United States Patent [19]
`Alley et al.
`
`US005845282A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,845,282
`*Dec. 1, 1998
`
`[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`REMOTELY ACCESSING FILES FROM A
`DESKTOP COMPUTER USING A PERSONAL
`DIGITAL ASSISTANT
`
`[75] Inventors: Peter E. Alley, Saratoga; Joseph G.
`Ansanelli, Palo Alto, both of Calif.
`
`[73] Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino,
`Calif.
`
`[*] Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros
`ecution application ?led under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 511,978
`[22]
`Filed:
`Aug. 7, 1995
`
`[51] Int. Cl.6 .................................................... .. G06F 17/30
`[52] US. Cl. ...................... .. 707/10; 707/104; 395/200.62
`[58] Field of Search ............................. .. 395/200.03, 650,
`395/200, 500, 169, 170, 400, 601, 616,
`610, 615, 604, 200.01, 825, 200.62; 382/69;
`364/200, 708; 345/173; 178/19; 380/25;
`707/10, 104
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1987 Ouimette ................................. .. 382/69
`4,653,112
`8/1987 Greanias et a1. .
`178/19
`4,686,332
`9/1988 Kollin et a1.
`364/200
`4,774,655
`4/1991 Greanias et a1. .
`380/25
`5,007,085
`5,175,854 12/1992 Cheung et a1. ..
`395/650
`5,224,060
`6/1993 Ma ........................................ .. 364/708
`5,309,564
`5/1994 Bradley et a1. ....................... .. 395/200
`5,313,578
`5/1994 Handorf ..... ..
`395/200
`5,329,619
`7/1994 Page et a1.
`395/200
`5,471,318 11/1995 Ahuja e161. ..
`358/400
`5,471,615 11/1995 Amatsu et a1. .................. .. 395/200.03
`
`5,519,851
`
`5/1996 Bender et a1. ........................ .. 395/500
`
`5,561,446 10/1996 Montlick . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 345/173
`
`395/169
`5,577,177 11/1996 Collins et a1.
`395/20001
`5,579,481 11/1996 Drerup ......... ..
`5,583,978 12/1996 Collins et a1. ........................ .. 395/170
`5,592,657
`1/1997 Johnson et a1. ....................... .. 395/200
`5,630,168
`5/1997 Rosebrugh et a1. .................. .. 395/825
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Schilit et al, The PARCTAB Mobile Computing System,
`IEEE, pp. 34—39, Oct. 1993.
`Christopher et a1, Overview of Nine Evaluations of Pen
`Based Computers, PC Magazine, v12, n17, printed pp.
`16—29, Oct. 1993.
`John RiZZo, Windows in a Mac World, Mar. 1993, MacUser.
`Farallon, “Connect Your PC to a Macintosh Network,” 1993,
`Product Literature for Timbuktu for Windows.
`Farallon, “Remote Control and File Transfer for Networks,”
`1993, Product Literature for Timbuktu Pro for Macintosh.
`Farallon, “Your AppleTalk Connect for DOS and Windows,”
`1992—1994, Product Literature for PhoneNET PC 3.1.
`Farallon, User’s Manual to Timbuktu Remote, 1991, Chap
`ter 5, pp. 63—74.
`
`Primary Examiner—Paul R. LintZ
`Assistant Examiner—FrantZ Coby
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Beyer & Weaver, LLP
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and apparatus for selecting and retrieving com
`puter data ?les from a remote computer includes an auto
`matic ?le translation mechanism. In one embodiment, the
`data being retrieved and the ?le translation mechanism are
`located on the same computer. The method of the invention
`includes establishing a data transfer link with the remote
`computer, displaying the ?les available for retrieval from the
`remote computer, selecting a ?le to be transferred, and
`translating the ?le prior to transfer. In one embodiment, the
`apparatus includes a pen-based computer and the remote
`computer is a desktop computer.
