(12) United States Patent
`Erekson
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
`Sep.16,2003
`
`I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006622018Bl
`
`(54) PORTABLE DEVICE CONTROL CONSOLE
`WITH WIRELESS CONNECTION
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Rich Erekson, Ogden, UT (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: 3Com Corporation, Santa Clara, CA
`(US)
`
`( *)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/558,413
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 24, 2000
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................. H04M 3/00
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........................................ 455/420; 455/419
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 455/420, 456,
`455/457, 445, 404, 75, 566, 575, 96, 99,
`145; 342/457.1; 340/825.36, 825.37, 825.49
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,917,405 A * 6/1999 Joao ........................... 340/426
`
`6,091,957 A * 7/2000 Larkins et al. .............. 455/456
`6,161,066 A * 12/2000 Wright et al. ................. 701/36
`6,339,706 Bl * 1/2002 Tillgren et al.
`............. 455/419
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-William Trost
`Assistant Examiner---Naghmeh Mehrpour
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wagner, Murabito & Hao
`LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method for controlling a remote device over
`a wireless connection. In one embodiment, a hand-held
`computer system having a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver is
`used to control other Bluetooth-enabled devices. A wireless
`connection between a transceiver and a remote device is
`established. A position where a stylus makes contact with a
`surface of an input device of the hand-held computer system
`is registered. The particular position where the stylus ele(cid:173)
`ment makes contact with the input device is translated into
`a particular command for controlling the remote device. The
`command is then transmitted to the remote device over the
`wireless connection.
`
`27 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`.11ft
`ESTABLISH WIRELESS CONNECTION($) WITH
`REMOTE DEVICE(S)
`
`i
`
`.tm
`MANIFEST REMOTE DEVICE(S) ON DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`i
`
`1U2
`SELECT A REMOTE DEVICE (IF MORE THAN ONE)
`
`i
`
`~
`USE DISPLAY DEVICE AND/OR INPUT DEVICE TO
`TRANSLATE STYLUS MOTION INTO A COMMAND FOR
`CONTROLLING A REMOTE DEVICE
`
`i
`
`.us
`TRANSMIT COMMAND TO REMOTE DEVICE OVER
`WIRELES$ CONNECTION
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 1 of 20
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 1 of 12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`1
`
`2
`
`FIG. 1
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 2 of 20
`
`

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`APPL-1001 / Page 3 of 20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 3of12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`10Qa
`
`75
`
`FIG. 3
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 4 of 20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 4of12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`ANTENNA205
`
`MICRO-
`LINK
`Rf MODULE ..,__.,. CONTROLLER..__.,. CONTROUER
`m
`m
`m
`
`INTERFACE
`Z4i
`
`BUS 110
`
`PORTABLE
`COMPUTER
`SYSTEM
`JM
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 5 of 20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 5 of 12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`ANTENNA205
`
`MICRO-
`LINK
`RF MODULE ..,__,.. CONTROLLER .... _.. CONTROLLER
`m
`m
`m
`
`-----
`
`INTERFACE
`.240.
`
`CONNECTOR
`250
`
`EXTERNAL
`DEVICE
`m
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 6 of 20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 6of12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`UNCONNECTED
`STANDBY
`
`CONNECTING
`STATES
`
`ACTIVE STATES
`
`LOW POWER MODES
`
`FIG. 5
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 7 of 20
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 7of12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
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`BROADCAST MESSAGE Ml -----.-~
`RES PONSE ilk --------1 REMO~EVICE A
`
`~I
`
`PORTABLE
`COMPUTER
`SYSTEM
`.1Ql
`
`--
`
`h
`
`BRO ADCAST MESSAGE ga ----~~
`
`RESPONSE iSJz.. ----~ REMOT'i.u.DEVICE B
`
`COMMAND iii
`
`-
`
`-
`co MMANDillt
`RES PONSEilk -------1 REMOTE DEVICE C
`
`illl
`
`BROADCAST MESSAGE~ -----.._.-
`
`FIG. 6
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 8 of 20
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 8of12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
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`100
`
`106
`
`00000
`
`FIG. 7
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 9 of 20
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 9of12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`100
`
`00
`00
`
`00000
`
`FIG. 8
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 10 of 20
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 10 of 12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
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`100
`
`105
`
`106
`
`DEVICE A
`ON 0
`OFFO
`
`00000
`
`FIG. 9
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 11 of 20
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 11 of 12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
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`100
`
`1020
`
`1030
`
`101
`
`00000
`
`FIG. 10
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 12 of 20
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.16,2003
`
`Sheet 12 of 12
`
`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`1100
`
`1110.
