000
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,497,339
`United States Patent
`Bernard
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`
`(1
`
`[54] PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING
`MULTIPLE INTEGRATED
`COMMUNICATION MEDIA
`
`5,307,491
`
`4/1994 Feriozi et al.
`cascsssssssssssesnsee 395/500
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Inventor: Marc A. Bernard, San Diego, Calif.
`
`Assignee: ETE, Inc., San Diego, Calif.
`
`Appl. No.: 284,396
`
`Filed:
`
`Aug. 2, 1994
`
`[63]
`
`[51]
`[52]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 152,492, Nov. 15, 1993,
`abandoned.
`
`Tnt, Cho ececsesscccssssssseecsenes G06F 3/00; GO6F 13/00
`
`US. Che ceeeecsssessesnessetseseeseneees 364/705.05; 395/500
`
`Field of Search ou...ccc 364/705.05, 708.1,
`364/705.05, 708.1; 395/500
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,788,658
`4,893,263
`4,931,978
`5,030,128
`5,075,693
`5,119,504
`5,189,632
`5,209,583
`5,212,628
`5,265,238
`5,283,714
`
`11/1988 Hanebuth 0.0... see 364/708.1
`
`- 364/708.1
`1/1990 Myers ......
`6/1990 Drake et al. wuss 364/708.1
`
`7/1991 Herron et al. wees 364/708.1
`
`12/1991 McMillan et al.
`ese 364/449
`
`6/1992 Durboraw, TIT oe
`eeeseeeeee 455/54.1
`
`.- 364/705.05
`2/1993 Paajanen et al.
`...
`
`on.eecesecseseeneenene 400/88
`5/1993 Lewis et ab.
`5/1993 Bradbury ...........
`ww» 361/395
`
`+ 395/500
`11/1993 Canova, Jr. et al.
`2/1994 Tsai et al... eeecsnesesesesnseeeerees 361/683
`
`MobileComm Advertisement, American Way magazine,
`Nov. 1993.
`Rockwell’s NavCore V and MicroTracker Receivers prod-
`uct information, Jul. 1993.
`
`Primary Examiner—David H. Malzahn
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear
`
`[37]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present inventionrelates to a communication device for
`a personal digital assistant (PDA). The PDA mounts within
`the communication device and the communication device
`connects electronically to a serial port on the PDA. Through
`this single serial port, the communication device provides
`the user of the PDA with access to multiple communication
`media, such as a telephone modem, a Global Positioning
`System engine, a packet radio and a cellular telephone. Data
`from the PDAis directed to a decoder that routes the data to
`the appropriate communication medium,while data from the
`communication media are multiplexed onto the single serial
`interface of the PDA. The communication device also pro-
`vides a pass-thru serial interface that allows other external
`devices to communicate directly with the serial port of the
`PDA. In addition, the communication device can upload
`software to the PDA that
`facilitates communications
`between the PDA and the communication device, and allows
`the PDA to control the operation of the communication
`device.
`
`13 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets
`
`—-e ee
`
`1028.
`
`F702
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`APPLICATION
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`770
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`EXTERNAL
`SERIAL
`PORT
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`LAND
`PHONE
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`708
`
`I
`
`
`
`1
`
`SAMSUNG 1007
`
`SAMSUNG 1007
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`
`
`FIC.
