Abstract:
A wireless communication and control system including a wireless device. There is a central server for storing communication protocols and control protocols and communicating the communication protocols and selectively communicating the control protocols between the wireless device and the central server. A communication protocol configures the system for communication and control protocols configure the system as one of a selection of intelligent appliance controllers. Alternately the control protocols configure the system as one of a selection of Internet terminals. The wireless device is any hand-held communication device, such as a hand-held computing device, wireless telephone, or cellular phone.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/591,381 filed Jun. 9 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,929,950). 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wireless devices are made to operate at a single set frequency to transmit and receive on a narrow frequency band. The ability to transmit/receive (T/R) and the protocols for executing the T/R function are primarily set in the hardware and are physically set for each mobile device (MD). Some mobile devices (MD) include the ability to reconfigure the MD for different environments and applications in cases where it is required that the phone be able to operate in these other environments and applications. 
     There is often a proliferation of mobile devices that must be carried by a user. For example, a user may need a device or remote for the public airwaves (cell phone), another for the local or office network and yet another for the home network such as wireless telephones, as well as controllers for TVs and other intelligent appliances. The present art offers limited Internet access and pager functions on some cell phones. Merely offering Internet access and pager functions is not a solution to the problem involved, such as relieving the proliferation of devices. 
     There is a need for a method to bypass the public wireless carrier, such as cell phones, for wireless telephones for local office or home networks where the public carrier services are not being utilized, without changing devices. This avoids the proliferation of devices mentioned before. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication and control system including a universal wireless device. There is a central server for storing communication protocols and control protocols. The central server communicates the communication protocols and selectively communicates the control protocols between the wireless device and the central server. The communication protocols configure the system for communication and the control protocols configure the system as one of an arbitrary number of intelligent appliance controllers. Alternately the control protocols configure the system as one of a selection of Internet terminals. The wireless device may be, for example, a hand-held computing device, wireless telephone, or cellular phone. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The accompanying drawings, being incorporated in and forming a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention: 
         FIG. 1  is an embodiment illustrating different wireless devices. 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  show variations of comprehensive wireless networking schemes. 
         FIG. 3  is an embodiment showing how a server is incorporated in the system. 
         FIG. 4  is an embodiment showing how modes and environments may be mapped. 
         FIG. 5  is an embodiment of a network control box. 
         FIG. 6  is an embodiment illustrating the various parts of a server. 
         FIG. 7  is an embodiment with tables illustrating the dynamic reconfiguration of frequency, power, and bandwidth. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, with examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, however, it will be understood that the preferred embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. The invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents included, now or later, within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     In the present invention, a cell phone acts as a radio, TV and pager to receive and transmit at different frequencies. In addition it is set to bypass the public wireless carrier for local office or home networks where the public carrier services are not required for communication. 
     The mobile device is dynamically software reconfigurable for the various environments. An example is such as the public networks in one or more countries, which may operate at different frequencies. Another example is found in the office, such as at one or more office locations operating at different frequencies, or in the home. It is desirable that the MD be dynamically tuned for transmit and receive functions suitable for each environment. For example, current wireless conditions may be determined by sensing the signal to noise ratio and the bit error rate. These parameters are a part of an error detection, error correction (EDEC) system in an embodiment of the system of the present The allowed power/channel bandwidth for a given environment or operating mode will be determined, for example, from a table in Server C. This would allow a phone in the USA to work on GSM, as an example. In the present invention a phone or other wireless device can be a remote TV controller, garage controller, or similar intelligent appliance. It can be a cordless phone. 
     The system of the present invention, including a wireless device forming a part of the system can work with, for example, GPS, or with public wireless location systems, to improve locating capabilities. For instance, since both the home and office network units/boxes are at known locations, tuning a CT/MD for operation as a GPS receiver, or other locating system, to the network units/boxes would give a precise location with respect to the home or office units/boxes. There are two possible locations for only two stations. Normally, therefore, three stations are required, but in many cases, for a CT/MD, one of the two locations is known to be invalid. For example, the location is known well enough to automatically rule out one location. In this case, the location will be precisely known from only the office and home network boxes, or from these units/boxes with respect to a public wireless station, or with respect to a satellite, or both. This software based configuration of (or configuration software for) the CT/MD ( 282  shown in  FIG. 2A ) is available from the network, such as from a server C located on the Internet that enables dynamic reconfiguration anywhere in the world for a CT/MD. 
