United States Patent [19]
`Bernard
`
`lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`US005497339A
`5,497,339
`[Ill Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`[54] PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING
`MULTIPLE INTEGRATED
`COMMUNICATION MEDIA
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Marc A. Bernard, San Diego, Calif.
`
`[73] Assignee: ETE, Inc., San Diego, Calif.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 284,396
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Aug. 2, 1994
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 152,492, Nov. 15, 1993,
`abandoned.
`Int. Cl.6
`............................... G06F 3/00; G06F 13/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl . ....................................... 3641705.05; 395/500
`[58] Field of Search ............................ 3641705.05, 708.1,
`3641705.05, 708.1; 395/500
`
`[56]
`
`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 ............................. 3641708.1
`1/1990 Myers .................................. 3641708.1
`6/1990 Drake et al. ......................... 3641708.1
`7/1991 Herron et al ........................ 3641708.1
`12/1991 McMillan et al ....................... 364/449
`6/1992 Durboraw, III ........................ 455/54.1
`2/1993 Paajanen et a! ................... 3641705.05
`5!1993 Lewis et al ............................... 400/88
`5/1993 Bradbury ................................ 361/395
`1111993 Canova, Jr. eta! .................... 395/500
`211994 Tsai et al ................................ 361/683
`
`5,307,491
`
`4/1994 Feriozi et a! ........................... 395/500
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`MobileComm Advertisement, American Way magazine,
`Nov. 1993.
`Rockwell's NavCore V and MicroTracker Receivers prod(cid:173)
`uct information, Jul. 1993.
`
`Primary Examiner-David H. Malzahn
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention relates 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 PDA is 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(cid:173)
`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
`
`APPLICATION
`1
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`
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`

`

`V.s. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`78
`
`
`
`so
`
`20f36
`
`

`

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

`

`U.s. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 19
`Sheet 3 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`0
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`FIG 4
`
`

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`FIG 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 9 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`600
`
`START
`
`160
`
`LOAD CRITICAL SOFTWARE
`ROUTINES FROM ROM TO
`INTERNAL RAM
`
`/60 4
`
`DETERMINE INSTALLED
`COMMUNICATION CIRCUITS
`
`/60
`
`DETERMINE WHETHER PDA
`HAS REQUIRED SOFTWARE
`/6.
`IF NECESSARY, UPLOAD SOFTWARE
`FROM ROM TO PDA
`
`'08
`
`/6 !0
`
`DETERMINE ATTACHED
`EXTERNAL DEVICES
`
`/6 !2
`
`DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE FROM
`ROM TO ATTACHED EXTERNAL
`DEVICES, AS REQUIRED
`
`/6 !4
`
`INITIALIZE COMMUNICATION
`CIRCUITS, AS REQUIRED
`
`A
`(TO FIG. 98)
`
`F/C 9A
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 10 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`(FROM FIG. 9A)
`A
`
`6!6
`
`POWER UP
`PHONE MODEM
`
`6!8
`
`(FROM FIG. 9C)
`
`CONNECT MODEM
`TO PDA
`
`c~----------~--------------------------~
`620
`
`WAIT FOR ESCAPE CODE
`FROM PDA OR INTERRUPT
`FROM COMMUNICATION CIRCUIT
`
`622
`
`YES
`
`624
`
`REPORT PRIOR
`INTERRUPTS TO PDA,
`AS REQUIRED
`
`626
`
`9C)
`
`EXECUTE COMMANDS
`UNTIL A COMMUNICATION
`CIRCUIT IS CONNECTED
`
`FIC 98
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 11 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`98)
`
`NO
`SERVICE
`
`SERVICE
`DISABLE PDA
`COMMUNICATION ~+-----{
`STREAM
`
`632
`
`SERVICE
`INTERRUPTING
`COMMUNICATION
`CIRCUIT
`
`ENABLE PDA
`COMMUNICATION
`STREAM
`
`634
`
`638
`
`636
`
`WAIT FOR BREAK
`IN PDA
`COMMUNICATION
`STREAM
`
`WAIT
`
`CHEC
`INTERRUPT
`RESPONSE
`CODE
`
`NO INTERRUPT
`
`INTERRUPT
`
`640
`
`c
`(TO FIG. 98)
`
`FIC 9C
`
`