`ESTABLISH WiRELESS CONNECTION(S} WITH
`REMOTE DEVICE($)
`
`, r
`
`112a.
`MANIFEST REMOTE DEVICE(S) ON DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`, r
`
`~
`SELECT A REMOTE DEVICE (IF MORE THAN ONE)
`
`'
`
`~
`USE DISPLAY DEVICE AND/OR INPUT DEVICE TO
`TRANSLATE STYLUS MOTION INTO A COMMAND FOR
`CONTROLLING A REMOTE DEVICE
`
`p
`
`11S
`TRANSMIT COMMAND TO REMOTE DEVICE OVER
`WIRELESS CONNECTION
`
`FIG. 11
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 13 of 20
`
`

`

`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`1
`PORTABLE DEVICE CONTROL CONSOLE
`WITH WIRELESS CONNECTION
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to systems and devices
`connected using wireless links, such as systems and devices
`that use the Bluetooth technology. In particular, the present
`invention pertains to a method and system for controlling
`remote devices over a wireless connection.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Consider, for example, the number of devices and appli(cid:173)
`ances in the typical living room or family room of a
`residential dwelling: lamps, light switches, a thermostat, and
`consumer electronic devices such as televisions, video cas(cid:173)
`sette recorders, and stereos, some of these devices them(cid:173)
`selves comprising multiple devices such as compact disk
`players, tape players, etc. Each of these devices requires
`manual interaction by a user in order to turn them off or on,
`to raise or lower levels, and so on. Other rooms of the house,
`as well as factories and places of business, also have
`countless devices and appliances that require manual inter(cid:173)
`action in order to use and control them.
`Of course, many of these devices are or can be remotely
`controlled. In the home, for example, remote control devices
`for televisions, stereos and the like are very common.
`Devices for controlling lights, etc., are also available
`although generally not as commonly used.
`Remote control devices in each of their present forms
`have a number of associated shortcomings. For example, a
`separate remote control device may be required for each
`device to be controlled. In some instances the separate
`remotes can be replaced with a universal remote control;
`however, universal remotes still have their shortcomings.
`Generally, current universal remotes often do not have the
`resources (e.g., memory and computational logic) to allow
`them to be used with all devices, or they may not be capable
`of controlling a new device. In addition, in order to accom(cid:173)
`modate the variety of devices to be controlled, universal
`remotes usually have a multiplicity of buttons and thus can
`be difficult to use.
`Another shortcoming associated with current remote con(cid:173)
`trol devices is their limited range. Commonly, remote con(cid:173)
`trol devices use infrared beams to communicate commands
`to the device that is to be controlled, and so the remotes can
`only be used for line-of-sight applications. Devices behind
`an object, around a corner, or in another room cannot be
`controlled if they are not in the line of sight of an infrared
`remote.
`A more modern solution is to wire devices together into
`a network of some sort, so that they can be controlled from
`a central location such as a personal computer. However, this
`approach also has a number of shortcomings. For example,
`the connections and cabling needed may be quite cumber(cid:173)
`some and complex. In addition, this approach is difficult and
`expensive to backfit into existing homes and businesses.
`Furthermore, such an approach is not necessarily conve(cid:173)
`nient. For instance, the central computer system is not a
`practical or convenient replacement for a television remote,
`nor is it portable enough to allow it to be easily moved from
`one room to another whenever it is necessary to do so.
`Accordingly, a need exists for a device and/or method that
`can be used to remotely control a variety of different devices
`and appliances, including new devices. A need also exists for
`
`2
`a device and/or method that can satisfy the above need, that
`is relatively simple to introduce into existing homes and
`businesses, and that is user-friendly. In addition, a need
`exists for a device and/or method that satisfies the above
`5 needs, is portable, and is not limited to line-of-sight appli(cid:173)
`cations.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`
`25
`
`10
`
`The present invention provides a system and method that
`can be used to remotely control a variety of different devices,
`including new devices. The present invention also provides
`a system and method that is relatively easy to introduce into
`existing homes and businesses and that is user-friendly. In
`addition, the present invention provides a system and
`15 method that is portable and that is not limited to line-of-sight
`applications.
