Abstract:
A mobile phone has a connection module, a switch module, a power module, a communication module, a wireless network module, and a memory module. The connection module connects the mobile phone to a host. The switch module connected to the connection module switches the connection between the mobile phone and the host. The power module provides power to the mobile phone. The communication module provides a wireless communication to the mobile phone. The wireless network module provides the wireless network to the host when the mobile phone connects to the host. The host stores the data to the memory module when the mobile phone connects to the host.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a mobile phone, and more particularly, to a mobile phone including a wireless network module and a memory module.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     As semiconductor technology matures overtime, the production costs of manufacture the electronic devices reduce dramatically. Therefore, its not uncommon to see a user possess several electronic devices that have different functionalities. For example, a business user needs a notebook computer to give a presentation to his client, a personal digital assistant (PDA) to arrange his schedule, a USB flash disk for storing data, and a mobile phone for keeping in contact with his clients. As a result, portability of the electronic devices is a very important factor for manufacturers to consider. In addition, many users prefer a multi-function electronic device instead of electronic products that have only a single function for fulfilling the requirements of communication, wireless network, data storage, etc.  
         [0005]     Due to the continuous innovation and advancement of wireless communications, wireless network technology has been improved from IR transmission and radio frequency technology toward Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and wireless LAN technology. Generally speaking, the electronic devices that require wireless network functionality include notebook computers, PCs, PDAs, and mobile phones. The wireless network technology provides some practical values. For example, not long ago users could only access the Internet with their PCs or notebook computers at home or in their offices. At present, the users are able to access the Internet with their notebook computers via wireless base stations in airports, stations, or many other public places. However, since the mobile phone has a smaller bandwidth, the transmission rate is quite slow.  
         [0006]     Therefore, the development of wireless communications is heading in two directions. The first direction is to add more functions in a single electronic product, and the other is to increase the transmission rate and to improve the bandwidth. For fulfilling the requirements of broadband wireless communications, the wireless communication providers build a large amount of base stations extensively in the airports, stations, or restaurants. For the users, however, they cannot access the Internet without carrying a mobile phone, a wireless Ethernet card, and a notebook. This is really inconvenient for the users.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is therefore a primary objective to provide a mobile phone having a wireless network module and a memory module for solving the above-mentioned problems.  
         [0008]     According to the claimed invention, a mobile phone is provided. The mobile phone includes a connection module, a switch module, a power module, a communication module, a wireless network module, and a memory module. The connection module connects the mobile phone to a host. The switch module connected to the connection module switches the connection between the mobile phone and the host. The power module connects with the switch module and provides power to the mobile phone. The communication module provides a wireless communication to the mobile phone and connects with the switch module. The wireless network module connects with the switch module and provides the wireless network to the host when the mobile phone connects to the host. The host stores the data to the memory module when the mobile phone connects to the host.  
         [0009]     In addition, the power module further includes a battery for storing power, and a power management unit connected to the battery and the communication module for providing power stored in the battery to the communication module. The communication module further includes a transmission control unit for controlling different functions of the mobile phone, a subscriber identity module connected to the transmission control unit for recording the subscriber data, and a communication antenna connected to the transmission control unit for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The wireless network module further includes a wireless network transmission unit connected to the switch module for transmitting data, and a network antenna connected to the wireless network transmission unit for transmitting and receiving the radio waves.  
         [0010]     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone of the present invention connected to a host.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone of the present invention connected to a host wirelessly.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a function block diagram of the mobile phone shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone  20  of the present invention connected to a host  10 ;  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone  20  of the present invention connected to a host  10  wirelessly; and  FIG. 3  is a function block diagram of the mobile phone  20  shown in  FIG. 1 . The mobile phone  20 , which includes a display unit  21  and an input unit  23 , is connected to the host  10  via a connection module  22 . The connection module  22  is connected to the mobile phone  20  and the host  10 , via hard-wired connection or wireless connection. In a wireless case, the mobile phone  20  and the host  10  both include a wireless transceiver  24  as shown in  FIG. 2 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a universal serial bus (USB) transmission line  26  is used to connect the mobile phone  20  and the host  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the mobile phone includes a USB port  28 , a switch module  30 , a communication module  32 , a wireless network module  34 , a memory module  36 , and a power module  38 . The mobile phone  20  of the present invention not only provides a telephonic communication function, but a wireless network function and a flash disk function as well. The mobile phone  20  is connected to the host  10  via the USB port  28 , and is switched to different functions via the switch module  30  connected to the USB port  28 . The switch module  30  is either a USB switch or a USB Hub. The communication module  32 , which includes a transmission control unit  40 , a subscriber identity module (SIM) unit  42 , and a communication antenna  44 , is connected to the switch module  30  for providing a wireless communication function. The wireless network module  34 , which includes a wireless network transmission unit  46  and a network antenna  48 , is connected to the switch module  30  for providing a wireless network function while the mobile phone  20  is connected to the host  10 . The memory module  36  is connected to the switch module  30  for allowing the host  10  to store data while the mobile phone  20  is connected to the host  10 . The power module  38 , which includes a power management unit  50  and a battery  52 , is connected to the communication module  32  for providing power required by the mobile phone  20 . Detailed description for illustrating the functions and connections of each element are given below.  
