Patent Publication Number: US-2003233480-A1

Title: Apparatus for integrating voice and data communications

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 091106344 entitled “Apparatus for Integrating Voice and Data Process”, filed Mar. 29, 2002.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for integrating voice and data communications, and more specifically, to a personal digital assistant apparatus for integrating voice and data communications.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Personal digital assistant (PDA) is a small size hand-held electronic device. With functions analogous to a computer, now it is a first choice for handling personal daily miscellaneous works. The main function for PDA is like traditional paper notebook recording personal daily information, such as communication data, memos, notes, calendar, etc. Comparing to classic paper notebook, PDA stores huge amount of data, modifies data and searches data efficiently via digital technology. By implementing the highly efficient data base technology, users can manage their personal data efficiently.  
       [0004] With progress of technology, PDA is no longer limited to functions of voice recording, calendar, phone book, or calculator. With additional hardware accessories, PDA has added functions such as infrared wireless transmission, data synchronization process with computers, e-mails access via Internet, multimedia data replay, programming, and digital logic operations, etc. Therefore, PDA nowadays has so many applications.  
       [0005] A typical PDA can be connected to a cellular phone via a wire connection between ‘Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter Port’ and the cellular phone. Through communication between the cellular phone and base stations, users may use PDA to send or receive short messages or surf the webs. Also, PDA can be implemented with a GSM module to transmit data to and from mobile base stations, or use built-in bluetooth module for data transmission in short distances. However, all conventional methods mentioned above for PDA are only valid for data communication and handling, not for audio information.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus for integrating voice and data communications in a personal digital assistant (PDA). User can use the PDA cooperated with the present invention to wireless transmit voice and data signals. The present invention modulizes the PDA to integrate voice and data communications, which is cost reduction and operation convenience.  
       [0007] The present invention provides an apparatus for integrating voice and data transmissions in a PDA. The PDA includes an interface for communicating with the apparatus. The apparatus independently electrically couples to a terminal device and a base station. The apparatus includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) module, a mobile communication network (MCN) module, and an audio gateway. The wireless local area network module transmits a voice signal and/or a data signal to the terminal device, and further transmits the data signal to the PDA interface via a bus. The mobile communication network module transmits the voice signal and/or the data signal to the base station. The audio gateway controls the transmission of the voice signal between the wireless local area network module, the mobile communication network module, and the PDA interface.  
       [0008] The apparatus further includes a transceiver (or receiver/transmitter) and a central control unit. The transceiver, such as a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), transmits the data signal to the PDA interface. The central control unit, such as a microcontroller, processes the data signal between the mobile communication network module and the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter.  
       [0009] The apparatus further includes a network control unit interface for coupling the PDA with a fixed-line network telephone. The function of the network control unit interface is to receive a carrier signal. The carrier signal is then transmitted to the wireless local area network module via the audio gateway and to the terminal device via the wireless local area network module. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of the initial procedure of the PDA;  
     [0013]FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of building up the voice-link connection of the PDA;  
     [0014]FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of checking the interface of the PDA;  
     [0015]FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to make a phone call in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to receive a phone call in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to send a short message in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0018]FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to wirelessly access the internet in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to receive a call from the fixed-line network telephone in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0020]FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to receive a music file in MP3 format in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0021] The present invention provides an apparatus, which utilizes a wireless local area network module, a mobile communication network module, and a network control unit interface to transmit voice and data signals of a personal digital assistant wirelessly and interference free. The apparatus also provides the PDA a telephone interface. In the software aspect, the apparatus controls every control signal of each module such that the voice and data signals are correctly transmitted and processed even when any interruptions of the transmission is occurred.  
