Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Bertram et al.
`
`[54] MOBILE CLIENT COMPUTER
`PROGRAMMED TO DISPLAY DROP DOWN
`SCROLLING INDICATOR
`
`[75] Inventors: Randal Lee Bertram, Raleigh; David
`Frederick Champion, Durham, both of
`NC.
`
`[73] Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, NY.
`
`US005923861A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,923,861
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`5,493,641
`5,510,808
`5,655,094
`5,659,333
`5,726,687
`
`2/1996 Brown ................................... .. 345/341
`4/1996 Cina, Jr. et a1.
`345/123
`8/1997 Cline et a1. ........................... .. 345/341
`8/1997 Okishima .............................. .. 345/123
`3/1998 Bel?ore et a1. ....................... .. 345/341
`
`Primary Examiner—Steven P. Sax
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm_Bernard D. Bogdon; Daniel E,
`McConnell
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/813,527
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Mar. 7, 1997
`
`[22] Filed:
`[51] Int Cl 6
`[52] Us. Ci ............................................
`I.
`.
`. ........................................... ..
`[58] Fleld of Search
`
`[56]
`
`’
`’
`References Cited
`
`G06F 3/14
`345640
`
`,
`gig/31215’ 3145(2)’
`’
`’
`
`’
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`A display generating system, such as a mobile client com
`puter system, in Which a scroll bar is selectively deployed
`from a less active or “Stored” position to a fully active or
`“extended” position‘ Deployment of the Scroll bar may be by
`an animated process resembling an unrolling. By deploying
`the scroll bar only as required and requested by a user, the
`scroll bar may be enlarged for use and additional functions
`supported.
`
`5,402,152
`
`3/1995 Needham .............................. .. 345/179
`
`52 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 1 of 18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 1 of9
`
`5,923,861
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 2 of 18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 2 of9
`
`5,923,861
`
`FIG. 2
`
`15
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 3 of 18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 3 of9
`
`5,923,861
`
`E
`
`21
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 4 of 18
`
`

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`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 5 of 18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 5 of9
`
`5,923,861
`
`ADC
`
`30\
`
`PC
`CARD
`BAlTERY
`POWER POWER
`&
`comRoL
`
`POWER
`
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`' PC CARD
`
`76\
`>
`
`(,9
`
`CONTROL
`CON
`TROL'
`‘
`
`\
`PERIPHERAL
`MICRO-
`CONIROLLER
`
`POWER
`
`CONTROL
`
`9
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`v
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY
`
`'OWER
`'
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`
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`conmof HOLSTER
`PERIPHERAL
`Cm CONTROLLER
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`BATIERY
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`Pol/ER
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`CONIROL
`CONIROL
`SYSTEM
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`:
`POWER
`ELECTRONICS
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`
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`
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`
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`BATTERY
`CONTROLLER
`Com
`POWER
`HOLSTER
`CONIROLLER
`CONIROL
`POWER ' AND ELECTRON'CS
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 6 of 18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`Sheet 6 0f 9
`
`5,923,861
`
`7a\
`
`FIG. 6
`
`_
`SOFTWARE
`STANDBY
`
`ACTIVE
`HOLSTER PERIPH. LED IS OFF.
`COMPUTER LED IS ON.
`LCD IS ACTIVE.
`
`‘
`SOFIWARE
`SUSPEND
`
`USER
`ENENTS
`
`FULL ACTIVE
`HOLSTER PERIPH. LED IS ON.
`COMPUTER LED IS ON.
`LCD IS ACWE.
`
`SUSRMES.
`BUTTON
`RING INDICATE
`AIARM HMEOUT
`LOW BATTERY
`?MER HMEOUT
`
`81
`\
`
`‘
`
`STANDBY
`
`HOFRMPHEERE'E'HgEE
`LCD IS OFF.
`
`F‘
`
`FULL STANDBY
`HOLSTER PERIPH. LED IS ON.
`COMPUIER LED IS OFF.
`LCD IS OFF.
`
`“MER
`TIME-
`our
`
`\ 75
`
`,
`
`79
`/
`
`SUSPEND
`HOLSTER PERIPH. LED ls OFF.
