Case 2:18-cv-00074-JRG-RSP Document 2 Filed 03/14/18 Page 1 of 1 PagelD #: 19
`
`AO 120 (Rev. 08/10)
`
`TO:
`
`Mail Stop 8
`Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`REPORT ON THE
`FILING OR DETERMINATION OF AN
`ACTION REGARDING A PATENT OR
`TRADEMARK
`
`In Compliance with 35 U.S.C. § 290 and/or 15 U.S.C. § 1116 you are hereby advised that a court action has been
`Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division
`filed in the U.S. District Court
`on the following
`D Trademarks or
`( D the patent action involves 35 U.S.C. § 292.):
`
`~Patents.
`
`DOCKET NO.
`2:18-cv-00074
`PLAINTIFF
`
`DATE FILED
`3/13/2018
`
`U.S. DISTRICT COURT
`Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division
`DEFENDANT
`
`UNILOC USA, INC. and UNILOC LUXEMBOURG, S.A.
`
`HUAWEI DEVICE USA, INC. and HUAWEI DEVICE CO.
`LTD.
`
`PATENTOR
`TRADEMARK NO.
`
`DATE OF PATENT
`OR TRADEMARK
`
`HOLDER OF PATENT OR TRADEMARK
`
`1 6,993,049
`
`1/31/2006
`
`Uniloc Luxembourg, S.A.
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`In the above-entitled case, the following patent(s)/ trademark(s) have been included:
`
`DATE INCLUDED
`
`PATENTOR
`TRADEMARK NO.
`
`INCLUDED BY
`
`D Amendment
`DATE OF PATENT
`OR TRADEMARK
`
`D Answer
`
`D Cross Bill
`
`D Other Pleading
`
`HOLDER OF PATENT OR TRADEMARK
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`In the above-entitled case, the following decision has been rendered or judgement issued:
`
`DECISION/JUDGEMENT
`
`I (BY) DEPUTY CLERK
`
`Copy I-Upon initiation of action, mail this copy to Director Copy 3-Upon termination of action, mail this copy to Director
`Copy 2-Upon filing document adding patent(s), mail this copy to Director Copy 4-Case file copy
`
`Page 1 of 188
`
`

`

`AO 120 (Rev. 08/10)
`
`TO:
`
`Mail Stop 8
`Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`REPORT ON THE
`FILING OR DETERMINATION OF AN
`ACTION REGARDING A PATENT OR
`TRADEMARK
`
`In Compliance with 35 U.S.C. § 290 and/or 15 U.S.C. § 1116 you are hereby advised that a court action has been
`Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division
`filed in the U.S. District Court
`on the following
`~ Trademarks or D Patents.
`( D the patent action involves 35 U.S.C. § 292.):
`
`DOCKET NO.
`3:18-cv-559-S
`PLAINTIFF
`
`Uniloc USA Inc et al
`
`DATE FILED
`3/9/2018
`
`U.S. DISTRICT COURT
`Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division
`DEFENDANT
`
`LG Electronics USA Inc et al
`
`PATENTOR
`TRADEMARK NO.
`
`DATE OF PATENT
`OR TRADEMARK
`
`HOLDER OF PATENT OR TRADEMARK
`
`1 6,993,049
`
`1/31/2006
`
`Uniloc Luxembourg, S.A.
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`In the above-entitled case, the following patent(s)/ trademark(s) have been included:
`
`DATE INCLUDED
`
`PATENTOR
`TRADEMARK NO.
`
`INCLUDED BY
`
`D Amendment
`DATE OF PATENT
`OR TRADEMARK
`
`D Answer
`
`D Cross Bill
`
`D Other Pleading
`
`HOLDER OF PATENT OR TRADEMARK
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`In the above-entitled case, the following decision has been rendered or judgement issued:
`
`DECISION/JUDGEMENT
`
`CLERK
`Karen Mitchell
`
`(BY) DEPUTY CLERK
`s/K. Cheng
`
`DATE
`
`3/9/2018
`
`Copy I-Upon initiation of action, mail this copy to Director Copy 3-Upon termination of action, mail this copy to Director
`Copy 2-Upon filing document adding patent(s), mail this copy to Director Copy 4-Case file copy
`
`Page 2 of 188
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1 Filed 03/09/18 Page 9 of 9 PagelD 9
`
`Date: March 9, 2018
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`Isl Edward R. Nelson III
`James J. Foster
`Massachusetts State Bar No. 553285
`Kevin Gannon
`Massachusetts State Bar No. 640931
`Aaron Jacobs
`Massachusetts State Bar No. 677545
`PRINCE LOBEL TYE LLP
`One International Place, Suite 3700
`Boston, MA 02110
`Tel: (617) 456-8000
`Email: jfoster@princelobel.com
`Email: kgannon@princelobel.com
`Email: ajacobs@princelobel.com
`
`Edward R. Nelson III
`ed@nbafirm.com
`Texas State Bar No. 00797142
`Anthony M. Vecchione
`anthony@nbafirm.com
`Texas State Bar No. 24061270
`NELSON BUMGARDNER ALBRITTON P.C.