     [0022]FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus  11  of the present invention, which integrates a voice signal and/or a data signal in a personal digital assistant (PDA). The apparatus  11  includes a wireless local area network module  111 , a mobile communication network module  113 , an audio gateway  115 , a transceiver  117 , and a central control unit  119 . The PDA wirelessly transmits a voice signal and a data signal to a terminal device  1111  via the wireless local area network module  111 . The terminal device  1111  can be a printer, a personal computer, a bluetooth earphone, and the like. The wireless local area network module  111  can be an IEEE 802.11, a bluetooth module, and the like. For example, when the wireless local area network module  111  is a bluetooth module, the terminal device is a bluetooth earphone. With the application of the present invention, the user can receive or make a phone call and listen to music in MP3 format played by the PDA via the bluetooth earphone. The wireless local area network module  111  transmits the data signal to the PDA interface  13  through a bus  93 , such as a universal serial bus (USB), UART, or a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) bus.  
     [0023] The mobile communication network module  113  transmits the voice signal and/or data signal to a base station  1131 . The mobile communication network module  113  can be a global system for mobile communication (GSM) module, a general packet radio service (GPRS) module, or a code-division multiple access (CDMA) module. The PDA receives or makes a phone call, sends a short message, and wirelessly accesses the internet through the mobile phone service provided by the GSM or GPRS system. In the apparatus  11 , the audio gateway  15  controls the transmission of the voice signal between the wireless local area network module  111 , the mobile communication network module  113 , and the PDA interface  13 . The voice signal is two-way transmitted between the wireless local area network module  111  and the audio gateway  115  via a transmission path  94 . The voice signal is also two-way transmitted between the mobile communication network module  113  and the audio gateway  115  via a transmission path  96 , and between the PDA and the audio gateway  115  via a transmission path  98 . When the voice signal is transmitted to the audio gateway  115 , the audio gateway  115  transmits the voice signal to the subsequent processing device.  
     [0024] Additionally, the apparatus  11  uses the transceiver  117  to transmit the data signal to the PDA interface  13 . The data signal is two-way transmitted between the transceiver  117  and the PDA interface  13  via a transmission path  93 . The transceiver  117  is generally a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), which synchronously and asynchronously transmits or transforms the data signal. The apparatus  11  uses the central control unit  119  to process the data signal between the mobile communication network module  113  and the transceiver  117 . The central control unit  119  is a microcontroller capable of operating and processing data, such as data communications, data management, data encryption/decryption. The data signal is two-way transmitted between the central control unit  119  and the transceiver  117  via a transmission path  95 , and also two-way transmitted between the central control unit  119  and the mobile communication network module  119  via a transmission path  97 .  
     [0025] The apparatus further provides a network control unit interface  121  for coupling the PDA to the fixed-line network telephone  1121 . The network control unit interface  121  switches the carrier signal of the fixed-line network telephone  1121  to the PDA. Then, the terminal device  1111 , such as the bluetooth earphone, receives the call. In other words, when the network control unit interface  121  receives the carrier signal of the fixed-line network telephone  1121 , the carrier signal is transmitted to the audio gateway  115  via transmission path  99 , then to the wireless local area network module  111 , finally to the terminal device  1111 .  
     [0026] For example, the PAD cooperates with the mobile communication network module  113  to receive the voice signal sent from a mobile communication base station  1131 . The user determines what module, the wireless local area network module  111  or the PDA interface  13 , to receive the voice signal. Then, the voice signal is transmitted to the designated destination via the audio gateway  115 . When the user selects the wireless local network module  111 , such as a bluetooth module, to receive the voice signal, the user uses the corresponding terminal device, such as a bluetooth earphone, to receive the voice signal.  
     [0027] Similarly, when the user selects the wireless local area network module  111  or the PDA interface  13  to transmit a voice signal, the voice signal is transmitted through the audio gateway  115  and the mobile communication network module  113  to the mobile communication base station  1131 . Moreover, the user can uses the bluetooth module and the bluetooth earphone to receive a music file, such as a MP3 file, played by the PDA.  
