Method and apparatus for integrating a soft mobile voip client in a cellular pc card

Abstract

An apparatus is configured to communicate with a computer through a communications interface. The apparatus includes a soft mobile phone client and a cellular modem. The soft mobile client provides a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication session, and includes a first set of a plurality of communications modules which does not include a non-access stratum (NAS) module. The cellular modem provides cellular Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity to the computer, and includes a second set of a plurality of modules having a NAS module. The soft mobile phone client establishes IP connectivity through the cellular modem and provides IP connectivity to the computer on a condition that a pre-existing IP connection via the computer is not available. The soft mobile phone client includes a software module encoded to implement a graphical user interface (GUI) function, which enables a VoIP communication session to be initiated by the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus configured to communicate with a computer through a communications interface, the apparatus comprising:
 a soft mobile phone client configured to provide a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication session, the soft mobile phone client including a first set of a plurality of communications modules, wherein the first set of a plurality of communications modules does not include a non-access stratum (NAS) module; and   a cellular modem configured to provide cellular Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity to the computer, the cellular modem including a second set of a plurality of modules, wherein the second set of a plurality of modules includes a NAS module,   wherein the soft mobile phone client is configured to establish IP connectivity through the cellular modem and provide IP connectivity to the computer on a condition that a pre-existing IP connection via the computer is not available,   wherein the soft mobile phone client further includes a software module encoded to implement a graphical user interface (GUI) function, wherein the GUI function enables a VoIP communication session to be initiated by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the soft mobile phone client and the cellular modem directly access subsystems of the computer via the communications interface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the subsystems include at least one of internet connectivity, audio subsystems, WiFi, or WiMAX. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI function is automatically launched upon connection of the apparatus to the computer. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI function is displayed on a display of the computer as a graphical representation of a cellular phone. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI function is displayed on a display of the computer as an icon. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of the plurality of communications modules comprises:
 an unlicensed mobile access/generic access network (UMA/GAN) module; and   a VoIP module.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of the plurality of communications modules comprises:
 a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) module; and   a VoIP module.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of the plurality of communications modules further includes:
 a radio frequency (RF) module; and   an access-stratum (AS) module.   
     
     
         10 . A method of enabling Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications in a computer, comprising:
 connecting a peripheral device to the computer via a communications interface;   providing, by a soft mobile phone client, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication session, the soft mobile phone client including a first set of a plurality of communications modules, wherein the first set of a plurality of communications modules does not include a non-access stratum (NAS) module;   providing, by a cellular modem, cellular Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity to the computer, the cellular modem including a second set of a plurality of modules, wherein the second set of a plurality of modules includes a NAS module,   wherein the soft mobile phone client is configured to establish IP connectivity through the cellular modem and provide IP connectivity to the computer on a condition that a pre-existing IP connection via the computer is not available;   wherein the soft mobile phone client further includes a software module encoded to implement a graphical user interface (GUI) function, wherein the GUI function enables a VoIP communication session to be initiated by the user.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 using a policy to control cellular IP connectivity by the cellular modem and VoIP communication session by the soft mobile phone client and to coordinate operations between the soft mobile phone client portion and the cellular modem portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the soft mobile phone client and the cellular modem directly access subsystems of the computer via the communications interface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the subsystems include at least one of internet connectivity, audio subsystems, WiFi, or WiMAX. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the GUI function is automatically launched upon connection of the apparatus to the computer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the GUI function is displayed on a display of the computer as a graphical representation of a cellular phone. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the GUI function is displayed on a display of the computer as an icon.