     The MD is able to sense which environment it is primarily operating in at a given moment while maintaining the ability to switch instantaneously to a different environment. It has the ability to be in a watchdog or sleep mode ( 286  shown in  FIG. 2A ) in different environments while very active in a given environment at a particular time. This allows the MD to be very useful in one or more environments as the use dictates. 
     The same MD can be a part of the wired network and one or more wireless networks obviating the need for multiple devices. The MD operates in the IP mode (Internet Protocol) in the wired or wireless domains. The invention also deals with either wired or wireless network control/management units such as a multichannel, multiplexing transmit/receive (T/R) device—referred to also as a network unit or box—when they exist in each environment. 
     The present invention deals with any wired or wireless network box as a dynamically configurable device utilizing the power of the Internet and a central server C working alone or in tandem with other servers where ever they are located, and local or Internet based network boxes. This is illustrated using a cellular telephone but is fully extendable to all mobile devices. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates embodiments of a cellular telephone (CT) and a mobile device (MD). In  FIG. 1 , CT  102  is representative of the type of phone useful for the improved uses of the present invention. It will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that physical changes to the CT are not required. MD  104  is representative of the type of MD useful for the improved uses of the present invention, and as with the CT does not require physical changes. Wireless device (WD)  106  represents another embodiment of the CT and/or MD, and also will require no physical changes to implement the improvements of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is an illustration of an embodiment of a communication and control system  200 . In  FIG. 2A : 
     Cellular telephone or mobile device (CT/MD)  202  working in a domain  200  is highlighted in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment the primary mode is through a public carrier  208 . 
     The cellular phone (CT)  202  can initiate wireless IP connection  204  to the Internet  206  via the public carrier  202  at a set frequency, Fp  208 , designated by the carrier and tuned for T/R for that particular carrier&#39;s FCC approved frequency band of operation. The carrier senses the T/R and makes either wired or wireless connections  210  to the Internet via an Internet backbone connection  212  to a desired Server C  214  or any web site  216  as defined by a URL request  224  of the CT/MD  202 . 
     When a CT/MD  202  wishes to use the services of Server C  214 , the Server C  214  delivers the content or performs functions as requested by the CT/MD  202 . 
     A CT/MD  202  can store profiles and other user specific information on the Server C  214 . 
     Server C  214  can be used to keep the various “functional instruction sets” (FIS) and software (S/W)  218  for use by the CT/MD  202 . The FIS and software  218  resident on Server C  214  will serve to provide the primary repository/exchange to deliver various mode reconfiguration requests to the CT/MD  202 . For example, the CT/MD  202  may send a request to the Server C  214  for configuration as a cell phone because it is not in the home environment. In this mode the CT/MD  202  may still receive inputs/outputs from to the local office loop network box or the home network box via the public carrier channel  208 . 
     The ability to sense and switch from one mode to the other may include linking  222  to a Global Positioning System (GPS)  220  that determines the exact location of the CT/MD  202 . Thus the CT/MD  202  may sense (or the appropriate network box at the office or home may sense) the location of the network box or the net to bring the CT/MD  202  into any local or carrier loop  208 . 
     The CT/MD  202  in conjunction with the Server C  218  can decide the preferred mode to be in. There may be a primary mode and several secondary modes or a hierarchy of modes. The primary mode may switch from local office  FIG. 2B  to a public carrier loop  208 , followed by a home loop  FIG. 2C . This switching may be automatic or per specific functional instruction sets  218  and preferences stored on the Server C  214  or in the CT/MD  202  itself. 
       FIG. 2B  is an illustration of an embodiment of a Local Office Loop  230  in accordance with the present invention. In  FIG. 2B , a local wireless office IP network  232 , which could also be a local area network (LAN) or other connectivity means, communicates with local servers  234 . Servers  234  then connect on an as-needed basis with, for example, the world wide web (WWW). 
     The same CT/MD  202  can function in the local office loop  230  under the supervision of a local office wireless network switch or box  232 . 
     The local office  230  can operate at the same or a different frequency for T/R. It is preferable for the local network box  232  and loop  230  to be at different frequencies that are geared toward a smaller area of influence. In that way the local network box  232  and loop  230  do not interfere with, for example, a public carrier frequency domain. The local network box  232  and loop  230  will be under the control of the local office—such as an office building or office campus. 
     The local wireless network switch or box  232  may operate at one or more frequencies. In this way, one of more channels will be devoted to a public carrier frequency  210  for T/R and one or more channels  208  will be devoted for T/R optimized for localized use in the campus or office building. 
     The CT/MD  202  when in the local office loop  236  can switch itself for optimal performance in the local office loop  230  by downloading/uploading FSI  218  and/or protocols in tandem with Server C  214 . 