     [0028] When the user selects the PDA interface  13  to transmit the data signal optionally through a bus  92 , for example, a universal serial bus (USB), the data signal is transmitted from the wireless local area network module  111  to the terminal device  1111 , such as a printer and a personal computer. When the user selects the PDA interface  13  to transmit the data signal through the transmission path  93 , the data signal is transmitted to the transceiver  117 , such as a UART, which synchronously and asynchronously transmits or transforms the data signal. Then, the data signal is transmitted through the transmission path  95  to the central control unit  119 , such as a microcontroller. The central control unit  119  processes the data signal and transmits the data signal to the mobile communication network module  113  via the transmission path  97 . Then, the mobile communication network module  13  transmits the data signal to the mobile communication base station  1131 .  
     [0029] Similarly, the PDA can use the wireless local area network module  111  to receive a data signal from the terminal device  1111 . The data signal is transmitted through the bus  92  to the PDA interface  13 . Moreover, the PDA can use the mobile communication network module  113  to receive the data signal from the mobile communication base station  1131 . The data signal is transmitted to the PDA interface  13  through the central control unit  119  and the transceiver  117 .  
     [0030]FIG. 2 illustrates the initial process of the PDA. When the PDA is turned on, the system database is firstly initiated (step  313 ). The process of initiating the system database includes steps of setting a buffer-register, an input/output controller, and a timer (step  331 ). Then, the initial status of the wireless local area network module is checked (step  314 ), and the PDA is informed of the status (step  341 ). Then, the initial status of the mobile communication network is checked (step  315 ), and the PDA is informed of the status (step  351 ). Moreover, the initial status of the PDA is checked (step  316 ). When the initial process is completed, the PDA is in a stand-by mode.  
     [0031]FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of the PDA building up a voice-link connection. When a signal source  450  sends out a voice signal, the voice-link connection is initiated (step  413 ). The signal source  450  can be a mobile communication network module  451 , a public switched telephone network (PSTN)  453 , a MP3 player  455 , and the like. Then, a request for building up the voice-link connection is sent to the PDA (step  415 ). When the request is rejected, the PDA processes other system information and monitors the system operation (step  423 ). When the request is accepted, the PDA enters a voice signal transfer procedure (block  470 ) and builds up the voice link (step  417 ). The step of building up the voice link includes the step of checking the status of the audio gateway ( 471 ). When the audio gateway is ready, a channel switch control unit controls the transmission of the voice signal (step  419 ). Then, the step of determining whether the voice link is terminated is performed (step  421 ). When the voice link is terminated, the PDA releases the system resource (step  473 ) and continues to process other system information and monitor the system operation (step  423 ) or returns to the stand-by mode.  
     [0032]FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of checking the interfaces of the PDA. The flow diagram starts with checking the resource of a transmission control interface  551  (step  513 ). The transmission control interface  551  can be a transceiver interface  553 , a wireless local area network control interface  555 , a mobile communication network control interface  557 , a public switched telephone network control interface  559 , and the like. Then, the steps of parsing commands (step  515 ), stating machine maintenance (step  517 ), and sending response back to the transmission control interface (step  519 ) are performed. When no response is sent back to the control interface, the interface checking procedure is repeated (step  521 ).  
     [0033]FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to make a phone call in accordance with the present invention. In the step of  711 , the user uses the PDA to make a phone call via the mobile communication network module. Then, an interface is selected to receive the phone call in step  713 . When the wireless local area network module, such as a bluetooth module, is selected to receive the call, a step of pre-setting defaults of the blue tooth earphone is performed in step  715 . The communication between the mobile communication module and the wireless local area network is built based on the audio gateway, and therefore the user receives the call with the bluetooth earphone in step  717 . When the PDA is selected to receive the call, a step of pre-setting defaults of the PDA is performed in step  719 . The communication between the mobile communication module and the PDA interface is built based on the audio gateway, and therefore the user receives the call with the PDA in step  721 .  
     [0034]FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to receive a phone call in accordance with the present invention. Firstly, a step of presetting defaults of the bluetooth earphone is performed in step  751 . Then, the communication between the bluetooth module and the mobile communication network module is built based on the audio gateway in step  753 . Then the bluetooth earphone is used to receive the call in step  754 . Additionally, a step of determining whether a call is waiting is performed in step  755 . When there is no call from the fixed-line network waiting, the step of receiving the call with the bluetooth earphone is continued (step  754 ).  
