US20150078363A1 - Wireless communicator for laptop computers - Google Patents

Abstract

A cellular communicator, including a baseband modem for connecting to the Internet via a cellular network and an Internet gateway, and a wireless modem, for connecting to a computer modem via a short range wireless communication, and for providing the computer modem with Internet access via the baseband modem.

Description

PRIORITY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/069,987, entitled MODULAR CELL-PHONE FOR LAPTOP COMPUTERS, filed on Mar. 19, 2008 by inventor Itay Sherman.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The field of the present invention is cellular communication.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Conventional laptop computers generally connect to the Internet using an internal or an external modem, such as a dial-up or a cellular modem. The connection between a laptop computer and an external modem may be via network cable, USB, PCMCIA or wireless.
• Despite ubiquitous connectivity available today, situations still abound where a laptop computer-does not have Internet connectivity, or where a laptop computer loses Internet connectivity during an ongoing Internet session. In such situations, a user may use his cell phone as a link to connect his laptop computer to the Internet via a cellular communication network. However, using standard connection protocols, such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), if a laptop computer's Internet connection is changed during an ongoing Internet session from linking to the Internet via a physical (wired) modem to linking via a wireless modem connection, or vice versa, a new IP address must be allocated. Allocating a new IP address disrupts the ongoing Internet connection session.
• It would thus be of advantage if a user could use his cell phone to connect his laptop computer to the Internet in such a way that the same IP address persists when his Internet connection is handed over from a physical link to a wireless link, or vice versa, during an ongoing Internet connection session.
SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION
• Aspects of the present invention relate to a wireless communicator that connects with a laptop computer by a physical USB connection and by a short range wireless Bluetooth connection, and to methods and systems that maintain the same IP address when switching from the USB over to the Bluetooth connection, and vice versa, during an ongoing Internet session. The laptop computer uses the wireless communicator as a link to connect to the Internet. When the wireless communicator is physically attached to the laptop computer, the laptop computer may use either the USB connection or the Bluetooth connection, or both connections, to transfer data to and from the wireless communicator. When the wireless communicator is not physically attached to the laptop computer, the laptop computer uses the Bluetooth connection to transfer data to and from the wireless communicator.
• Embodiments of the present invention provide a unified driver, referred to herein as a connection wedge, that selectively uses one or both of the USB and Bluetooth connections, according to whether or not the wireless communicator is physically attached to the laptop computer. In one embodiment the connection wedge is implemented as a software driver wedged between Bluetooth and USB low level communication drivers and the laptop computer's networking stack.
• In addition to providing a link to the Internet via the wireless communicator, the connection wedge is also advantageous in automatic Bluetooth pairing of the wireless communicator with the laptop computer. The connection wedge is further advantageous in instructing the Bluetooth connection to operate in a low power mode when the USB connection is active.
• More generally, embodiments of the present invention relate to a laptop computer that uses a cell phone for Internet connections, and that has both a physical connection and a wireless connection to the cell phone. The physical connection is active when the cell phone is attached to the laptop computer. The wireless connection is active when the cell phone is in proximity of the laptop computer, whether or not the cell phone is physically attached thereto. Internet connections of the laptop computer are persisted during a connection session before, during and after attachment of the cell phone to the laptop computer and detachment of the cell phone from the laptop computer, without reallocation of IP address.
• There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a communication system including a wireless communicator including a baseband modem for connecting to the Internet via a cellular network, and a connector for physically connecting the wireless communicator to a laptop computer port, and a laptop computer including a wireless modem for communicating in a wireless mode with the wireless communicator, a port for physically connecting the wireless communicator to the laptop computer and for communicating in a wired mode with the wireless communicator, and a connection wedge, wherein the laptop computer connects to the Internet via a link between the laptop computer and the wireless communicator, and wherein the connection wedge selectively uses the wired mode or the wireless mode for the link according to whether or not the wireless communicator is physically connected to the laptop computer port, respectively.
• There is additionally provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a method of communication, including opening a data connection from a laptop computer to the Internet via a wireless communicator, wherein the wireless communicator connects to the Internet over a cellular network and wherein the laptop computer connects to the wireless communicator over a short range wireless link, a physical link, or both a short range wireless link and a physical link, selectively using at least one appropriate link between the laptop computer and the wireless communicator according to whether or not the wireless communicator is physically attached to the laptop computer, and maintaining integrity of the data transmitted over the data connection before, during and after the selectively using.
• There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a laptop computer including a wireless modem for communicating in a wireless mode with a wireless communicator, a port for physically connecting the wireless communicator to the laptop computer and for communicating in a wired mode with the wireless communicator, and a connection wedge, wherein the laptop computer connects to the Internet via a link between the laptop computer and the wireless communicator, and wherein the connection wedge selectively uses the wired mode or the wireless mode for the link according to whether or not the wireless communicator is physically connected to the laptop computer port, respectively.
