(12) United States Patent
`US 6,255,800 B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`Bork
`
`(45) Date of Patent: Jul. 3, 2001
`
`USOO6255800B1
`
`(54) BLUETOOTH ENABLED MOBILE DEVICE
`CHARGING CRADLE AND SYSTEM
`
`Primary Examiner—Peter S. Wong
`Assistant Examiner—Pia Tibbits
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Stephan Bork, Richardson, TX (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated,
`Dallas, TX (US)
`
`ot1ce:
`* N'
`
`lsc a1mer, t e term 0 t ls
`u ect to an
`yd'l'
`h
`fh’
`Sbj
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/476,986
`
`Jan. 3’ 2000
`Flled:
`(22)
`Int. Cl.7 ........................................................ H02J 7/00
`(51)
`(52) US. Cl.
`............................................. 320/115; 455/463
`(58) Field of Search ............................. 320/115; 455/463,
`455/557, 466, 404
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Ronald O. Neerings; Wade
`James Brady, III; Frederick J. Telecky, Jr.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A mobile device charging cradle (46) to enable short dis-
`tance wireless communication between a personal computer
`(10) and at least one other short distance wireless commu-
`nication enabled electronic device (50).
`In a preferred
`embodiment of the invention, a short distance wireless radio
`(transceiver—Bluetooth enabled) (44) and antenna (42) are
`added to a charging cradle to produce a combination charg-
`ing and short distance wireless communication enabled
`cradle (46) which is coupled via a data cable (12) to a
`personal computer (10). The short distance wireless (in this
`case RF) communication enabled cradle enables a system in
`which a legacy architecture personal computer may com-
`municate with other short distance RF communication
`
`(56)
`
`References CitEd
`
`enabled electronic devices. Such communication is enabled
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1999 Noble ....................................... 717/4
`5,892,949 *
`
`670237241 * 11/1998 Chipper ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
`34235713
`................. 361/681
`6,028,764 *
`3/1999 Rlchardson et al.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`“Specification of the Bluetooth System”, Specification vol.
`1, The ad hoc Scatternet for affordable and highly functional
`wireless connectivity, Core, v1.0A, 7/99.
`“WinHec ’99 White Paper”, Windows® Hardware Engi-
`neering Conference: Advancing the Platform, Bluetooth
`Radio System Overview, 4/99, 19 pages.
`
`whetheror not another RF communication enabled portable
`electromc dev1ce ls coupled to the cradle.
`In another
`embodiment of the invention, a universal serial bus USB in
`a computer is used as a power source for the previously
`described cradle. In one embodiment, a data/power cable
`(78) couples a computer (70) having an external USB
`connector (72) to the short distance wireless communication
`enabled cradle (74). The cable includes electronic circuitry
`(82) for converting the voltage level supplied by the USB to
`a voltage level usable by the cradle—including its Bluetooth
`radio (44) and any peripheral electronic device that may be
`coupled to the cradle (52,54).
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`30 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`10
`
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`42
`
`38
`
`36
`
`/‘/‘
`
`22
`
`BLUETOOTH ENABLED
`
`45
`CHARGING CRADLE
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1008
`
`APPLE 1008
`
`1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
` 7
`
`FIG.
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`
`
`FIG. 2
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`28'
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`FIG. 3
`
`
`
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`FIG.
`
`4
`
`28"
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`FIG. 5
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`A3
`
`
`
`BATTERY
`PACK
`
`FIG. 6
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`
`
`FIG. 7
`
`
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`1O
`
`26
`
`FIG. 8
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`24
`
`
`
`
`
`22
`
`5
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`
`
`RF TRANSCEIVER
`BLUETOOTH ENABLED
`
`CHARGING CRADLE
`
`%
`\‘
`
`DATA LINES
`
`POWER LINE
`
`M C
`
`RADLE WITH
`BLUETOOTH
`
`10
`
`FIG. 72
`
`
`
`
`42 Q
`
`
`AR 010
`v \ v
`46
`
`
`
`\\
` MOBILE DEVICE
`
`WITHOUT
`BLUETOOTH RADIO
`
` M
`
`
`
`CRADLE WITH
`BLUETOOTH
`
`RADIO cow
`
`45
`
`BLUETOOTH
`
`RADIO
`
`Io
`
`FIG.