`
`7
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 2 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`
`
`
`
`60
`
`FIG, 2
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`
`
`f/G. F
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 19
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`5,497,339
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`Mar. 5, 1996
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of 19
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`5,497,339
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.5, 1996
`
`Sheet 9 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`600
`
`START
`
`LOAD CRITICAL SOFTWARE
`ROUTINES FROM ROM TO
`
`INTERNAL RAM
`
`DETERMINE INSTALLED
`COMMUNICATION CIRCUITS
`
`DETERMINE WHETHER PDA
`HAS REQUIRED SOFTWARE
`
`602
`
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`
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`06
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`
`IF NECESSARY, UPLOAD SOFTWARE
`FROM ROM TO PDA
`
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`DETERMINE ATTACHED
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`
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`
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`DEVICES, AS REQUIRED
`
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`
`INITIALIZE COMMUNICATION
`CIRCUITS, AS REQUIRED
`
`(TO FIG. 9B)
`
`f/G. QA
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 10 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`(FROM FIG. 9A)
`
`678
`
`(FROM FIG. 9C)
`
`
`WAIT FOR ESCAPE CODE
`FROM PDA OR INTERRUPT
`
`FROM COMMUNICATION CIRCUIT
`
` REPORT PRIOR
`
`INTERRUPTS TO PDA,
`AS REQUIRED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`EXECUTE COMMANDS—}
`(TO FIG. 9C)
`
`
`UNTIL A COMMUNICATION
`CIRCUIT IS CONNECTED
`
`fI1G, OB
`
`11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 11 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`(FROM FIG. 9B)
`
`628
`
`
`
`CHECK
`
`
`DISABLE PDA
`SERVICE
`SERVICE
`
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`
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`
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`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 12 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
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`‘U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5,1996
`
`Sheet13 of 19
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`5,497,339
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`14
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.5, 1996
`
`Sheet 14 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
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`15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 15 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 16 of 19
`
`3,497,339
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.5, 1996
`
`Sheet 17 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`ARBITRATOR
`
`COZ
`
`EOF
`
`INITIALIZATION
`
`AWAIT
`COMMUNICATION
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`18
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar.5, 1996
`
`Sheet 18 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`- 008
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`| | | | | | || | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | i
`
`19
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 19 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`PROCESS
`INCOMING PACKET,
`
`
`
`DETERMINE
`PACKET TYPE
`
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`

`

`5,497,339
`
`1
`PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING
`MULTIPLE INTEGRATED
`COMMUNICATION MEDIA
`
`This is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/152,492, filed Nov. 15, 1993 now abandoned.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention is in the field of portable commu-
`nication devices for providing a computer with multiple
`integrated communication media, such as a phone modem,
`a cellular telephone,a packet radio and a Global Positioning
`System engine. In particular, the present invention relates to
`a portable multiple integrated communication device for a
`palm computer.
`2. Background Information
`Recent advances in the manufacture of integrated circuit
`components have allowed ever increasing functional capa-
`bilities to be performed by fewerintegrated circuit compo-
`nents. This increased density of processing power in modern
`electronic equipmentallowsfor the design of small, portable
`instruments with
`impressive
`processing
`capabilitics.
`Advances in other technological areas, such as LCD dis-
`plays, pen-based input devices and handwritten character
`recognition, have also contributed to a new generation of
`truly portable computers that are aptly described as palm
`computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs), but which
`have sufficient processing capabilities for numeroustasks.
`Examples of such PDAsinclude the Apple™ Newton™ and
`the Sharp™ Expert Pad™. These computers allow a user to
`take notes, store data, retrieve data, run certain application
`programs andinterface with external devices, such as print-
`ers, modems or an Appletalk™ network.
`
`-5
`
`35
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`The present invention connects to and interfaces with a
`PDAto dramatically increase the functional capabilities of
`the PDA. The present invention adds multiple integrated
`communication mediato the resourcescurrently available to
`the PDA, while maintaining a compact, portable size. For
`example, the combination of the present invention with a
`PDAcan be used to placeor receive a cellular telephone call
`or a land line telephone call, to transmit or receive packet
`tadio data, to obtain three-dimensional location data from
`the Global Positioning System (GPS) and to send or reccive
`data over a telephone cellular link or over a land line using
`a built in phone modem. These added communication fea-
`tures greatly enhance the utility of the PDAs. Instead of
`having a stand-alone PDA,isolated from other data sources,
`such as a person’s office computer nctwork, the combined
`PDA and multiple integrated communication device pro-
`vides a powerful processing device with convenient access
`to vast stores of information over a variety of possible
`media.
`
`One aspect of the present invention involves a portable
`communication device. The communication device com-
`prises first and second communication circuits providing
`first and second differing modes of communication, a first
`gencric emulator coupled to the first communication circuit
`and a second generic emulator coupled to the second com-
`munication circuit, a first interface unit coupled to the first
`generic emulator and a secondinterface unit coupled to the
`second generic emulator, and an application program. The
`application program accesses the first
`interface unit
`to
`
`2
`generate a first commandto control the operation of the first
`communication circuit. The application program accesses
`the second interface unit to generate a second command to
`control the operation of the second communication circuit.
`The first interface unit communicates the first command to
`the first generic emulator. The second interface unit com-
`municates the second command to the sccond generic emu-
`lator. The first generic emulator reformats the first command
`and communicates the first commandto the first communi-
`cation circuit. The second generic emulator reformats the
`second command and communicates the second command
`to the second communication circuit. The first communica-
`tion circuit executes the first command and the second
`communication circuit executes the second command.