`3131 West 7th Street, Suite 300
`Fort Worth, TX 76107
`Tel: (817) 377-9111
`Fax: (817) 377-3485
`
`ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS
`
`9
`
`Page 3 of 188
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1-1 Filed 03/09/18 Page 1 of 9 PagelD 10
`
`EXHIBIT A
`
`Page 4 of 188
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1-11 lll~lll~llUUIIII ~IDIUIIIIUlll~UIIU~UI
`
`US006993049B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Davies
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,993,049 B2
`*Jan.31,2006
`
`(54) COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Robert J. Davies, Harley (GB)
`
`(73) Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.,
`Eindhoven (NL)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ...................... 370/528; 370/346; 370/449;
`370/465
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 370/311,
`370/312,328-330,336,337,346,347,350,
`370/390,465,470,473,476,491,528,449
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros(cid:173)
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53( d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154
`( a)(2).
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 635 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/876,514
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 7, 2001
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2002/0028657 Al Mar. 7, 2002
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Jun. 26,2000
`Aug. 15, 2000
`
`(GB)
`(GB)
`
`.................................... 0015454
`.................................... 0020076
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04J 3/12
`H04J 3/16
`H04L 12/403
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,766,434 A * 8/1988 Matai et al.
`............... 340/7.55
`6,574,266 Bl * 6/2003 Haartsen ..................... 375/133
`6,664,891 B2 * 12/2003 Davies et al. ............... 340/505
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Chi Pham
`Assistant Examiner-Ronald Abelson
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A communications system comprises a primary station (100)
`and at least one secondary station (101). The primary station
`(100) is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages,
`each in the form of a plurality of predetermined data fields
`arranged according to a first communications protocol such
`as Bluetooth. In addition the primary station (100) adds to
`some or all of the inquiry messages an additional data field
`for polling one or more secondary stations, which can
`respond to the poll if they have data for transmission. This
`system provides secondary stations (101) with a rapid
`response time without the need for a permanently active
`communication link.
`
`12 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`----- .... ...
`
`' ' \
`
`\
`
`\
`
`' I
`
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`Page 5 of 188
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1-1 Filed 03/09/18 Page 3 of 9 PagelD 12
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.31,2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 6,993,049 B2
`
`----- .... ..
`' ' ' ' \
`
`I
`I
`
`I ,
`
`I
`I
`
`FIG. 1
`
`206
`204
`__________ l _____________ l
`
`I
`IINT
`LC
`µP
`I
`214 ....... -_ ..... _-________ --------- ---~
`208
`212
`210
`
`I
`I
`
`104 >
`
`RF
`
`202
`
`" 100
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Page 6 of 188
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1-1 Filed 03/09/18 Page 4 of 9 PagelD 13
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.31,2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 6,993,049 B2
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`slot I o I 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6 I 7 I 8 I 9 ! 1 o ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 1 s I
`f{k-8}
`f{k-7}
`f{k-6}
`f{k-5}
`f{k-4}
`f{k-3}
`f{k-2}
`f {k-1}
`f{k}
`f{k+1
`f{k+2
`f{k+3
`f{k+4
`f{k+5
`f{k+6
`f{k+7
`
`I
`
`I
`
`FIG. 3
`
`A
`
`A
`
`B
`
`B
`
`10.24s
`
`FIG. 4
`
`502
`
`504
`
`502
`
`ID PKT
`06
`
`SB
`
`HID POLL
`
`508
`
`HSB
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Page 7 of 188
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1-1 Filed 03/09/18 Page 5 of 9 PagelD 14
`U.S. Patent
`
`US 6,993,049 B2
`
`Jan.31,2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`START
`
`RX DATA
`
`602
`
`604
`
`N
`
`y
`
`TX DATA
`
`608
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 8 of 188
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1-1 Filed 03/09/18 Page 6 of 9 PagelD 15
`
`US 6,993,049 B2
`
`1
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`The present invention relates to a communication system
`and further relates to primary and secondary stations for use
`in such a system and to a method of operating such a system.
