Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Aebli et al.
`
`[54] HANDHELD COMPUTER WHICH
`ESTABLISHES AN INPUT DEVICE AS
`MASTER OVER THE CPU WHEN IT IS
`COUPLED TO THE SYSTEM
`
`USOO5878276A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,878,276
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`5/1986 Shah et a1. ............................ .. 364/200
`4,589,063
`4,964,075 10/1990 Shaver et a1.
`364/900
`222123353 13133;‘ $11? “311
`ZZZ/Z33
`5,515,514
`5/1996 Dhuey et a1. ......................... .. 395/282
`
`,
`
`,
`
`e s e a. . . . . .
`
`. . . ..
`
`[75] Inventors: Thomas John Aebli, Apex; Brent Alan
`
`2/1996 Michael et al. ....................... .. 395/835
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_ Miller, Cary; William Walter Vetter, Ralelgh, all of NO _ _
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`, , 5 666 530 9/1997 Clark et a1_ 5,671,374 /1997 Rose ............. .. 9/1997 Postman et 211.
`
`
`
`[73] Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, NY
`
`[21] Appl' NO‘: 781’004
`[22]
`Filed;
`Jam 9, 1997
`
`[51] Int. Cl.6 .................................................... .. G06F 13/12
`[52] US. Cl. ........................ .. 395/839; 395/282; 395/283;
`395/836; 395/837; 395/839; 395/883; 395/884;
`395/885; 395/887
`_
`[58] Fleld 0f Search ................................... .. 395/282, 283,
`395/836, 837, 839, 883, 884, 885, 887
`_
`References Clted
`Us PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`5,745,716
`
`4/1998 Tchao et al. .......................... .. 395/350
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2291722 1/1996 United Kingdom .......... .. GO6F 3/023
`Primary Examiner—Thomas C. Lee
`Assistant Examiner—Douglas Rupert
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Bernard D. Bogdon; Daniel E.
`McConnell
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A computer system, and particularly a handheld mobile
`Client system, in Which a user input device such as a
`keyboard or a scanner, coupled by a tethering conductor or
`a Wireless link such as an infrared radiation link, functions
`as a master While the central processing unit of the system
`functions as a slave in receiving input digital signals.
`
`4,079,452
`
`3/1978 Larson et a1. ......................... .. 364/200
`
`20 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`APPLICATION
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`TRANSLATE
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`CODE
`
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`
`USER INPUT DEVICE
`WITH MICROCONTROLLER
`
`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 0f 11
`
`5,878,276
`
`FIG. 1
`
`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 0f 11
`
`5,878,276
`
`FIG. 2
`
`7“
`
`11
`
`15
`
`12
`
`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 0f 11
`
`5,878,276
`
`FIG. 3
`
`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 4 0f 11
`
`5,878,276
`
`FIG. 4
`
`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 0f 11
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`5,878,276
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`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 6
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`

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`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 7 0f 11
`
`5,878,276
`
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`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 8
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
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`Sheet 8 0f 11
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`5,878,276
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`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 9
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 9 0f 11
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`5,878,276
`
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`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 10
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 10 0f 11
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`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet 11 0f 11
`
`5,878,276
`
`APPLICATION
`
`TRANSLATE
`
`DEVICE
`DRNER
`
`92
`
`COMM'N
`INT. HDLR.
`
`UI_DETECT
`INT. HDLR.
`
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`WITH MICROCONTROLLER
`
`A
`
`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 12
`
`

`
`1
`HANDHELD COMPUTER WHICH
`ESTABLISHES AN INPUT DEVICE AS
`MASTER OVER THE CPU WHEN IT IS
`COUPLED TO THE SYSTEM
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is one of a series of related applications
`assigned to common oWnership. Other applications in the
`series include:
`application Ser. No. 08/703,171 still pending ?led 22 Aug.
`1996, entitled “Mobile Client Computer Programmed to
`Predict Input” With named inventors R. L. Bertram, D. F.
`Champion and P. Brittenham;
`application Ser. No. 08/708,168 now US. Pat. No. 5,805,
`159 ?led 22 Aug. 1996, entitled “Mobile Client Computer
`Programmed to Exchange Lists of Predicted Input” With
`named inventors R. L. Bertram and W. T. Old?eld;
`application Ser. No. 08/814,034 still pending ?led 10 Mar.