`

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`I
`L ________________________ l
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 13 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`r----------------------------~
`I
`7to
`
`~----------.,
`
`e-l
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`INTERFACE W
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`APPLI~~TIONS
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`
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`L _____ l
`I
`L ____________________________ j
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 14 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`,--------------------
`750
`756
`
`I
`I
`1
`1
`
`GENERIC
`GPS
`EMULATOR
`
`752
`
`758
`
`1
`I
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`APPLICATION ~....----,..-----'
`SERVER 710)
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`EMULATOR
`
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`
`762
`
`GENERIC
`PACKET
`RADIO
`EMULATOR
`
`(TO GPS
`ENGINE 120)
`
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`
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`TELEPHONE 126)
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`
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`MODEM 114)
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`
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`110)
`
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`
`

`

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`
`

`

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`
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 17 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`800
`
`802
`
`804
`
`INITIALIZATION
`
`AWAIT
`COMMUNICATION
`
`REG
`
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`
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`
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`
`PROCESS
`REGISTRA.
`REQUEST
`(FIG. 158)
`
`TRANSMIT
`OUTGOING
`PACKET
`
`PROCESS
`INCOMING
`PACKET
`(FIG. 15C)
`
`FIG 15A
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 18 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`r-- -- -
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`
`DETERMINE
`TYPE OF
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`REQUEST
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`TABLE
`
`L - - - -
`
`-- -- - · - - - - - - -
`
`END
`
`FIG 158
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 5, 1996
`
`Sheet 19 of 19
`
`5,497,339
`
`~------ ----~840-l
`
`t
`
`PROCESS
`INCOMING PACKET
`
`1
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`REQUESTING
`APPLICATIONS
`
`-~--.~..!852
`FIG 15C
`END
`I
`1
`L __________________ I
`I
`
`

`

`5,497,339
`
`1
`PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING
`MULTIPLE INTEGRATED
`COMMUNICATION MEDIA
`
`This is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application 5
`Ser. No. 081152,492, filed Nov. 15, 1993 now abandoned.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`generate a first command to 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 second generic emu(cid:173)
`lator. The first generic emulator reformats the first command
`and communicates the first command to the first communi-
`10 cation circuit. The second generic emulator reformats the
`second command and communicates the second command
`to the second communication circuit. The first communica(cid:173)
`tion circuit executes the first command and the second
`communication circuit executes the second command.
`Additional aspects of the present invention will be appar(cid:173)
`ent in the following detailed description of the invention.
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention is in the field of portable commu(cid:173)
`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 15
`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- 20
`bilities to be performed by fewer integrated circuit compo(cid:173)
`nents. This increased density of processing power in modern
`electronic equipment allows for the design of small, portable
`instruments with
`impressive processing capabilities.
`Advances in other technological areas, such as LCD dis- 25
`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 numerous tasks. 30
`Examples of such PDAs include the Apple™ NewtonTM and
`the SharpTM Expert Pad™. These computers allow a user to
`take notes, store data, retrieve data, run certain application
`programs and interface with external devices, such as print(cid:173)
`ers, modems or an AppletalkTM network.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a palm computer for use
`with the portable multiple integrated communication device
`of the 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 of a first
`embodiment of the communication device of the present
`invention, connected to a palm computer.
`FIG. 5 is a more detailed functional block diagram of the
`serial interface between the microcontroller and the pair of
`serial ports of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 6 is a more detailed functional block diagram of the
`35 phone modem interface of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 7 is a more detailed functional block diagram of the
`GPS engine interface of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 8 is a more detailed functional block diagram of the
`packet radio interface and the cellular telephone interface of
`FIG. 4.
`FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C illustrate a flow chart of a computer
`program executed by the microcontroller of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a second embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the communication device of the present invention
`connected to a palm computer that 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 block diagram of the hardware of
`the communication server of FIG. 10.
`FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of the interconnec(cid:173)
`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 lSC illustrate a flow chart of the
`60 method implemented by the arbitrator of FIG. 11.
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`The present invention connects to and interfaces with a
`PDA to dramatically increase the functional capabilities of 40
`the PDA. The present invention adds multiple integrated
`communication media to the resources currently available to
`the PDA, while maintaining a compact, portable size. For
`example, the combination of the present invention with a
`PDA can be used to place or receive a cellular telephone call 45
`or a land line telephone call, to transmit or receive packet
`radio data, to obtain three-dimensional location data from
`the Global Positioning System (GPS) and to send or receive
`data over a telephone cellular link or over a land line using
`a built in phone modem. These added communication fea- 50
`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 network, the combined
`PDA and multiple integrated communication device pro(cid:173)
`vides a powerful processing device with convenient access 55
`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(cid:173)
`prises first and second communication circuits providing
`first and second differing modes of communication, a first
`generic emulator coupled to the first communication circuit
`and a second generic emulator coupled to the second com(cid:173)
`munication circuit, a first interface unit coupled to the first
`generic emulator and a second interface unit coupled to the 65
`second generic emulator, and an application program. The
`application program accesses the first interface unit to
`
`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
`PDA 102 comprises an LCD display 78, a light pen 76, a DC
`
`