• There is further provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a communication system including a wireless communicator including a baseband modem for conducting a phone call via a cellular network, a microphone for providing audio input during the phone call, a speaker for providing audio output during the phone call, a connector for physically connecting the wireless communicator to a laptop computer port, and a laptop computer including a microphone for providing audio input, at least one speaker for providing audio output, a port for physically connecting the wireless communicator to the laptop computer, and an audio bridge, for using the laptop computer microphone instead of the wireless communicator microphone to provide audio input during the phone call, and for using the laptop computer at least one speaker instead of the wireless communicator speaker to provide audio output during the phone call, when the wireless communicator is physically connected to the laptop computer port.
• There is moreover provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a method of communication, including detecting, by a laptop computer, that a wireless communicator has been physically attached to the laptop computer during an ongoing phone call being conducted via the wireless communicator, channeling audio input from the laptop computer microphone to the wireless communicator when the detecting occurs, and channeling audio output from the wireless communicator to one or more speakers of the laptop computer when the detecting occurs.
• There is additionally provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a laptop computer including a microphone for providing audio input, at least one speaker for providing audio output, a port for physically connecting a wireless communicator to the laptop computer, and an audio bridge, for using the laptop computer microphone to provide audio input during an ongoing phone call being conducted via the wireless communicator, and for using the laptop computer at least one speaker to provide audio output during the ongoing phone call, when the wireless communicator is physically connected to the laptop computer port during the ongoing phone call.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
• FIG. 1 is an illustration of a wireless communicator that attaches to a laptop computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of the wireless communicator ofFIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram of a stack of communication drivers for the module cell phone ofFIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the laptop computer ofFIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram of a stack of communication drivers for the laptop computer ofFIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of the wireless communicator and the laptop computer ofFIG. 1 operating independently of one another, whereby the wireless communicator uses a cellular network and the laptop computer uses an Internet connection, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of the wireless communicator and the laptop computer ofFIG. 1 operating jointly within the cellular network when the wireless communicator is not physically attached to the laptop computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of the wireless communicator and the laptop computer ofFIG. 1 operating jointly within the cellular network when the wireless communicator is physically attached to the laptop computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
• FIG. 9 is a simplified flowchart of switching an Internet connection between the laptop computer and the Internet, according to whether the wireless communicator is physically or wirelessly connected with the laptop computer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Aspects of the present invention relate to a wireless communicator that interoperates with a laptop computer. In this regard, reference is now made toFIG. 1, which is an illustration of awireless communicator100 that connects to alaptop computer200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1,wireless communicator100 may be physically attached tolaptop computer200, or not physically attached but in proximity of short range wireless communication. Whetherwireless communicator100 andlaptop computer200 are connected physically or wirelessly,wireless communicator100 enhances the capabilities oflaptop computer200, andlaptop computer200 enhances the capabilities ofwireless communicator100, as described hereinbelow.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 2, which is a simplified block diagram ofwireless communicator100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.Wireless communicator100 includes six primary components, as follows: aconnector controller110, a memory storage115, a base band modem120 for sending and receiving voice and data communications, a power management subsystem125, apower amplifier135 and a user interface170.
• Connector controller110 executes programmed instructions that control the data flow betweenwireless communicator100 andlaptop computer200. Modem120 controls the wireless communication functionality ofwireless communicator100. In addition to enabling cellular communication, modem120 also enableswireless communicator100 with short range wireless communication, including inter alia one or more of Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC), Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Near Field Communication (NFC).
• Power management subsystem125 includes charging circuitry for charging abattery145.Power amplifier135 includes a radio frequency (RF)interface136, and is connected to aninternal antenna140. User interface170 includes a microphone171 and anearpiece173. User interface170 also includes an optional speaker175, an optional vibrator177, anoptional keyboard180 and an optional display185. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that user interface170 may include additional components.
• Wireless communicator100 includes a laptop connector150 for physically connectingwireless communicator100 tolaptop computer200. Laptop connector150 may be inter alia a USB connector, or a proprietary connector that includes USB signal lines.Wireless communicator100 optionally includes a subscriber identification module (SIM)190.
• In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the interface betweenconnector controller110 and storage115, and the interface betweenconnector controller110 and modem120 are SD interfaces. The interface betweenconnector controller110 and laptop connector150 is a special purpose connector interface.