`1997 entitled “Mobile Client Computer Interacting With
`Docking Device” With named inventors E. H. Booth, B. A.
`Carpenter, R. B. Ferrier, R. A. Resnick and W. W. Vetter;
`application Ser. No. 08/706,990 now US. Pat. No. 5,805,
`158 ?led 22 Aug. 1996, entitled “Mobile Client Computer
`Programmed to Copy Lists of Predicted Input” With named
`inventors R. L. Bertram, P. J. Brittenham and D. F. Cham
`pion;
`application Ser. No. 08/963,475 still pending ?led 3 Nov.
`1997, entitled “Mobile Client Computer With Battery Charg
`ing Control” With named inventors C. Burroughs, B. A.
`Carpenter, G. O’Neil and R. A. Resnick;
`application Ser. No. 08/813,148 still pending ?led 7 Mar.
`1997, entitled “Mobile Client Computer Programmed for
`Systems Message Display” With named inventors R. L.
`Bertram and D. F. Champion;
`application Ser. No. 08/960,917 ?led 30 Oct. 1997 still
`pending, entitled “Mobile Client Computer Programmed
`With BrosWer Function” With named inventors R. L. Bertram
`and D. F. Champion;
`application Ser. No. 08/813,522 now US. Pat. No. 5,812,
`131 ?led 7 Mar. 1997, entitled “Mobile Client Computer
`Programmed to Process Table Displays” With named inven
`tor R. L. Bertram;
`application Ser. No. 08/807,969 still pending ?led 3 Mar.
`1997, entitled “Mobile Client Computer Programmed to
`Combine Cursor, Control and Input Functions” With named
`inventors P. J. Brtiienham and L. D. Comerford;
`application Ser. No. 08/813,527 still pending ?led 7 Mar.
`1997, entitled “Mobile Client Computer Programmed to
`Display Drop DoWn Scrolling Indicator” With named inven
`tors R. L. Bertram and D. F. Champion;
`application Ser. No. 08/813,521 now US. Pat. No. 5,790,
`118 ?led 7 Mar. 1997, entitled “Mobile Client Computer
`Programmed to Hide Empty Table Elements” With named
`inventor R. L. Bertram;
`application Ser. No. 08/959,997 still pending ?led 29 Oct.
`1997, entitled “Mobile Client Computer With Integrated
`Cellular Telephone” With named inventors B. A. Carpenter,
`P. Lee, M. Noll and R. Reiland;
`application Ser. No. * ?led *, entitled “Mobile Client
`Computer With Holster for Integrating a Radio Transceiver”
`With named inventors D. H. Boehm, B. A. Carpenter, D. J.
`Hunt and M. S. Miller;
`application Ser. No. 08/700,608 now US. Pat. No. 5,805,
`157 ?led 12 Aug. 1996, entitled “Mobile Client Computer
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,878,276
`
`2
`Programmed to Display Hexagonal Keyboard” With named
`inventors R. L. Bertram, D. F. Champion and L. S. Eichorn;
`application Ser. No. 08/700,606 now US. Pat. No. 5,801,
`941 ?led 12 Aug. 1996, entitled “Mobile Client Computer
`Programmed to Establish Soft Keyboard Targeting” With
`named inventor R. L. Bertram; and
`application Ser. No. 08/706,991 now US. Pat. No. 5,784,
`066 ?led 22 Aug. 1996, entitled “Mobile Client Computer
`Programmed to Display Lists and Hexagonal Keyboard”
`With named inventors R. L. Bertram and D. F. Champion.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Personal computer systems in general and IBM personal
`computers in particular have attained Widespread use for
`providing computer poWer to many segments of today’s
`modern society. Personal computer systems can usually be
`de?ned as a desk top, ?oor standing, or portable microcom
`puter that consists of a system unit having a single system
`processor and associated volatile and non-volatile memory,
`a display monitor, a keyboard, one or more diskette drives,
`a ?xed disk storage, and an optional printer. One of the
`distinguishing characteristics of these systems is the use of
`a motherboard or system planar to electrically connect these
`components together. These systems are designed primarily
`to give independent computing poWer to a single user and
`are inexpensively priced for purchase by individuals or
`small businesses. Examples of such personal computer
`systems are the personal computer systems offered by IBM
`and identi?ed as the PERSONAL COMPUTER AT, PER
`SONAL SYSTEM/2, PS/1, Aptiva, and the like. Persons of
`skill in the computer arts Will be familiar With these systems.
