Portable electronic apparatus capable of simulating as a wireless communication product and method thereof

A portable electronic apparatus consists of a wireless module, a micro-processing unit, a determining circuit, and a control circuit. The wireless module provides a wireless communication function, and a first controller of the micro-processing unit provides a data access function. When a designated device is coupled to the portable electronic apparatus, the determining circuit determines whether to use the wireless communication function and whether to use the data access function in order to generate a determining result. The control circuit selectively connects a transmission interface of the first controller or a transmission interface of the wireless module to the designated device according to the determining result. When the control circuit connects the transmission interface of the wireless module to the designated device, the portable electronic apparatus is simulated as a wireless communication product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus (e.g. a mobile phone) capable of simulating as a wireless communication product (e.g. a wireless LAN card) and method thereof, and more particularly, to a portable electronic apparatus is able to directly use a wireless communication function (e.g. wireless Internet access) offered by the portable electronic apparatus without processes of its CPU and method thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With the evolution of mobile communication technology, a utility rate of a mobile communication device is getting higher and higher, and the chance of utilizing a mobile phone to connect to Internet is also increasing. Therefore, in any place with wireless Internet access, a user can enjoy wireless communication services, such as browsing Internet, checking Email, looking parking information up, watching WebTV, etc through a mobile phone at any time.

At present, equipments such as a notebook computer or a desktop computer are able to connect to a mobile phone to access wireless Internet via a connection interface, such as universal serial bus (USB), infrared rays (IR), or blue-tooth. However, because the data transmission path of connecting the notebook computer to a wireless module of the mobile phone is too long, and the central processing unit as well as operating system of the mobile phone are required for data processing and format conversion, it will slow down the overall processing speed and result in a poor performance. In addition, when the notebook computer accesses wireless Internet through the mobile phone, it must continuously communicate with the components of the mobile phone, such as the central processing unit, memory, and wireless module, and access data between them. Actually, these actions are quite power-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the objectives of the claimed invention to provide a portable electronic apparatus capable of simulating as a wireless communication product and a related method to solve the abovementioned problems.

According to one embodiment, a portable electronic apparatus capable of simulating as a wireless communication product is provided. The portable electronic apparatus consists of a wireless module, a micro processing unit, a determining circuit, and a control circuit. The wireless module provides a wireless communication function. The micro processing unit consists of a first controller and a second controller. The first controller controls operations of the portable electronic apparatus and provides a data access function. The second controller controls operations of the wireless module. When a designated device is coupled to the portable electronic apparatus, the determining circuit determines whether to use the wireless communication function and whether to use the data access function to generate a determining result. The control circuit is coupled to the determining circuit and selects to connect a transmission interface of the first controller or a transmission interface of the wireless module to the designated device according to the determining result. The wireless communication product can be a wireless LAN card, and the wireless communication function of the wireless module can be a wireless Internet access function.

According to another embodiment, a method for simulating a wireless communication product by utilizing a portable electronic apparatus is provided. The portable electronic apparatus consists of a wireless module for providing a wireless communication function and a first controller for providing a data access function. The method includes the following steps: when a designated device is coupled to the portable electronic apparatus, determining whether the designated device uses the wireless communication function and whether the designated device uses the data access function to generate a determining result; and selecting to connect a transmission interface of the first controller or a transmission interface of the wireless module to the designated device according to the determining result. When the determining result indicates that the designated device chooses to use the wireless communication function without using the data access function, connect the transmission interface of the wireless module to the designated device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG. 1together withFIG. 2.FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a portable electronic apparatus100capable of simulating as a wireless communication product, andFIG. 2is a block diagram of the portable electronic apparatus100shown inFIG. 1according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the portable electronic apparatus100can be a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), but the present invention is not limited to this only and can be portable electronic apparatuses of other types. As shown inFIG. 1, a designated device200is coupled to the portable electronic apparatus100via a connection interface210, such as infrared rays (IR), blue-tooth, or USB. The designated device200can be a notebook computer or a desktop computer, but this should not be considered as limitations of the present invention. When the designated device200is coupled to the portable electronic apparatus100, it can determine whether to use a data access function and/or a wireless communication function offered by the portable electronic apparatus100so as to proceed a synchronous data transmission between the portable electronic apparatus100or access a wireless Internet via the portable electronic apparatus100.

As shown inFIG. 2, the portable electronic apparatus100consists of, but is not limited to, a wireless module110, a micro processing unit120, a storage unit130, a detecting circuit140, a determining circuit150, and a control circuit160. The wireless module110provides a wireless communication function, such as a wireless Internet access function. The micro processing unit120consists of a first controller121and a second controller122. The first controller121controls operations of the portable electronic apparatus100and provides a data access function, and the second controller122controls operations of the wireless module110. The storage unit130(e.g. a memory) is coupled to the first controller121and the second controller122for providing memory spaces of data access.