`COMPUTER LED IS OFF.
`LCD '5 OFF'
`
`;
`
`FULL SUSPEND
`HOLSTER PERIPH. LED IS ON.
`COMPUTER LED IS OFF.
`LCD IS OFF.
`
`ONIOFF SWITCH
`BATIERY REMOVED
`BATTERY DEPLETED
`
`ON/OFF We“
`/ 76
`
`\80
`
`QN/OFF SWITCH
`BAITERY REMOVED
`BATTERY DEPLETED
`
`OFF
`HOLSTER PERIPH. LED IS OFF.
`COMPUIER LED IS OFF.
`LCD IS OFF.
`
`'
`
`‘
`
`HOLSTER PERIPH.
`HOLSTER PERIPH. LED IS ON.
`COMPUTER LED IS OFF.
`LCD IS OFF.
`
`ON/OFF SwrrCH
`ETTTE'E‘QBEEMOPLHEVEDD
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 7 of 18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 7 of9
`
`5,923,861
`
`a1
`/
`
`0"
`
`soFIwARE
`IDLE
`
`a2
`/
`
`IDLE
`
`APPS. ARE AcIIvE.
`_
`' CPU Is IN NORM. HIGH MODE.
`LCD BACKIJGHT IS ON OR OFF. ‘ANY BENT
`PERIPHS. ARE POWER-MANAGED
`
`APPS. ARE STAUC.
`CPU Is IN DozE. HIGH MODE.
`LCD BACKLIGHT ON.
`PERIPHS. ARE POWER-MANAGED
`
`SOFIWARE
`STANDBY
`
`84
`\
`
`my
`EVENT
`
`ONIOFF swncII
`BAUERY REMOVED
`
`soFIwARE
`SUSPEND
`
`SUSP/RES. BUITON
`RING INDICATE
`RIc AIARM
`IIMER TIME-OUT
`LOW BATIERY WARM
`LOW BATIERY SUSR
`
`STANDBY
`
`SUSPEND
`
`APPS. ARE sIAIIc.
`CPU Is IN DozE LOW MODE.
`LCD BACKLlGl-IT OFF.
`PERIPHS. ARE POWER-MANAGED
`
`APPS. ARE STATIC & CHKPTD.
`CPU Is IN SLEEP MODE.
`LCD BACKLIGHT Is OFF.
`PERIPHERALS. ARE OFF.
`
`I
`
`\ as
`
`ON/OFF SWITCH
`ON/QFF S\MTCH
`BATIERY REMOVED
`BAITERY REMOVED
`*
`
`/ 86
`
`ON/OFF swrrcII
`BAIIERY INsIAILED
`Ac CONNECTED
`
`OFF
`
`APPS. ARE CHECKPOINTED.
`CPU IS IN POWER DOWN MODE.
`LCD BACKIJGHT IS OFF.
`PERIPHERALSV ARE OFF.
`
`ON/OFF SWITCH
`4 BAUERY REMOVED
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 8 of 18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13,1999
`
`Sheet 8 of9
`
`5,923,861
`
`NP .GE
`
`NW“ 4
`
`u
`
`F F .QE
`
`[Will 4
`
`o
`
`ll
`
`0? .mvE
`
`HIM" <1
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 9 of 18
`
`

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`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 10 of 18
`
`

`
`1
`MOBILE CLIENT COMPUTER
`PROGRAMMED TO DISPLAY DROP DOWN
`SCROLLING INDICATOR
`
`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. 08/781,004 ?led Jan. 9, 1997,
`entitled “Mobile Client Computer With Keyboard Interface”
`With named inventors T. Aebli, B. Miller and W. W. Vetter;
`Application Ser. No. 08/703,171 ?led Aug. 22, 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 ?led Aug. 22, 1996,
`entitled “Mobile Client Computer Programmed to Exchange
`Lists of Predicted Input” With named inventors R. L. Ber
`tram and W. T. Old?eld;
`Application Serial No. * ?led *, 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 and ?led under Attorney’s Docket
`No. RP9-95-019;
`Application Ser. No. 08/706,990 ?led Aug. 22, 1996,
`entitled “Mobile Client Computer Programmed to Copy
`Lists of Predicted Input” With named inventors R. L.
