Abstract:
A multiple format wireless phone includes at least one wireless module which is similar in size, shape, and form factor as a Memory Stick™. The wireless module allows for wireless communication with digital storage functionality and may contain a wireless format for a region different than the one multiple format wireless phone currently operates within. In one embodiment, the wireless module includes operational data which includes an electronic serial number and a mobile station identification number, such that the multiple format wireless phone stores the operational data and can transmit and receive telephone calls in various regions utilizing one telephone number.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to the field of removable wireless modules. More particularly, this invention relates to a system and method for format and activation of a data storage and wireless transmission module for a wireless telephone.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The need for portability of data has increased over the years, and has spurred the development of removable memory devices. For example, Memory Stick™ is a removable data storage device made by Sony Corporation and is a recordable integrated circuit (IC) digital storage device having a storage capacity greater than a standard 3.5 inch floppy disk. Most importantly, Memory Stick™ is smaller than a stick of gum, very lightweight, and therefore ultra-portable. However, the need for accessability to people, information, and data has also increased despite the currently increased portability.  
           [0003]    Due to cost and variations in support of wireless formats in various regions, a wireless telephone may only operate in a limited region and a user may therefore require the use of another wireless telephone for another regional wireless format. For each region which utilizes a different wireless format, the user must activate another wireless telephone. For example, a wireless telephone which operates in the United States of America will not operate in Japan, and visa versa. Therefore, as the need for accessability to people, information, and data increases it would be desirable to provide a wireless telephone with multiple wireless formats such that an increase in accessability and portability of the wireless telephone increases without increasing the cost or the number of wireless telephones necessary for multiple regional use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    In view of the foregoing, a multiple wireless phone is provided for portability and accessability in multiple wireless formats.  
           [0005]    In particular, in one embodiment a multiple wireless phone includes at least one wireless module which is similar in size, shape, and form factor as the current Memory Stick™. The wireless module allows for wireless communication with digital storage functionality and may contain a wireless format for a region different than the one the wireless phone currently operates within. In one embodiment, the wireless module includes operational data which includes an electronic serial number and a mobile station identification number, such that the multiple wireless phone stores the operational data and can transmit and receive telephone calls in various regions utilizing one telephone number.  
           [0006]    These and other features and advantages of the invention will be understood upon the consideration of the following detailed description of the invention and accompanying drawings. The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0007]    The following detailed description, given by way of example, and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a wireless module.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an embodiment of the baseband signal processor circuit shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2B is a block diagram of another embodiment of the baseband signal processor circuit shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2C is a block diagram of a further embodiment of the baseband signal processor circuit shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps of one embodiment of a specify process for the wireless module utilized in a multiple format wireless phone.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps of one embodiment of a determination process for utilization of the multiple format wireless phone. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment(s), it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted to cover the embodiments described herein and all equivalents thereto.  
         [0015]    Turning now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a wireless module  200  is shown. Wireless module  200  includes an antenna  10  connected to a transceiver circuit  20 . Transceiver circuit  20  includes a duplexer  30 , a transmitter  40 , and a receiver  50 . Transmitter  40  and receiver  50  of transceiver circuit  20  are connected to a baseband signal processor circuit  60 . Baseband signal processor circuit  60  is connected to a microprocessor  70 . Memories  80  and an interface input/output (I/O)  90  are also connected to microprocessor  70 . A multiple format wireless phone body  150  is connected to wireless module  200  through interface I/O  90 .  