The detecting circuit140is coupled to the determining circuit150, and it detects whether the portable electronic apparatus100is coupled to the designated device200. When the detecting circuit140detects that the portable electronic apparatus100is coupled to the designated device200, the determining circuit150determines whether the designated device200uses the wireless communication function and whether the designated device200uses the data access function to generate a determining result DR. The control circuit160is coupled to the determining circuit150for selecting to connect a transmission interface of the first controller121or a transmission interface of the wireless module110to the designated device200according to the determining result DR.

Please note that when the control circuit160connects the transmission interface of the wireless module110to the designated device200, the portable electronic apparatus100can be simulated as a wireless communication product. The wireless communication product can be a wireless LAN card, and the wireless communication function of the wireless module110can be a wireless Internet access function. However, those skilled in the art should appreciate that this should not be considered as a limitation of the present invention.

In the following descriptions, several examples are taken for illustrating how the control circuit160operates. In a first condition, when the determining result DR of the determining circuit150indicates that the designated device200chooses to use the wireless communication function without using the data access function, the control circuit160connects the transmission interface of the wireless module110to the designated device200. That is, a second path PA2and the connection interface210are connected. In a second condition, when the determining result DR indicates that the designated device200chooses to use the data access function without using the wireless communication function, the control circuit160connects the transmission interface of the first controller121to the designated device200. That is, a first path PA1and the connection interface210are connected. In a third condition, when the determining result DR indicates that the designated device200chooses to use the wireless communication function together with the data access function simultaneously, the control circuit160connects the transmission interface of the first controller121to the designated device200. In other words, the first path PA1and the connection interface210are connected.

Be noted that because the micro processing unit120of the portable electronic apparatus100is a power-consuming element, the control circuit160can control the micro processing unit120to enter a power-saving mode (such as a stand-by mode) to save power consumption when the designated device200chooses to use the wireless communication function without using the data access function. Furthermore, when the designated device200chooses to use the data access function without using the wireless communication function, the micro processing unit120is required for accessing data from the storage unit130. Similarly, when the designated device200chooses to use the wireless communication function together with the data access function simultaneously, the micro processing unit120is also required for accessing data from the storage unit130and for controlling operations of the wireless module110.

In addition, if the wireless module110is in different modes or on different transmission paths, the designated device200must switch different drivers and firmware of the wireless module110in order to use the wireless communication function offered by the wireless module110. For example, when the designated device200chooses to use the wireless communication function together with the data access function simultaneously (i.e. the connection interface210is connected to the transmission interface of the first controller121), the control circuit160performs a first designated application program AP1to select the original drivers and firmware of the wireless module110; and when the designated device chooses to use the wireless communication function without using the data access function (i.e. the connection interface210is directly connected to the transmission interface of the wireless module110), the control circuit160performs a second designated application program AP2to switch the drivers and firmware of the wireless module110. Therefore, the designated device200is able to directly use the wireless communication function (e.g. the wireless Internet access function) offered by the wireless module110without processes of the micro processing unit120.

The abovementioned embodiments are presented merely for illustrating applications of the present invention, and in no way should be considered to be limitations of the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that various modifications of the portable electronic apparatus100may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, the detecting circuit140and the determining circuit150are optional elements, and can be omitted or can be replaced by other elements that can achieve the same goal. For example, the user can directly select to switch different modes of the portable electronic apparatus100so as to determine whether to use the wireless communication function and/or the data access function. At this time, the determining circuit150is replaced by the selection of the user.

In the aforementioned embodiments, the control circuit160can consist of a multiplexer170, and thus the control circuit160can select to connect the transmission interface of the first controller121or the transmission interface of the wireless module110to the designated device200via the multiplexer170. In other words, the control circuit160performs a switching operation upon the first path PA1and the second path PA2by using the multiplexer170. This is merely an example for illustrating the present invention, and in no way should be considered to be limitations of the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that various modifications of the control circuit160may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Please refer toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a block diagram of the portable electronic apparatus shown inFIG. 1according to a second embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 3, the architecture of the portable electronic apparatus300is similar to that of the portable electronic apparatus100shown inFIG. 2, and the difference between them is that a control circuit360of the portable electronic apparatus300consists of a switch SW1. The control circuit360can perform a switching operation upon the first path PA1and the second path PA2by using the switch SW1so as to select to connect the transmission interface of the first controller121or the transmission interface of the wireless module110to the designated device200.