`Bertram, P. J. Brittenham and D. F. Champion;
`Application Serial No. * ?led *, entitled “Mobile Client
`Computer With Battery Charging Control” With named
`inventors C. Burroughs, B. A. Carpenter, G. O’Neil and R.
`A. Resnick and ?led under Attorney’s Docket No. RP9-95
`024;
`Application Serial No. * ?led *, entitled Mobile Client
`Computer Programmed for Systems Message Display” With
`named inventors R. L. Bertram and D. F. Champion and ?led
`under Attorney’s Docket No. RP9-95-025;
`Application Serial No. * ?led *, entitled “Mobile Client
`Computer Programmed With BroWser Function” With named
`inventors R. L. Bertram and D. F. Champion and ?led under
`Attorney’s Docket No. RP9-95-026;
`Application Serial No. * ?led *, entitled “Mobile Client
`Computer Programmed to Process Table Displays” With
`named inventor R. L. Bertram and ?led under Attorney’s
`Docket No. RP9-95-027;
`Application Serial No. * ?led *, entitled “Mobile Client
`Computer Programmed to Combine Cursor, Control and
`Input Functions” With named inventors P. J. Brittenham and
`L. D. Comerford and ?led under Attorney’s Docket No.
`RP9-95-028;
`Application Serial No. * ?led *, entitled “Mobile Client
`Computer Programmed to Hide Empty Table Elements”
`With named inventor R. L. Bertram and ?led under Attor
`ney’s Docket No. RP9-95-039;
`Application Serial No. * ?led *, entitled “Mobile Client
`Computer With Integrated Cellular Telephone” With named
`inventors B. A. Carpenter, P. Lee, M. Noll and R. Reiland
`and ?led under Attorney’s Docket No. RP9-95-047;
`Application Serial 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 and ?led under Attorney’s Docket No.
`RP9-95-050;
`Application Ser. No. 08/700,608 ?led Aug. 12, 1996,
`entitled “Mobile Client Computer Programmed to Display
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,923,861
`
`2
`Hexagonal Keyboard” With named inventors R. L. Bertram,
`D. F. Champion and L. S. Eichorn;
`Application Ser. No. 08/700,606 ?led Aug. 12, 1996,
`entitled “Mobile Client Computer Programmed to Establish
`Soft Keyboard Targeting” With named inventor R. L. Ber
`tram; and
`Application Ser. No. 08/706,991 ?led Aug. 22, 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. Inquiries Were
`channeled through information managers for handling by
`computer technicians. With the Wide spread use of personal
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 11 of 18
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`

`
`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.
`Persons familiar With the use of systems as described
`above Will also be familiar With the use of scroll bars for
`display or document navigation in graphic user interfaces.
`Scroll bars are commonplace in such interfaces and appli
`cations Which use such interfaces. A vertical scroll bar
`consists of a narroW strip to one side (usually the right side)
`of a WindoW With an up arroW at the top, and doWn arroW
`at the bottom, and a slider or “elevator” in betWeen Which
`moves to indicate the position in a long document of the
`displayed “Window”. Auser can navigate to another portion
`of a document by moving up or doWn sloWly using the
`endpoint arroWs, moving up or doWn a screen at a time by
`selecting (typically by cursor movement and “clic ”) the
`space above or beloW the slider or elevator, or moving
`directly to another location in the document by dragging the
`elevator or slider With a pointing device. A horiZontal scroll
`bar functions similarly, and usually appears across the
`bottom of a WindoWed display.
`Scroll bars implemented as described above suffer from
`dif?culties in use. First, the scroll bar occupies permanent
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`5,923,861
`
`4
`space in the displayed WindoW. Where a display area is large,
`as on a conventional desktop display, this may be a minor
`irritant. Loss of display area becomes signi?cantly more
`important as display area shrinks. Next, if the scroll bar is to
`be activated by anything other than a conventional pointing
`device, such as Would be the case in a system using a
`touchscreen display, the scroll bar must be enlarged.