     [0035] When a call from the fixed-line network is waiting, a step of determining whether to accept the call is performed in step  757 . When the call is declined, the step of receiving the call with the bluetooth earphone is continued (step  754 ). When the call is accepted, the previous call is reserved and a communication between the bluetooth earphone and the network control unit is built based on the audio gateway in step  759 . When the user finished the call from the fixed-line network, the user can continue the first call (step  754 ).  
     [0036]FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to send a short message through the mobile communication network of the present invention. A step of pre-setting defaults of the PDA is performed in step  813 . Then, the data communication between the mobile communication network module and the PDA interface is built in step  815 . Next, a short message is sent via the mobile communication network module in step  817 . Additionally, a step of determining whether receiving a request to process a voice signal is performed in step  819 . For example, a request for call waiting or playing music in MP3 format is received. When no voice signal is received, the step of sending the short message is continued (step  817 ).  
     [0037] When a request to process a voice signal is received during the transmission of the data signal, a step of determining whether to accept the request is performed in step  821 . When the request is declined, the step of sending the short message is continued (step  817 ). When the request is accepted, the step of sending the short message is interrupted and a step of determining the type of the voice signal is performed in step  823 . Then, the voice signal is processed according to its type in step  825 .  
     [0038]FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to wirelessly access the internet in accordance with the present invention. Starting with the step  913 , defaults of the PDA are pre-set. Then, the data communication between the mobile communication network module and the PDA interface is built in step  915 . The data signal is transmitted via the mobile communication network to the internet in step  917 . Additionally, a step of determining whether receiving a request to process a voice signal is performed in step  919 . For example, a request for call waiting or playing MP3 music is received. When no voice signal is received, the step of sending the data signal is continued (step  917 ).  
     [0039] When a request to process a voice signal is received during the transmission of the data signal, a step of determining whether to accept the request is performed in step  921 . When the request is declined, the step of sending the data signal is continued (step  917 ). When the request is accepted, the step of sending the data signal is interrupted and a step of determining the type of the voice signal is performed in step  923 . Then, the voice signal is processed according to its type in step  925 .  
     [0040]FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to receive a call from the fixed-line network telephone in accordance with the present invention. Starting with step  1051 , the network control unit is used to receive the call and the default is set to use the bluetooth earphone receiving the call. The communication between the bluetooth earphone and the network control unit is built based on the audio gateway in step  1053 . Then, the bluetooth is used to receive the call in step  1054 . Additionally, a step of determining whether a call from the mobile communication network module is waiting is performed in step  1055 . When no call is waiting, the step of receiving the mobile call is continued (step  1054 ).  
     [0041] When a call from the mobile communication network is waiting during the transmission of the data signal, a step of determining whether to accept the call is performed in step  1057 . When the request is declined, the step of receiving the fixed-line call is continued (step  1054 ). When the mobile call is accepted, the step of receiving the fixed-line call is reserved and a communication between the bluetooth earphone and the mobile communication network module is built in step  1059 . When the mobile call is ended (step  1061 ), the step of receiving the fixed-line call is continued (step  1054 ).  
     [0042]FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of using the PDA to receive a music file in MP3 format in accordance with the present invention. Starting with the step  1113 , defaults of the bluetooth earphone are pre-set. The data communication between the PDA interface and the bluetooth earphone is built in step  1115 . Then, the bluetooth earphone is used to receive the music file in MP3 format (step  1117 ). Additionally, a step of determining whether to process a voice signal is performed in step  1119 . For example, a call from the fixed-line network or from the mobile communication network is waiting. When no voice signal is received, the step of receiving the music file is continued (step  1117 ).  
     [0043] When a request to process a voice signal is received during the transmission of the music file, a step of processing the voice signal is performed in step  1121 . Then, the step of determining the type of the voice signal is performed in step  1123 . Then, the voice signal is processed according to its type in step  1125 .  
     [0044] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from what is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.