Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Randall L Jones

Paul E Nagel

Robin T Castell

Ronald L Baldridge

Andrew C Clark

Don A Dykes

Huyen B Tran

Thomas G Bunch

A modem is incorporated into a laptop computer and directly connected to either a cellular phone, a land line, or both. The modem is provided with two connectors, one for connection with a cellular phone or external DAA, the other for connection to a normal land line via an internal DAA. The modem selectively enables either the connector for the cellular phone or external DAA, or the connector for its internal DAA. The modem defaults to selecting the cellular phone or external DAA if it is connected, and only if they are not connected selects the internal DAA. These defaults can be overridden by user commands. Further, the modem can independently power down a connected internal DAA, external DAA, or cellular phone to conserve power.

Modem for selectively connecting to a land line or to a cellular telephone

A modem which includes connections for both land lines and a cellular phone. The modem contains high and low level routines that allow it to perform standard AT commands rationally when connected to a cellular phone, and further perform additional AT commands that access cellular specific features. An applications software program in a computer connected to the modem can provide a number of options for determining whether to use the land line or the cellular phone when both are connected. First, it can default to the land line and only use the cellular phone if the land line is not available. Alternatively, it can first use the cellular phone and only use the land line if the cellular phone signal strength is not sufficient. Further, cellular file transfer operations can be aborted if the remaining battery life in the cellular phone is insufficient to reliably complete the transfer.

Modem for tight coupling between a computer and a cellular telephone

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Plano, TX, United States of America

Randall L Jones