`
`19 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`166
`
`Page 1 of 21
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`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1025
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`

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`Dec. 1, 1998
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`Sheet 1 0f 12
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`5,845,282
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`cm
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`22E
`
`EOPUNZZOU
`
`
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`Page 2 of 21
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`Dec. 1,1998
`Dec. 1, 1998
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`Sheet 2 0f 12
`Sheet 2 0f 12
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`5,845,282
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
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`5,845,282
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`Page 3 of 21
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 1,1998
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`Sheet 3 0f 12
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`5,845,282
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`W/134
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`152"
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`Page 4 of 21
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 1,1998
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`Sheet 4 0f 12
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`5,845,282
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`w 230E
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`Page 5 of 21
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 1,1998
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`Sheet 5 0f 12
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`5,845,282
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`182
`
`180
`
`/
`
`Establish
`Connection
`
`Select
`File '
`
`r190
`
`Figure 5
`
`Perform
`Function On
`Selected File
`
`No
`
`Yes a
`
`192
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`194
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`Page 6 of 21
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 1,1998
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`Sheet 6 0f 12
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`5,845,282
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`200
`
`202
`
`START
`184
`
`r204
`
`Pass
`Protocols
`
`|___
`|
`Display
`I
`User Options
`|
`|
`
`208
`
`Figure 6
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`Page 7 of 21
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`Dec. 1, 1998
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`Sheet 7 0f 12
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`5,845,282
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`“LENGTH”
`
`'0
`1:
`lm
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`9
`
`US. Patent
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`“DOCK”
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`Page 8 of 21
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 1, 1998
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`Sheet 8 0f 12
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`5,845,282
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`240
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`242
`
`{244
`
`Get Current
`Directory Path
`
`l
`
`r246
`
`Get Directory
`Contents
`
`l
`
`K- 248
`
`Display
`Directory
`Contents
`
`250
`
`Figure 8
`
`Page 9 of 21
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 1, 1998
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`Sheet 9 0f 12
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`5,845,282
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`262
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`264
`
`User
`Selection
`Action?
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`266
`
`268
`
`260
`
`272
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`Action On
`Selected File?
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`270
`
`Folder
`Selected?
`
`Yes
`
`278
`\
`Send Name
`of Selected
`Folder to
`Desktop
`
`-
`
`No
`
`274
`
`Yes
`
`Figure 9A
`
`No
`
`276 \
`
`> Implement
`Action
`
`<"_—‘
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`Page 10 of 21
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 1,1998
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`Sheet 10 0f 12
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`5,845,282
`
`r 280
`
`Send
`“Get Info”
`Command to
`Desktop
`
`K- 282
`
`Display
`File Info
`
`<______
`
`File
`Closed?
`
`284
`
`Figure 9B
`
`Page 11 of 21
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 1,1998
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`Sheet 11 0f 12
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`5,845,282
`
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`Dec. 1, 1998
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`5,845,282
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`Page 13 of 21
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`

`

`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`REMOTELY ACCESSING FILES FROM A
`DESKTOP COMPUTER USING A PERSONAL
`DIGITAL ASSISTANT
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to computer sys
`tems and to communication betWeen desktop and pen-based
`computer systems. More particularly, the present invention
`provides a method and apparatus for transferring and trans
`lating ?les from a desktop computer to a remote pen-based
`portable computer system.
`Computers are becoming increasingly poWerful,
`lightWeight, and portable. The computing poWer of comput
`ers that once ?lled entire rooms is noW residing on a desktop.
`Laptop, notebook, and sub-notebook computers are virtually
`as poWerful as their desktop counterparts. Even smaller
`hand-held computers are noW capable of computing tasks
`that required much larger machines a feW short years ago.
`As a part of this trend, computeriZed personal organiZers
`are becoming increasingly popular With a large segment of
`the population. ComputeriZed personal organiZers tend to be
`small, lightWeight, relatively inexpensive, and can perform
`such functions as keeping a calendar, an address book, a
`to-do list, etc. While many of these functions can also be
`provided in conventional computer systems, personal orga
`niZers are very Well suited to the personal organiZation task
`due to their small siZe and portability. Personal organiZers
`are available from many companies including Sharp and
`Casio of Japan.
`A relatively neW form of computer, the pen-based com
`puter system, holds forth the promise of a marriage of the
`poWer of a general purpose desktop computer With the
`functionality and small siZe of a personal organiZer. An
`eXample of a pen-based computer system is the Newton@
`120 pen-based computer made and marketed by Apple
`Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.
