Data communication system, connector cable and communication adapter medium used in the data communication system

A data communication system comprises a portable device for effecting radio communication, a communication adapter card for storing therein a plurality of communication protocols corresponding to a plurality of communication systems employed by the portable device, a computer in which the communication adapter card is inserted to execute data processing, and a connector cable composed of a first connector connected to the portable device, a second connector connected to the communication adapter card for outputting identification information to identify one of the communication systems employed by the portable device, and a cable for connecting between the first and second connectors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a data communication system, particularly to data communication system for effecting data communication between a portable device and a computer, and a connector cable and communication adapter medium used in the data communication system.

This application is a counterpart of Japanese patent application Serial Number 28778/2001, filed Sep. 18, 2001, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

2. Description of the Related Art

A mobile radiophone has become recently widely used remarkably in Japan, and telecommunications companies employ their own communication systems while a standardized communication system has not been employed. For a digital cellular phone, there are communication systems such as a PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) system, cdmaOne system and the like. For a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), there are communication systems such as a guarantee system, a best effort system and the like. The PDC system used here is a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) system which is standardized in Japan. Meanwhile, the cdmaOne system is a radio communication system complying with an international standard and is characterized in a high data transmission speed compared with the PDC system. The guarantee system in the PHS complies with a PIAFS (PHS Internet Access Forum Standard) v2.0 to use a fixed transmission speed while the best effort system in the PHS complies with PIAFS v2.1 to use a valuable transmission speed.

FIG. 5is a table showing an outline of communication protocols, a hardware specification, and an dedicated connector in the PDC system, the guarantee and best effort systems in the PHS as examples of the communication systems. The dedicated connector is varied in the number of the pin in response to the difference in hardware specification, differentiated in shape, and common or not common in signal line, which are inherent in the respective communication systems.

Accordingly, when a user effects data communication with respect to an external device such as the Internet using a computer such as a mobile computer while using these cellular phones as radio terminals, the user has to purchase an independent or separate data communication adapter to be suited for the cellular phone so as to be connected thereto, so that an inconvenience is given to the user. Meanwhile, manufacturers manufacturing these data communication adapters have to supply data communication adapters to a client which adapters are differentiated corresponding to cellular phones of respective telephone companies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of typical data communication systems of the invention comprises a portable device for effecting a radio communication, a communication adapter card for storing therein a plurality of communication protocols corresponding to respective multiple communication systems employed by the portable device, a computer in which the communication adapter card is inserted to execute data processing, a first connector connected to the portable device, a second connector connected the first connector and the communication adapter card to identify one of the communication systems employed by the portable device and a connector cable formed of a cable for connecting the first and second connectors.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a data communication system capable of effecting data communication between portable devices having different communication systems and a computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows an entire data communication system according to the invention. The data communication system of the invention comprises a portable device110, a connector cable120, a communication adapter card130and a computer140. The portable device110is one of a variety of portable devices employing various communication systems, and effects radio communication. For the portable device110, there are, e.g. a cellular phone, a PHS telephone or a communication terminal capable of effecting mobile communication. The connector cable120comprises a connector (first connector)121, a connector (second connector)122and a cable123comprised of a plurality of conducting wires. The cable123connects between the connectors121and122. The communication adapter card130is a card for effecting data communication corresponding to a communication system of the portable device110. The hardware specification and software specification of the communication adapter card130are complying with the standard of a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association). The computer140has a slot140A.

The portable device110is connected to the computer140by way of the connector cable120and the communication adapter card130and effects data communication between itself and the computer140. The portable device110is connected to the connector121of the connector cable120. The connector122of the connector cable120is connected to the communication adapter card130. The communication adapter card130is inserted into the slot140A of the computer140.

The connector cable120used in the data communication system according to the first embodiment of the invention is first described.FIG. 2is a view showing the construction of the connector cable according to the first embodiment of the invention. The connector cable120comprises the connector (first connector)121, the connector (second connector)122, and the cable123as set forth above. The connector122identifies a communication system employed by the portable device110and has an identification part for outputting identification information. The identification part comprises a switch SW1and a switch SW2. The connector122has a side surface122A and a front surface122B. A connection terminal200to be connected to the communication adapter card130is provided on the front surface122B of the connector122. The connection terminal200comprises a plurality of terminals arranged in two rows. Two identification terminals210,220provided on the uppermost position of the connection terminal200output identification information representing a communication system employed by the portable device110. The two identification terminals may be provided at the lowermost position of the connection terminal200. The identification terminal210is connected to the identification part. More in detail, the identification terminal210is connected to the switch SW1provided inside the connector122while the identification terminal220is connected to the switch SW2provided to the inside the connector122. Other ends of the switches SW1, SW2are connected to either a power supply (VCC) terminal or ground (GND) terminal. That is, there are four combinations for outputting outputs (2-bit outputs) of two identification terminals. As a result, if a 2 /bit identifier is given to each communication system, it is possible to identify up to four communication systems. Although four combinations can be prepared by 2-bit outputs, it is needless to say that sixteen combinations may be prepared by 4-bit outputs.