• In accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention connector controller110 includes a connection wedge111 for selecting a physical mode of connection or a wireless mode of connection betweenwireless communicator100 andlaptop computer200, according to whether or notwireless communicator100 is physically connected tolaptop computer200 via connector150, respectively.
• In this regard, reference is made toFIG. 3, which is a simplified diagram of a stack of communication drivers formodule cell phone100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3,wireless communicator100 includesdrivers360 and370 for low level physical and wireless communication protocols, such as USB and Bluetooth, respectively.
• Connection wedge111 is implemented as abridge driver320.Bridge driver320 operates above a communicationdevice class driver330, a dial upnetworking class driver350, and aGSM protocol stack380, which in turn operate above the phone's USB andBluetooth drivers360 and370, respectively.
• In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, acellular connection tracker340 notifies connection wedge111 of a connection state from the physical and wireless lowlevel communication drivers360 and370, respectively. The connection state represents whether the physical and wireless connections are active or inactive. Eachdriver360 and370 detects whether or not there is a corresponding connection.Connection tracker340 tracks and reports to connection wedge111 which connections are available at a given moment. Based on the connection state, connection wedge111 routes packets coming into and going out from the cell phone's networking stack to the appropriate one of the physical and wireless lowlevel communication drivers360 and370, respectively. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,bridge driver320 and/orconnection tracker340 includes logic for prioritizing which connection to use.
• In one embodiment of the present invention, connection wedge111 provides priority to the physical connection. As such, if both connections are active, whenwireless communicator100 is attached tolaptop computer200, connection wedge111 uses the physical connection for data transmission. Data received at either the physical or the wireless communication is routed to the networking stack.
• In another embodiment of the present invention, connection wedge111 enables both physical and wireless communication to operate when the physical and wireless connections are both active.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 4, which is a simplified block diagram oflaptop computer200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.Laptop computer200 includes five primary components, as follows: alaptop controller210, a memory storage215, awireless modem220, apower management system225 and abattery245.Laptop computer200 includes a wireless communicator connector260 for physically connectingwireless communicator100 tolaptop computer200.
• Laptop computer200 includes auser interface270 including a microphone271, mono orstereo speakers275, akeyboard280 and adisplay285. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that user.interface270 may include additional components.
• In accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention laptop controller210 includes aconnection wedge211 for selecting a physical mode of connection or a wireless mode of connection betweenlaptop computer200 andwireless communicator100, according to whether or notwireless communicator100 is physically connected tolaptop computer200 via connector260, respectively. Specifically,laptop computer200 includes drivers for low level physical and wireless communication protocols, such as USB and Bluetooth, respectively, which serve as bridges to the laptop computer's networking stack. The specific low level communication protocols implemented inlaptop computer200 are transparent to the laptop computer's networking stack.
• In this regard reference is made toFIG. 5, which is a simplified diagram of a stack of communication drivers forlaptop computer200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.Connection wedge211 is implemented as a unified communicationdevice bridge driver420 that is wedged between the laptop computer's physical andwireless drivers460 and470, respectively, and the laptop computer'snetworking stack410.Unified bridge driver420 operates above a communicationdevice class driver430 and a dial upnetworking class driver450, which in turn operate above the laptop computer's USB andBluetooth360 and370, respectively.
• In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, acellular connection tracker440 notifiesconnection wedge211 of a connection state from the physical and wireless lowlevel communication drivers460 and470, respectively. The connection state represents whether the physical and wireless connections are active or inactive. Eachdriver460 and470 detects whether or not there is a corresponding connection.Connection tracker440 tracks and reports toconnection wedge211 which connections are available at a given moment. Based on the connection state, connection wedge211 routes packets coming into and going out from the laptop computer's networking stack to the appropriate one of the physical and wireless lowlevel communication drivers460 and470, respectively. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,unified bridge driver420 and/orconnection tracker440 includes logic for prioritizing which connection to use.
• In one embodiment of the present invention,connection wedge211 provides priority to the physical connection. As such, if both connections are active, whenwireless communicator100 is attached tolaptop computer200,connection wedge211 uses the physical connection for data transmission. Data received at either the physical or the wireless communication is routed to the networking stack.
• In another embodiment of the present invention,connection wedge211 enables both physical and wireless communication to operate when the physical and wireless connections are both active.
• In yet another embodiment of the present invention,connection wedge211 instructs the wireless connection to transfer to a low power state, such as Sniff or Park, in order to minimize power consumption. If the physical connection becomes unavailable, thenconnection wedge211 resumes regular operation of the wireless connection.
• Connection wedge211 is advantageous in reducing latency and complexity of the Bluetooth pairing process. By using the physical connection,connection wedge211 communicates withmobile cell phone100 and provides mobile cell phone with the necessary information for pairing with the laptop computer's wireless transceiver. Such information may include inter alia a PIN code and timing data, thereby simplifying the manual intervention required for pairing.
• The following logic is an exemplary connection prioritization logic, based on the discussion hereinabove.