`Apen-based computer system is typically a small, hand
`held computer Where the primary method for inputting data
`includes a “pen” or stylus. Apen-based computer system is
`commonly housed in a generally rectangular enclosure, and
`is provided With a dual-function display assembly that can
`serve as both an input device and an output device. When
`operating as an input device or “tablet”, the display assem
`bly senses the position of the tip of a stylus on the vieWing
`screen and provides this positional information to the com
`puter’s central processing unit (CPU). Some display assem
`blies can also sense the pressure of the stylus on the screen
`to provide further information to the CPU. When operating
`as an output device, the display assembly presents computer
`generated images on the screen.
`The dual-function display assemblies of pen-based com
`puter systems permit users to operate the computer as a
`computeriZed notepad, among other functions. For eXample,
`graphical images can be input into the pen-based computer
`by merely moving the stylus on the surface of the screen. As
`the CPU senses the position and movement of the stylus, it
`generates a corresponding image on the screen to create the
`illusion that the stylus is draWing the image directly upon the
`screen, i.e., that the stylus is “inking” an image on the
`screen. By “ink” it is meant that piXels on the screen are
`activated in such a manner that it appears that the stylus is
`leaving a trail of ink on the display assembly. With suitable
`recognition softWare, the “ink” can be recogniZed to input
`teXt, numerics, graphics, and other recogniZed information
`into the pen-based system.
`
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`HoWever, the practical utility of both pen-based and
`personal organiZer devices has been limited by their inability
`to communicate efficiently With other computers, especially
`desktop computers, Which hold information and softWare
`that Would be useful if available on the pen-based or
`personal organiZer device at a remote location. Such infor
`mation might include, for example, calendar and personal
`information manager (“PIM”) data, in addition to informa
`tion contained in ?les such as Word processor documents.
`The eXchange of such data and softWare betWeen a pen
`based computer and a desktop computer has been hindered
`by the inability to provide a simple, remote connection
`betWeen the desktop and pen-based computer in addition to
`the cumbersome interface softWare necessary for transfer
`ring and translating ?les betWeen desktop and pen-based
`computers.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention alleviates the above-described limi
`tations of pen-based computers by providing facility for
`broWsing and selecting ?les stored on a remote desktop
`computer from a pen-based computer in an intuitive and
`ef?cient manner. The present invention further provides for
`the transfer and optional translation of the selected ?les,
`again in a manner that is both intuitive and ef?cient. Thus,
`it Will be seen that the present invention addresses tWo major
`short comings of present pen-based computers by providing
`users of these computers greater and more simpli?ed access
`to the information stored on less mobile desktop systems.
`In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for
`transferring data from a ?rst computer system running a
`server program under a ?rst operating system to a second
`computer system running a control program under a second
`operating system, the ?rst and second computer systems
`being in communication through a communications
`medium. In one embodiment, a data transfer link from the
`control program on the second computer system to the
`server program on the ?rst computer system is established.
`The second computer system then displays a list of ?les
`available on the ?rst computer system Which are available
`for translation and transfer. A ?le on the ?rst computer
`system is then selected for transfer. The ?le is then translated
`and transferred to the second computer system.
`In one embodiment, the eXchange of information and
`commands is performed using a data structure comprising a
`header, a command block, a length block and a data block.
`The header comprises tWo blocks, the ?rst block holding
`information effective to identify the second computer system
`and the second block containing information effective to
`identify a communications program on the second computer
`system that is transferring data With the ?rst computer
`system over the data link. The command block and the
`length block each have a length of four-bytes and the length
`of the data block is an even multiple of four.
`In a second aspect, the present invention provides a
`computer readable medium comprising program instructions
`for performing the above-described steps of establishing a
`data link betWeen the ?rst and second computer systems,
`displaying a list of available ?les on the second computer,
`selecting a ?le for transfer, and translating the selected ?le
`on the ?rst computer system.
`In a third aspect, the present invention provides an appa
`ratus for selecting and receiving data stored on a remote
`computer system. The apparatus of the invention comprises,
`in one embodiment, means for establishing a data transfer
`link With the remote computer system. The means for
`
`Page 14 of 21
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`5,845,282
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`3
`establishing a data link are coupled to a remote ?le browser
`that receives ?le information for data stored on the remote
`computer system and displays the ?le information to a user
`of the apparatus. The ?le broWser is coupled to a ?le selector
`that alloWs the user to identify at least one ?le to be
`transferred from the remote computer system to the com
`puter apparatus. A translator that determines Whether the
`selected ?le is to be translated in conjunction With the
`transfer of the ?le to the computer apparatus is coupled to
`the selector.