         [0015]     The memory module  36  is a data storage unit including at least a semiconductor memory, which is most commonly a flash memory. The memory module  36  allows the host  10  to store data, and stores related software for the mobile phone  20  and the host  10 , such as installation programs, application programs, and drivers. A USB switch is able to support four download ports, which is well known in the IT industry. However, practically these four download ports are started in order. The memory module  36  is predetermined as the first started device of the switch module  30  when the mobile phone  20  is connected to the host  10 . In such a case, the host  10  is able to obtain the software, such as drivers, stored in the memory module  36 .  
         [0016]     The wireless network module  34  allows the host  10  to access the Internet where wireless network base stations are installed. The wireless network transmission unit  46  of the wireless network module  34  complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard. The network antenna  48  is connected to the wireless network transmission unit  46  for transmitting and receiving the radio waves.  
         [0017]     The communication module  32  provides some main functions including telephonic communication, messaging, and Internet access for the mobile phone  20 . The transmission control unit  40  is either a global system for mobile communications (GSM) transmission circuit or a code-division multiple access (CDMA) transmission circuit. As far as technology is concerned, the transmission control unit  40  generally refers to any standard communication transmission circuits from the second generation to the fourth generation. The transmission control unit  40  not only provides the communication function for the mobile phone  20 , but also controls other functions of the mobile phone  20 . For example, the transmission control unit  40  is able to switch off the wireless network module  34 . Consequently, the host  10  will not remind the user of installing the drivers of the wireless network module  34  whenever the user does not need to use the wireless network module  34 . In addition, the host  10  is able to access the Internet by use of the data transmission service provided by the Information Service Provider (ISP). The communication antenna  44 , connected to the transmission control unit  40 , can be a single band, dual band, or triple band antenna. The SIM unit  42  is connected to the transmission control unit  40  for reading and writing data of the SIM card. The SIM unit  42  also allows the service providers to record personal information, service charges, identification, and confidential data of the user.  
         [0018]     The power module  38  mainly provides power to the communication module  32 . The memory module  36  and the wireless network module  34  do not consume power when disconnecting from the host  10 . While the memory module  36  and the wireless network module  34  are connected to the host  10 , they can obtain power via the USB interface. The power management unit  50  is connected to the USB port  28  so that an external power source can recharge the battery  52  via the power management unit  50 .  
         [0019]     It can be seen that the mobile phone  20  of the present invention, which includes the communication module  32 , the wireless network module  34 , and the memory module  36 , does not merely provide the telephonic communication function. While the mobile phone  20  is connected to a PC host, a PDA, or a notebook computer via the USB interface, the user can access the Internet by either using the data transmission service provided by the ISP or by using the wireless network module  34  in a place where the wireless network base stations are installed. In addition, the memory module  36  can store some important data or some application software, such as an e-mail system. In such a case, the user can connect the mobile phone  20  to any available hosts for accessing the Internet or for processing data.  
         [0020]     The transmission control unit  40  is connected to the wireless network transmission unit  46  so that the mobile phone can control the wireless network module  34 . While the user wishes to connect the mobile phone  20  to a computer host without starting the wireless network function, the wireless network function can be halted directly via the mobile phone  20 . In addition, if the VOIP function is added, the user can select to start communication via the wireless network module  34  wherever wireless network communication is covered.  
         [0021]     In comparison with the prior art, the present invention provides an integrated mobile phone that includes a built-in wireless network module and a built-in memory module, so that the requirements of telephonic communication, wireless networking, and data storage are fulfilled. In addition, for the communication service providers, they can install more base stations in large amounts while the mobile phone of the present invention is in common use.  
         [0022]     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.