`Erekson
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`US006622018B1
`
`(54) PORTABLE DEVICE CONTROL CONSOLE
`WITH WIRELESS CONNECTION
`
`(75) Inventor: Rich Erekson, Ogden, UT (US)
`
`(73) ASSigIlGGZ 3Com Corporation, Santa Clara, CA
`(US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl' NO‘: 09/558,413
`(22) Filed.
`Apt 24’ 2000
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ............................................... .. H04M 3/00
`(52)
`455/420; 455/419
`(58) Field of Search ............................... .. 455/420, 456,
`455/457, 445, 404, 75, 566, 575, 96, 99,
`145 ; 342/4571; 340/82536, 82537, 82549
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,091,957 A * 7/2000 Larkins et a1. ............ .. 455/456
`6,161,066 A * 12/2000 Wright et al. .... ..
`6,339,706 B1 * 1/2002 Tillgren et a1. ........... .. 455/419
`* Cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Wi1liarn Trost
`Assistant Examiner—Naghmeh Mehrpour
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Wagner, Murabito & Hao
`LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method for controlling a remote device over
`a Wireless connection. In one embodiment, a hand-held
`computer system having a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver is
`used to control other Bluetooth-enabled devices. A Wireless
`Connection between a transceiver and a remote device is
`established. A position Where a stylus makes contact With a
`surface of an input device of the hand-held Computer system
`is registered. The particular position Where the stylus ele
`ment makes contact With the input device is translated into
`a particular command for controlling the remote device. The
`command is then transmitted to the remote device over the
`Wlreless Connecnon'
`
`5,917,405 A * 6/1999 Joao ......................... .. 340/426
`
`27 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`1.19.0.
`
`.1119.
`ESTABLISH WIRELESS CONNECTIONIS) WITH
`REMOTE DEVICE(SI
`
`I
`
`.1122
`MANIFEST REMOTE newcas) on DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`l
`
`M
`SELECT A REMOTE DEVICE (IF MORE THAN ONE)
`
`1
`
`1.152
`USE DISPLAY DEVICE AND/OR INPUT DEVICE TO
`TRANSLATE STYLUS MOTION INTO A COMMAND FOR
`CONTROLLING A REMOTE DEVICE
`
`V
`1.1.52
`TRANSMIT COMMAND TO REMOTE DEVICE OVER
`WIRELESS CONNECTION
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 1
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 2
`
`
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 3
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`1995.
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 4
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 4 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`1.9.8.
`
`RADIO
`SIGNAL
`
`ANTENNAzos
`
`mcno
`uux
`RF MODULE H CONTROLLER H CONTROLLER
`
`‘ME-“FACE
`
`BUS 110
`
`PORTABLE
`COMPUTER
`SYSTEM
`10.0.
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 5
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 5 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`1%.
`
`RADIO
`SIGNAL
`
`ANTENNAZOS
`
`MICRO
`LINK
`RF “23"” H CONTROLLER H CONTROLLER
`m
`m
`
`‘"TERFACE
`“9
`
`CONNECTOR
`
`EXTERNAL
`DEVICE
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 6
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`UNCONNECTED
`STANDBY
`
`CONNECTING
`STATES
`
`ACTIVE STATES
`
`LOW POWER MODES
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 7
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 7 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`BROADCAST MESSAGE m ——->'
`
`RESPONSE mg .______.__ REMOTE £1lfvelivlcs A
`
`‘—-—- BROADCAST MESSAGE m —H
`
`PORTABLE
`CQMPUTER
`sYs'rsM ‘— “53pm” 55”
`m
`
`REMOTE DEVICE B
`m
`
`COMMAND m ---—----——>
`
`comma m ————.—->
`
`RESPONSE 5105
`
`REMOTE DEVICE C
`m
`
`BROADCAST MESSAGE m —--b'
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 8
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 8 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`100
`
`‘°\ @ @
`@
`
`106
`
`@0500
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 9
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 9 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`90
`
`100
`
`10s
`\
`
`106
`
`3E 2E
`
`OOUOO
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 10
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 10 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`90
`
`100
`
`105
`
`91o\\ \ DEVICE A
`
`\ on E]
`OFFU
`
`106
`
`OOUQO
`
`A FIG. 9
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 11
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 11 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`100
`
`105\
`
`9o
`\\
`
`\
`
`10a
`\
`/
`
`'
`
`\1o3o
`
`“m” 00 00
`
`FIG. 10
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 12
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 16, 2003
`
`Sheet 12 6f 12
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`119.9.