`Scroll bars are also less than intuitive for unskilled
`computer users. While persons accustomed to using com
`puters Will have learned the signi?cance and use of scroll
`bars, novice users must acquire that knoWledge and skill,
`sloWing broader adoption of computer systems. Only the
`function of the end point direction arroWs is intuitive, and
`even many skilled computer users Will move through a
`displayed document using only that functionality.
`Scroll bars also give little information about the displayed
`document. The space Within a scroll bar fails to convey the
`location of document sections, graphics or other landmarks
`that Would orient a user. Instead, document sections must be
`identi?ed by a “hit or miss” search.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`With the foregoing as background, the present invention
`contemplates a display generating system, such as a mobile
`client computer system, in Which a scroll bar is selectively
`deployed from a less active or “stored” position to a fully
`active or “extended” position. Deployment of the scroll bar
`may be by an animated process resembling an unrolling. By
`deploying the scroll bar only as required and requested by a
`user, the scroll bar may be enlarged for use and additional
`functions supported.
`
`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 diagrammatic representation of relationships
`among a mobile client system as shoWn in FIGS. 1 and 2 and
`supporting peripherals and systems;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic shoWing of certain circuitry ele
`ments embodied in the mobile client of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic shoWing of certain circuitry ele
`ments and their relationships in the mobile client of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 6 is a state diagram of poWer modes for the mobile
`client of FIG. 2 and transitions among them;
`FIG. 7 is a diagram similar to that of FIG. 6 shoWing the
`states of certain elements of the mobile client of FIG. 2 and
`including the status of softWare executing on the mobile
`client;
`FIG. 8 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;
`FIG. 9 is a vieW similar to FIG. 8 shoWing the scroll bar
`of the present invention as incorporated into the display of
`FIG. 8 in a stored or undeployed position; and
`FIGS. 10 through 13 are vieWs similar to FIGS. 8 and 9
`shoWing the scroll bar of this invention deployed into a use
`position and as implementing various additional functions.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 12 of 18
`
`

`
`5,923,861
`
`5
`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 and 2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment
`of a mobile client personal computer system (herein also
`called a “mobile client”) in accordance With this invention
`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 char
`acteristics 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 sup
`porting 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. 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.
`An advantage realiZable With the tripartite organiZation is
`the ready substitution of one radio transceiver for another.
`More particularly, 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 spec
`trum (DS-SS) and resultant code division 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 technologies evolve and gain
`Wider acceptance, the tripartite organiZation Will facilitate
`adapting eXisting tablets 11 to emerging 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.
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`35
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`45
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`55
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`65
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`6
`Turning noW to FIG. 3, 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 a more
`conventional keyboard 16. The keyboard may be, as
`illustrated, Wire tethered to the system 10 When desired for
`use, With the tethering conductors 18 providing signal path
`Ways for data input to reach the system 10. Alternatively, the
`keyboard may be linked for data transfer by other means
`knoWn to persons of skill in the art, such as by an infrared
`link using a knoWn protocol. In the draWing, the system is
`shoWn linked to a printer 19 by an IrDA link for data transfer
`by infrared radiation.
`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, FIG. 4 illustrates one form of organiZation of such
`elements. As there shoWn, the illustrated mobile client
`system 10 has at its core a microprocessor (indicated at 30)
`Which uses reduced instruction set computing (RISC)
`characteristics, The 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 micropro
`cessor also has an interrupt controller 36 and a de?ned
`interface for a variety of services 37. 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 capability 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.
`4 is offered as eXemplary of a system in accordance With this
`invention, it is knoWn the core functionality of such a mobile
`client system can be otherWise con?gured.
`As indicated in FIG. 4, the core microprocessor 30 is
`supported by peripherals. Most importantly, poWer for oper
`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
`RJ-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
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1030
`Page 13 of 18
`
`

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`5,923,861
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`7
`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 FIG. 4 may be varied due to a designer’s 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. 5, 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. 5 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
`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. 6 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
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`45
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`55
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`65
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`8
`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. 6, 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 suspend state, indicated at 79, the
`tablet LED and LCD and the holster LED are dark. Should
`it be appropriate for the radio transceiver to be used While
`the remainder of the tripartite system remains in suspend
`state, then the syste