`These and other advantages of the present invention Will
`become apparent upon reading the folloWing detailed
`descriptions and studying the various ?gures of the draW
`ings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the electronics of a pen-based
`computer system in accordance With the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a perspective vieW of a complete pen-based
`computer system including a housing, display assembly, and
`stylus, Where the electronics of FIG. 1 are enclosed Within
`the housing.
`FIG. 3 is a top plan vieW of the housing and display
`assembly of pen-based computer system of FIG. 2.
`FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a communications
`link betWeen a remote pen-based computer and a desktop
`computer.
`FIG. 5 is a computer How diagram of an embodiment of
`the method of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a computer How diagram illustrating step 184 of
`FIG. 5 in greater detail.
`FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a data structure in
`accordance With the present invention.
`FIG. 8 is a computer How diagram further illustrating step
`186 of FIG. 5.
`FIGS. 9A and 9B are computer How diagrams illustrating
`step 188 of FIG. 5 in greater detail.
`FIGS. 10A—10D illustrate an interface implementing the
`method of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
`10A is an illustration demonstrating the interface With
`regards to forming a connection betWeen a pen-based com
`puter and a desktop computer. FIG. 10B illustrates the
`display of directories and ?les folloWing the formation of a
`connection betWeen a pen based computer and a desktop
`computer. FIG. 10C illustrates the selection of a ?le on the
`remote desktop computer. FIG. 10D is an illustration shoW
`ing the display of ?le information for the selected ?le shoWn
`in FIG. 10C.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention is Well suited for pointer- or pen
`based computer systems such as the pen-based, pen-aWare,
`mouse, track ball, and track pad controlled systems that are
`currently popular. For the purposes of illustration, the inven
`tion Will be described in connection With a pen-based
`system.
`It Will be appreciated that the invention employs various
`process steps involving data stored in computer systems.
`These steps are those requiring physical manipulation 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. It is sometimes convenient,
`
`4
`principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these
`signals as bits, values, elements, variables, characters, data
`structures, or the like. It should be remembered, hoWever,
`that all of these and similar terms are to be associated With
`the appropriate physical quantities and are merely conve
`nient labels applied to these quantities.
`Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to
`in terms, such as identifying, running, or comparing. In any
`of the operations described herein that form part of the
`present invention, these operations are machine operations.
`Useful machines for performing the operations of the
`present invention include general purpose digital computers
`or other similar devices. In all cases, there should be borne
`in mind the distinction betWeen the method of operations in
`operating a computer and the method of computation itself.
`The present invention relates to method steps for operating
`a computer in processing electrical or other physical signals
`to generate other desired physical signals.
`The present invention also relates to an apparatus for
`performing these operations. This apparatus may be spe
`cially constructed for the required purposes, or it may be a
`general purpose computer selectively activated or recon?g
`ured by a computer program stored in the computer. The
`processes presented herein are not inherently related to any
`particular computer or other apparatus. In particular, various
`general purpose machines may be used With programs
`Written in accordance With the teachings herein, or it may be
`more convenient to construct a more specialiZed apparatus
`to perform the required method steps. The required structure
`for a variety of these machines Will appear from the descrip
`tion given beloW.
`As shoWn in FIG. 1, a block diagram 10 of the electronics
`of a pen-based computer in accordance With the present
`invention includes a central processing unit (CPU) 12, a
`memory system 14, an input/output (I/O) dual function
`display system 16, a clock system 18, a poWer system 20, a
`sound system 22, a PCMCIA connector 24, and a serial I/O
`system 26. The various components and systems of the
`computer 10 are coupled together by an I/O controller 28
`Which serves as an interface betWeen the CPU 12 and other
`components of the computer 10. More speci?cally, the I/O
`controller 28 is an application-speci?c integrated circuit
`(ASIC) designed to handle memory, peripherals, and I/O
`tasks, as Well as housekeeping functions such as providing
`system clocks, controlling poWer usage, etc. The design,
`manufacture, and use of ASICs is Well knoWn to those
`skilled in the art. The pen-based computer 10 as illustrated
`is currently being manufactured and sold by Apple
`Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. as a NeWton® 120
`Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).