`In the present embodiment, the present invention pertains
`to a system and method for controlling remote devices over
`a wireless connection (e.g., using a radio signal). In one
`20 embodiment, a portable computer system (e.g., a palmtop or
`hand-held computer) having a transceiver is used to control
`compliant devices. In a preferred embodiment, the trans(cid:173)
`ceiver and the remote devices are Bluetooth-enabled
`devices.
`In the present embodiment of the present invention, a
`wireless connection between the portable computer system
`and one or more remote devices is established. Each of the
`remote devices is manifested on a display device of the
`portable computer system, and one of the devices is selected
`30 using, for example, a stylus element.
`In one embodiment, the stylus element can also be used
`to specify commands for controlling the remote device. A
`position where the stylus element makes contact with a
`35 surface of the display device of the portable computer
`system is registered. The particular position where the stylus
`element makes contact with the display device is translated
`into a particular command for controlling the remote device.
`The command is then transmitted to the remote device over
`40 the wireless connection.
`In one embodiment, a rendering of the remote device or
`of a mechanism that can be used to control the remote device
`is displayed on the display device. The contact of the stylus
`element with a position in the rendering is translated into a
`45 particular command for controlling the remote device. In
`another embodiment, a menu of commands for controlling
`the remote device is displayed on the display device. The
`contact of the stylus element with a position in the menu is
`translated into a particular command for controlling the
`50 remote device.
`In yet another embodiment, the movement of the stylus
`element over the surface of an input device is recognized and
`translated into a particular command for controlling the
`remote device. In another embodiment, by moving the stylus
`55 element over the surface of the input device, motion is
`imparted to the rendering on the display device of the remote
`device or the mechanism for controlling the remote device.
`The present invention thus provides a system (e.g., a
`Bluetooth-enabled device, specifically a portable computer
`60 system) that can be used to remotely control compliant
`devices (e.g., other Bluetooth-enabled devices) over a wire(cid:173)
`less (radio) connection. With a radio connection, the system
`of the present invention is not limited to line-of-sight
`applications. Remote devices can be adapted to receive
`65 commands over the wireless connection, obviating the need
`for hardwire connections and making the system relatively
`easy to implement in homes and businesses. The processing
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 14 of 20
`
`

`

`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`3
`power and other features of the portable computer system
`enable user-friendly interfaces, and also allow a variety of
`remote devices to be controlled, including new devices
`introduced into the home or business.
`These and other objects and advantages of the present
`invention will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in
`the art after having read the following detailed description of
`the preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the
`various drawing figures.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`5
`
`4
`invention may be practiced without these specific details. In
`other instances, well-known methods, procedures,
`components, and circuits have not been described in detail
`so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present
`invention.
`Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow
`are presented in terms of procedures, logic blocks,
`processing, and other symbolic representations of operations
`on data bits within a computer memory. These descriptions
`10 and representations are the means used by those skilled in
`the data processing arts to most effectively convey the
`substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A
`procedure, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally,
`conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or
`instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those
`requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities.
`Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the
`form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being
`stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise
`20 manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient
`at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer
`to these signals as bits, bytes, values, elements, symbols,
`characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
`It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and
`25 similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate
`physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied
`to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as
`apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated
`that throughout the present invention, discussions utilizing
`30 terms such as "establishing," "registering," "recognizing,"
`"broadcasting," "receiving," "manifesting," "transmitting,"
`"displaying," or the like, refer to the action and processes
`(e.g., process 1100 FIG. 11) of a computer system or similar
`intelligent electronic computing device, that manipulates
`35 and transforms data represented as physical (electronic)
`quantities within the computer system's registers and memo(cid:173)
`ries into other data similarly represented as physical quan(cid:173)
`tities within the computer system memories or registers or
`other such information storage, transmission or display
`40 devices.
`The present invention is discussed primarily in a context
`in which devices and systems are coupled using wireless
`links, and specifically with regard to devices and systems
`45 compliant with the Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth is the
`code name for a technology specification for small form
`factor, low-cost, short-range radio links between personal
`computers (PCs), mobile phones and other devices and
`appliances. However, it is appreciated that the present inven-
`50 tion may be utilized with devices and systems compliant
`with standards different from Bluetooth, such as the IEEE
`(Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineering) 802.11
`standard.
`The Bluetooth technology allows cables that connect one
`55 device to another to be replaced with short-range radio links.
`Bluetooth is targeted at mobile and business users who need
`to establish a link, or small network, between their computer,
`cellular phone and other peripherals. The required and
`nominal range of Bluetooth is thus set to approximately ten
`60 (10) meters. To support other uses, for example the home
`environment, Bluetooth can be augmented to extend the
`range to up to 100 meters.