`Although the present invention is described with particular
`reference to a Bluetooth system, it is applicable to a range
`of other communication systems.
`In recent years there has been increasing interest in
`enabling devices to interact via wireless communication
`links, thereby avoiding the need for extensive cabling. An
`example of a communication system which may be used for
`such wireless links is a Bluetooth network, operating
`according to the specification defined by the Bluetooth
`Special Interest Group. Such a network is intended to 15
`provide low-cost, short range radio links between mobile
`PCs, mobile phones and other devices, whether portable or
`not.
`Communication in a Bluetooth network takes place in the
`unlicensed ISM band at around 2.45 GHz. Stations form 20
`ad-hoc networks which are known as piconets, each com(cid:173)
`prising a master station and up to seven slave stations. All
`stations are identical and capable of acting as master or slave
`as required. A station can take part in more than one piconet,
`thereby linking piconets and enabling communication over
`an extended range.
`One application for which use of Bluetooth is proposed is
`the connection of controller devices to host systems. A
`controller device, also known as a Human/machine Interface
`Device (HID), is an input device such as a keyboard, mouse,
`games controller, graphics pad or the like. Such HIDs do not
`typically require a link having high data throughput, but do
`require a very responsive link.
`A Bluetooth system is more than capable of supporting
`the throughput requirements of HIDs. However, the degree
`of responsiveness required can be more difficult to achieve.
`An active Bluetooth link can offer a reasonably responsive
`service, but this requires both setting up of the link and its
`maintenance even during periods of inactivity.
`Two types of communication link supported in a Blue(cid:173)
`tooth network are Asynchronous ConnectionLess (ACL)
`links and Synchronous Connection Oriented (SCO) links.
`ACL links allow slaves to enter a 'park' mode and cease
`active communications, which also allows a number of other
`HIDs to maintain links with the master station without 45
`violating the Bluetooth rule that no more than seven slaves
`can be active at any one time. A slave has to be polled before
`it can submit a request to leave park mode and become
`active. SCO links require continuous operation by a slave,
`but there are only a limited number of SCO channels
`available.
`Setting up a link requires a HID to join, as a slave, the
`piconet including the host system (which will typically act
`as piconet master, i.e. a base station). Joining the piconet
`requires two sets of procedures, namely 'inquiry' and 'page'.
`Inquiry allows a would-be slave to find a base station and
`issue a request to join the piconet. Page allows a base station
`to invite slaves of its choice to join the net. Analysis of these
`procedures indicates that the time taken to join a piconet and
`then to be in a position to transfer user input to the master
`could be several tens of seconds.
`It is possible for this procedure to be carried out once and
`for all when the host system is turned on. However, HIDs
`will normally be battery operated and it is therefore not
`acceptable for them to have to remain permanently switched
`on. In particular, for a HID to sign on to the piconet
`automatically when the host system is turned on it will either
`
`2
`have to be regularly waking up to look for Bluetooth inquiry
`bursts, thereby consuming power, or it will need to be
`manually woken up by the user.
`It is therefore more likely that a HID will remain inactive
`5 until it is woken up, either by being explicitly switched on
`or by a user attempting some form of input. Hence, the host
`system's Bluetooth master will need to run inquiry cycles
`periodically, which has two implications. The first is that
`because the inquiry phase is periodic rather than continuous,
`10 initial access time could be several tens of seconds. This
`could mean that it could take half a minute or more from the
`time a user moves a mouse to a cursor moving on a screen.
`Secondly, the fact that an inquiry cycle takes place at all
`means that ACL links will be suspended during this cycle,
`for up to 10.24 seconds at a time. Although SCO links could
`be used, a HID using such a link could not cease transmis-
`sions during inactive periods.