`These systems can be classi?ed into tWo general families.
`The ?rst family, usually referred to as Family I Models, use
`a bus architecture exempli?ed by the IBM PERSONAL
`COMPUTER AT and other “IBM compatible” machines.
`The second family, referred to as Family II Models, use
`IBM’s MICRO CHANNEL bus architecture exempli?ed by
`IBM’s PERSONAL SYSTEM/2 Models 50 through 95. The
`Family I models originally used the popular INTEL 8088 or
`8086 microprocessor as the system processor. These pro
`cessors have the ability to address one megabyte of memory.
`The Family II models typically used the high speed INTEL
`80286, 80386, and 80486 microprocessors Which can oper
`ate in a real mode to emulate the sloWer speed INTEL 8086
`microprocessor or a protected mode Which extends the
`addressing range from 1 megabyte to 4 Gigabytes for some
`models. In essence, the real mode feature of the 80286,
`80386, and 80486 processors provide hardWare compatibil
`ity With softWare Written for the 8086 and 8088 micropro
`cessors. As the state of the art has progressed, Family I
`systems have developed toWard ever higher capability cen
`tral processor units, including the Intel PENTIUM brand
`microprocessor and its competitors, Reduced Instruction Set
`Computing (RISC) microprocessors such as the IBM and
`Motorola PoWer PC processors, and higher capability bus
`designs such as VESA and PCI bus designs. Again, persons
`of skill in the computer arts Will be familiar With these
`systems.
`The impact of such development on the manner in Which
`computing is done in business and consumer environments
`has been profound. Prior to the development of personal
`computer systems, most use of computers Was for business
`purposes only and data processing Was done in the “glass
`house” Which housed the computer system. Inquires Were
`channeled through information managers for handling by
`computer technicians. With the Wide spread use of personal
`
`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 13
`
`

`
`5,878,276
`
`3
`computer systems access to data once maintained on an
`enterprise Wide computer system became important to man
`agers and ultimately line employees. Networks of personal
`computer systems greW up, With layered access through
`netWork servers to the enterprise systems or mainframes on
`Which enterprise data is stored.
`As information Work has spread to an increasing number
`of information Workers and impacted the Work of more Wide
`spread groups of employees Within an enterprise, need for
`mobility of such employees has arisen. Particularly in such
`“outside” jobs as route salesperson, transport driver, or
`business consultant, it has become important to have access,
`While remote from an enterprise site, to enterprise data
`normally maintained on an enterprise system and accessed
`through a netWork of computer systems. Such access has
`been achieved, in part, through the use of Wireline connected
`personal computer systems such as notebook or laptop
`computer systems. Typically, such a system may be
`equipped With a modem and communications softWare such
`that, When connected to a public sWitched telephone net
`Work (PSTN), the system may be connected With a support
`ing server or mainframe and a user may gain access to
`desired data.
`With the development of radio communications such as
`exempli?ed by the cellular telephone netWorks, the possi
`bility arose of eliminating the Wireline connection betWeen
`a personal computer system and a supporting server. Such
`systems have been developed, particularly for systems used
`in retail and Warehousing businesses, Which permit a user to
`move freely Within an area Which has radio transceiver
`service While remaining in intermittent or continuous con
`tact With a data channel through Which data may be
`exchanged With a server or mainframe supporting an enter
`prise activity. For purposes of discussion here, such systems
`in the hands of user Will be referred to as “mobile client
`systems”. A mobile client system is distinguished by the
`mobility of the user, Who is free of the restraints against
`movement imposed by a Wireline connection, and by the
`client nature of the system in that enterprise data accessed by
`the mobile client system is maintained on a server or
`mainframe computer system With Which the mobile client is
`in communication. Such mobile client systems are also
`sometimes referred to as personal communications assis
`tants or personal digital assistants. The interested reader is
`referred to “Wireless: The Revolution in Personal Telecom
`munications” by Ira Brodsky (Artech House, Boston, 1995)
`for additional background and information about mobile
`client systems.