`
`7 4
`
`'- __________________ _I
`DATA LINES
`POWER LINE
`
`F]G. 73
`
`48x
`
`
` CRADLE WITH
`
`RADIO
`
`42
`
`42
`
`BLUETOOTH
`
`RADIO
`
`
`
`BLU ETOOTH
`
`m
`
`7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MOBILE DEVICE
`WITH BLUETOOTH
`RADIO
`
`42
`54
`\\
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CRADLE WITH
`BLUETOOTH
`
`RADIO
`
`10
`46
`
`50
`
`OTHER
`BLUETOOTH
`RADIO
`
`v
`
`42
`
`FIG. 76
`
`8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`68
`
`60
`
`
`
`
`IMAGECOVE
`
`
`
`
`(PAN kSTILL
`
`RV
`
`HID CLASS
`DRIVER
`
`STREAMING
`CLASS
`DRIVER
`
`7
`/HID
`MINIDRIVER
`A
`
`V
`/UDIO
`MINIDRIVER
`A
`
`’VIRTUAL
`COMM PORT
`
`EMULAHON‘
`
`NETWORK TRANSPORT
`PROTOCOLS
`
`(ACCESS
`POINTS)
`
`MINIPORT
`/
`
`STILL IMAGE
`(USER MODE
`COVER)/
`
`COMM
`APPS AND
`OBEX
`
`
`
`USER
`
`KERNEL
`
`7/UETOOTN
`ADVISER
`A
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`SPEAKER
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`PHONE
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` 56
`
`////////////////////
`
`////////////////////
`
`
`
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`
`62
`
`[iicicEEvinEIEEE]
`
`SW
`
`HW
`
` SYSTEM BUS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 78
`
`PC CARD INTERFACE
`AND HOST CONTROLLER
`
`BLUETOOTH LM
`
`BLUETOOTH BASEBAND
`
`USB INTERFACE AND
`HOST CONTROLLER
`
`BLUETOOTH LM
`
`BLUETOOTH BASEBAND
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`JuL3,2001
`
`Sheet 10 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`
`
`HOST
`
`(ROOT TIER)
`
`
`
`
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`5 UNIT LOADS (MAX)
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`FIG 24
`
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`12
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`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 12 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`
`
`72G.IF
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2001
`
`Sheet 13 0f 13
`
`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`
`
`7O
`
`26
`
`24
`
`
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`
`

`

`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`1
`BLUETOOTH ENABLED MOBILE DEVICE
`CHARGING CRADLE AND SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to the field of short distance
`wireless communications. More specifically, He present
`invention relates to a method of using a charging cradle to
`enable short distance wireless communication between a
`
`personal computing apparatus and at least one other short
`distance wireless communication enabled electronic device.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Currently, the most common form of short distance wire-
`less communication between a personal computer (“PC”)
`and a wireless communication enabled electronic device is
`
`15
`
`infrared (“IR) communication. IR communication, however,
`has shortcomings in being a very short distance communi-
`cation technique (typically a few meters at best) and requires
`an uninterrupted line of sight between RF ports on both
`devices. Both of the limitations associated with IR commu-
`
`nication are problematic in the modern world of portable
`electronic devices.