• TABLE I
  Exemplary USB/Bluetooth connection priority logic

  Connection State	Prioritization
  One connection available	Use available connection
  Both connections available	Use USB connection and transfer
  	Bluetooth connection to park/sniff
  Bluetooth connection is	Wait approximately 30 seconds before
  available and USB connection	transferring to the USB connection
  becomes available
  USB connection is available and	Use USB connection and perform
  Bluetooth connection becomes	Bluetooth pairing to prepare Bluetooth
  available	connection

• Connection wedge211 may be preinstalled onlaptop computer200, or may be stored onwireless communicator100 and then automatically installed onlaptop computer200 whenwireless communicator100 is attached thereto. Wireless communicator connects as a USB mass storage device tolaptop computer200, with AutoRun capability for automatic installation ofconnection wedge211.
• Each ofwireless communicator100 andlaptop computer200 is able to operate independently Of the other.Wireless communicator100 operates as a cell phone, andlaptop computer200 operates as a computer with an Internet connection. In this regard, reference is now made toFIG. 6, which is a simplified block diagram ofwireless communicator100 andlaptop computer200 operating independently of one another, wherebywireless communicator100 uses acellular network500 andlaptop computer200 uses an Internet connection, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• Cellular network500 includes a base transceiver station (BTS)510, which terminates an over-the-air interface over which subscriber traffic is communicated to and fromwireless communicator100.Cellular network500 also includes a base station controller (BSC)520, which is a switching module that provides handoff functions and power level control in base transceiver stations.
• BSC520 controls the interface between a serving GPRS support note (SGSN)530 andBTS510.SGSN530 servicescellular communicator100 by sending or receiving packets viaBSC520.SGSN530 is responsible for delivery of data packets to and fromwireless communicator100, within a service area.SGSN530 also performs packet routing and transfer, mobility management, local link management, authentication and charging functions.
• Cellular network500 also includes a gateway GPRS support note (GGSN)540, which serves as a gateway toInternet550.
• As shown inFIG. 6,wireless communicator100 connects toInternet550 viacellular network500.Laptop computer200 connects to the Internet either (i) via amodem290, or (ii) via arouter295 andmodem290. In the former case,laptop computer200 is physically connected tomodem290 via an Ethernet cable. In the latter case,laptop computer200 is connected torouter295 via a wireless connection, such as a WiFi connection, androuter295 is physically connected tomodem290.
• Althoughcellular network500 as shown inFIGS. 6-8 is a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other the present invention may be employed with other wireless networks, including inter alia Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks and IEEE 802.11b WiFi networks.
• Althoughlaptop computer200 can operate independently ofwireless communicator100, whenlaptop computer200 does not have its own connectivity it can usewireless communicator100 to provide connectivity. In this regard, reference is now made toFIG. 7, which is a simplified block diagram ofwireless communicator100 andlaptop computer200 operating jointly withincellular network500 whenwireless communicator100 is not physically attached tolaptop computer200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Whenwireless communicator100 is not attached tolaptop computer200, the two devices communicate using a short range wireless connection. As such,laptop computer200 connects toInternet550 via a combination of its short range wireless-connection withwireless communicator100, and the cellular connection betweenwireless communicator100 andInternet550.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 8, which is a simplified block diagram ofwireless communicator100 andlaptop computer200 operating jointly withincellular network500 whenwireless communicator100 is physically attached tolaptop computer200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Whenwireless communicator100 is attached tolaptop computer200, the two devices communicate using a physical connection. As such,laptop computer200 connects toInternet550 via a combination of its physical connection withwireless communicator100, and the cellular connection betweenwireless communicator100 andInternet350.
• In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, whenlaptop computer200 connects toInternet550 viawireless communicator100, the connection betweenlaptop computer200 andInternet550 switches seamlessly, without reallocation of IP address, from the physical connection mode ofFIG. 8 to the wireless mode ofFIG. 7. Similarly, whenwireless communicator100 is detached fromlaptop computer200, the Internet connection switches seamlessly, without reallocation of IP address, between the wireless mode ofFIG. 7 to the physical connection mode ofFIG. 8 whenwireless communicator100 is re-attached tolaptop computer200. In this regard, reference is now made toFIG. 9, which is a simplified flowchart of switching the connection betweenlaptop computer200 andInternet550, according to whetherwireless communicator100 is physically or wirelessly connected withlaptop computer200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• Atstep910wireless communicator100 is attached tolaptop computer200, by attaching connectors160 and260. Data is transferred between the two devices using a physical connection, as indicated inFIG. 8.