`The Bluetooth technology is based on a high(cid:173)
`performance, yet low-cost, integrated radio transceiver. For
`65 instance, Bluetooth transceivers built into both a cellular
`telephone and a laptop computer system would replace the
`cables used today to connect a laptop to a cellular telephone.
`
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments
`of the invention and, together with the description, serve to 15
`explain the principles of the invention:
`FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a network of devices
`coupled using wireless connections in accordance with the
`present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a portable
`computer system in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a top-side perspective view of a portable
`computer system in accordance with one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIGS. 4A and 4B are block diagrams showing one
`embodiment of a wireless transceiver coupled to,
`respectively, a portable computer system and an external
`device in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 5 illustrates the different operating modes of a
`wireless transceiver in accordance with one embodiment of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 6 illustrates the flow of messages between a con(cid:173)
`trolling device and remote devices in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a display used on a
`controlling device in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a display used
`on a controlling device in accordance with the present
`invention.
`FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a display used
`on a controlling device in accordance with the present
`invention.
`FIG. 10 illustrates a display on a controlling device
`responding to movement on an input device in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the steps in a process for
`controlling a remote device over a wireless connection in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`Reference, will now be made in detail to the preferred
`embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illus(cid:173)
`trated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention
`will be described in conjunction with the preferred
`embodiments, it will be understood that they are not
`intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the
`contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives,
`modifications and equivalents, which may be included
`within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
`appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed
`description of the present invention, numerous specific
`details are set forth in order to provide a thorough under(cid:173)
`standing of the present invention. However, it will be
`obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present
`
`APPL-1001 / Page 15 of 20
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`

`

`US 6,622,018 Bl
`
`20
`
`25
`
`5
`Bluetooth radio technology can also provide: a universal
`bridge to existing data networks, a peripheral interface, and
`a mechanism to form small private ad hoc groupings of
`connected devices away from fixed network infrastructures.
`FIG. 1 illustrates the topology of a network of devices 5
`coupled using wireless connections in accordance with one
`embodiment of the present invention. In the parlance of
`Bluetooth, a collection of devices connected in a Bluetooth
`system are referred to as a "piconet" or a "subnet." In the
`present embodiment, a piconet starts with two connected 10
`devices, and may grow to eight connected devices. All
`Bluetooth devices are peer units; however, when establish(cid:173)
`ing a piconet, one unit will act as a master and the other(s)
`as slave(s) for the duration of the piconet connection.
`A Bluetooth system supports both point-to-point and 15
`point-to-multi-point connections. Several piconets can be
`established and linked together in a "scatternet," where each
`piconet is identified by a different frequency hopping
`sequence. All devices participating on the same piconet are
`synchronized to their respective hopping sequence.
`Accordingly, devices 10, 20, 30 and 40 are coupled in
`piconet 1 using wireless connections 80a-c. Similarly,
`devices 50, 60 and 70 are coupled in pico net 2 using wireless
`connections 80e-f. Pico net 1 and piconet 2 are coupled using
`wireless connection 80d. Devices 10--70 can be printers,
`personal digital assistants (PDAs), desktop computer
`systems, laptop computer systems, cell phones, fax
`machines, keyboards, and joysticks equipped with a Blue(cid:173)
`tooth radio transceiver or adapted to communicate with
`Bluetooth devices ("Bluetooth-enabled"). In accordance
`with the present invention, devices 10--70 can also be
`virtually any type of device, including mechanical devices
`and appliances, equipped with a Bluetooth radio transceiver
`or Bluetooth-enabled. The Bluetooth radio transceiver may
`be integrated into the device, or it may be coupled to the
`device.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a portable computer system
`100 (e.g., a PDA, a hand-held computer system, or palmtop
`computer system) upon which embodiments of the present
`invention can be implemented. Computer system 100
`includes an address/data bus 110 for communicating
`information, a central processor 101 coupled with the bus for
`processing information and instructions, a volatile memory
`102 (e.g., random access memory, RAM) coupled with the 45
`bus 110 for storing information and instructions for the
`central processor 101 and a non-volatile memory 103 (e.g.,
`read only memory, ROM) coupled with the bus 110 for
`storing static information and instructions for the processor
`101. Computer system 100 also includes an optional data 50
`storage device 104 (e.g., memory stick) coupled with the bus
`110 for storing information and instructions. Data storage
`device 104 can be removable.