`It is therefore an object of the invention to address the
`problem of providing a responsive link between a HID and
`a host system which allows the HID to go to sleep during
`periods of inactivity.
`According to a first aspect of the present invention there
`is provided a communications system comprising a primary
`station and at least one secondary station, wherein the
`25 primary station has means for broadcasting a series of
`inquiry messages, each in the form of a plurality of prede(cid:173)
`termined data fields arranged according to a first communi(cid:173)
`cations protocol, and means for adding to an inquiry mes(cid:173)
`sage prior to transmission an additional data field for polling
`30 at least one secondary station, and wherein the or each
`polled secondary station has means for determining when an
`additional data field has been added to the plurality of data
`fields, for determining whether it has been polled from the
`additional data field and for responding to a poll when it has
`35 data for transmission to the primary station.
`According to a second aspect of the present invention
`there is provided a primary station for use in a communi(cid:173)
`cations system comprising at least one secondary station,
`wherein means are provided for broadcasting a series of
`40 inquiry messages, each in the form of a plurality of prede(cid:173)
`termined data fields arranged according to a first communi(cid:173)
`cations protocol, and for adding to each inquiry message
`prior to transmission an additional data field for polling at
`least one secondary station.
`According to a third aspect of the present invention there
`is provided a secondary station for use in a communications
`system comprising a primary station, wherein means are
`provided for receiving an inquiry message broadcast by the
`primary station, the message being in the form of a plurality
`50 of predetermined data fields arranged according to a first
`communications protocol and having added to it an addi(cid:173)
`tional data field for polling at least one secondary station,
`and wherein means are provided for determining when an
`additional data field has been added to the plurality of data
`55 fields, for determining whether it has been polled from the
`additional data field and for responding to a poll when it has
`data for transmission to the primary station.
`According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there
`is provided a method of operating a communication system
`60 comprising a primary station and at least one secondary
`station, the method comprising the primary station broad(cid:173)
`casting a series of inquiry messages, each in the form of a
`plurality of predetermined data fields arranged according to
`a first communications protocol, and adding to an inquiry
`65 message prior to transmission an additional data field for
`polling at least one secondary station, and further compris(cid:173)
`ing the or each polled secondary station determining when
`
`Page 9 of 188
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`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1-1 Filed 03/09/18 Page 7 of 9 PagelD 16
`
`US 6,993,049 B2
`
`4
`3
`an additional data field has been added to the plurality of
`rection coding, generating Automatic Repeat reQuests
`(ARQ) and performing audio coding. The microprocessor
`data fields, determining whether it has been polled from the
`210 manages the station 100, controlling data transfer
`additional data field and responding to a poll when it has
`between the interface unit 212 and the link controller 208.
`data for transmission to the primary station.
`The interface unit 212 comprises hardware and software for
`Embodiments of the present invention will now be 5
`interfacing the station 100 to a host device such as a portable
`described, by way of example, with reference to the accom(cid:173)
`panying drawings, wherein:
`PC or a cellular phone. The interfacing is performed via a
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of an ad-hoc wireless network
`link 214, which might include interfaces to a USE (Univer(cid:173)
`comprising two linked piconets;
`sal Serial Bus), external memory and other items as appro-
`FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of a typical Bluetooth 10 priate for the particular application.
`The Bluetooth inquiry procedure allows a would-be slave
`station;
`101 to find a base station and issue a request to join its
`FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating the transmission of a train of
`piconet. It has been proposed specifically to overcome
`inquiry access codes centred on a given frequency;
`FIG. 4 illustrates alternation between trains of inquiry
`problems caused by the frequency-hopping nature of Blue-
`messages over the duration of an inquiry broadcast;
`15 tooth and similar systems. The applicants have recognised
`FIG. 5 illustrates the insertion of a packet of broadcast
`that it is possible to piggy-back a broadcast channel on the
`inquiry messages issued by the master 100. The broadcast
`data within an existing transmission slot; and
`FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of polling a
`channel can be used to poll HIDs at regular intervals.
`HID in accordance with the present invention.
`However, at the air interface, the mechanism is entirely
`In the drawings the same reference numerals have been
`20 compatible with conventional Bluetooth systems.
`used to indicate corresponding features.
