Patents Portfolio
U.S. Patent: 8,533,352
Patent Title
Method for internet access and for communication
Meta Information
Issued Date: September 10, 2013
Inventor: William Ho Chang et al
External Links: UPSTO, Google Patents
Technical Fields
Abstract
Methods using a portable USB communication device that is plug connectable to an external USB port of a first computing device for enabling phone calling. Upon plug connecting the portable communication device to the first computing device, a phone calling application running at the first computing device is enabled by employing at least in part a phone calling software component stored in the portable communication device. The portable communication device includes a controller unit to facilitate installation of at least part of phone calling software for running at the computing device. Subsequent to disconnecting from the first computing device, the user may also alternatively connect the portable communication device to an Ethernet port of a second computing device for enabling Internet access and phone calling without the first computing device.
Sample Claim
1. A method for phone calling with a portable communication device that is plug connectable to an external USB port of a first computing device, the portable communication device being a distinct device from the first computing device, the portable communication device having,
an interface for plug connecting to the external USB port of the first computing device,
a memory component that includes a memory area not accessible to a user of the portable communication device,
a phone calling software component stored in the memory area for executing at the first computing device,
one or more controllers that includes a memory controller having means for managing communication through the interface and means for accessing the memory area, the method operable with the portable communication device comprising:
connecting the portable communication device to the external USB port of the first computing device, and while the portable communication device is being connected to the external USB port of the first computing device, the portable communication device,
draws power to the portable communication device from the first computing device for operating the portable communication device,
accesses at least part of the phone calling software component from the memory area of the portable communication device by the memory controller of the portable communication device for running at the first computing device,
provides at least part of the phone calling software component accessed by the memory controller, over the interface of the portable communication device to a phone calling application running and executing on the first computing device, the phone calling application running and executing at the first computing device activates at least part of phone calling communication operations employing at least in part the phone calling software component received from the portable communication device, and
enables phone calls, by the phone calling application, through the portable communication device with the phone calling software component;
enabling phone calling with the portable communication device connected to the external USB port of the first computing device, and upon disconnection of the portable communication device from the external USB port of the first computing device, the phone calling application automatically not providing phone calling through the portable communication device;
enabling connection of the portable communication device to an external Ethernet port of a second computing device, the second computing device being a distinct device from the first computing device and the portable communication device, and while the portable communication device is being connected to the external Ethernet port of the second computing device, the portable communication device,
enables Internet access with the portable communication device, and
enables phone calls through the portable communication device; and
wherein, upon disconnecting the portable communication device from the external Ethernet port of the second computing device, automatically not providing the phone calls with the portable communication device; and
wherein, the portable communication device further functions as a portable dongle for enabling phone calling when the portable communication device is connected to the first computing device or to the second computing device.