`CPU 12 is preferably a commercially available, single
`chip microprocessor. While CPU 12 can be a complex
`instruction set computer (CISC) chip, it is preferable that
`CPU 12 be one of the commercially available, reduced
`instruction set computer (RISC) chips Which are knoWn to
`be of generally higher performance than CISC chips. In the
`present embodiment, the CPU 12 is preferably an ARM®
`610 RISC chip operating at 20 megahertZ and is available
`from a variety of sources including VLSI Technology, Inc.
`of San Jose, Calif. and Plessey Semiconductor of England.
`The present CPU 12 includes a 32 bit data (D) bus 30, a 32
`bit address (A) bus 32, and an 8 bit control (C) bus 34.
`The memory system 14 includes static random access
`memory (SRAM) 36, non-volatile read/Write “?ash”
`memory 38, and read-only memory (ROM) 40. The SRAM
`36 serves as volatile “scratch pad” memory for the computer
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`5
`system 10 and, in the current system, includes 512 kilobytes
`of memory. The ?ash memory 38 is Where user data is
`stored, preferably includes about 2 megabytes of memory,
`and is available as a standard product from Intel Corporation
`of Santa Clara, Calif. The ROM 40 stores the operating
`system and embedded application programs, and currently
`comprises approximately 8 megabytes of memory. Of
`course, there are many equivalents for the SRAM 36, ?ash
`memory 38, and ROM 40. For example, dynamic random
`access memory (DRAM) can be substituted for SRAM 36,
`battery-backed random accessed memory (RAM) can be
`substituted for ?ash memory 38, and a programmable read
`only memory (PROM) can be substituted for the ROM 40.
`The memory system 14 is coupled directly to the data (D)
`bus 30 and the address (A) bus 32. The memory system 14
`is also coupled to a memory control bus 42 of controller 28.
`The CPU 12 and controller 28 cooperate to read and Write
`data to the memory system 14 via the busses 30, 32, and 42.
`The display system 16 serves as both an input device and
`an output device. More particularly, a tablet 44, multiplexer
`(MUX) 46, and analog-to-digital
`converter 48 convert
`the contact of a stylus (see FIG. 2) With the tablet 44 and its
`subsequent movement over the tablet into digital data that is
`input to the controller 28. The tablet 44 is preferably a
`four-Wire resistive membrane tablet and provides positional
`information on a bus 50 Which is input into the MUX 46.
`The MUX 46 determines Which of the four sides of the tablet
`is to be read. Such tablets are Widely available from a variety
`of sources including Nissha of Japan. An output from the
`MUX 46 is input to A/D converter 48 on a bus 52. An output
`from the A/D converter 48 is input into the controller 28.
`The display system 16 further includes an ASIC 56, a
`dedicated SRAM 58, and an LCD screen 60. The ASIC 56
`is an LCD controller coupled to the data (D) bus 30, the
`address (A) bus 32, and the memory control bus 42. The
`purpose of the ASIC 56 is to alloW the CPU 12 to Write to
`the screen as if it Were a RAM sitting on the memory bus 42.
`The SRAM 58 is coupled to the ASIC 56 by a dedicated bus
`62, and the screen 60 is coupled to the ASIC 56 by a
`dedicated bus 64. The ASIC 56 serves as a controller for the
`screen 60, and uses the SRAM 58 as a frame buffer to store
`images to be displayed on the screen 60. The LCD screen 60
`is preferably a standard super-tWist LCD matrix screen
`available from a number of sources including Seiko-Epson
`of Japan. The LCD screen preferably comprises a rectan
`gular array of picture elements or “pixels”, as is Well knoWn
`to those skilled in the art.
`The clock system 18 includes a main system clock 66 and
`a real-time clock (RTC) crystal 68. The main system clock
`is a four-terminal oscillator and is used to provide the master
`clock for the computer 10. In the present embodiment, the
`main system clock 66 operates at 40 megahertZ. Oscillator
`clocks such as clock 66 can be commercially obtained from
`many sources including Seiko-Epson of Japan. This master
`clock may be divided doWn by the controller 28 for various
`timing purposes in the system, and is coupled to the con
`troller 28 by a line 70.