`To illustrate how this is implemented, we first consider
`In the following description we consider particularly a
`how the Inquiry procedures themselves operate, with refer(cid:173)
`system which utilises Bluetooth protocols for communica(cid:173)
`ence to FIGS. 3 and 4. When a Bluetooth unit wants to
`discover other Bluetooth devices, it enters a so-called
`tion of messages between stations. As will be recognised, the
`general invention concept of polling HIDs via a broadcast 25
`inquiry substate. In this mode, it issues an inquiry message
`channel used as part of the inquiry procedure is not restricted
`containing a General Inquiry Access Code (GIAC) or a
`number of optional Dedicated Inquiry Access Codes
`to Bluetooth devices and is applicable to other communica(cid:173)
`tions arrangements, in particular frequency hopping sys(cid:173)
`(DIAC). This message is repeated at several levels; first, it
`tems.
`is repeated in a train A of 16 frequencies from a total of 32
`A basic Bluetooth network configuration is illustrated in
`30 making up the inquiry hopping sequence. The message is
`FIG. 1. Such a configuration would typically begin with two
`sent twice on two frequencies in even timeslots with the
`following, odd timeslots used to listen for replies on the two
`connected host devices, for example a portable PC and a
`cellular phone, and grow to include additional connected
`corresponding inquiry response hopping frequencies. Six(cid:173)
`teen frequencies and their response counterparts can there-
`devices. A wide range of additional host devices may be
`included, for example wireless headsets, personal organisers
`35 fore be covered in 16 timeslots, or 10 ms. The chart of FIG.
`and home entertainment equipment. The network comprises
`3 illustrates the transmission of a single train on sixteen
`a plurality of stations 100, 101 each included in such a host
`frequencies centred around f{k}, where f{k} represents the
`device, formed into two piconets 102a, 102b. In general the
`inquiry hopping sequence.
`The next step is the repetition of the train a plurality of
`networking components (i.e. the Bluetooth chip for a Blue(cid:173)
`tooth network) of all stations 100, 101 will be implemented
`40 times. At the very least, as presently specified, this means
`256 repetitions of the entire train. Finally, the train A is
`identically. However, it is only necessary that all stations
`100, 101 comprising the network are able to operate accord(cid:173)
`swapped for the train B consisting of the remaining 16
`frequencies and the cycle repeated. As shown by FIG. 4, the
`ing to a compatible protocol.
`The first piconet 102a is a point-to-multipoint network
`specification states that this switch must occur at least three
`comprising four stations 100, a master lO0(A) and three
`45 times to ensure the collection of all responses in an error-free
`slaves 101(Al,A2,A3), with bidirectional communication
`environment. This means that an inquiry broadcast could
`channels 104 between the master 100 and each of the slaves
`take at least 10.24 seconds.
`101. The second piconet 102b is a point-to-point network
`A portable device that wants to be discovered by a
`comprising a master lO0(B) and a slave lOl(Bl). Commu(cid:173)
`Bluetooth master 100 enters the inquiry scan substate. Here,
`50 it listens for a message containing the GIAC or DIACs of
`nication between the piconets 102a, 102b is enabled by the
`master A in the first pico net 102a also acting as a slave in the
`interest. It, too, operates in a cyclic way. It listens on a single
`second piconet 102b and vice versa. It is not necessary for
`hop frequency for an inquiry scan period which is long
`the link between the piconets 102a, 102b to be between
`enough to cover the 16 inquiry frequencies used by the
`masters: it would be equally possible for the link to be
`inquiry. On hearing an inquiry containing an appropriate
`between stations A3 and Bl or between A and Bl, for
`55 IAC, the portable device enters a so-called inquiry response
`substate and issues a number of inquiry response messages
`example.
`An example of a station 100 for use in a Bluetooth system
`to the master 100. The master 100 will then page the portable
`is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2, and comprises two
`device, inviting it to join the piconet.
`As mentioned above and shown in FIG. 5, the applicants
`main sections. The first section is an analogue unit compris(cid:173)
`ing a radio (RF) 202 having an antenna 204 for transmitting
`60 propose that the inquiry messages issued by the base station
`have an extra field 504 appended to them, capable of
`and receiving radio signals on the communication channel
`104. The second section is a digital controller unit 206,
`carrying a HID poll message. The extended field 504 may
`further comprising a link baseband controller (LC) 208, a
`carry a header that signifies a HID poll to distinguish it from
`microprocessor (uP) 210 and an interface unit (INT) 212.