`
`.1_1_1_Q
`ESTABLISH WIRELESS CONNECTIONS) WITH
`REMOTE DEVICE(SI
`
`l
`
`1129.
`MANIFEST REMOTE DEVICEIS) ON DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`M
`SELECT A REMOTE DEVICE (IF MORE THAN ONE)
`
`1
`
`1.142
`USE DISPLAY DEVICE ANDIOR INPUT DEVICE TO
`TRANSLATE STYLUS MOTION INTO A COMMAND FOR
`CONTROLLING A REMOTE DEVICE
`
`JJiQ
`TRANSMIT COMMAND T0 REMOTE DEVICE OVER
`WIRELESS CONNECTION
`
`FIG. 11
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 13
`
`
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`1
`PORTABLE DEVICE CONTROL CONSOLE
`WITH WIRELESS CONNECTION
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to systems and devices
`connected using Wireless links, such as systems and devices
`that use the Bluetooth technology. In particular, the present
`invention pertains to a method and system for controlling
`remote devices over a Wireless connection.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Consider, for example, the number of devices and appli
`ances in the typical living room or family room of a
`residential dWelling: lamps, light sWitches, a thermostat, and
`consumer electronic devices such as televisions, video cas
`sette recorders, and stereos, some of these devices them
`selves comprising multiple devices such as compact disk
`players, tape players, etc. Each of these devices requires
`manual interaction by a user in order to turn them off or on,
`to raise or loWer levels, and so on. Other rooms of the house,
`as Well as factories and places of business, also have
`countless devices and appliances that require manual inter
`action in order to use and control them.
`Of course, many of these devices are or can be remotely
`controlled. In the home, for example, remote control devices
`for televisions, stereos and the like are very common.
`Devices for controlling lights, etc., are also available
`although generally not as commonly used.
`Remote control devices in each of their present forms
`have a number of associated shortcomings. For example, a
`separate remote control device may be required for each
`device to be controlled. In some instances the separate
`remotes can be replaced With a universal remote control;
`hoWever, universal remotes still have their shortcomings.
`Generally, current universal remotes often do not have the
`resources (e.g., memory and computational logic) to alloW
`them to be used With all devices, or they may not be capable
`of controlling a neW device. In addition, in order to accom
`modate the variety of devices to be controlled, universal
`remotes usually have a multiplicity of buttons and thus can
`be difficult to use.
`Another shortcoming associated With current remote con
`trol devices is their limited range. Commonly, remote con
`trol devices use infrared beams to communicate commands
`to the device that is to be controlled, and so the remotes can
`only be used for line-of-sight applications. Devices behind
`an object, around a corner, or in another room cannot be
`controlled if they are not in the line of sight of an infrared
`remote.
`A more modern solution is to Wire devices together into
`a netWork of some sort, so that they can be controlled from
`a central location such as a personal computer. HoWever, this
`approach also has a number of shortcomings. For example,
`the connections and cabling needed may be quite cumber
`some and complex. In addition, this approach is difficult and
`expensive to back?t into existing homes and businesses.
`Furthermore, such an approach is not necessarily conve
`nient. For instance, the central computer system is not a
`practical or convenient replacement for a television remote,
`nor is it portable enough to alloW it to be easily moved from
`one room to another Whenever it is necessary to do so.