     Thus the CT/MD  202  can serve as a cordless phone in the local environment for interoffice phone calls or local area network  236  access working in tandem with a local network box  232 . 
     In a similar fashion as described above, the CT/MD  202  also serves as a remote controller  270  for controlling intelligent office appliances  238  such as copiers and faxes. 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates a CT/MD  202  in the home loop  260 . In  FIG. 2C , the CT/MD  202  communicates through an optional uplink/downlink such as a transmit/receive unit  262  to home server  264 . Home server  264  controls Home Intelligent Appliances (HIAP)  266 . In this way, the CT/MD  202  can be a TV remote  272 , remote access  274  for an oven or microwave for starting/stopping an operation at a desired time, or perform other household duties. 
     The same CT/MD  202  will function in the local home loop  260  under the supervisory control of a home network box  262  able to T/R in a specific home frequency band. 
     The home wireless network box  262  operates at same or different frequency of T/R as a public carrier  210 . However, it is desirable to have different frequency of T/R optimized for home area wireless networks. 
     The local home wireless network box  262  may operate at one or more public carrier frequencies  210  and one or more local home wireless network box frequencies  268 . 
     The CT/MD  202  when in the home wireless network mode may switch itself for this task for optimal performance by downloading/uploading FIS  218  (function instruction software) and/or protocols in tandem with Server C  214 . 
     The CT/MD  202  may serve as a cordless phone (connected or hooked into a landed telephone line as an example, and operating as a telephone or as an IP phone) in the home wireless network loop  260  because it is now configured by the FIS  218 . Also, the CT/MD  202  may be emulated by a cordless phone, such as by being configured with the FIS  218 , allowing the functions of the CT/MD  202  to be performed without wasting air time. When the CT/MD  202  is being emulated by a cordless telephone, the cordless telephone base station may also be emulated by, for example, home server  264 , such as by inserting a memory card to reconfigure the home server  264 . One CT/MD  202 , even when being emulated by, for example, a cordless phone, serves many purposes as opposed to requiring many telephone hand sets (one for the home, one for the office, and one for the car, as an example). Paging from one phone to the other in the wireless home network may be done very easily. All you need to carry is your CT/MD  202 , real or emulated, which doubles as a regular telephone hand set. 
     In a similar fashion as described above, the CT/MD  202  may serve as a remote controller for various IP based intelligent wireless or wired home appliances  266 . The TV may be controlled using the cell phone if the TV set is capable of receiving wireless commands. Opening the garage door may be done with a macro command  284  downloaded from the Central Server C  214 . 
     Any set of “macro commands” and or detailed FIS  218  may be written for specific wireless intelligent appliances  266  or wireless intelligent equipment  238  to control/command all of these using the CT/MD  202  in conjunction with Server C  214 . 
     The commands/instructions are keypad, textual, sound or voice actuated and can be in one or more languages, such as Chinese, English or any other language supported. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates how a CT/MD  302  cooperates with a Server C  306 . In  FIG. 3 , internal structure  304  of CT/MD  302  shows how CT/MD  302  is organized for operation with Server C  306 . Server C  306  also has instructions  308  as well as FIS  218  for allowing operation with CT/MD  302 , and input/output paths  310  and  312  from Server C  306  for interfacing or transmitting and receiving from and to external devices such as intelligent appliances  266  or intelligent equipment  238 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates how the communication and control system  200  of the present invention is mapped  402 ,  404  to various modes. In  FIG. 4  only primary, secondary and tertiary modes are shown in table  402  and in table  404 , but more modes can be easily accommodated by simple extensions of the entries shown. In connection with  FIG. 4 :
     i) The CT  202  wishes to be in the primary mode of the local wireless office loop  230  whereas it is currently in the public carrier wireless loop  200 . A request, menu or macro command  284  is chosen by the CT  202  and a request for reconfiguration is sent to the Server C  214  via the wireless Internet  204  using frequency Fp and utilizing a public carrier  208 .   ii) The Server C  214  looks up the functional instruction set  218  and maps the instruction set for transmission to the CT  202 . The CT  202  processes the instruction set via the controller and processor electronics located within the CT  202  and loads the new FSI  218  into the memory block of the CT  202 , and tunes/sets the frequencies within the T/R blocks to primary frequency Fp and secondary frequency Fl. Now the CT  202  is converted to the primary local office mode  230 .   iii) The CT  202  is now operating in the local office  230  loop and can control/communicate with various units, appliances and equipment  238  within the loop working in tandem with the local wireless network box  232 . Similar examples can be shown for home wireless network box  262 .   