`
`Additional aspects of the present invention will be appar-
`ent in the following detailed description of the invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a palm computer foruse
`with the portable multiple integrated communication device
`ofthe present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the communication device
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a palm computer mounted
`inside the communication device of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a general functional block diagram ofa first
`embodiment of the communication device of the present
`invention, connected to a palm computer.
`FIG. 5 is a more detailed functional block diagram ofthe
`serial interface between the microcontroller and the pair of
`serial poris of FIG. 4.
`HIG.6 is a more detailed functional block diagram ofthe
`phone modem interface of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 7 is a more detailed functional block diagram ofthe
`GPS engine interface of FIG, 4.
`FIG. 8 is a more detailed functional block diagram ofthe
`packet radio interface and the cellular telephoneinterface of
`FIG.4.
`
`FIGS. 9A,9B and 9C illustrate a flow chart of a computer
`program executed by the microcontroller of FIG.4.
`FIG. 10is a functional block diagram of a second cmbodi-
`ment of the communication device of the present invention
`connected to a palm computerthat has been programmed to
`implement an improved interface with the communication
`device.
`
`FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of the application
`server of FIG. 10.
`
`FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the software of
`the communication server of FIG. 10.
`
`FIG. 13 is a functional biock diagram of the hardware of
`the communication server of FIG. 10.
`
`FIG,14 is a functional block diagram of the interconnec-
`tions between the cellular telephone, the phone modem, the
`microphone and earphone jack and the phone jack of the
`second embodiment.
`
`FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15Cillustrate a flow chart of the
`method implemented by the arbitrator of FIG. 11.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a palm computer or personal digital
`assistant (PDA) 102 for use with the present invention. The
`PDA102 comprises an LCD display 78, a light pen 76, a DC
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`powerconnector 50 anda serial interface connector 52. The
`PDA 102 provides an operator with a variety of data
`processing and data storage functions in a lightweight,
`portable device.
`
`First Embodiment
`
`4
`the phone jack 118, a Global
`Arrangement (DAA) 116,
`Positioning System (GPS) engine 120, the GPS antenna 123,
`either a packet radio 124 or a cellular telephone 126, a
`microphone amplifier 128, an earphone amplifier 130, the
`microphone and earphone jack 132, and either the packet
`radio antenna 122 orthe cellular telephone antenna 121. The
`decoder/multiplexer 112 comprises a dual 1:4 decoder or
`demultiplexer 136 and a dual 4:1 multiplexer or selector
`138. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the
`communication device 100 compriseseither the packet radio
`124 or the cellular telephone 126, but not both. In one
`embodiment,the circuit card implementing the packet radio
`124 occupies the same physical space inside the communi-
`cation device 100 as the circuit card implementing the
`cellular telephone 126, thus conserving space and reducing
`the size of the communication device 100.
`
`FIGS. 2 to 9C illustrate a first embodiment 100 of the
`portable multiple integrated communication device of the
`present invention. FIG.2 illustrates a perspective view ofthe
`communication device 100. Externally, the communication
`device 100 comprises a fixed securing surface 56, a sup-
`porting surface 57, a movable securing surface 58, a GPS
`antenna 123 (FIG.7), either a cellular telephone antenna 121
`(FIG. 8) or a packet radio antenna 122, a microphone and
`earphone jack 132, a serial/power interface connector 60, a
`The microcontroller 104 preferably comprises an Intel®
`serial/powerinterface cable 62, a phone jack 118, a pass-thru
`80C320 microcontroller, although numerous other proces-
`sors could be used. The microcontroller 104 communicates
`serial interface connector 68, a DC power connector 70 and
`a sct of three LEDs 71, 72 and 73. The LEDs 71, 72 and 73
`with the PDA 102 through the primary serial port 106. The
`indicate a low battery, power-on and packet radio transmit
`serial/powerinterface cable 62 of FIGS. 2 and3is connected
`condition.
`to the primary serial port 106 and the power connector 144
`FIG,3 illustrates the PDA 102 of FIG. 1 inserted into the
`of FIG. 4. The primary serial port 160 is used for the
`communication device 100 of FIG. 2. The PDA 102 is
`communication of commands and data between the micro-
`controller 104 and the PDA 102, as well as for the down-
`inserted into the communication device 100 by pressing the
`bottom end of the PDA 102 against the securing surface 58
`loading of program code from the ROM 134to the PDA 102.