`Accordingly, a need exists for a device and/or method that
`can be used to remotely control a variety of different devices
`and appliances, including neW devices. Aneed also exists for
`
`2
`a device and/or method that can satisfy the above need, that
`is relatively simple to introduce into existing homes and
`businesses, and that is user-friendly. In addition, a need
`exists for a device and/or method that satis?es the above
`needs, is portable, and is not limited to line-of-sight appli
`cations.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`The present invention provides a system and method that
`can be used to remotely control a variety of different devices,
`including neW devices. The present invention also provides
`a system and method that is relatively easy to introduce into
`existing homes and businesses and that is user-friendly. In
`addition, the present invention provides a system and
`method that is portable and that is not limited to line-of-sight
`applications.
`In the present embodiment, the present invention pertains
`to a system and method for controlling remote devices over
`a Wireless connection (e.g., using a radio signal). In one
`embodiment, a portable computer system (e.g., a palmtop or
`hand-held computer) having a transceiver is used to control
`compliant devices. In a preferred embodiment, the trans
`ceiver and the remote devices are Bluetooth-enabled
`devices.
`In the present embodiment of the present invention, a
`Wireless connection betWeen the portable computer system
`and one or more remote devices is established. Each of the
`remote devices is manifested on a display device of the
`portable computer system, and one of the devices is selected
`using, for example, a stylus element.
`In one embodiment, the stylus element can also be used
`to specify commands for controlling the remote device. A
`position Where the stylus element makes contact With a
`surface of the display device of the portable computer
`system is registered. The particular position Where the stylus
`element makes contact With the display device is translated
`into a particular command for controlling the remote device.
`The command is then transmitted to the remote device over
`the Wireless connection.
`In one embodiment, a rendering of the remote device or
`of a mechanism that can be used to control the remote device
`is displayed on the display device. The contact of the stylus
`element With a position in the rendering is translated into a
`particular command for controlling the remote device. In
`another embodiment, a menu of commands for controlling
`the remote device is displayed on the display device. The
`contact of the stylus element With a position in the menu is
`translated into a particular command for controlling the
`remote device.
`In yet another embodiment, the movement of the stylus
`element over the surface of an input device is recogniZed and
`translated into a particular command for controlling the
`remote device. In another embodiment, by moving the stylus
`element over the surface of the input device, motion is
`imparted to the rendering on the display device of the remote
`device or the mechanism for controlling the remote device.
`The present invention thus provides a system (e.g., a
`Bluetooth-enabled device, speci?cally a portable computer
`system) that can be used to remotely control compliant
`devices (e.g., other Bluetooth-enabled devices) over a Wire
`less (radio) connection. With a radio connection, the system
`of the present invention is not limited to line-of-sight
`applications. Remote devices can be adapted to receive
`commands over the Wireless connection, obviating the need
`for hardWire connections and making the system relatively
`easy to implement in homes and businesses. The processing
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 14
`
`
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`3
`power and other features of the portable computer system
`enable user-friendly interfaces, and also alloW a variety of
`remote devices to be controlled, including neW devices
`introduced into the home or business.
`These and other objects and advantages of the present
`invention Will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in
`the art after having read the folloWing detailed description of
`the preferred embodiments Which are illustrated in the
`various draWing ?gures.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying draWings, Which are incorporated in
`and form a part of this speci?cation, illustrate embodiments
`of the invention and, together With the description, serve to
`eXplain the principles of the invention:
`FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a netWork of devices
`coupled using Wireless connections in accordance With the
`present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a portable
`computer system in accordance With the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a top-side perspective vieW of a portable
`computer system in accordance With one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIGS. 4A and 4B are block diagrams shoWing one
`embodiment of a Wireless transceiver coupled to,
`respectively, a portable computer system and an eXternal
`device in accordance With the present invention.
`FIG. 5 illustrates the different operating modes of a
`Wireless transceiver in accordance With one embodiment of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 6 illustrates the How of messages betWeen a con
`trolling device and remote devices in accordance With one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a display used on a
`controlling device in accordance With the present invention.
`FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a display used
`on a controlling device in accordance With the present
`invention.
`FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a display used
`on a controlling device in accordance With the present
`invention.
`FIG. 10 illustrates a display on a controlling device
`responding to movement on an input device in accordance
`With one embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 11 is a ?oWchart of the steps in a process for
`controlling a remote device over a Wireless connection in
`accordance With one embodiment of the present invention.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`Reference, Will noW be made in detail to the preferred
`embodiments of the invention, examples of Which are illus
`trated in the accompanying draWings. While the invention
`Will be described in conjunction With the preferred
`embodiments, it Will be understood that they are not
`intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the
`contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives,
`modi?cations and equivalents, Which may be included
`Within the spirit and scope of the invention as de?ned by the
`appended claims. Furthermore, in the folloWing detailed
`description of the present invention, numerous speci?c
`details are set forth in order to provide a thorough under
`standing of the present invention. HoWever, it Will be
`obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`invention may be practiced Without these speci?c details. In
`other instances, Well-knoWn methods, procedures,
`components, and circuits have not been described in detail
`so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present
`invention.
`Some portions of the detailed descriptions Which folloW
`are presented in terms of procedures, logic blocks,
`processing, and other symbolic representations of operations
`on data bits Within a computer memory. These descriptions
`and representations are the means used by those skilled in
`the data processing arts to most effectively convey the
`substance of their Work to others skilled in the art. A
`procedure, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally,
`conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or
`instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those
`requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities.
`Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the
`form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being
`stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherWise
`manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient
`at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer
`to these signals as bits, bytes, values, elements, symbols,
`characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
`It should be borne in mind, hoWever, that all of these and
`similar terms are to be associated With the appropriate
`physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied
`to these quantities. Unless speci?cally stated otherWise as
`apparent from the folloWing discussions, it is appreciated
`that throughout the present invention, discussions utiliZing
`terms such as “establishing,” “registering,” “recognizing,”
`“broadcasting,” “receiving,” “manifesting,” “transmitting,”
`“displaying,” or the like, refer to the action and processes
`(e.g., process 1100 FIG. 11) of a computer system or similar
`intelligent electronic computing device, that manipulates
`and transforms data represented as physical (electronic)
`quantities Within the computer system’s registers and memo
`ries into other data similarly represented as physical quan
`tities Within the computer system memories or registers or
`other such information storage, transmission or display
`devices.
`The present invention is discussed primarily in a conteXt
`in Which devices and systems are coupled using Wireless
`links, and speci?cally With regard to devices and systems
`compliant With the Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth is the
`code name for a technology speci?cation for small form
`factor, loW-cost, short-range radio links betWeen personal
`computers (PCs), mobile phones and other devices and
`appliances. HoWever, it is appreciated that the present inven
`tion may be utiliZed With devices and systems compliant
`With standards different from Bluetooth, such as the IEEE
`(Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineering) 802.11
`standard.
`The Bluetooth technology alloWs cables that connect one
`device to another to be replaced With short-range radio links.
`Bluetooth is targeted at mobile and business users Who need
`to establish a link, or small netWork, betWeen their computer,
`cellular phone and other peripherals. The required and
`nominal range of Bluetooth is thus set to approximately ten
`(10) meters. To support other uses, for eXample the home
`environment, Bluetooth can be augmented to eXtend the
`range to up to 100 meters.
`The Bluetooth technology is based on a high
`performance, yet loW-cost, integrated radio transceiver. For
`instance, Bluetooth transceivers built into both a cellular
`telephone and a laptop computer system Would replace the
`cables used today to connect a laptop to a cellular telephone.
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 15
`
`
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`5
`Bluetooth radio technology can also provide: a universal
`bridge to existing data networks, a peripheral interface, and
`a mechanism to form small private ad hoc groupings of
`connected devices aWay from ?xed netWork infrastructures.