`Another form of wireless communication is radio fre-
`
`quency (“RF”) communication. Some legacy type architec-
`ture computers incorporate an IR port and circuitry to
`support
`IR communication. For short distance wireless
`applications, a legacy type computer can be combined with
`a portable phone (of the type used for short distance com-
`munication around the home or office—a traditional cellular
`
`phone is not acceptable for this purpose due to power,
`frequency and operational expense requirements) via a cable
`or direct connection to give the computer the ability to
`communicate with another electronic device (typically
`another computer) via RF communication from the portable
`phone to a receiver spaced a short distance away. FIG. 1
`illustrates a prior art embodiment of a legacy architecture
`portable computer 10 that is coupled via a cable 12 to a
`portable telephone 14, as required by such a system. Por-
`table telephone 14 provides RF transceiver functionality for
`portable computer 10. FIG. 2 illustrates another prior art
`embodiment of a short distance RF communication system
`in which a legacy architecture portable computer 10 is
`coupled via a data cable 12 to a dedicated short distance RF
`communication module or device 16 (i.e., which is able to
`transmit and receive RF signals over a short distance—e.g.,
`up to 10 meters). RF module or device 16 has an antenna 18
`and RF circuitry 20 (typically transceiver functionality)
`coupled to antenna 18. In both of the systems disclosed in
`FIGS. 1 and 2, there are two electronic apparatus and a
`coupling cable that a user must keep together.
`In addition to the above, portable computer 10, portable
`phone 14 and RF module or device 16 (as well as all
`electronic devices) each require a power source for proper
`operation. While one or more of these devices may derive its
`power solely from batteries, the more common and practical
`practice is to have each device derive its power from
`batteries while the device is in a portable mode and from a
`power cord coupled to a conventional power supply when
`the device is near a permanent power supply. FIGS. 3 and 4
`illustrate the systems of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, in
`which portable computer 10, portable phone 14 and RF
`device 16 obtain their power from a power cord 22 coupled
`to a conventional power supply 24 (such as a power
`receptacle—for example, 110 VAC). Devices having an
`input voltage requirement less than the supply voltage may
`also have a step down transformer or voltage reducing
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`circuit 26. For example, a transformer or other voltage
`conversion or regulator circuitry may be used to reduce a
`supply voltage of 110 VAC, supplied by a power receptacle
`on a wall, to the required input voltage of the device. For
`devices requiring DC voltage, an AC/DC converter may also
`coupled between the step down transformer and the device.
`Whether obtaining power solely from batteries, or from
`batteries only when no conventional power supply is
`available, the batteries will eventually run down and require
`replacement unless the batteries are of the rechargeable type
`and are recharged separately or while the device of which
`the batteries are a part is coupled to a conventional power
`supply. Rechargeable batteries may be recharged in one of
`three methods. First, batteries 28 within a portable electronic
`device may be physically removed from the device and
`placed in a battery recharge mechanism 30 until recharged,
`as illustrated in FIG. 5. The batteries are replaced in the
`electronic device after being recharged. Second, batteries 28
`may be recharged within the electronic device it powers (in
`this case portable computer 10, portable telephone 14 or RF
`device 16) via a power cord 22 (typically having a trans-
`former 26 at one end of the power cord—typically the
`portion that plugs into the power source) coupling the
`portable electronic device to a conventional power supply
`24, as discussed above and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
`Third, batteries within small portable electronic devices,
`such as portable phone 14 may also be recharged within the
`device while the device is placed within a cradle or recep-
`tacle 32 that is coupled, via a power cord 22, to a conven-
`tional power supply 24, as illustrated in FIG. 6.
`Removing a device’s batteries for recharging (as shown in
`FIG. 5) is awkward and burdensome. The electronic device
`using the batteries is typically unusable—if of the battery
`only type—while its batteries are removed. There is also the
`potential problem of losing or damaging the batteries and/or
`the device itself through mishandling of the device or
`batteries and wear resulting from the continual process of
`removing and replacing batteries. If the device is of the type
`allowing operation from a power cord only, the mobility of
`the device is limited to the length of the power cord. The
`method of recharging batteries shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is
`more convenient than the method of FIG. 5 in that the
`
`batteries are not removed from the device while recharging,
`which facilitates immediate operation of the device, even if
`the batteries are not fully charged. For devices small enough,
`the recharging cradle is the most convenient method of
`recharging. One disadvantage of the charging cradles of the
`prior art is that they require a power cable coupling the
`charging cradle to a dedicated power source, such as a 110
`VAC wall outlet or 12 VDC outlet (such as an automotive
`cirgarette lighter power supply). Such recharging techniques
`are useless in situations where there are no, or insufficient,
`discrete power sources available to plug in the power cord
`of the charging cable.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a cradle 34 adapted to supply both power
`and data to an electronic device 14. In one embodiment,
`shown in FIG. 8, cradle 34 has both a connector for power
`36 and a data connector 38. In another embodiment, shown
`in FIG. 9, cradle 34 has a single power and data connector
`40 for coupling power (via cable 22) and data (via cable 12)
`to the portable phone 14.
