Wireless detector and adapter

Abstract

The wireless communication device includes a housing at least partially enclosing a processor, a self-contained power source, an interface, a wireless transceiver, a wireless network detector and a wireless network adapter. The interface is configured to communicate with an external computing device. The wireless transceiver is configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals. The wireless network detector is configured to use the wireless transceiver to detect a presence of a detected wireless network. The wireless network adapter is configured for facilitating real time communication between the external computing device and the detected wireless network via the interface and said wireless transceiver.

1 . A wireless communication device, comprising: 
 a housing at least partially enclosing: 
 a processor;  
 a self-contained power source;  
 an interface configured to communicate with an external computing device;  
 a wireless transceiver configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals;  
 a wireless network detector configured to use said wireless transceiver to detect a presence of a detected wireless network; and  
 a wireless network adapter configured for facilitating real time communication between the external computing device and the detected wireless network via said interface and said wireless transceiver.  
   
   
   
       2 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory within said housing.  
   
   
       3 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is a handheld housing.  
   
   
       4 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is a key fob.  
   
   
       5 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing has a width of less than two times the width of a male USB series A plug (2×15.7 mm) and a height of less than four times the height of a male USB series A plug (4×7.5 mm).  
   
   
       6 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said self contained power source is a battery.  
   
   
       7 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said processor, power source, interface, transceiver, network detector, and network adapter are electrically coupled to one another via at least one bus.  
   
   
       8 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said interface is a wired interface configured for wired communicating with the external computing device.  
   
   
       9 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said interface is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug.  
   
   
       10 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said interface is a male series A Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug.  
   
   
       11 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said interface a wireless interface configured for wireless communication with the external computing device.  
   
   
       12 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said interface a wireless interface that communicates with the external computing device using said wireless transceiver.  
   
   
       13 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network detector is configured to detect a presence of a detected wireless local area network (LAN).  
   
   
       14 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network detector is configured to detect a presence of a IEEE 802.11x detected wireless local area network (LAN).  
   
   
       15 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network detector is configured to analyze said detected wireless network to determine a strength of said detected wireless network.  
   
   
       16 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network detector is configured to analyze said detected wireless network to determine whether said detected wireless network is a free or pay network.  
   
   
       17 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network detector is configured to analyze said detected wireless network to determine whether said detected wireless network is a public or a private network.  
   
   
       18 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network detector is configured to analyze said detected wireless network to determine whether said detected wireless network is encrypted or non-encrypted.  
   
   
       19 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a server within said housing for serving data via said detected wireless network.  
   
   
       20 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising an antenna electrically coupled to said wireless transceiver.  
   
   
       21 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising input and output devices for receiving instructions from a user of said wireless communication device and for conveying information to the user.  
   
   
       22 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network detector and said wireless network adapter include circuitry.  
   
   
       23 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network detector includes instructions for detecting the presence of the detected wireless network, where said instructions are stored on at least one of said processor and a memory coupled to said processor within said housing.  
   
   
       24 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless network detector includes instructions for facilitating communication between the external computing device and the detected wireless network via said interface and said wireless transceiver, where said instructions are stored on at least one of said processor and a memory coupled to said processor within said housing.  
   
   
       25 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a memory disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to said processor,    wherein said memory contains: 
 data received from the external computing device; and  
 instructions for automatically transmitting said data to an external server when said wireless network detector detects the presence of the detected wireless network.  
   
   
   
       26 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory electrically coupled to said processor, wherein said memory contains instructions for automatically checking an email account for new mail when said wireless network detector detects the presence of the detected wireless network.  
   
   
       27 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory electrically coupled to said processor, wherein said memory contains instructions for automatically transmitting an email message to an email server when said wireless network detector detects the presence of the detected wireless network.  
   
   
       28 . A wireless communication device, comprising: 
 a housing at least partially enclosing a number of components electrically coupled to one another via a bus, said components including: 
 a processor;  
 a self-contained power source;  
 an interface configured for wired communication with an external computing device;  
 a wireless transceiver configured for transmitting and receiving radio signals;  
 a wireless network detector configured for at least detecting a presence of a detected wireless network; and  
   a wireless network adaptor configured for facilitating wireless communication between the external computing device and the detected wireless network.