`to rotate the securing surface 58 toward its open position
`The power connector 144 provides DC power from the
`power supply 146 to the PDA 102. The power supply 146
`(shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 2) until the top end of
`the PDA 102 clears the fixed securing surface 56, lowering
`also provides DC powerto circuitry in the communication
`the PDA 102 against the supporting surface 57, with the
`device 100. The power supply 146 preferably comprises
`orientation of FIG. 3. The PDA 102 is then released, and a
`batteries. However, DC power can also be provided by an
`spring (not shown) rotates the securing surface 58 to its
`external source through the DC power connector 148 to the
`closed position, as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 2 and
`power supply 146. The microcontroller 104 can cause the
`3, pressing the top end of the PDA 102 against the securing
`power supply 146 to power down,either as a result of a
`surface 56. Next, the remote serial/powerinterface connec-
`command from the PDA 102 or after a period ofinactivity,
`tor 60 of the communication device 100 is inserted into both
`to conserve battery power.
`the DC powerconnector 50 and the serial interface connec-
`The communication device 100 also has the separate
`tor 52 of the PDA 102. The combination of the PDA 102 and
`pass-thru serial port 110 to allow other external devices to
`the communication device 100 forms a smail, lightweight
`communicate with the PDA 102. Such devices may include
`unit that is convenient to carry around and to use.
`printers, phone modems or an Appletalk™ network. The
`The structure of the communication device 100 is pref-
`pass-thru serial port 110 is connected to the pass-thru serial
`interface connector 68 of FIGS. 2 and 3. The buffer 108 is
`erably designed to allow access to connectors and controls
`of the PDA 102.For example,the securing surface 56 of the
`used to enable or disable the serial port 110. In the first
`communication device 100 preferably has an opening cor-
`embodiment, the buffer 108 comprises an LTC1032 com-
`ponent. If the microcontroller 104 needs to transmit data to
`responding to a slot in the top end of the Sharp™ Expert
`the PDA 102 or receive data from the PDA 102,
`the
`Pad™,for insertion of an IC card into the slot of the Expert
`microcontroller 102 disables the buffer 108. Otherwise, the
`Pad™, The packet radio antenna 122 and the cellular tele-
`buffer 108 is enabled to allow an external device to com-
`phone antenna 121 (shown in FIG. 8) of the communication
`device 100 arc preferably mounted so that they can be
`municate with the PDA 102 through the serial port 110 and
`rotated between an active position and an inactive position.
`the primary serial port 106. The serial interfaces between the
`microcontroller 104, the PDA 102 and external devices are
`In the active position, the antenna 122 or 123 is generally
`perpendicular to the main structure of the communication
`described in greater detail below with reference to FIG.5.
`device 100, as shown in FIG. 3, to achieve optimal recep-
`The ROM 134 comprises a 27C1001 128Kx8 ultraviolet
`tion. In the inactive position, the antenna 122 or 123 is
`erasable EPROM from NEC,orthelike, in the first embodi-
`ment. The ROM 134 contains code for both the microcon-
`adjacent to a side of the communication device 100 thatis
`directly opposite the side with the phone jack 118. The GPS
`troller 104 and the PDA 102. The ROM 134 mayalso
`contain code for standard external devices. The microcon-
`antenna 123 may be mounted on the frame of the commu-
`nication device 100, or it may be a separate device.
`troller 104 executes code in the ROM 134 to implementthe
`described functions of the communication device 100. The
`FIG.4 illustrates a general functional block diagram of
`the first embodiment of the portable multiple integrated
`microcontroller 104 also uploads code from the ROM 134
`communication device 100 of the present invention, con-
`through the primary serial port 106 into the PDA 102. The
`nected to a PDA 102. The communication device 100
`PDA102 executes this code to provide an interface with the
`comprises a primary serial port 106, a buffer 108, a pass-thru
`microcontroller 104 and to support and control the functions
`of the communication device 100. After the code in the
`serial port 110, a DC power connector 148, a power supply
`146, a power connector 144, a microcontroller 104, a
`ROM 134 is loaded into the PDA 102, an operator of the
`combined PDA 102 and the communication device 100 can
`tead-only memory (ROM) 134, a lamp 135, a decoder/
`utilize the functions provided by both the PDA 102 and the
`multiplexer 112, a phone modem 114, a Data Access
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`5,497,339
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`communication device 100 by providing appropriate input
`commands to the PDA 102. The PDA 102 sends appropriate
`commands and data to the microcontroller 104 to control the
`functions of the communication device 100, as provided by
`the code in the ROM 134. The program executed by the
`microcontroller 104 is described in greater detail below with
`teference to FIG. 9. The microcontroller 104 can also
`download code to attached external devices.