Please refer toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is flowchart illustrating a method for simulating a wireless communication product by utilizing a portable electronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Please note that the following steps are not limited to be performed according to the exact sequence shown inFIG. 4if a roughly identical result can be obtained. The method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

Step404: Detect whether the portable electronic apparatus is coupled to the designated device. When the portable electronic apparatus is coupled to the designated device, go to Step410; otherwise, go back to Step404.

Step410: Determine whether to use the wireless communication function and whether to use the data access function to generate a determining result. When the determining result indicates that the designated device chooses to use the wireless communication function without using the data access function, go to Step420; and when the determining result indicates that the designated device chooses to use the data access function without using the wireless communication function, go to Step430.

Step420: Connect the transmission interface of the wireless module to the designated device. After that, go to Step422.

Step422: The portable electronic apparatus is simulated as a wireless communication product. After that, go to Step424.

Step424: Perform a second designated application program to switch the drivers and firmware of the wireless module. After that, go to Step426.

Step426: Control the micro processing unit to enter a power-saving mode.

Step430: Connect the transmission interface of the first controller to the designated device.

How each element operates can be known by collocating the steps shown inFIG. 4together with the elements shown inFIG. 2orFIG. 3. And further description of the steps shown inFIG. 4is omitted here for brevity. The step404is executed by the detecting circuit140, the step410is executed by the determining circuit150, and the steps420-430are executed by the control circuit160or360. Be noted that the control circuit160/360can selectively switch paths, i.e. connecting the transmission interface of the first controller121or the transmission interface of the wireless module110to the designated device200, depending on whether to use the wireless communication function and whether to use the data access function.

Please refer toFIG. 5.FIG. 5is flowchart illustrating a method for simulating a wireless communication product by utilizing a portable electronic apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

Step404: Detect whether the portable electronic apparatus is coupled to the designated device. When the portable electronic apparatus is coupled to the designated device, go to Step410; otherwise, go back to Step404.

Step410: Determine whether to use the wireless communication function and whether to use the data access function to generate a determining result. When the determining result indicates that the designated device chooses to use the wireless communication function without using the data access function, go to Step420; when the determining result indicates that the designated device chooses to use the data access function without using the wireless communication function, go to Step430; and when the determining result indicates that the designated device chooses to use the data access function together with the wireless communication function simultaneously, go to Step510.

Step420: Connect the transmission interface of the wireless module to the designated device. After that, go to Step422.

Step422: The portable electronic apparatus is simulated as a wireless communication product. After that, go to Step424.

Step424: Perform a second designated application program to switch the drivers and firmware of the wireless module. After that, go to Step426.

Step426: Control the micro processing unit to enter a power-saving mode.

Step430: Connect the transmission interface of the first controller to the designated device.

Step510: Connect the transmission interface of the first controller to the designated device. After that, go to Step512.

Step512: Perform a first designated application program to select the original drivers and firmware of the wireless module.

Please note that the steps shown inFIG. 5are similar to the steps shown inFIG. 4, which is a varied embodiment ofFIG. 4. The difference between them is that the flowchart shown inFIG. 5further consists of a third condition—a condition that the designated device chooses to use the data access function together with the wireless communication function simultaneously (i.e. the steps510and512). How each element operates can be known by collocating the steps shown inFIG. 5together with the elements shown inFIG. 2orFIG. 3. And further description of the steps shown inFIG. 5is omitted here for brevity. The steps510and512are executed by the control circuit160or360.

Please note that, the steps of the abovementioned flowcharts are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and in no way should be considered to be limitations of the scope of the present invention. These methods can include other intermediate steps or can merge several steps into a single step without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The abovementioned embodiments are presented merely for describing features of the present invention, and in no way should be considered to be limitations of the scope of the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides a portable electronic apparatus (e.g. a mobile phone or a PDA) capable of simulating as a wireless communication product (e.g. a wireless LAN card) and method thereof. By adding the control circuit (such as a multiplexer or a switch) to switch paths/modes, the transmission interface of the first controller or the transmission interface of the wireless module can be selectively connected to the designated device (such as a desktop computer or a notebook computer). As a result, when the designated device chooses to use the wireless communication function without using the data access function, it is able to directly use wireless communication function (such as a wireless Internet access function) offered by the wireless module without processes of the micro processing unit of the portable electronic apparatus. Therefore, the efficiency of wireless Internet access can be improved so as to approximate to the simulation of the wireless LAN card. Moreover, when the designated device chooses to separately use the wireless communication function without using the data access function, the micro processing unit can be further controlled to enter a power-saving mode (e.g. a stand-by mode) to save power consumption of the portable electronic apparatus.