The connector cable used in the data communication system according to a second embodiment of the invention is described next.FIG. 3is a view showing the construction of the connector cable according to the second embodiment of the invention. A connector cable120of the second embodiment comprises a connector121, a connector300, and a cable123. The connector300of the connector cable120has a side surface300A and a front surface300B. A switching part which can be manually switched is provided on the side surface300A of the connector300in response to a communication system employed by a portable device110. The switching part comprises two dip switches310. A connection terminal320to be connected to a communication adapter card130is provided on the front surface300B of the connector300. The connection terminal320comprises a plurality of terminals arranged in two rows. The connection terminal200has two identification terminals. The two identification terminals output identification information representing a communication system employed by the portable device110.

The two dip switches310and two identification terminals are electrically connected to each other. Two identification terminals can output four combinations of 2-bit outputs when the two dip switches310are manually switched. As a result, if a 2 /bit identifier is given to each communication system, it is possible to identify up to four communication systems. Accordingly, when a user of the portable device110manually switches two dip switches310in response to a communication system of the portable device110, the user can select an optimum communication system from an external device.

A communication adapter card used in the data communication system according to a third embodiment of the invention is described next.FIG. 4is a block diagram showing the construction of the communication adapter card according to the third embodiment of the invention.

A communication adapter card130comprises a connection terminal410, a PCMCIA terminal420, a system decision circuit430, an internal bus440, a communication system switching circuit450, a card bus interface460, a CPU470, and a memory480. The connection terminal410is connected to connection terminals200,320of a connector cable120. The system decision circuit430is connected to the connection terminal410and the communication system switching circuit450. The communication system switching circuit450, the card bus interface460, the CPU470and the memory480are respectively connected to the internal bus440. The card bus interface460is connected to the PCMCIA terminal420. The PCMCIA terminal420is electrically connected to a computer140when the communication adapter card130is inserted into a slot140A of the computer140.

The system decision circuit430is electrically connected to identification terminals of the connection terminals200,320of the connector cable120. The system decision circuit430fetches therein identification signals of the communication systems outputted from the identification terminals of the connection terminals200,320as electric signals. The system decision circuit430discriminates a communication system employed by the portable device110on the basis of the identification signals, and outputs the result of discrimination.

The communication system switching circuit450comprises a protocol selection circuit451, a status register452, individual circuits453,454,455, a common circuit456, and a multiplexer457. The protocol selection circuit451, the status register452, the individual circuits453,454,455, and the common circuit456are respectively connected to one another by way of the internal bus440. The protocol selection circuit451, the individual circuits453,454,455, and the common circuit456are respectively connected to the multiplexer457. The protocol selection circuit451fetches therein the result of discrimination outputted from the system decision circuit430and selects one of detailed communication protocols as shown the table ofFIG. 5. The protocol selection circuit451sets the selected communication protocol at the status register452. Each of the individual circuits453,454,455has a protocol engine for executing each communication procedure corresponding to a plurality of communication protocols. The common circuit456executes processing which is common to each communication procedure. The multiplexer457properly switches the individual circuit453, the individual circuit454, the individual circuit455and the common circuit456, and outputs a communication data in multiplex manner or separately based on a control signal outputted from the protocol selection circuit451. Both the system decision circuit430and the communication system switching circuit450are realized by an dedicated LSI, thereby achieving low power consumption and miniaturization.

The card bus interface460effects communication of data and control signals with respect to the computer140by way of the PCMCIA terminal420based on an interface complying with the PCMCIA standard. The CPU470is a processor for controlling the entire processing of the communication adapter card130, and it executes the processing in corporation with the memory480. The communication is executed by the memory480under the control of the CPU470even if the communication is executed based on any communication protocol. The CPU470decides a communication protocol which is selected from information written in the status register452and controls to send and receive the communication data in accordance with the communication protocol. The card bus interface460, the CPU470and the memory480use a general purpose LSI.

The first to third embodiments of the invention are structured to select one of three communication systems, namely, the PDC system in the cellular phone, the guarantee and best effort systems in the PHS. However, it is needless to say that a communication system other than these three communication systems can be employed. Further, although the communication adapter is formed of the PC card according to the embodiments, it may be formed of an adapter in the form of a USB (universal serial bus) system. Still further, although the switches are provided on the connector cable for identifying the communication systems, they may be provided on the communication adapter card.