`other applications of extended field information, such as
`The link controller 208 comprises means for performing
`65 context-aware services or broadcast audio (as disclosed in
`baseband processing and execution of basic protocols close
`our co-pending United Kingdom patent applications
`0015454.2 (applicant's reference PHGB 000084) and
`to the physical layer, for example implementing error cor-
`
`Page 10 of 188
`
`

`

`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1-1 Filed 03/09/18 Page 8 of 9 PagelD 17
`
`US 6,993,049 B2
`
`5
`0015453.4 (applicant's reference PHGB 000085) respec(cid:173)
`tively). It will also carry the address of the HID being polled,
`and may also carry a small amount of information to the HID
`which might be used to provide supplementary information
`to a user (such as text on an LCD screen) or feedback (for 5
`example, motional feedback in games controllers). By add(cid:173)
`ing the field to the end of the inquiry message, it will be
`appreciated that non-HID receivers can ignore it without
`modification. In addition, by using a special DIAC to signify
`a HID poll, HID devices can be alerted to the presence of the 10
`forthcoming poll.
`The presence of the extra data field 504 means that the
`guard space conventionally allowed at the end of a Blue(cid:173)
`tooth inquiry packet is reduced. However, this space is
`provided to give a frequency synthesiser time to change to
`a new hop frequency and will be generally unused other(cid:173)
`wise, as current frequency synthesisers are capable of
`switching at speeds which do not need extension into the
`extra guard space. The standard inquiry packet is an ID
`packet (ID PKT) 502 of length 68 bits. Since it is sent in a
`half-slot, starting either on a slot boundary (SB) 506 or a
`half-slot boundary (HSB) 508, the guard space allocated is
`( 625/2-68)=244.5 µs ( 625 µs slot period, 1 Mbit/s signalling
`rate). Modern synthesisers can switch in much less time with
`figures of 100 µs or lower considered routine by experts in 25
`the field. Hence a suitable size for the extra data field 504
`could be 100 bits.
`In a typical embodiment, four of the 100 bits will be lost
`as trailer bits for the ID packet 502: this is a consequence of
`it being read by a correlator. Of the 96 bits remaining,
`applicant's preferred allocation is for 64 bits to be used as
`data and 32 bits as a 2/3 FEC (Forward Error Correction)
`checksum. Each inquiry burst thus contains 8 bytes of
`broadcast data, allowing space for several channels of key
`coded or digitised analogue inputs.
`In order to achieve the desired responsiveness, and
`because the HID has been specifically addressed, the HID is
`allowed to respond, if desired, in the next-but-one half-slot
`with a packet of similar format, containing information 40
`corresponding to the user's input. As described above, the
`inquiry procedure involves the transmission of two sets of
`sixteen frequencies in trains of inquiry transmissions. The 16
`frequencies used within a train can be considered as 16
`polling channels, and therefore 16 devices can be polled
`every 10 ms if desired. Other arrangements are possible, for
`example polling up to 32 devices every 20 ms or up to 8
`devices every 5 ms. The arrangement of polling channels
`could also be flexible, with more rapid polling provided for
`devices which need a faster response time and vice versa.
`Each device need only monitor a single frequency within
`a train, but must be able to track the train switches and
`frequency changes due to changing clock phase. It is
`assumed that an initial set up procedure synchronises the
`HID Bluetooth slave 101 to the Bluetooth master 100, as 55
`well as establishing the nature of the HID and the format it
`uses for uplink and downlink transmissions. At this time the
`HID is allocated a device address and a channel number
`corresponding to one of the sixteen channels within a train.
`For fast polling, it is necessary for the Bluetooth master
`100 to operate continuously. This interferes with the con(cid:173)
`ventional mechanism for setting up two-way links. How(cid:173)
`ever, use of two radios operating in tandem, as disclosed in
`our co-pending United Kingdom patent application
`0015452.6 (applicant's reference PHGB 000086), avoids
`this problem, thereby enabling the provision of fast access to
`the piconet and an unlimited two-way throughput capacity.
`
`6
`By polling every 10 ms, with eight bytes per poll, a
`capacity of 800 bytes per second for sixteen devices is
`provided. In variations on the basic scheme described above
`this capacity could be lowered to permit the operation of
`conventional inquiry procedures, or to increase the number
`of HIDs that a host system 100 can support beyond sixteen.
