depicts an isometric drawing of the salient components of the second illustrative embodiment in which wireless terminal  502  interfaces with notebook computer  501  via: (1) a wireless interface (e.g., an infrared transceiver, etc.), or (2) a wireline interface, or (3) both a wireless interface and a wireline interface. Wireless terminal  502  advantageously comprises: infrared transceiver  503  and wireline transceiver  506 . Notebook computer  501  advantageously comprises: infrared transceiver  504  and wireline transceiver  507 . Infrared transceiver  503  and infrared transceiver  504  communicate bi-directionally via infrared electromagnetic radiation, and wireline transceiver  506  and wireline transceiver  507  communicate bi-directionally via cable  508 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use infrared transceiver  503 , infrared transceiver  504 , wireline transceiver  506 , wireline transceiver  507 , and cable  508 . 
     FIG. 6 depicts an isometric drawing of the salient components of notebook computer  501 , which comprises: processor  603 , modem  604 , infrared transceiver  504 , wireline transceiver  507 , modem  614 , and display  621 , interconnected as shown. 
     Computer  501  is a notebook computer, as is well-known in the art, and provides the functionality described in this specification and in the drawings. Although only the wire frame and some components of computer  501  are depicted in FIG. 6, computer  501  advantageously also comprises: a keyboard, a pointing device for a graphical user interface (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, etc.), a CD-ROM/DVD drive, a power supply, a hard drive, a speaker, and a microphone, in well-known fashion. Because these components are all well-known to those skilled in the art, they are not shown in FIG. 6 so that the following discussion can focus on those components that are most germane to an understanding of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, although computer  501  is depicted in FIG. 6 as having a clamshell-notebook design, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that, in some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the size, shape, and weight of computer  501  can vary considerably and can include, for example, but without limitation, a hand-held design, a tower design, a desktop design, etc. 
     The heart of computer  501  is processor  603 , which is advantageously a general purpose processor that is capable of directing computer  501  to perform the functionality described in this specification and in the drawings. For example, processor  603  is capable of receiving data, hardware definitions, software, software modules (e.g., .d 11  files, etc.), contact information, etc. from a data network via modem  614  and transmitting to wireless terminal  502  via infrared transceiver  504 , wireline transceiver  507 , or both, under the direction of a user of computer  501 . In addition, processor  603  is capable of receiving data, hardware definitions, software, software modules (e.g., .d 11  files, etc.), contact information, etc. from a media (e.g., a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, non-volitale RAM, etc.) and transmitting to wireless terminal  502  via: (1) infrared tranceiver  504 , or (2) wireline transceiver  507 , or (3) both, under the direction of a user of computer  201 . Furthermore, processor  603  is capable of receiving data, hardware definitions, software, software modules, contact information, performance data, etc., from wireless terminal  502  via: (1) infrared tranceiver  504 , or (2) wireline transceiver  507 , or (3) both, and transmitting it to a data network via modem  614 , under the direction of a user of computer  501 . 
     Computer  501  advantageously comprises infrared transceiver  504  and wireline transceiver  507  for interfacing with wireless terminal  502 , and communicates with wireless terminal  502  via infrared transceiver  504 , wireline transceiver  507 , or both. In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, computer  501  comprises just infrared transceiver  504  and communicates with wireless terminal  502  via only infrared transceiver  504 . In other alternative embodiments of the present invention, computer  501  comprises just wireline transceiver  507  and communicates with wireless terminal  502  via only wireline transceiver  507 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use infrared transceiver  504  and wireline transceiver  507 . 
     Computer  501  also advantageously comprises modem  604 , which provides a connection, in well-known fashion, to a data network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, etc. In particular, modem  604  enables computer  501  to receive information (e.g., data, hardware definitions, software, software modules, contact information, etc.) reliably from other computers via the data network and to reliably transmit data to other computers via the data network. The connection between modem  604  and the data network can be a wireline connection, wireless connection or combination of wireline and wireless connections. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use modem  604 . 
     Display  621  is a liquid crystal display, as is well-known in the art, and aids the user of computer  501  in working with wireless terminal  502  via computer  501 . It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use display  621 . 
     FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram of the components in wireless terminal  502 . Wireless terminal  502  advantageously comprises: radio  701 , radio frequency amplifier  702 , duplexor  703 , antenna  704 , RF front end  705 , wireless interface  503 , wireline interface  506 , speaker  711 , microphone  712 , display  713 , and keypad  714 . 
     Radio frequency amplifier  702 , duplexor  703 , antenna  704 , RF front end  705 , wireless interface  503 , wireline interface  506 , speaker  711 , microphone  712 , display  713 , and keypad  714  are all well known to those skilled in the art and need not be discussed further. 
     Radio  701  comprises all of the hardware and software necessary or desirable to receive signals via microphone  712  and keypad  714  and to prepare them for transmission via antenna  304  and to receive signals via antenna  304  and to prepare them for output via speaker  711  and display  713 . In all other aspects, radio  701  is advantageously identical to radio  301  described above. 
     The interaction of notebook computer  501  and wireless terminal  502  is advantageously analogous to that between notebook computer  101  and radio card  102  as described above and with respect to FIG. 4, and, therefore, need not be described further. 
     It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention and that many variations may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.