iv) In the present invention Transmit and Receive frequencies may be tuned to one or more primary values and one or more subsidiary values.   v) The functional instruction sets  218  may be downloaded/uploaded from/to the central server C  214  for optimal performance in a given domain and may be downloaded/uploaded into the memory of the CT/MD  202 .   vi) The secondary or subsidiary modes are active to instantly spring into action/service as needed without losing the full feature functionality. Thus the device  202  instantly becomes a cell phone in the public carrier network  210  upon receiving a signal even when it is operating in the local wireless network  208  loop.   vii) Server C  214  may keep watchdog functions alive when the CT  202  is in a different mode or is inactive to instantly deliver all the content that might have been sent in the meantime as though the CT  202  was in the public carrier  210  domain.   viii) Controller electronics within the CT/MD  202  work in tandem with Server C  214  to deliver the functionality and maintain the ability to switch modes and keep track of modes.   ix) The processor electronics within the CT/MD  202  along with the processing and software capability of Server C  214  is able to continually deliver all necessary processing horsepower and capability to device CT/MD  202 .   x) The memory electronics within the CT/MD  202  keeps/caches instructions and other data in conjunction with Server C  214  to quickly execute tasks and efficiently update changes in models.   xi) The Transmitter and Receiver are independently tunable to one or more frequencies for operation in different environments based on the instructions of internal controller electronics and that of Server C  214 .   

       FIG. 5  is an embodiment of the wireless communication and control system of the present invention with more detail of the network control box  500 . Server C  214  is located at home  260 , office  230  or other location  200  and has one or more assigned channels of inputs and outputs  502 . Example: standard telephone line, cable, or standard public carrier cellular telephone frequency. 
     Other input and output channels  504  are each dynamically tunable, such as to specific power levels, channel bandwidths and frequencies of operation, for maintaining reliability and integrity and to receive/transmit wireless communications from/to one or more services. 
     Inputs and outputs  502 ,  504  are multiplexed for optimal assignment by the controller, Server C  214 , based on requests and utilization/demand. 
     The network box  500  may have one or more static IP addresses and one or more dynamic IP addresses may be assigned by the network box  500  to a different MD/SD  202  in the wireless network  200 ,  230 ,  260 . 
     The functional instruction sets  218  for configuration to different modes is maintained on a Central Server C  214  located on the Internet  206 . The Server C  214  works in tandem with the controllers located within the CT/MD  202  or within the local or home wireless network switch/box  500  to dynamically configure the network switch  500  and the CT/MD  202 . Both the CT/MD  202  and the wireless network control box  500  are dynamically configurable working in tandem with Server C  214  located on the Internet  206 . 
     The present invention deals with the issues of functionality using a wired or wireless network box and the dynamically configurable device utilizing the power of the Internet. In accordance with the invention, a central server C  214  (one or more) works alone or in tandem with other local and Internet servers and local or other Internet based network boxes. This will be illustrated using a cellular telephone but is fully extendable to all mobile devices. 
     Cellular telephone or mobile device CT/MD  202  working in the domain  200 ,  230 ,  260  highlighted in  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B , and  FIG. 2C . Primary mode is through public carrier  204 . 
     CT  202  initiates wireless IP connection to the Internet  206  via the public carrier  204  at a set frequency, Fp  208 , designated by the carrier and tuned for T/R for that particular carrier&#39;s FCC approved frequency band of operation. The carrier senses the T/R and makes either wired or wireless connections to the Internet  206  via the Internet backbone connection  212  to a desired Server C  214  or any web site  216  as defined by the CT/MD&#39;s URL request. CT/MD  202  completes the transaction as defined by this loop  200 ,  230 ,  260 . 
     When CT/MD  202  wishes to use the services of Server C  214 , the Server C  214  works to efficiently deliver the content or perform functions requested by CT/MD  202 . 
     CT/MD  202  utilizes the profiles and other user specific information  218  stored on the Server C  214 . 
     Server C  214  is used to keep the various “functional instruction set” and software  218  for use by CT/MD  202 . This FIS and software  218  resident on Server C  214  will serve as the primary repository/exchange to deliver various mode reconfiguration requests to the CT/MD  202 . For example, the CT/MD  202  may send a request to the Server C  214  to be configured as a cell phone because it is not in the home environment  260 . In this mode the CT/MD  202  may still receive inputs/outputs from to the local office loop network box  232  or the home network box  262 , but this is via the public carrier channel  208 . 