`FIG. 1 illustrates the topology of a netWork of devices
`coupled using Wireless connections in accordance With one
`embodiment of the present invention. In the parlance of
`Bluetooth, a collection of devices connected in a Bluetooth
`system are referred to as a “piconet” or a “subnet.” In the
`present embodiment, a piconet starts With tWo connected
`devices, and may groW to eight connected devices. All
`Bluetooth devices are peer units; hoWever, When establish
`ing a piconet, one unit Will act as a master and the other(s)
`as slave(s) for the duration of the piconet connection.
`A Bluetooth system supports both point-to-point and
`point-to-multi-point connections. Several piconets can be
`established and linked together in a “scatternet,” Where each
`piconet is identi?ed by a different frequency hopping
`sequence. All devices participating on the same piconet are
`synchroniZed to their respective hopping sequence.
`Accordingly, devices 10, 20, 30 and 40 are coupled in
`piconet 1 using Wireless connections 80a—c. Similarly,
`devices 50, 60 and 70 are coupled in piconet 2 using Wireless
`connections 80e—f. Piconet 1 and piconet 2 are coupled using
`Wireless connection 80d. Devices 10—70 can be printers,
`personal digital assistants (PDAs), desktop computer
`systems, laptop computer systems, cell phones, faX
`machines, keyboards, and joysticks equipped With a Blue
`tooth radio transceiver or adapted to communicate With
`Bluetooth devices (“Bluetooth-enabled”). In accordance
`With the present invention, devices 10—70 can also be
`virtually any type of device, including mechanical devices
`and appliances, equipped With a Bluetooth radio transceiver
`or Bluetooth-enabled. The Bluetooth radio transceiver may
`be integrated into the device, or it may be coupled to the
`device.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a portable computer system
`100 (e.g., a PDA, a hand-held computer system, or palmtop
`computer system) upon Which embodiments of the present
`invention can be implemented. Computer system 100
`includes an address/data bus 110 for communicating
`information, a central processor 101 coupled With the bus for
`processing information and instructions, a volatile memory
`102 (e.g., random access memory, RAM) coupled With the
`bus 110 for storing information and instructions for the
`central processor 101 and a non-volatile memory 103 (e.g.,
`read only memory, ROM) coupled With the bus 110 for
`storing static information and instructions for the processor
`101. Computer system 100 also includes an optional data
`storage device 104 (e. g., memory stick) coupled With the bus
`110 for storing information and instructions. Data storage
`device 104 can be removable.
`Computer system 100 also contains a display device 105
`coupled to the bus 110 for displaying information to the
`computer user. The display device 105 utiliZed With com
`puter system 100 may be a liquid crystal display device, a
`cathode ray tube,(CRT), a ?eld emission display device (also
`called a ?at panel CRT) or other display device suitable for
`generating graphic images and alphanumeric characters rec
`ogniZable to the user. In the preferred embodiment, display
`device 105 is a ?at panel display.
`Computer system 100 also includes a cursor control or
`directing device (on-screen cursor control 107) coupled to
`bus 110 for communicating user input information and
`command selections to processor 101. In one
`implementation, on-screen cursor control device 107 is a
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6
`touch-screen device incorporated With display device 105.
`On-screen cursor control device 107 is capable of registering
`a position on display device 105 Where a stylus makes
`contact.
`In accordance With the present invention, a stylus can be
`used to select a command for controlling a remote device by
`touching the stylus to display device 105. In one
`embodiment, a command can be selected from a menu of
`commands displayed on display device 105. In another
`embodiment, a rendering of the remote device or of a
`mechanism for controlling the remote device may be mani
`fested on display device 105, and a command can be
`selected by touching the stylus to a prescribed location in the
`rendering. The position Where the stylus contacts display
`device 105 is registered and fed to processor 101, Which
`translates this information into a command for controlling
`the remote device. The command is then transmitted to the
`remote device over a Wireless connection using signal
`transmitter/receiver device (“transceiver”) 108.
