Patent Publication Number: US-2011058537-A1

Title: Mobile electronic device and communication method applicable thereto

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 98130585, filed Sep. 10, 2009, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates in general to a mobile electronic device and a communication method applicable thereto, and more particularly to a mobile electronic device with broadband sharing function and a communication method applicable thereto. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The mobile communication industry is booming globally, and convenient mobile communication network become available to the consumers via the mobile electronic devices. Furthermore, if the mobile broadband Internet access provided by the telecommunications industry is available, the consumers can have Internet access anywhere and anytime via the mobile electronic devices. Also, computers can be connected to the Internet via the mobile electronic devices. Examples of the mobile electronic device include mobile phones, personal digital assistance (PDA) and so on. 
     Conventional mobile electronic devices can only enable one computer to be connected to the Internet at one time, and cannot enable multiple computers to be connected to the Internet at the same time. Therefore, it is still not popular for the households or the workplaces, which normally have more than one computer, to replace the existing cable broadband Internet access with the mobile broadband Internet access provided through a mobile electronic device. In consequence, the consumers cannot use more convenient Internet access at low cost. 
     Therefore, how to provide Internet access to multiple computers/users by a single mobile electronic device so as to share Internet access cost and increase the convenience in anywhere and anytime Internet access has become a prominent task for the industries. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Examples of the invention are a mobile electronic device and a communication method applicable thereto. A routing IC of the mobile electronic device is used to enable one or more first external device to be connected to the Internet through the mobile electronic device. It&#39;s noted that the word “routing” herein is the present participle of the verb “route” which may ordinarily mean to send by a selected route or to divert in a specified direction. Thus, first external devices may be connected to the Internet at the same time, hence providing the convenience of allowing multiple users of the first external devices to access Internet at the same time, and providing e.g. a benefit of reducing the fees for Internet access paid by each of the multiple users, as only one mobile electronic device is needed to achieve the multiple-user Internet access. In addition, the mobile electronic device may also connect with a second external device via an I/O interface to allow the second external device to be connected to the Internet as well. Examples of the first and the second external device include a computer, a PDA and a mobile phone. 
     A first example of the present invention is a mobile electronic device including: a routing integrated circuit (IC); a microprocessor for connecting with at least one first external device via the routing IC; and a modem unit coupled to the microprocessor for connecting with a base station, in order to enable the first external device to communicate with the base station via the mobile electronic device. 
     A second example of the present invention is a communication method applicable to a mobile electronic device. The communication method includes the following steps. The mobile electronic device is connected with at least one first external device via a routing integrated circuit (IC). The mobile electronic device is connected with a base station. The first external device communicates with the base station via the mobile electronic device. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a mobile electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a flowchart of a communication method applicable to the mobile electronic device of  FIG. 1  according to the embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 3  shows a detailed flowchart of the communication method applicable to the mobile electronic device of  FIG. 1  according to the embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     A mobile electronic device or a hand-held electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a PDA, or a smart phone, is disclosed as an embodiment of the invention. The mobile electronic device or the hand-held electronic device is hereinafter collectively called the mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device includes a microprocessor and a modem unit (a modulator-demodulator device). The user could achieve mobile broadband Internet access with the mobile electronic device, so as to provide Internet access function to a first external device connecting to the mobile electronic device via a routing IC, or to provide Internet access function to a second external device connecting to the I/O interface of the mobile electronic device. It&#39;s noted that the word “routing” herein is the present participle of the verb “route” which may ordinarily mean to send by a selected route or to divert in a specified direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a mobile electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The mobile electronic device  100  includes a setting unit  10 , a microprocessor  30 , a routing IC  50 , a modem unit  70  and an I/O interface  90 . The I/O interface  90  is, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) interface. The setting unit  10  is used to set the microprocessor  30  connecting with at least one first external device  20  via the routing IC  50 , that is, the mobile electronic device  100  could transmit data with at least one first external device via the routing IC  50 . Or, the setting unit  10  is used to set the microprocessor  30  connecting with the second external device  40  via the I/O interface  90 . That is, the mobile electronic device  100  could transmit data with the second external device  40  via the I/O interface  90 . 
     Based on the setting by the setting unit  10 , the microprocessor  30  is used for connecting with the first external device  20  via the routing IC  50  or connecting with the second external device  40  via the I/O interface  90 . The first external device  20  is used for communicating with the base station  95  via the mobile electronic device  100 , or, the second external device  40  is used for communicating with the base station  95  via the mobile electronic device  100 . 
     In an embodiment, the mobile electronic device  100  is used for connecting with at least one first external device  20  by for example the Bluetooth technology or the infrared data association (IrDA) technology. 
     The routing IC  50  and the first external device  20  may both support a wireless local area network standard. For example, the routing IC  50  is used for transmitting signals wirelessly with the first external device  20  via one of the set of IEEE 802.11 standards. Examples of the first external device  20  include a computer, a PDA and a mobile phone. 
     In an embodiment, the modem unit  70  is used to connect with the base station  95  for enabling the first external device  20  to communicate with the base station  95  via the mobile electronic device  100 . The modem unit  70  may support the point-to-point protocol (PPP); and the base station  95  may support, for example, the 3rd generation (3G) communication technology or the 3.5G mobile communication technology. 
     As indicated in  FIG. 1 , the mobile electronic device  100  may further include a power supplying device  85 . When the routing IC  50  is used to connect with multiple first external devices  20 , the power consumed by the mobile electronic device  100  would increase accordingly. Meanwhile, the I/O interface  90  can be used to electrically connect to the power supplying device  85 , which provides the mobile electronic device  100  with power needed to ensure proper operation of the mobile electronic device  100  under higher power consumption. 