`As Will be understood, the environments of use of mobile
`client systems typically require that such systems be poW
`ered by batteries. Long service life per battery charge is
`dependent upon demands made on the batteries for poWer.
`Thus designing for reduced poWer demand is signi?cant in
`the development of such systems.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`With the foregoing as background, the present invention
`contemplates a mobile client system in Which provision is
`made for decreased poWer demand in connection With the
`use of a user data entry device such as a keyboard. Further,
`the present invention contemplates that ?exibility in the
`adoption and use of a range of input devices and keyboards
`be accomplished.
`In realiZing this purpose of the present invention, a very
`simple interface is accomplished Which supports loW poWer
`consumption and the ability to dynamically connect or
`
`4
`disconnect a user input device such as a keyboard from the
`mobile client system While alloWing the input device to be
`self-identifying to the system and adopt any subset or
`superset of the functions and keys provided on an conven
`tional personal computer keyboard. The interface, as to both
`hardWare and softWare, is sufficiently generic that peripher
`als With differing functions, such as bar code scanners,
`magnetic stripe readers, and an automotive connection, can
`be accommodated.
`
`10
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Some of the purposes of the invention having been stated,
`others Will appear as the folloWing description proceeds,
`When taken in connection With the accompanying draWings,
`in Which:
`FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective vieW of certain ele
`ments of a mobile client computer system in accordance
`With this invention;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective vieW of the mobile client system
`of FIG. 1 as assembled for use;
`FIG. 3 is a vieW similar to FIG. 2 shoWing an alternate
`form of organiZation for the mobile client system of FIGS.
`1 and 2;
`FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of relationships
`among a mobile client system as shoWn in FIGS. 1 through
`3 and supporting peripherals and systems;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic shoWing of certain circuitry ele
`ments embodied in the mobile client of FIGS. 2 and 3;
`FIG. 6 is a vieW similar to FIG. 5 shoWing alternate
`circuitry elements;
`FIG. 7 is a schematic shoWing of certain circuitry ele
`ments and their relationships in the mobile client of FIGS.
`2 and 3;
`FIG. 8 is a state diagram of poWer modes for the mobile
`client of FIGS. 2 and 3 and transitions among them;
`FIG. 9 is a diagram similar to that of FIG. 8 shoWing the
`states of certain elements of the mobile client of FIGS. 2 and
`3 and including the status of softWare executing on the
`mobile client;
`FIG. 10 is an illustration of the display screen of the
`mobile client of FIG. 2 While driven by the execution of an
`application program on the mobile client to display certain
`data; and
`FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of the softWare and
`hardWare components of a keyboard and interface as con
`templated by this invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT(S)
`While the present invention Will be described more fully
`hereinafter With reference to the accompanying draWings, in
`Which preferred embodiments of the present invention are
`shoWn, it is to be understood at the outset of the description
`Which folloWs that persons of skill in the appropriate arts
`may modify the invention here described While still achiev
`ing the favorable results of this invention. Accordingly, the
`description Which folloWs is to be understood as being a
`broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of skill in the
`appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the present inven
`tion.
`Referring noW more particularly to the accompanying
`Figures, FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate an exemplary embodi
`ment of a mobile client personal computer system (herein
`also called a “mobile client”) in accordance With this inven
`
`SCEA Ex. 1021 Page 14
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`

`
`5,878,276
`
`5
`tion and indicated generally at 10. As Will become more
`clear from the description Which follows, the mobile client
`may have a variety of characteristics While remaining Within
`the contemplation of this invention. Central among those
`characteristics is that the system have provision for the
`capability of communicating at least data, possibly both data
`and audio such as voice, betWeen the mobile client system
`and supporting servers and mainframes. In the illustrated
`embodiment, such capability is provided by providing a
`system Which is separable into three distinct components,
`namely a system tablet 11, a holster 12 and a radio trans
`ceiver 13. In the form illustrated, the transceiver 13 is a
`cellular telephone Which may be mounted Within the holster
`12, While the holster 12 may be connected With the system
`tablet 11 by slipping the tablet into a receptacle provided in
`the holster 12. The system tablet may optionally have an
`integrated keypad. While thus illustrated and here described
`as a three component system, it Will be understood that many
`of the advantages of this invention as described hereinafter
`can be realiZed Where the mobile client system 10 is uni?ed.