`The RTC crystal 68 is tuned to 32.768 kilohertZ, Which is
`evenly divisible by a poWer of 2. The RTC crystal 68 forms
`the basis of a crystal based oscillator that can provide a
`continuous, precise, uninterrupted signal at 1 hertZ by divid
`ing doWn the 32.768 kilohertZ crystal signal With a 10 bit
`divider. The circuitry for performing this type of task is
`Well-knoWn, and form a part of controller 28 in this embodi
`ment. The one hertZ RTC signal increments a RTC counter
`(also a part of the controller 28) to count of the total number
`
`10
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`15
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`6
`of seconds that has elapsed since midnight, Jan. 1, 1904 (an
`arbitrary start time). The value in the RTC counter can be
`converted into time of day and date information by relatively
`straight-forWard calculations Well knoWn to those skilled in
`the art. Since the RTC crystal 68 is coupled to the controller
`28 by a dedicated tWo-line bus 72 to provide the 32.768
`kilohertZ signal to the controller 28.
`The poWer system 20 provides poWer to the computer 10
`and is coupled to the controller 28 by a dedicated
`bi-directional bus 74. The bus 74 alloWs for the handling of
`fault detection signals (e.g., loW poWer), sWitching on and
`off poWer to the PCMCIA connector, etc. The poWer system
`20 preferably controls the poWer system 20 to conserve
`poWer at times of loW usage of the pen-based computer
`system.
`The sound system 22 includes a small (18 mm diameter)
`loudspeaker 76 and a D/A converter 78. The D/A converter
`78 is coupled to the controller 28 by a line 80, and to the
`loudspeaker 76 by a line 82. In the present embodiment, the
`D/A converter 78 is a simple operational ampli?er (OP
`AMP) Which acts as an integrator to integrate pulse Width
`modulation (PWM) signals developed on line 80 to provide
`an analog signal on line 82 to drive loudspeaker 76. Of
`course, more complex D/A converters can also be used to
`provide higher quality sound output from loudspeaker 76, as
`Will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Suitable OP
`AMPS to be used as a D/A converter 78 are readily available
`on the commercial market, and the miniature loudspeaker is
`also readily available, such as from Hosiden of Osaka,
`Japan.
`The PCMCIA connector 24 is coupled to the controller 28
`by a dedicated data (D‘) bus 84, a dedicated address (A‘) bus
`86, and a dedicated control (C‘) bus 88. The PCMCIA
`speci?cations for signals on the dedicated data, address, and
`control busses are industry standard and highly available as
`the “PC Card” or “PCMCIA” standard. Avariety of devices
`can ?t in the PCMCIA slot 24, including memory expansion
`cards, miniature hard disk drive cards, modem cards, and
`pager cards, to name a feW.
`The serial I/O system 26 includes a Serial Communica
`tions Controller (SCC) 90, an infrared (IR) transceiver 92, a
`serial port 94, and a line driver (LD) 96. The SCC 90 is
`coupled to the data bus (D) 30 by a bus 98 and to the
`controller 28 by a bus 100. A suitable SCC 90 can be
`purchased from Zilog Corporation of San Jose, Calif. as part
`number Z85C30. The Zilog Z85C30 has been available
`since at least the early 1980’s and supports a number of
`serial protocols. The IR transceiver 92 is coupled to the SCC
`90 by a line 102 for received IR signals, and to the controller
`28 for IR signals to be transmitted. The IR transceiver
`includes an IR transmitter (coupled to line 104) and an IR
`receiver (coupled to line 102), and is available under license
`from Sharp Corporation of Japan. The IR receiver includes
`a PIN-type IR-sensitive diode having an output coupled to
`an analog demodulator and an ampli?er to create a signal on
`line 102, an IR LED coupled to line 104 to be directly driven
`by a high-poWer sWitch of controller 28. The serial port 94
`is a standard DIN 8 (8 pin) connector, and is coupled to the
`line driver LD 96 by an eight bit bus 106. The LD 96 is
`coupled to the SCC 90 by a bus 107.