• Atstep920connector switch211 uses the physical communication mode ofFIG. 8.Laptop computer200 thus connects toInternet550 using an Internet connection that goes physically fromlaptop computer200 towireless communicator100, and wirelessly fromwireless communicator100 toInternet550.
• Atstep930wireless communicator100 is detached fromlaptop computer200. Data is transferred between the two devices using a short range wireless communication, as indicated inFIG. 7.
• At step940connector switch211 uses the wireless communication mode ofFIG. 7.Laptop computer200 switches to an Internet connection that goes wireless fromlaptop computer200 towireless communicator100, and wirelessly fromwireless communicator100 toInternet550. Since the low level communication protocol is transparent to the networking stack, the switch from using the physical communication mode ofFIG. 7 to using the wireless communication mode ofFIG. 8 is a seamless switch. The connection betweenlaptop computer200 and550 persists, and the integrity of the data transfer betweenlaptop computer200 andInternet550 is maintained before, during and after the switch.
• After step940, processing inFIG. 9 returns to step910 whenwireless communicator100 is re-attached tolaptop computer200. As above, since the low level communication protocol is transparent to the networking stack, the switch atstep920 from using the wireless communication mode ofFIG. 8 to using the physical communication mode ofFIG. 7 is again a seamless switch.
• In reading the above description, persons skilled in the art will realize that there are many apparent variations that can be applied to the methods and systems described. Thus it may be appreciated thatwireless communicator100 may also be used in conjunction with audio I/O oflaptop computer200. As such, a phone call may be initiated viawireless communicator100, using microphone171 and speaker175 for audio I/O. Ifwireless communicator100 is attached intolaptop computer200 during the call then the audio I/O for the call switches over to microphone271 andspeakers275. I.e., the audio input of microphone271 is channeled towireless communicator100, and the audio output fromwireless communicator100 is channeled tospeakers275. Whilewireless communicator100 is attached tolaptop computer200,wireless communicator100 provides cellular connectivity, such as GSM connectivity, andlaptop computer200 provides a user interface. In addition to its microphone and speakers, the laptop computer'skeyboard280 anddisplay285, and optionally a camera, may also be functional for use with the phone call.
• Whenwireless communicator100 is detached fromlaptop computer200, but in communication therewith via short range wireless communication, such as Bluetooth communication, thenwireless communicator100 acts as a Bluetooth earpiece forlaptop computer200. In addition,wireless communicator100 may be used for dialing.
• In general, Bluetooth devices use a headset profile for defining properties of audio gateway devices and headset devices. An “audio gateway” serves as a gateway for audio input and output. A “headset” serves as the audio gateway's remote audio input and output mechanism. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,wireless communicator100 is programmed to act as a Bluetooth earpiece, by using a headset profile that defineslaptop computer200 to be an audio gateway, and defineswireless communicator100 to be a headset.
• Ifwireless communicator100 is detached fromlaptop computer200 during the call, and not in wireless communication therewith, then the audio I/O for the call switches back to microphone171 and speaker175.
• It may also be appreciated that although the description above concerns a scenario wherewireless communicator100 provides connectivity forlaptop computer200, the present invention applies to an opposite scenario wherelaptop computer200 provides connectivity forwireless communicator100.
• In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to the specific exemplary embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims (7)

1.-34. (canceled)

35. A cellular communicator, comprising:

a baseband modem for connecting to the Internet via a cellular network and an Internet gateway; and

a wireless modem, for connecting to a computer modem via a short range wireless communication, and for providing the computer modem with Internet access via said baseband modem.

36. The communication system ofclaim 35 wherein the cellular network is a member of the group consisting of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, and an IEEE 802.11b WiFi network.

37. The communication system ofclaim 35 wherein the short range communication is a member of the group consisting of Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC), BLUETOOTH®, WiFi, ZIGBEE®, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Near-Field Communication (NFC).

38. A method for communication, comprising:

connecting a computer modem with a wireless modem of a cellular communicator, via a short range wireless communication; and

providing, by the cellular communicator to the computer modem, Internet access, via a base band modem of the cellular communicator that connects to the Internet via a cellular network and an Internet gateway.

39. The method ofclaim 38 wherein the cellular network is a member of the group consisting of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, and an IEEE 802.11b Wifi network.

40. The method ofclaim 39 wherein the short range communication is a member of the group consisting of Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC), BLUETOOTH®, WiFi, ZIGBEE®, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Near-Field Communication (NFC).

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