`That is, Where the radio transceiver 13 is integrated With the
`system tablet 11 and the connection therebetWeen is accom
`plished Within a single cover for the system, apart from any
`use of a holster 12. The transceiver/holster/tablet organiZa
`tion provides certain advantages in some circumstances.
`HoWever, it is to be understood that the invention can be
`practiced apart from this particular organiZation.
`The distinctions betWeen the systems of FIGS. 2 and 3 lies
`in the direct inclusion, in the system of FIG. 3, of a keypad
`apart from a touchscreen implementation of entry ?elds.
`This illustrates the ?exibility of providing for both types of
`user input.
`An advantage realiZable With the tripartite organiZation is
`the ready substitution of one radio transceiver for another in
`order to accommodate various Wide area netWorks (WANs)
`or local area netWorks (LANs). More particularly and as
`examples of WAN technology, While digital data and analog
`audio can be exchanged over a cellular telephone radio
`interface, With data using cellular digital packet data
`(CDPD) protocols, there are other possibilities. Among them
`can be digital radio techniques such as frequency division
`multiple access (FDMA) and time division multiple access
`(TDMA); spread spectrum technologies such as direct
`sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) and resultant code divi
`sion multiple access (CDMA); frequency hopping spread
`spectrum (FH-SS); and the combination of one of more of
`these technologies into What are knoWn as advanced mobile
`phone systems (AMPS) or advanced radio data information
`service (ARDIS) or RAM Mobile Data. As these technolo
`gies evolve and gain Wider acceptance, the tripartite orga
`niZation Will facilitate adapting existing tablets 11 to emerg
`ing radio transceivers 13, and thereby protect the investment
`of users in systems. HoWever, for certain environments such
`as adverse ambient conditions of temperature, humidity, or
`exposure to shock as by dropping, a uni?ed system With
`transceiver and tablet and supporting circuitry in a single
`cover may be a preferred choice.
`Turning noW to FIG. 4, What is there schematically
`indicated is the relationships among a system 10 in accor
`dance With the invention and supporting servers and periph
`erals. More particularly, While the tablet 11 (as described
`more fully hereinafter) is normally adapted for input by a
`user through a touchscreen 15 embodied in a backlit liquid
`crystal display, the system 10 can accommodate other user
`input devices including a more conventional keyboard 16
`and a bar code scanner 17. The user input device may be, as
`illustrated, Wire tethered to the system 10 When desired for
`
`10
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`6
`use, With the tethering conductors 18 providing signal path
`Ways for data input to reach the system 10. As Will be
`expanded upon hereinafter, the present subject invention is
`particularly concerned With an interface for such a user input
`device. Alternatively, a keyboard or other device such as the
`scanner may be linked for data transfer by other means
`knoWn to persons of skill in the art, such as by direct
`integration as described above or an infrared link using a
`knoWn protocol. By Way of example and as illustrated in the
`draWing, the system is shoWn linked to a printer 19 by an
`IrDA link for data transfer by infrared radiation. While this
`is exemplary of an output device, similar technology is
`useful for linking an input device.
`As indicated above, the radio transceiver provides a radio
`frequency link to a server indicated at 20, Which may
`communicate by Wireline With supporting mainframe data
`storage 21. Data relevant to the operation of the entire
`enterprise Will be maintained on the supporting mainframe,
`and made available to the mobile client 10 in accordance
`With this and the above identi?ed related inventions.
`Turning noW to the circuitry elements Which together
`accomplish the processing of data in accordance With this
`invention, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate forms of organiZation of
`such elements.