`Referring noW to FIG. 2, a pen based computer system
`106 in accordance With the present invention includes the
`computer 108 and a pen or stylus 110. The computer 108 is
`enclosed Within a generally ?at, rectangular case 112 having
`a front end 114, a back end 116, a left side 118, a right side
`120, a top 122, and a bottom 124. The LCD 60 is positioned
`
`Page 16 of 21
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`along the top 122 of the case 112, and the clear membrane
`tablet 44 is positioned over the LCD 60. Also positioned
`beneath the tablet 44 along a loWer edge 126 thereof, is a
`printed strip of material 128 including a number of indicia
`130. When the tip 132 of the stylus 110 is engaged With the
`membrane 44 over one of the indicia 130, the computer 108
`can respond to the contact as if the indicia Were a “button.”
`Therefore, as used herein, a “button” can be an image seen
`through the tablet 44 (either from the screen 60 or from
`printed material 128 or the like) that can serve the function
`of an electro-mechanical button or the like When the tablet
`44 is activated over a button image.
`Alid 134 is connected to the back end 116 of case 112 by
`hinge 136. When open as shoWn or folded back to contact
`the bottom 124 of case 112, the tablet 44 and screen 60 are
`available for use. When the cover 134 is folded over the top
`122 of case 112, it fully covers the tablet 44 to protect the
`delicate membrane material. The lid 134 is provided With a
`latch member 138 Which engages a latch member 140 When
`it is overlying the top 122 of the computer. The latch
`member 138 is disengaged from the latch member 140 by a
`mechanical latch release 142.
`Also seen in FIG. 2 is an “on” sWitch 144, a contrast
`adjustment 146, and a grille 148 for the speaker 76. The
`stylus 110 is of a collapsible design and can ?t into an
`opening 150 along the right side 120 of case 112. Not seen
`in this ?gure along the right side 120 of the case 112 is an
`opening for a PCMCIA card Which can engage PCMCIA
`connector 24, the DIN 8 port 94, and a poWer input jack. Not
`seen along the bottom 124 of the case 112 is a battery access
`cover and a mechanical ejection button for a PCMCIA card
`engaged With the PCMCIA connector 24. The IR port 92 is
`provided along back 116 of the case 112 and is exposed for
`use When the cover 134 is folded against the bottom 124 of
`the case 112. The remaining components and systems of the
`computer block diagram 10 of FIG. 1 are enclosed Within the
`case 112 of the computer system 108.
`It should be noted that the preceding discussion is of a
`preferred embodiment of the present invention, and that
`there are many alternatives for the stylus 110. For example,
`a ?ngernail or other pointed object could be used With the
`tablet 44 of the present invention. Also, there are other types
`of tablets available that utiliZe other types of styluses.
`Other types of pointing devices can also be used in
`conjunction With the present invention. While the method of
`the present invention is described in the context of a pen
`based system, other pointing devices such as a computer
`mouse, a track ball, a track pad, a tablet, etc. can be used to
`manipulate a pointer on a screen of a general purpose
`computer. Therefore, as used herein, the terms “pointer”,
`“pointing device”, “pointing apparatus”, “pointing means”,
`and the like Will refer to any mechanism, device, or system
`for designating to a particular location on a screen of a
`computer display.
`With additional reference to FIG. 3, information is input
`into the pen-based computer system by “Writing” on the
`tablet 44 With stylus 110 or the like. Information concerning
`the location of the tip 132 of stylus 110 on the tablet 44 of
`the display system 16 is input into the CPU 12 via the
`controller 28. Typically, this information comprises the
`Cartesian (i.e. X, y) coordinates of a pixel of the screen 60
`over Which the tip 132 of the stylus 110 is positioned. The
`CPU 12 then processes the data under control of an oper
`ating system (stored in ROM 40) and possibly an application
`program stored in the memory system 14 or elseWhere (such
`as on a PCMCIA card engaged With PCMCIA connector 24).
`
`45
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`5,845,282
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`8
`The CPU 12 next produces data Which is transferred to the
`screen 60 via ASIC 56 to produce appropriate images on the
`screen.
`Upon poWer-up, pen based computer system 106 displays
`on screen 60 an initial “note” area 151 including a header bar
`152 and a number of guidelines 154. The header bar 152
`preferably includes the date of creation of the note area 151
`and a number of icons and “soft” buttons, not particularly
`germane to the discussion of the present invention. The
`guidelines 154 aid a user in entering text, graphics, and data
`into the pen-based computer system