`The first embodiment of the communication devicc 100
`provides the PDA 102 with access to three different com-
`munication media through the microcontroller 104 and the
`decoder/multiplexer 112. Specifically, the communication
`media include the phone modem 114, the GPS engine 120,
`and cither the packet radio 124 orthe cellular telephone 126.
`Each of the communication media is implemented in a
`separate communication circuit. As described above,
`the
`decoder/multiplexer 112 comprises a dual 1-to-4 decoder
`136 and a dual 4-to-1 multiplexer 138. In the first embodi-
`ment, the decoder comprises a 74HC139 from Texas Instru-
`ments, or the like, while the multiplexer 138 comprises a
`74HC153, also from Texas Instruments, or the like. The
`communication device 100 has a separate serial interface
`from the microcontroller 104, through the decoder/multi-
`plexer 112 to each of the communication circuits 114,120,
`124 and 126. To implement
`these serial
`interfaces,
`the
`microcontroller 104 generates a single handshake signal and
`a single data signal to the decoder 136. The decoder 136 has
`four pairs of handshake and data outputs (output pair A,
`output pair B, output pair C and outputpair D), to which the
`signals from the microcontroller 104 may be connected. The
`microcontroller 104 generates a pair of select signals on a
`pair of select lines 140 and 142 to the decoder 136. The two
`select signals have logical values of 00, 01, 10, or 11 to
`control the selection of one of the four output pairs of the
`decoder 136 to which the input pair is connected. The output
`pair A is connected to both the packet radio 124 and the
`cellular teicphone 126; however, as discussed above, only
`one of the two devices is installed at any particular time in
`the present embodiment. Theoutput pair B hasonly one line
`which is connected to the GPS engine 120. The output pair
`C is connected to the phone modem 114. The output pair D
`is unconnected in the present embodiment. Thus, the micro-
`controlicr 104 can send serial data to any of the installed
`communication circuits 114, 120 and either 124 or 126 by
`selecting the appropriate select signals.
`The phone modem 114also generates a handshake signal
`and a data signal for a serial interface which is connected to
`an input pair C on the multiplexer 138. The GPS engine 120
`also generates a handshake signal and a data signal for a
`serial interface that is connected to an input pair B on the
`multiplexer 138. The packet radio 124 also generates a
`handshake signal and a data signal for a serial interface that
`is connected to an input pair A on the multiplexer 138. The
`cellular telephone 126 also generates a handshake signal and
`a data signal for a serial interface that is also connected to
`the input pair A on the multiplexer 138. The multiplexer 138
`also has an output pair to which one of four input pairs is
`internally connected. This output pair of the multiplexer 138
`is connected to the microcontroller 104. The microconiroller
`104 controls the selection of the multiplexer 138 using the
`sameselect signals as described above with reference to the
`decoder 136. Thus, the microcontroller 104 can sclect an
`input pair to receive the serial interface signals from a
`selected one of the installed communication circuits 114,
`120 and either 124 or 126.
`:
`
`The select lines from the microcontroller 104 are prefer-
`ably connected to the decoder 136 and the multiplexer 138
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`so that the communication circuit 114, 120, 124 or 126
`selected by the decoder 136 is also selected by the multi-
`plexer at all times. Thus, for example, by controlling the
`select lines to select input pair C and output pair C, the
`microcontroller 104 generates a handshake and a data signal
`for a serial interface that is received by the phone modem
`114. The microcontroller 104 can also receive a handshake
`and a data signal for a serial interface that are gencrated by
`the phone modem 114. Thus, the decoder/multiplexer 112
`allows the microcontroller 104 to select between three
`different serial interfaces. A first serial interface allows the
`microcontroller 104 to communicate with the phone modem
`114 and is described in greater detail below with reference
`to FIG. 6. A second serial interface allows the microcon-
`troller 104 to communicate with the GPS engine 120 andis
`described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 7. A
`third serial
`interface allows the microcontroller 104 to
`communicate with either the packet radio 124or the cellular
`telephone 126 andis described in greater detail below with
`reference to FIG.8.