`

`5,497,339
`
`3
`power connector 50 and a 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
`
`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 of the
`communication device 100. Externally, the communication
`device 100 comprises a fixed securing surface 56, a sup(cid:173)
`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
`serial/power interface cable 62, a phone jack 118, a pass-thru
`serial interface connector 68, a DC power connector 70 and
`a set of three LEDs 71, 72 and 73. The LEDs 71, 72 and 73
`indicate a low battery, power-on and packet radio transmit
`condition.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the PDA 102 of FIG. 1 inserted into the
`communication device 100 of FIG. 2. The PDA 102 is
`inserted into the communication device 100 by pressing the
`bottom end of the PDA 102 against the securing surface 58
`to rotate the securing surface 58 toward its open position
`(shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 2) until the top end of
`the PDA 102 clears the fixed securing surface 56, lowering
`the PDA 102 against the supporting surface 57, with the
`orientation of FIG. 3. The PDA 102 is then released, and a
`spring (not shown) rotates the securing surface 58 to its
`closed position, as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 2 and
`3, pressing the top end of the PDA 102 against the securing
`surface 56. Next, the remote serial/power interface connec(cid:173)
`tor 60 of the communication device 100 is inserted into both
`the DC power connector 50 and the serial interface connec(cid:173)
`tor 52 of the PDA 102. The combination of the PDA 102 and
`the communication device 100 forms a small, lightweight
`unit that is convenient to carry around and to use.
`The structure of the communication device 100 is pref(cid:173)
`erably designed to allow access to connectors and controls
`of the PDA 102. For example, the securing surface 56 of the
`communication device 100 preferably has an opening cor(cid:173)
`responding to a slot in the top end of the SharpTM Expert
`Pad™, for insertion of an IC card into the slot of the Expert
`Pad™. The packet radio antenna 122 and the cellular tele(cid:173)
`phone antenna 121 (shown in FIG. 8) of the communication
`device 100 are preferably mounted so that they can be
`rotated between an active position and an inactive position.
`In the active position, the antenna 122 or 123 is generally
`perpendicular to the main structure of the communication
`device 100, as shown in FIG. 3, to achieve optimal recep(cid:173)
`tion. In the inactive position, the antenna 122 or 123 is
`adjacent to a side of the communication device 100 that is
`directly opposite the side with the phone jack 118. The GPS
`antenna 123 may be mounted on the frame of the commu(cid:173)
`nication device 100, or it may be a separate device.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a general functional block diagram of
`the first embodiment of the portable multiple integrated
`communication device 100 of the present invention, con(cid:173)
`nected to a PDA 102. The communication device 100
`comprises a primary serial port 106, a buffer 108, a pass-thru
`serial port 110, a DC power connector 148, a power supply
`146, a power connector 144, a microcontroller 104, a
`read-only memory (ROM) 134, a lamp 135, a decoder/
`multiplexer 112, a phone modem 114, a Data Access
`
`10
`
`15
`
`4
`Arrangement (DAA) 116, the phone jack 118, a Global
`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
`5 microphone and earphone jack 132, and either the packet
`radio antenna 122 or the 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 comprises either 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(cid:173)
`cation device 100 as the circuit card implementing the
`cellular telephone 126, thus conserving space and reducing
`the size of the communication device 100.
`The microcontroller 104 preferably comprises an Intel®
`80C320 microcontroller, although numerous other proces(cid:173)
`sors could be used. The microcontroller 104 communicates
`20 with the PDA 102 through the primary serial port 106. The