`Also included in computer system 100 of FIG. 2 is an
`input device 106 that in one implementation is a stroke or
`character recognition pad (e.g., a “digitiZer”). Input device
`106 can communicate information and command selections
`to processor 101. Input device 106 is capable of registering
`a position Where a stylus (or an element having the func
`tionality of a stylus) makes contact. Input device 106 also
`has the capability of registering movements of a stylus (or an
`element having the functionality of a stylus) across or above
`the surface of input device 106.
`In accordance With the present invention, in one
`embodiment, a stylus can be used for making a stroke or
`inscribing a character on the surface of input device 106. The
`stroke or character information is then fed to a processor 101
`for automatic character recognition. Once the stroke or
`character information is recogniZed, it can be displayed on
`display device 105 for veri?cation and/or modi?cation.
`In accordance With the present invention, stroke informa
`tion entered onto input device 106 can correspond to a
`command that can be used to control a remote device. That
`is, particular strokes or characters can correspond to a
`respective command. A stroke or character is recogniZed by
`processor 101 and translated by processor 101 into a com
`mand for controlling a remote device. The command is then
`transmitted to the remote device over a Wireless connection
`using transceiver 108.
`With reference still to FIG. 2, transceiver 108 is coupled
`to bus 110 and enables computer system 100 to communi
`cate Wirelessly With other electronic devices coupled in a
`piconet or scatternet (refer to FIG. 1). It should be appre
`ciated that Within the present embodiment, transceiver 108
`is coupled to an antenna and provides the functionality to
`transmit and receive information over a Wireless communi
`cation interface. In one embodiment, transceiver 108 is a
`Bluetooth device. Additional information With regard to the
`Bluetooth embodiment is provided in conjunction With
`FIGS. 4A and 4B.
`FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the top-side face
`100a of one embodiment of the portable computer system
`100 (FIG. 2) in accordance With the present invention. The
`top-side face 100a contains one or more dedicated and/or
`programmable buttons 75 for selecting information and
`causing the computer system to implement functions. The
`on/off button 95 is also shoWn.
`In the present embodiment, the top-side face 100a con
`tains a display device 105 typically surrounded by a beZel or
`cover. A removable stylus element 90 is also shoWn. The
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1010 Page 16
`
`
`
`US 6,622,018 B1
`
`7
`display device 105 is a touch screen capable of registering
`contact between the screen and the tip of the stylus element
`90. The top-side face 100a also contains an input device 106
`that in one implementation is a stroke or character recogni
`tion pad. Input device 106 is a touch screen type of device
`capable of registering contact With a tip of stylus element 90,
`and also can register movements of the stylus element. The
`stylus element 90 can be of any shape and material to make
`contact With the display device 105 and input device 106.
`FIGS. 4A and 4B are block diagrams of one embodiment
`of a transceiver 108 in accordance With the present inven
`tion. In a preferred embodiment (the “Bluetooth
`embodiment”, transceiver 108 is a Bluetooth device com
`prising a digital component (e. g., a Bluetooth controller) and
`an analog component (e.g., a Bluetooth radio). In accor
`dance With the present invention, a transceiver 108 is
`coupled via a system bus 110 to a system or device that Will
`be used to control remote devices (e.g., portable computer
`system 100 of FIG. 2). Similarly, a transceiver 108 is
`coupled via a connector 250 to each remote device that is to
`be controlled (e.g., external device 290).
`With reference to both FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the present
`embodiment, transceiver 108 comprises an antenna 205 for
`receiving or transmitting radio signals, a radio frequency
`(RF) module 210, a link controller 220, a microcontroller (or
`central processing unit) 230, and an external interface 240.
`In the Bluetooth embodiment, RF module 210 is a Blue
`tooth radio. Bluetooth radios operate in the ISM (Industrial,
`Scienti?c, Medical) band at 2.4 GHZ. A frequency hop
`transceiver is applied to combat interference and fading.
