METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A WIRELESS NETWORK USING A SINGLE ADDRESS FOR MULTIPLE PROCESSORS

Abstract

A communication system that allows multiple data applications to work simultaneously within a distributed execution environment in which only one IP address is assigned to the mobile system by an external wireless network. The mobile system comprises a wireless communication system with a first processing device (such as a cell phone or a network card) and a second device with another processor (such as a laptop computer or a personal digital assistant). The single IP address is assigned to the second processor, and all incoming external communications are stored in the second processor. In some embodiments the first processing device includes a filter; in other embodiments the second processing device includes a proxy for each processor. Additional processors can be connected to the mobile system by adding an additional filter or additional proxy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference is now made to the following detailed description of the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a mobile system in which the IP address is assigned to the second processor, including a first processing device that has a filter that monitors incoming communications, filters the communication, and directs the incoming communications;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an alternative embodiment mobile system in which the second processing device is configured with a proxy to direct incoming communications to the appropriate destination; and

FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram of a mobile system including a first processing device such as a cellphone and second processing device such as a laptop computer in which a single address can be used for communication.

Claims

1. A method for using a single IP address to wirelessly communicate between an external network and a mobile system that includes at least a first processor operating a first application and a second processor operating a second application both of which may request communication with the external network and operate simultaneously, each processor defining a separate communication endpoint, the method comprising: establishing a wireless communication link between the external network and the mobile system, including obtaining an IP address from the external network;establishing a local communication link and an inter-processor communication link between the first processor and the second processor in the mobile system;associating the IP address with the second processor and the second endpoint, so that external communications to the IP address are directed to the second endpoint;configuring the first processor to filter external communications with the second endpoint, including configuring a filter in the first processor to filter external communications received over the wireless communication link;communicating with the external network using said IP address assigned to said second endpoint; andmonitoring and filtering said external communications in the first processor, including selecting a destination as one of the first and second processors, and supplying the received data to the selected destination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile system comprises one of a cell phone and a network card connected to the external network, and one of a laptop computer and a PDA connected to the cell phone via the local communication link.

3. The method of 2 wherein the cellphone comprises the first processor, and the laptop computer comprises the second processor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication link comprises at least one of TCP/IP communication, CDMA, and GSM.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second applications comprises a GPS application that determines position, and including the step of the GPS application requesting communication with a position determination entity that is on the external network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second applications comprises a location-based services application, and including the step of communicating with a location based entity to provide location-based information to the location-based services application.

7. A method for using a single IP address to wirelessly communicate between an external network and a mobile system that includes at least a first processor operating a first application and a second processor operating a second application both of which may request communication with the external network and operate simultaneously, each processor defining a separate communication endpoint, the method comprising: establishing a wireless communication link between the external network and the mobile system, including obtaining an IP address from the external network;establishing a local communication link and an inter-processor communication link between the first processor and the second processor in the mobile system;associating the IP address with the second processor and the second endpoint, so that external communications to the IP address are directed to the second endpoint;operating a first application in the first processor that may require external network access,configuring a first proxy in the second processor to select external communications whose destination is the first application; andresponsive to external communications selected by the first proxy, forwarding said selected communications to the first processor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile system comprises one of a cell phone and a network card connected to the external network, and one of a laptop computer and a PDA connected to the cell phone via the local communication link.

9. The method of 8 wherein the cellphone comprises the first processor, and the laptop computer comprises the second processor.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the wireless communication link comprises at least one of TCP/IP communication, CDMA, and GSM.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein one of the first and second applications comprises a GPS application that determines position, and including the step of the GPS application requesting communication with a position determination entity that is on the external network.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein one of the first and second applications comprises a location-based services application, and including the step of communicating with a location based entity to provide location-based information to the location-based services application.

13. A mobile system having multiple processors that wirelessly communicate with an external network over a wireless communication link, comprising: a first processing device including a first processor, a first memory, and a first PPP communication system;a second processing device connected to the first processing device, including a second memory, a second PPP communication system connected to the first PPP communication system, and a second processor connected to the first processor; anda wireless receiver and antenna connected to the first processing device, so that the first processor communicates with the external network over the wireless communication link using an IP address;wherein said second memory is assigned the IP address, and said second memory is configured to directly receive and store wireless communications from the external network.

14. The mobile system of claim 13 wherein the first processor comprises a filter that filters incoming communications and selects a destination in one of the first processor and second processor.

15. The mobile system of claim 14 wherein the first memory is arranged to store communications with the external network, and said filter is configured to monitor incoming communications.

16. The mobile system of claim 13 wherein the second processor is configured to define a proxy for the first processor, so that all external communications intended for the first processor are communicated from the second processing device to the first processing device.

17. The mobile system of claim 13 wherein the first processing device includes a GPS receiver and antenna, and the second processing device includes a location-based application that requests position determination using said GPS receiver and antenna.

18. The mobile system of claim 13 wherein the first processing device is one of a cellphone and a network card.

19. The mobile system of claim 13 wherein the first processing device is connected to the second processing device via at least one of a local communication link and inter-processor communication.

20. The mobile system of claim 13 wherein the second processing device is one of a laptop computer and a personal digital assistant.