`As shoWn in FIG. 5, Which is someWhat simpli?ed for
`purposes of illustration, the circuitry elements Will include a
`central processing unit (CPU) and an associated input/output
`controller (IOC). The input/output controller is a program
`mable microcontroller Which may be partitioned as a portion
`of the central processing unit, as is knoWn to persons skilled
`in the design and fabrication of microprocessors. In the
`accompanying draWings, the IOC is sometimes identi?ed as
`a peripheral microcontroller or by the acronym CPM. Cer
`tain of the elements provided, such as a memory controller,
`memory, a PCMCIA controller and associated card (if
`present) Will be operatively coupled to the CPU and acces
`sible to both the CPU and IOC. Others of the provided
`elements, such as the touchpanel control, user input devices,
`serial and audio ports and the transceiver interface, Will be
`operatively coupled to the IOC and gain access to the CPU
`through the IOC.
`As shoWn in FIG. 6, the illustrated mobile client system
`10 has at its core a central processing unit (CPU) in the form
`of a microprocessor (indicated at 30) Which uses reduced
`instruction set computing (RISC) characteristics, The CPU
`or processor has elements Which include a controller 31 for
`a liquid crystal display; a controller 32 for peripherals of the
`type knoWn as PCCards or PCMCIA cards; instruction/data
`cache 33; an interface to memory and an external bus 34;
`and a real time clock 35. The microprocessor also has an
`interrupt controller 36 and an input/output controller core 37
`Which de?nes interfaces for a variety of services. While here
`disclosed as a single processor chip having these
`characteristics, it is knoWn from the manufacture and use of
`prior art computer systems that such computational capa
`bility and interface availability can be reached by other
`means, such as the use of an Intel X86 based processor
`surrounded by appropriate support logic or chips. Thus
`While the embodiment of FIG. 6 is offered as exemplary of
`a system in accordance With this invention, it is knoWn that
`the core functionality of such a mobile client system can be
`otherWise con?gured. Similarly, While here described With
`reference to a handheld mobile client system, the function
`ality here described is attainable in other more conventional
`systems such as a desktop or notebook system.
`As indicated in FIG. 6, the core microprocessor 30 is
`supported by peripherals. Most importantly, poWer for oper
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`ating of the system is supplied from a battery 40. Preferably,
`the battery 40 is of the type known as a “smart” battery, in
`Which provision is made for self monitoring by the battery
`of charge state and recharge progress. Such batteries are
`knoWn and Will provide signals to the mobile client system
`processor 30 Which can be used to generate indications to a
`user of the battery charge state, readiness for re-use after
`charging, etc. The mobile client also preferably has a con
`ventional modem 41, for use When connected by Wireline,
`and a telephone interconnection point 42 (indicated as an
`R] -11 connector). Memory for the system is provided by a
`?ash memory accessory card 44; by dynamic random access
`memory (DRAM) 45; and by core ?ash memory 46.
`Preferably, a pair of PCMCIA slots, of type 11, are provided
`as shoWn at 48 and 49 for the addition of other functionality.
`In order to display the result of data handling operations
`performed by the mobile client system, the system 10 has an
`LCD 15 as mentioned above. The LCD is overlain by a
`suitable touchscreen 50 Which functions as a digitiZer to
`recogniZe When input is made by a user. There Will be further
`discussion of this functionality later in this description. Input
`from the touchscreen, as from the battery and a temperature
`sensor, passes through an analog/digital converter 51 to an
`input/output (I/O) port of the processor 30. Other I/O ports
`of the processor 30 provide for connection to a keyboard as
`described above; an IrDA port 52, an audio CODEC 54 and
`associated speaker 55 and microphone 56; and an interface
`connector 58 for the radio transceiver 13.
`As Was pointed out hereinabove, it is to be understood that
`the speci?c organiZation of functions here described With
`reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 may be varied due to a designers
`choice of functions to be supported, processor core, and
`support logic.
`As mentioned above, the mobile client system 10 obtains
`poWer from a battery. While such operation is appropriate
`for mobility, provision is made for support of the system 10
`by connection to more conventional poWer sources in the
`form of alternating current electrical mains. Such poWer
`sources are identi?ed at 60 in FIG. 7, to Which reference is
`had in the folloWing description of poWer management
`relationships. As Will be understood, the management of
`poWer usage by a mobile client system is signi?cant With
`regard to usability of the system.