`serial/power interface cable 62 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is connected
`to the primary serial port 106 and the power connector 144
`of FIG. 4. The primary serial port 160 is used for the
`communication of commands and data between the micro-
`25 controller 104 and the PDA 102, as well as for the down(cid:173)
`loading of program code from the ROM 134 to the PDA 102.
`The power connector 144 provides DC power from the
`power supply 146 to the PDA 102. The power supply 146
`also provides DC power to circuitry in the communication
`30 device 100. The power supply 146 preferably comprises
`batteries. However, DC power can also be provided by an
`external source through the DC power connector 148 to the
`power supply 146. The microcontroller 104 can cause the
`power supply 146 to power down, either as a result of a
`35 command from the PDA 102 or after a period of inactivity,
`to conserve battery power.
`The communication device 100 also has the separate
`pass-thru serial port 110 to allow other external devices to
`communicate with the PDA 102. Such devices may include
`40 printers, phone modems or an Appletalk™ network. The
`pass-thru serial port 110 is connected to the pass-thru serial
`interface connector 68 of FIGS. 2 and 3. The buffer 108 is
`used to enable or disable the serial port 110. In the first
`embodiment, the buffer 108 comprises an LTC1032 com-
`45 ponent. If the microcontroller 104 needs to transmit data to
`the PDA 102 or receive data from the PDA 102, the
`microcontroller 102 disables the buffer 108. Otherwise, the
`buffer 108 is enabled to allow an external device to com(cid:173)
`municate with the PDA 102 through the serial port 110 and
`the primary serial port 106. The serial interfaces between the
`microcontroller 104, the PDA 102 and external devices are
`described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 5.
`The ROM 134 comprises a 27Cl001 128Kx8 ultraviolet
`erasable EPROM from NEC, or the like, in the first embodi-
`55 ment. The ROM 134 contains code for both the microcon(cid:173)
`troller 104 and the PDA 102. The ROM 134 may also
`contain code for standard external devices. The microcon(cid:173)
`troller 104 executes code in the ROM 134 to implement the
`described functions of the communication device 100. The
`60 microcontroller 104 also uploads code from the ROM 134
`through the primary serial port 106 into the PDA 102. The
`PDA 102 executes this code to provide an interface with the
`microcontroller 104 and to support and control the functions
`of the communication device 100. After the code in the
`65 ROM 134 is loaded into the PDA 102, an operator of the
`combined PDA 102 and the communication device 100 can
`utilize the functions provided by both the PDA 102 and the
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`5
`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 5
`microcontroller 104 is described in greater detail below with
`reference to FIG. 9. The microcontroller 104 can also
`download code to attached external devices.
`The first embodiment of the communication device 100
`provides the PDA 102 with access to three different com(cid:173)
`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 either the packet radio 124 or the 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 l-to-4 decoder
`136 and a dual4-to-l multiplexer 138. In the first embodi(cid:173)
`ment, the decoder comprises a 74HC139 from Texas Instru(cid:173)
`ments, or the like, while the multiplexer 138 comprises a 20
`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(cid:173)
`plexer 112 to each of the communication circuits 114,120,
`124 and 126. To implement these serial interfaces, the 25
`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 output pair D), to which the
`signals from the microcontroller 104 may be connected. The 30
`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 telephone 126; however, as discussed above, only
`one of the two devices is installed at any particular time in
`the present embodiment. The output pair B has only one line
`which is connected to the GPS engine 120. The output pair 40
`C is connected to the phone modem 114. The outpu