`Computer system 100 also contains a display device 105
`coupled to the bus 110 for displaying information to the 55
`computer user. The display device 105 utilized with com(cid:173)
`puter system 100 may be a liquid crystal display device, a
`cathode ray tube,( CRT), a field emission display device (also
`called a fiat panel CRT) or other display device suitable for
`generating graphic images and alphanumeric characters rec- 60
`ognizable to the user. In the preferred embodiment, display
`device 105 is a fiat panel display.
`Computer system 100 also includes a cursor control or
`directing device (on-screen cursor control 107) coupled to
`bus 110 for communicating user input information and 65
`command selections to processor 101. In one
`implementation, on-screen cursor control device 107 is a
`
`6
`touch-screen device incorporated with display device 105.
`On-screen cursor control device 107 is capable of registering
`a position on display device 105 where a stylus makes
`contact.
`In accordance with the present invention, a stylus can be
`used to select a command for controlling a remote device by
`touching the stylus to display device 105. In one
`embodiment, a command can be selected from a menu of
`commands displayed on display device 105. In another
`embodiment, a rendering of the remote device or of a
`mechanism for controlling the remote device may be mani-
`fested on display device 105, and a command can be
`selected by touching the stylus to a prescribed location in the
`rendering. The position where the stylus contacts display
`device 105 is registered and fed to processor 101, which
`translates this information into a command for controlling
`the remote device. The command is then transmitted to the
`remote device over a wireless connection using signal
`transmitter/receiver device ("transceiver") 108.
`Also included in computer system 100 of FIG. 2 is an
`input device 106 that in one implementation is a stroke or
`character recognition pad (e.g., a "digitizer"). Input device
`106 can communicate information and command selections
`to processor 101. Input device 106 is capable of registering
`a position where a stylus (or an element having the func(cid:173)
`tionality of a stylus) makes contact. Input device 106 also
`has the capability of registering movements of a stylus (or an
`element having the functionality of a stylus) across or above
`the surface of input device 106.
`In accordance with the present invention, in one
`embodiment, a stylus can be used for making a stroke or
`inscribing a character on the surface of input device 106. The
`stroke or character information is then fed to a processor 101
`for automatic character recognition. Once the stroke or
`character information is recognized, it can be displayed on
`display device 105 for verification and/or modification.
`In accordance with the present invention, stroke informa(cid:173)
`tion entered onto input device 106 can correspond to a
`40 command that can be used to control a remote device. That
`is, particular strokes or characters can correspond to a
`respective command. A stroke or character is recognized by
`processor 101 and translated by processor 101 into a com-
`mand for controlling a remote device. The command is then
`transmitted to the remote device over a wireless connection
`using transceiver 108.
`With reference still to FIG. 2, transceiver 108 is coupled
`to bus 110 and enables computer system 100 to communi(cid:173)
`cate wirelessly with other electronic devices coupled in a
`piconet or scatternet (refer to FIG. 1). It should be appre(cid:173)
`ciated that within the present embodiment, transceiver 108
`is coupled to an antenna and provides the functionality to
`transmit and receive information over a wireless communi(cid:173)
`cation interface. In one embodiment, transceiver 108 is a
`Bluetooth device. Additional information with regard to the
`Bluetooth embodiment is provided in conjunction with
`FIGS. 4A and 4B.
`FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the top-side face
`lOOa of one embodiment of the portable computer system
`100 (FIG. 2) in accordance with the present invention. The
`top-side face lOOa contains one or more dedicated and/or
`programmable buttons 75 for selecting information and
`causing the computer system to implement functions. The
`on/off button 95 is also shown.
`In the present embodiment, the top-side face lOOa con(cid:173)
`tains a display device 105 typically surrounded by a bezel or
`cover. A removable stylus element 90 is also shown. The
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`APPL-1001 / Page 16 of 20
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`US 6,622,018 Bl
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`7
`display device 105 is a touch screen capable of registering
`contact between the screen and the tip of the stylus element
`90. The top-side face lOOa also contains an input device 106
`that in one implementation is a stroke or character recogni(cid:173)
`tion pad. Input device 106 is a touch screen type of device
`capable of registering contact with a tip of stylus element 90,
`and also can register movements of the stylus element. The
`stylus element 90 can be of any shape and material to make
`contact with the display device 105 and input device 106.