`In order to minimise their power consumption, HIDs are
`not obliged to respond to every poll if they have no infor(cid:173)
`mation to offer. A watchdog timer could be provided in a
`HID to make it transmit at least once in a given period whilst
`it is nominally active. The period could for example be
`predetermined, determined by the host system or determined
`by negotiation between the host and each HID. HIDs failing
`to transmit within the determined period would then be
`15 removed from the master's list of active devices.
`A method of polling a HID in accordance with the present
`invention is summarised in FIG. 6. The method starts, at step
`602, when the HID has data to transmit to the host system.
`The HID receives, at step 604, data from the extra field 504
`20 then tests, at step 606, whether it has been polled by the host
`system. If it has not been polled, the HID returns to step 604
`to receive the next extra field 504. If the HID has been
`polled, it transmits its data in the next-but-one half-slot, at
`step 608.
`Since an inquiry mode is necessary to permit access to the
`host system's piconet, it must be provided in the conven(cid:173)
`tional manner for at least some of the time. There are a range
`of strategies which may be employed.
`A first strategy involves the operation of one radio in two
`30 modes, namely set up and polling. In set up mode the inquiry
`procedure operates as normal and the HIDs can establish
`contact with the host master 100 in the conventional manner.
`Once all HIDs have established themselves, the master radio
`switches to polling mode, in which the inquiry procedure
`now operates in polling mode only. This strategy is ideal for
`games machines since it achieves the fastest response when
`polling mode is operational, while opportunities for other
`controllers to join the piconet occur at well-defined times,
`such as between games.
`A second strategy is more appropriate when the host
`system is a general purpose device, such as a PC, in which
`case opportunities must be provided for new devices to join
`at any time. In this case the master's radio can operate in
`modeless fashion, devoting some of its time to fast polling
`45 and other times to conventional inquiry operations. Alternate
`10 ms periods could be devoted to each operation to achieve
`a 50:50 ratio for example, with the ratio being able to be
`modified as desired. Such a system would still have a quick
`to HIDs and
`response
`the general inquiry operation,
`50 although possibly slower, would still operate as normal. The
`use of a special DIAC in a polling message should ensure
`that a slave 101 going through normal inquiry response
`procedures will not send an inquiry response packet in the
`space reserved for a fast poll response.
`Allowing conventional inquiries in parallel with fast
`polling implies that, occasionally, there will be a slight pause
`in inquiry or fast polling to allow a new HID access to the
`host. This will probably not matter to the user since he will
`no longer be using old HIDs and will therefore not be aware
`60 of the temporary loss in responsiveness.
`A third strategy is required when conventional Bluetooth
`data ( or other) links are required, so as to support both a fast
`response for the polling mechanism and the data carrying
`capacity of conventional Bluetooth. This requires the use of
`65 two radios, and the approach disclosed in our co-pending
`United Kingdom patent application 0015452.6 (applicant's
`reference PHGB 000086) can also be used here. Alterna-
`
`35
`
`Page 11 of 188
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`Case 3:18-cv-00559-S Document 1-1 Filed 03/09/18 Page 9 of 9 PagelD 18
`
`US 6,993,049 B2
`
`7
`tively, one radio could operate as a conventional Bluetooth
`radio with the other permanently dedicated to fast polling.
`From reading the present disclosure, other modifications
`will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such modifi(cid:173)
`cations may involve other features which are already known 5
`in the design, manufacture and use of fixed and portable
`communications systems and component parts thereof, and
`which may be used instead of or in addition to features
`already described herein. Although claims have been for(cid:173)
`mulated in this application to particular combinations of 10
`features, it should be understood that the scope of the
`disclosure of the present application also includes any novel
`feature or any novel combination of features disclosed
`herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation
`thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as 15
`presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it miti(cid:173)
`gates any or all of the same technical problems as does the
`present invention. The applicants hereby give notice that
`new claims may be formulated to such features and/or
`combinations of features during the prosecution of the 20
`present application or of any further application derived
`therefrom.
`In the present specification and claims the word "a" or
`"an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of
`a plurality of such elements. Further, the word "comprising"
`does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than
`those listed.
`What