Communication card with standalone and master operational states

Abstract

A communication card with three operational states, including a controller, a battery, a flash storage unit, a wireless modem, and a connector for connecting the communication card to a shell host and to an electronic device host, wherein the communication card (i) operates in a standalone mode when the connector is not connected to a device, (ii) functions as a master when the connector is connected to the shell host, and (iii) functions as a slave when the connector is connected to the electronic device host. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also described and claimed.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A communication card with standalone and master operational states, comprising:
 a controller;   a flash storage unit, coupled with said controller, for storing data used by said controller;   a wireless modem, coupled with said controller, for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless network in response to instructions received from said controller;   a battery, coupled with said controller, with said flash storage unit and with said wireless modem, for supplying power to said controller, to said flash storage unit, and to said wireless modem; and   a connector, coupled with said controller, for connecting the communication card to a host,   
       wherein the communication card (i) operates in a standalone mode when said connector is not connected to the host, and (ii) operates as a master of the host when said connector is connected to the host, providing display information to the host. 
     
     
         15 . The communication card of  claim 14  further comprising circuitry for determining whether said connector is connected to the host. 
     
     
         16 . The communication card of  claim 14  wherein said battery supplies power to the host when the host is connected to said connector. 
     
     
         17 . The communication card of  claim 14  wherein the host has its own battery, and wherein said battery is charged by the host's battery when the host is connected to said connector. 
     
     
         18 . The communication card of  claim 14  further comprising a USB connector coupled with said controller. 
     
     
         19 . The communication card of  claim 14  wherein said wireless modem comprises an audio player. 
     
     
         20 . A method for determining the operational state of a communication card, comprising:
 providing a communication card that has at least two operational states, namely, (i) the communication card operating in a standalone mode, and (ii) the communication card connected to a host and operating as a master of the host;   monitoring a signal on the communication card; and   if the monitored signal has a voltage level lower than a designated threshold, then concluding that the communication card is in the standalone mode;   otherwise, concluding that the communication card is connected to the host.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the monitored signal is a battery voltage. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the designated threshold is 0.5V. 
     
     
         23 . A computer readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computing device to determine the state of a communication card that has at least two operational states, namely, (i) the communication card operating in a standalone mode, and (ii) the communication card connected to a host and operating as a master of the host, by:
 monitoring a signal on the communication card; and   if the monitored signal has a voltage level lower than a designated threshold, then concluding that the communication card is in a standalone mode;   otherwise, concluding that the communication card is connected to the host.   
     
     
         24 . A communication card with standalone and master operational states, comprising:
 a card connector for connecting a communication card to a host, comprising a plurality of pins, the pins comprising:
 a connector for incoming and outgoing audio signals; 
 a connector for a power supply; and 
 a universal serial bus (USB) connector; 
   a communication bus, wherein (i) no signals are routed to the communication bus when the card operates in a standalone mode, and (ii) secure digital (SD) card signals are routed to the communication bus when the card is connected to the host using a set of functionalities assigned to said connector pins, with the card operating as a master of the host; and   circuitry for automatically detecting whether the card is operating in a standalone mode or in a master mode.   
     
     
         25 . The communication card of  claim 24  wherein said circuitry senses voltages across said connector pins. 
     
     
         26 . The communication card of  claim 24  wherein said set of functionalities comprises SD communication functionalities. 
     
     
         27 . A communication system, comprising:
 a communication card comprising:
 a controller; 
 a flash storage unit, coupled with said controller, for storing data used by said controller; 
 a wireless modem, coupled with said controller, for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless network in response to instructions received from said controller; 
 a battery, coupled with said controller, with said flash storage unit and with said wireless modem, for supplying power to said controller, to said flash storage unit, and to said wireless modem; and 
 a card connector, coupled with said controller, for connecting the communication card to a host; and 
   a host comprising:
 a plug for said card connector, for connecting the host to said communication card; and 
 a user interface for said communication card, 
   wherein said communication card (i) operates in a standalone mode when said card connector is not connected to said host plug, and (ii) operates as a master of the host when said card connector is connected to said host plug, providing display information to the host.   
     
     
         28 . The communication system of  claim 27  wherein said host user interface comprises at least one speaker. 
     
     
         29 . The communication system of  claim 27  wherein said host user interface comprises a microphone. 
     
     
         30 . The communication system of  claim 27  further comprising a plurality of hosts, each host comprising:
 a plug for said card connector, for connecting the host to said communication card; and   a different user interface for said communication card.   
     
     
         31 . A communication system, comprising:
 a communication card, comprising:
 a card connector for connecting a communication card to a host, comprising a plurality of pins; 
 a communication bus, wherein (i) no signals are routed to the communication bus when the card operates in a standalone mode, and (ii) secure digital (SD) card signals are routed to the communication bus when the card is connected to the host using a set of functionalities assigned to said connector pins, with the card operating as a master of the host; 
 circuitry for automatically detecting whether the card is operating in a standalone mode or in a master mode; and 
   a host comprising:
 a plug for said card connector, for connecting the host to said communication card; and 
 a user interface for said communication card. 
   
     
     
         32 . The communication system of  claim 31  wherein said host user interface comprises at least one speaker. 
     
     
         33 . The communication system of  claim 31  wherein said host user interface comprises a microphone. 
     
     
         34 . The communication system of  claim 31  further comprising a plurality of hosts, each host comprising:
 a plug for said card connector, for connecting the host to said communication card; and   a different user interface for said communication card.   
     
     
         35 . A host device for a communication card, comprising:
 a controller; and   a connector, coupled with said controller, for connection with a wireless communication card,   
       wherein said controller does not provide wireless communication functionality when said connector is not connected with the communication card, and wherein said controller operates as a slave to the communication card when said connector is connected to the communication card. 
     
     
         36 . The host device of  claim 35  further comprising a battery for supplying power to the wireless communication card, when said connector is connected to the wireless communication card. 
     
     
         37 . The host device of  claim 35  further comprising a display for displaying status information for the wireless communication card, when said connector is connected to the wireless communication card. 
     
     
         38 . The host device of  claim 35  further comprising a storage unit for storing data accessed by the wireless communication card, when said connector is connected to the wireless communication card.