`
`FIG. 5 is a more detailed functional block diagram of the
`serial interface between the microcontroller 104, the primary
`serial port 106 and the pass-thru serial port 110, shown in
`FIG.4. The microcontroller 104 is connected to the primary
`serial port 106 and to the buffer 108 by a transmit data line
`202, a handshake-in line 204, a handshake-out line 208 and
`a receive data line 210. The microcontroller 104 is con-
`nected to an output port 200 by a set of three address lines
`228, a data line 230 and a write enable line 232. The output
`port 200 is connected to the primary serial port 106 and the
`serial port 110 by a GPI line 206. The output port 200 is
`connected to the buffer 108 by a receive enable line 224 and
`a transmit enable line 226. The buffer 108 is connected to the
`serial port 110 by a differential pair of transmit data lines 212
`and 214, a handshake-outline 216, a handshake-in line 218,
`and a differential pair of receive data lines 220 and 222.
`The microcontroller 104 receives an active low signal
`from the primary serial port 106 on the transmit data line 202
`and another signal from the primary serial port 106 on the
`handshake-out line 208. The microcontroller 104 also gen-
`erates an active low signal to the primary serial port 106 on
`the transmit data line 210 and another signal to the primary
`serial port 106 on the handshake-in line 204. A person of
`skill in the art will understand the use of these handshake
`and data signals to form a serial interface between the
`microcontroller 104 and the primary serial port 106. As
`described above, a serial port of a PDA 102 is connected to
`the primary serial port 106, so that the microcontroller 104
`can communicate with the PDA 102 overthe serial interface.
`
`The output port 200 constitutes an eight-bit addressable
`latch, such as a 74HC259 from Texas Instruments, or the
`like. The output port 200 generates eight output data signals,
`three of which are applied to the receive enable line 224, the
`transmit enable line 226 and the GPI line 206, respectively.
`Other output signals of the output port 200 are described
`below with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. The outputport
`200 also receives signals on the set of three addresslines 228
`for selecting amongthe eight outputsignals.It also receives
`signals on the data line 230 and on the write enable line 232.
`The microcontroller 104 writes data to the output port 200
`one bit at a time by controlling the address lines 228, the
`input data line 230 andthe write enable line 232. The output
`port 200 decodes the signals on the address lincs 228 to
`determine which outputsignal is written. When the signal on
`the write enable line 232 is activated, the output port 200
`transfers the logic level at the input data line 230 to the
`corresponding output data signal.
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`The GPI line 206 is connected to both the primary serial
`port 106 and theserial port 110. The PDA 102 can receive
`a pulse on the GPI line 206 from either the microcontroller
`104 through the output port 200 or from an external device
`through the serial port 110. Upon receiving a pulse on the
`GPTline 206, if the PDA 102 has gone into a sleep mode to
`conserve battery power,
`the PDA 102 “wakes up” and
`becomesfully operational. Either the microcontroller 104 or
`an external device can wake up the PDA 102at any time.If
`the PDA 102is not in a sleep mode whena pulse is received
`on the GPIline 206, the pulse will operate as an interrupt to
`the PDA 102.Also, the GP] line 206 can be used to allow the
`microcontroller 104 to wake up an external device. Thus, if
`an external device is in a sleep mode, the external device can
`be activated by receiving a pulse on the GPI line 206 from
`the microcontroller 104.
`The transmit data line 202 carries an active low TTL
`signal from the primary serial port 106 to the buffer 108. The
`buffer 108 transforms the TTL signal on the transmit data
`line 202 to a differential signal on the transmit data lines 212
`and 214. The transmit data lines 212 and 214 are connected
`between the buffer 108 and the serial port 110. The hand-
`shake-outline 208 carries the handshake-outsignal from the
`ptimary serial port 106 to the buffer 108. The buffer 108
`generates a signal on the handshake-outline 216 in response
`to the signal on the handshake-outline 208. The handshake-
`out line 216 is connected between the buffer 108 and the
`serial port 110. The output port 200 generates a signal on the
`transmit enable line 226, which is connected to the buffer
`108. This signal enables or disables the gates in the buffer
`108 that generate the signals on the transmit data lines 212
`and 214 and on the handshake-outline 216. Thus, the serial
`port 110 receives the active low transmit data signal and the
`handshake-o