`FIGS. 4A and 4B are block diagrams of one embodiment
`of a transceiver 108 in accordance with the present inven(cid:173)
`tion. In a preferred embodiment (the "Bluetooth
`embodiment", transceiver 108 is a Bluetooth device com(cid:173)
`prising a digital component (e.g., a Bluetooth controller) and
`an analog component (e.g., a Bluetooth radio). In accor(cid:173)
`dance with the present invention, a transceiver 108 is
`coupled via a system bus 110 to a system or device that will
`be used to control remote devices (e.g., portable computer
`system 100 of FIG. 2). Similarly, a transceiver 108 is
`coupled via a connector 250 to each remote device that is to 20
`be controlled (e.g., external device 290).
`With reference to both FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the present
`embodiment, transceiver 108 comprises an antenna 205 for
`receiving or transmitting radio signals, a radio frequency
`(RF) module 210, a link controller 220, a microcontroller (or
`central processing unit) 230, and an external interface 240.
`In the Bluetooth embodiment, RF module 210 is a Blue(cid:173)
`tooth radio. Bluetooth radios operate in the ISM (Industrial,
`Scientific, Medical) band at 2.4 GHz. A frequency hop
`transceiver is applied to combat interference and fading.
`Bluetooth uses a packet-switching protocol based on a
`frequency hop scheme with 1600 hops/second. Slots can be
`reserved for synchronous packets. A packet nominally cov-
`ers a single slot, but can be extended to cover up to five slots. 35
`Each packet is transmitted in a different hop frequency. The
`entire available frequency spectrum is used with 79 hops of
`one (1) MHz bandwidth, defined analogous to the IEEE
`802.11 standard. The frequency hopping scheme is com(cid:173)
`bined with fast ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request), cyclic
`redundancy check (CRC) and Forward Error Correction
`(FEC) for data.
`In the present embodiment, link controller 220 is a
`hardware digital signal processor for performing baseband
`processing as well as other functions such as Quality-of(cid:173)
`Service, asynchronous transfers, synchronous transfers,
`audio coding, and encryption.
`In one embodiment, microcontroller 230 is an application
`specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In the Bluetooth
`embodiment, microcontroller 230 is a separate central pro(cid:173)
`cessing unit (CPU) core for managing transceiver 108 and
`for handling some inquiries and requests without having to
`involve the host device. In the Bluetooth embodiment,
`microcontroller 230 runs software that discovers and com(cid:173)
`municates with other Bluetooth devices via the Link Man(cid:173)
`ager Protocol (LMP). The LMP provides a number of
`services including sending and receiving of data, inquiring
`of and reporting a name or device identifier, making and
`responding to link address inquiries, connection setup,
`authentication, and link mode negotiation and setup. The 60
`LMP also can be used to place transceiver 108 in "sniff"
`mode, "hold" mode, "park" mode or "standby" mode (refer
`to FIG. 5 below).
`With reference still to FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the present
`embodiment, interface 240 is for coupling transceiver 108 to 65
`portable computer system 100 or to external device 290 in
`a suitable format (e.g., USE, PCMCIA, PCI, CardBus, PC
`
`8
`Card, etc.). In the present embodiment, interface 240 runs
`software that allows transceiver 108 to interface with por(cid:173)
`table computer system 100 or external device 290.
`FIG. 5 illustrates the different operating modes of a
`5 wireless transceiver 108 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention. In the
`Bluetooth embodiment, before any connections between
`Bluetooth devices are created, all devices are in standby
`mode (502). In this mode, an unconnected unit "listens" for
`10 messages at a regular rate (e.g., every 1.28 seconds) on a set
`of hop frequencies defined for that unit. The hold mode
`(514) is a power saving mode that can be used for connected
`units if no data need to be transmitted. The sniff mode (516)
`and park mode (512) are also low power modes. In the sniff
`15 mode, a device listens to the piconet at a reduced rate
`(relative to the regular rate), thus reducing its duty cycle.
`The sniff interval is programmable and depends on the
`application. In the park mode, a device is still synchronized
`to the piconet but does not participate in the traffic.
`A connection between devices is made by a "page"
`message (506) if the address is already known, or by an
`"inquiry" message (504) followed by a subsequent page
`message if the address is unknown. When connected (510),
`data can be transmitted (508) between devices.
`FIG. 6 illustrates the flow of messages between a con-
`trolling device (e.g., portable computer system 100) and
`remote devices to be controlled (610, 620 and 630) in
`accordance with the present embodime