`Bluetooth uses a packet-sWitching protocol based on a
`frequency hop scheme With 1600 hops/second. Slots can be
`reserved for synchronous packets. A packet nominally cov
`ers a single slot, but can be extended to cover up to ?ve slots.
`Each packet is transmitted in a different hop frequency. The
`entire available frequency spectrum is used With 79 hops of
`one (1) MHZ bandWidth, de?ned analogous to the IEEE
`802.11 standard. The frequency hopping scheme is com
`bined With fast ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request), cyclic
`redundancy check (CRC) and ForWard Error Correction
`(FEC) for data.
`In the present embodiment, link controller 220 is a
`hardWare digital signal processor for performing baseband
`processing as Well as other functions such as Quality-of
`Service, asynchronous transfers, synchronous transfers,
`audio coding, and encryption.
`In one embodiment, microcontroller 230 is an application
`speci?c integrated circuit (ASIC). In the Bluetooth
`embodiment, microcontroller 230 is a separate central pro
`cessing unit (CPU) core for managing transceiver 108 and
`for handling some inquiries and requests Without having to
`involve the host device. In the Bluetooth embodiment,
`microcontroller 230 runs softWare that discovers and com
`municates With other Bluetooth devices via the Link Man
`ager Protocol (LMP). The LMP provides a number of
`services including sending and receiving of data, inquiring
`of and reporting a name or device identi?er, making and
`responding to link address inquiries, connection setup,
`authentication, and link mode negotiation and setup. The
`LMP also can be used to place transceiver 108 in “sniff”
`mode, “hold” mode, “park” mode or “standby” mode (refer
`to FIG. 5 beloW).
`With reference still to FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the present
`embodiment, interface 240 is for coupling transceiver 108 to
`portable computer system 100 or to external device 290 in
`a suitable format (e.g., USB, PCMCIA, PCI, CardBus, PC
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`8
`Card, etc.). In the present embodiment, interface 240 runs
`softWare that alloWs transceiver 108 to interface With por
`table computer system 100 or external device 290.
`FIG. 5 illustrates the different operating modes of a
`Wireless transceiver 108 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) in accordance
`With one embodiment of the present invention. In the
`Bluetooth embodiment, before any connections betWeen
`Bluetooth devices are created, all devices are in standby
`mode (502). In this mode, an unconnected unit “listens” for
`messages at a regular rate (e.g., every 1.28 seconds) on a set
`of hop frequencies de?ned for that unit. The hold mode
`(514) is a poWer saving mode that can be used for connected
`units if no data need to be transmitted. The sniff mode (516)
`and park mode (512) are also loW poWer modes. In the sniff
`mode, a device listens to the piconet at a reduced rate
`(relative to the regular rate), thus reducing its duty cycle.
`The sniff interval is programmable and depends on the
`application. In the park mode, a device is still synchroniZed
`to the piconet but does not participate in the traffic.
`A connection betWeen devices is made by a “page”
`message (506) if the address is already knoWn, or by an
`“inquiry” message (504) folloWed by a subsequent page
`message if the address is unknoWn. When connected (510),
`data can be transmitted (508) betWeen devices.
`FIG. 6 illustrates the How of messages betWeen a con
`trolling device (e.g., portable computer system 100) and
`remote devices to be controlled (610, 620 and 630) in
`accordance With the present embodiment of the present
`invention. In one embodiment, portable computer system
`100 and remote devices 610—630 are Bluetooth devices or
`Bluetooth-enabled devices.
`In the present embodiment, When it is necessary to locate
`and identify compliant devices, portable computer system
`transmits a broadcast message 640 (e. g., an inquiry 504) that
`is received by compliant remote devices 610—630. For
`example, a user With portable computer system 100 enters a
`room containing remote devices 610—630. Portable com
`puter system 100, either automatically or in response to a
`user input, transmits broadcast message 640 for the purpose
`of discovering compl