`FIG. 7 illustrates the organiZation of peripherals around
`the processor 30 from the perspective of poWer sources and
`consumption. The poWer management topology is such that
`poWer ?oWs to the processor 30 in the tablet 11 from the
`main battery 40, While separate ?oWs of poWer and control
`impact the holster 12, any radio transceiver 13 mounted in
`the holster, and any PCCard accessories used by the system.
`This division of poWer ?oWs is of signi?cance to the mobile
`client system 10 here described. More particularly, a sepa
`rate battery 61 is provided in the holster 12. The holster
`battery 61 preferably is a “smart” battery, and has associated
`thereWith in the holster 12 a battery controller 62, a holster
`peripheral controller 63, and associated circuitry 64 effective
`to interface the data streams ?oWing to and from the
`processor 30 With the radio transceiver 13. Thus, While
`circuitry in the holster 12 and transceiver 13 is under the
`control of the processor 30 (as Will be pointed out more fully
`hereinafter), the poWer source is at least someWhat indepen
`dent of the tablet 11. This is a signi?cant division. When the
`tablet is engaged With a holster, the circuitry in the tWo
`components cooperates in management of the Whole. When
`a transceiver 13 (Which, if a conventional cellular telephone,
`may have its oWn poWer source and poWer management
`techniques) is positioned in the holster 12, then the trans
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`15
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`55
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`8
`ceiver 13 may also have a coordinated role in participating
`in poWer management for the tripartite system.
`Turning more particularly to the tablet 11, that system Will
`have controller circuitry 66 for the battery 40 and a poWer
`supply 68 to Which the battery 40 supplies poWer for
`operation of the tablet 11. In the present system, provision is
`made for a separate microcontroller 69 to exercise control
`over the poWer supply in order to off-load certain require
`ments from the core processor 30. The microcontroller
`receives input from the processor 30 and from a converter
`70. The processor 30 and converter 70 are supported, for
`minimal functions, by a battery 71 for the real time clock 35.
`The RTC battery 71 assures that the tablet system Will Wake
`up When called as described more fully hereinafter.
`Turning noW from the hardWare topology to a discussion
`of the poWer modes and transition events for the mobile
`client system 10, FIG. 8 is one illustration of such modali
`ties. For purposes of the folloWing description, it should be
`noted that a user of the mobile client system Will be provided
`With indicators for the levels of activity of the system.
`Typically, such indicators or annunciators Will be in the form
`of light emitting diodes (LEDs), as such devices are readily
`available, inexpensive, and knoWn to most users of technical
`devices. The tripartite system may be provided With an
`indicator for the tablet 11, and indicator for the holster 12,
`and an indicator for the transceiver 13. In FIG. 8, distinc
`tions are draWn betWeen states of activity Which re?ect
`differing levels of activity betWeen the tablet 11 and holster
`12, and an assumption is made that the system illustrated is
`a tripartite system With tablet and holster joined.
`With this background in mind, the fully active state of the
`system Will have both the tablet 11 and the holster 12 fully
`activated as indicated by illumination of the corresponding
`LEDs and the backlit LCD 15. That state is indicated at 75.
`The completely opposite state, With all components poWered
`doWn (as if When all batteries have been removed), is
`indicated at 76, and Would result in all LEDs and the backlit
`LCD being unilluminated. From the state of being fully
`active, a user may elect to turn off the holster 12, either by
`operating a sWitch provided for that purpose or by inter
`rupting a necessary interconnection through separating the
`holster from the tablet or the radio transceiver from the
`holster. In such an event, the tablet LED and LCD may
`remain illuminated (as the tablet remains active) While the
`holster LED becomes unilluminated (indicated at 78). The
`mobile client may be capable of data processing using data
`stored in memory, yet be disconnected (intermittently or
`temporarily) from the supporting servers 20 and data storage
`21. Upon an occurrence determined by softWare executing
`on the mobile client system, the system may enter a state
`knoWn as suspend. In the suspen