     The ability of a CT/MD  202  to sense and switch from one mode to the other may be linked to a Global Positioning System (GPS)  220  that determines the exact location of the CT/MD  202 . The CT/MD  202  may sense (or the appropriate network box  232 ,  262  at the office or home may sense) the location of the network box  232 ,  262  or the net to bring the CT/MD  202  into any local or carrier loop. 
     The CT/MD  202  in conjunction with the Server C  214  decides the preferred mode to be in. There may be a primary mode and several secondary modes or a hierarchy of modes. The primary mode may be local office  232  and then the public carrier  204  loop, followed by the home  262  loop. This switching may be automatic or per specific functional instruction set  218  and preferences stored on the Server C  214  or in the CT/MD  202  itself. 
       FIG. 2B  is an embodiment of a Local Office  230  Loop. In  FIG. 2C  a local wireless office IP network  232  communicates with a CT/MD  202  and with Office Servers  234 . Office Servers  234  then connect to the Internet  206  and from there to Server C  214 . Server C  214  then connects to websites and servers on the Internet  206  as required. 
     The CT/MD  202  functions in the local office  230  loop under the supervision of a local office wireless network switch or box  232 . 
     The local office  230 , such as a local network box  232 , can operate at the same or different frequencies for T/R. It is preferable for the local network box  232  and loop  230  to be at different frequencies geared towards a smaller area of influence so as not to interfere with a public carrier frequency domain  210 . This also allows the local network box  232  to be under the control of the local office  230 —such as an office building or office campus. 
     The local wireless network switch or box  232  operates at one or more frequencies with one or more channels devoted to public carrier frequencies  210  for T/R and one or more channels for T/R optimized for localized use  236  in the campus or office building. 
     The CT/MD  202 , when in the local office  230  loop, switches itself for optimal performance in the local office  230  loop by downloading/uploading FIS  218  instructions and/or protocols in tandem with Server C  214 . 
     In one embodiment the CT/MD  202  serves as a cordless phone in the local environment for interoffice phone calls or local area network  236  access working in tandem with local network box  232 . 
     In a similar fashion as described above, the CT/MD  202  also serves as a remote controller for controlling intelligent office appliances  238  such as copiers and faxes. 
       FIG. 6  is an embodiment of the communication and control system  600  of the present invention. In  FIG. 6 , CT/MD  202  is being used in the home loop  260  and illustrates how a processor  602  and memory  604  form a controller  606  with a transmitter  608  and receiver  610  to provide the Server C  214  of the present invention. 
     The CT/MD  202  may function in the local home  260  loop under the supervisory control of a home network box  500  able to T/R at the specific home frequency band. 
     The home wireless network box  500  operates at the same or different frequencies of T/R as a public carrier. It is desirable to have different frequencies of T/R optimized for home area wireless networks. 
     The local home wireless network box operates at one or more public carrier frequencies and one or more local home wireless network box frequencies. 
     The CT/MD  202 , when in the home wireless network  260  mode, switches itself for this task for optimal performance by downloading/uploading FIS  218  (function instruction software) and/or protocols in tandem with Server C  214 . 
     The CT/MD serves as a cordless phone (connected or hooked into a landed telephone line, as an example) in the home wireless network loop because it is now configured to be so by the FIS. Thus one CT/MD serves many purposes such as replacing many telephone hand sets (one for the home, one for the office, and one for the car). Paging from one phone to the other in the wireless home network may be done very easily. The CT/MD doubles as a regular telephone hand set. 
     In a similar fashion as described above, the CT/MD may also serve as a remote controller for various IP based intelligent wireless or wired home appliances. The TV may be controlled using the cell phone if the TV set is capable of receiving wireless commands/output. The electronic garage door opener may be a macro command  284  downloaded from the Central Server C. 
       FIG. 7  is an embodiment of the communication and control system  700  of the present invention with tables demonstrating parameter setting for a CT/MD  202  or a Server C  214 , such as for different configurations and environments. In  FIG. 7 , CT/MD  202  supports two frequencies in this embodiment, and both are dynamically changed in real time, including power output and channel bandwidth as well as frequency, in this embodiment. Table  702  represents the initial operating state, and table  704  represents the new operating state assumed by the CT/MD  202  or the Server C  214 . 
     Any set of “macro commands” and or detailed FIS  218  may be written for specific wireless intelligent appliances  266  or equipment  238  to control or command all of these using the CT/MD  202  in conjunction with Server C  214 . The control of the intelligent appliances  266  or intelligent equipment  238  is done in real time with dynamic reallocation of the environment as shown in tables  702  and  704 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it should be understood that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments, with various modifications, as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.