     As indicated in  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, when the modem unit  70  receives a data package, the routing IC  50  receives the data package via the microprocessor  30  and further transmits the data package to the first external device  20 . In another embodiment, when the modem unit  70  receives the data package, the routing IC  50  could directly receive the data package from the modem unit  70  and further transmit the data package to the first external device  20 . For better encryption during transmission, the data package could pass through the microprocessor  30 . Compared with the case that the data package does not pass through the microprocessor  30 , the case that the data package pass through the microprocessor  30  may have superior encryption because the microprocessor  30  may encrypt the data packet. Besides encryption by the routing IC  50  or by the microprocessor  30 , the authority of the first external device  20  could be limited by the microprocessor  30 , for better security during the transmission of the data package to the first external device  20 . 
     When multiple users would like to be individually connected to the Internet via the respective first external devices  20 , they can make use of the mobile broadband Internet access function of the mobile electronic device  100  to allow their first external devices  20  to communicate with the base station  95  thereby connecting to the Internet at the same time. Thus, the users can not only share in paying the fees for the Internet access as only one mobile electronic device is required, but also can have the convenience of mobile accessing the Internet at anytime. 
     As indicated in  FIG. 1 , the microprocessor  30  is used to connect with the second external device  40  via the I/O interface  90 . When the second external device  40  communicates with the base station  95  via the mobile electronic device  100 , the modem unit  70  receives the data package and the microprocessor  30  can transmit the data package to the second external device  40  via the I/O interface  90 . That is, the modem unit  70  is used to enable the second external device  40  to communicate with the base station  95  via the mobile electronic device  100 . The second external device  40  may support USB capability. Examples of the second external device  40  include a computer, a mobile phone and a PDA. 
     Referring to both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  shows a flowchart of the communication method applicable to the mobile electronic device of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the invention. In step S 110 , the mobile electronic device  100  connects with at least one first external device  20  via the routing IC  50 . 
     In step S 120 , the mobile electronic device  100  is connected with the base station  95  by for example the modem unit  70 . In step S 130 , the first external device  20  is used to communicate with the base station  95  via the mobile electronic device  100  by for example the modem unit  70 . A detailed flowchart is further disclosed below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a detailed flowchart of the communication method applicable to the mobile electronic device of  FIG. 1  according to the embodiment of the invention is shown. In step S 302 , the setting by the setting unit  10  is judged; and the setting is that the mobile electronic device  100  is set to connect with at least one first external device  20  via the routing IC  50 , or the mobile electronic device  100  is set to connect with the second external device  40  via the I/O interface  90 . If the setting is for connecting the mobile electronic device  100  with at least one first external device  20  via the routing IC  50 , then step S 304  is performed. If the setting is for connecting the mobile electronic device  100  with the second external device  40  via the I/O interface  90 , then step S 312  is performed. 
     In step S 304 , the mobile electronic device  100  is connected with the base station  95  by for example the modem unit  70 . 
     In step S 306 , the first external device  20  is used to communicate with the base station  95  via the mobile electronic device  100  by for example the modem unit  70 . 
     In step S 308 , the microprocessor  30  determines whether the mobile electronic device  100  receives a data package. If yes, then step S 310  is performed. If no, then the current step S 308  is repeated. 
     In step S 310 , the mobile electronic device  100  transmits the data package to the first external device  20 . The data package is received by for example the modem unit  70  of the mobile electronic device  100 . The mobile electronic device  100  is used to communicate with the first external device by for example the Bluetooth technology or the infrared data association (IrDA) technology. The data package is transmitted to the first external device  20  by for example the routing IC  50  of the mobile electronic device  100 . 
     In an example, the data package could be transmitted to the first external device  20  via for example the microprocessor  30  and the routing IC  50 , so as to enhance the encryption of the data package. In another example, the data package could be transmitted to the first external device  20  via the routing IC  50  but not pass through the microprocessor  30 . 
     In step S 312 , the mobile electronic device  100  is connected with the base station  95  by for example the modem unit  70 . 
     In step S 314 , the second external device  20  is used to communicate with the base station  95  via the mobile electronic device  100  by for example the modem unit  70 . 
     In step S 316 , the microprocessor  30  determines whether the mobile electronic device  100  receives a data package. If yes, then step S 318  is performed. If no, then the current step S 316  is repeated. 
     In step S 318 , the mobile electronic device  100  transmits the data package to the second external device  40  via for example the I/O interface  90 . The data package is received by for example the modem unit  70  of the mobile electronic device  100 . 
     The mobile electronic device and the communication method applicable thereto disclosed as the above or other possible embodiments of invention enable one or more first external devices to be connected to the Internet through the mobile electronic device at the same time. The mobile electronic device is connected to the Internet first; and the routing IC enables multiple users (i.e. multiple first external devices) to be individually connected to the Internet, wherein the routing IC and the multiple first external devices may support the Bluetooth technology or the infrared data association (IrDA) technology. Thus, the mobile electronic device and the communication method applicable thereto disclosed as the above or other possible embodiments of invention not only provide e.g. a benefit of reducing the fees for Internet access that are to be paid by each of the multiple users as only one mobile electronic device is needed to achieve the multiple-user Internet access but also provide the convenience of allowing multiple users of the first external devices to access Internet at the same time. Example of the present invention has the potential for replacing conventional cabled broadband and is very competitive in the market. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the disclosed embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the particular examples disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments as defined by the claims that follow.