         [0016]    In operation, wireless module  200  receives a signal(s) containing data packets through antenna  10  and forwards the received signals and data packets to duplexer  30 , through receiver  50 , and to baseband signal processor circuit  60 . The data packets/received signals will then be forwarded to microprocessor  70  and through interface I/ 0   90  to multiple format wireless phone  150 . Wireless module  200  receives and transmits data packets/received signals utilizing at least one wireless format selected from the group consisting of CDMA ONE, CDMA 2000 1X, CDMA 2000 3X, CDMA 1X EV, Wideband CDMA, GSM, GPRS and EDGE. In case multiple format wireless phone  150  engages in simultaneous transmission and reception of data packets, duplexer  30  and memories  80  are utilized.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2A shows one embodiment of baseband signal processor  60  (shown in FIG. 1) including a modulation/demodulation unit  100  connected to a data transfer unit  110 . Modulation/demodulation unit  100  demodulates and converts the received signals to a baseband signal and supplies a demodulated baseband signal to data transfer unit  110  where data packets are extracted, e.g., an audio signal, a video signal, and control signals, from the received signals. Data transfer unit  110  supplies the extracted data packets to microprocessor  70  (shown in FIG. 1). In case multiple format wireless phone  150  engages in transmission of signals containing data packets, modulation/demodulation unit  100  modulates and converts the data packets into transmission signals which are sent to data transfer unit  110  and then to transmitter  40  and transceiver circuit  20  (shown in FIG. 1).  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2B shows another embodiment of baseband signal processor  60  (shown in FIG. 1) which includes an optional data packetize/depacketize unit  120  for packetizing/depacketizing transmission signals and received signals prior to sending transmission signals and received signals to transceiver circuit  20  and microprocessor  70  (shown in FIG. 1), respectively. Data packetize/depacketize unit  120  may be implemented by techniques well known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0019]    In a further embodiment, referring to FIG. 2C, baseband signal processor  60  includes an error correction unit  130  for correcting data error prior to communication data to transceiver circuit  20  and microprocessor  70  (shown in FIG. 1). Error correction unit  130  may also be implemented by techniques well known to those skilled in the art. For example, wireless local area networks (LANs) typically experience higher error rates than wired LANs, which result in retransmission of data packets. In addition, the collision avoidance mechanism is not as efficient as collision detection used in Ethernet, especially with a large number of users. Therefore, packetization/depacketization and error correction results in a more efficient transmission in wireless environments.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 2A through 2C show various embodiments of broadband signal processor  60  (shown in FIG. 1) for a wireless communication system. A wireless system eliminates many hardware requirements and adds mobility to a user. Generally, wireless communication may also be accomplished through the use of InfraRed (IR) or radio waves. The IEEE 802.11 and 802.11b specifications provide standards for both the InfraRed frequencies and the radio wave frequencies.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram  300  of one embodiment of a specify process for wireless module  200  (shown in FIG. 1) provided to multiple format wireless phone  150  (shown in FIG. 1). As shown, an activation process  310  is a first step in the specify process for wireless module  200 . Once activation process  310  is complete, wireless module  200  is ready for such format. The format for wireless module  200  is provided from at least one wireless format selected from the group consisting of IS-95B, CDMA 2000 1X, CDMA 1X EV, CDMA ONE, Wideband CDMA, GSM, GPRS and EDGE. Once formatting of wireless module  200  is accomplished, step  320  determines if wireless module  200  has the right format. In this step, for instance, multiple format wireless phone  150  may have to receive a signal during such period and my receive the signal or may not. If wireless module  200  operates properly in the region of operation, then the specify process progresses to step  330  where a mobile station identification number (MIN) (not shown) is stored to multiple format wireless phone  150 . If wireless module  200  does not operate properly in the region of operation, then the specify process fails in step  340  and the formatting of wireless module  200  is begun again until wireless module  200  is properly formatted.  
         [0022]    Flow diagram  300  illustrates the conclusion to one embodiment of the specify process for wireless module  200  by storing an electronic serial number (not shown) to multiple format wireless phone  150  in step  350 . Wireless module  200  is provided the electronic serial number and in one embodiment stores the electronic serial number to multiple format wireless phone  150  for an automatic verification process. In one embodiment, wireless module  200  is also provided with the mobile station identification number, along with multiple format wireless phone  150  for security and verification processes.  
         [0023]    In one embodiment, multiple format wireless phone  150  is configured to receive one wireless module  200 . In another embodiment, multiple format wireless phone  150  is configured to receive more than one wireless module  200  so that operation in different regions utilizing different formats is possible and all transmissions and receptions will be to one MIN. In one embodiment, the electronic serial number and the MIN are operational data. In another embodiment, the operational data may be the electronic serial number, the MIN, and/or at least one wireless format and/or some other combination of some other device data. Again, because wireless module  200  is removably connected to multiple format wireless phone  150 , some operational data may be necessary for security, verification, and/or operation processes.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram  400  of one embodiment of a determination process for utilization of wireless module  200  (shown in FIG. 1) in multiple format wireless phone  150  (shown in FIG. 1). As shown, a first step  410  in the determination process for wireless module  200  is whether module  200  is in the home wireless format or proper operational area. If wireless module  200  is not in a home area, multiple format wireless phone  150  will operate in a roam area in step  420 . However, if wireless module  200  is in the home wireless format then multiple format wireless phone  150  will operate in the home system area in step  430 . In a further embodiment, multiple format wireless phone  150  may bypass roam system step  420  and operate in another wireless format stored to another wireless module  200  or in its inherent wireless format.  
         [0025]    Various other modifications and alterations in the structure and method of operation of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specified preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. It is intended that the following claims describe the scope of the present invention and that the structures and methods within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.