`Combining the RF communication and power
`requirements, it soon becomes apparent that a user of any
`one of the previously described communication systems will
`need a portable computer 10, a power cord 22 for supplying
`external power to computer 10, a portable phone 14 or RF
`module 16, a power cable 22 for supplying external power
`15
`
`15
`
`

`

`US 6,255,800 B1
`
`3
`to portable phone 14 or RF module 16, and a data cable 14
`for coupling portable computer 10 to portable telephone 14
`or RF module 16—for a total of two electronic devices, two
`power cords and a data cable. For the recharging cradle
`embodiments—a total of three electronic devices,
`two
`power cords and a data cable are required.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention disclosed herein comprises a method of
`using a mobile device-charging cradle to enable short dis-
`tance wireless RF communication between a personal com-
`puter and at least one other short distance wireless RF
`communication enabled electronic device. In a preferred
`embodiment of the invention, a short distance wireless radio
`(transceiver—Bluetooth in this example) and antenna are
`added to a charging cradle to produce a combination charg-
`ing and short distance wireless communication enabled
`cradle which is coupled via a data cable to a personal
`computer. The short distance wireless (in this case RF)
`communication enabled cradle enables a system in which a
`legacy architecture personal computer may communicate
`with other short distance RF communication enabled elec-
`tronic devices. Such communication is enabled whether or
`
`not another RF communication enabled portable electronic
`device is coupled to the cradle.
`In another embodiment of the invention, a universal serial
`bus “USB” in a computer as a power source for the previ-
`ously described cradle. In one embodiment, a data/power
`cable couples a computer having an external USB connector
`to the short distance wireless communication enabled cradle.
`
`The cable includes electronic circuitry for converting the
`voltage level supplied by the USB to a voltage level usable
`by the cradle—including its Bluetooth radio and any periph-
`eral electronic device that may be coupled to the cradle.
`Advantages of the above-described embodiments of the
`invention include: elimination of the need to purchase a
`Bluetooth enabled computer in order to enable Bluetooth
`communications between a non-Bluetooth enabled com-
`
`puter and another Bluetooth enabled electronic device;
`elimination of the need to purchase a Bluetooth enabled
`computer in order to enable Bluetooth communications
`between a Bluetooth enabled computer having disabled or
`disabled Bluetooth capability with another Bluetooth
`enabled electronic device; elimination of the need for a
`second power cable when the computer and the cradle are
`used together—saving both cost of acquiring the additional
`power cable and travel space; a reduction from two dedi-
`cated power sources (one for computer and one for the
`cradle) to one (for the computer only); and a convenient way
`to supply power to the cradle from the computer’s batteries
`when no external power source is available for either device.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The novel features believed characteristic of the invention
`
`are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,
`however as well as other features and advantages thereof,
`will be best understood by reference to the detailed descrip-
`tion which follows, read in conjunction with the accompa-
`nying drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 illustrates a data cable coupling a portable com-
`puter to a cellular telephone.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a data cable coupling a portable com-
`puter to a dedicated short distance RF communication
`module or device.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`computer to a dedicated AC power supply; and a second
`power cable coupling the cellular phone to a dedicated AC
`power supply.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a data cable coupling a portable com-
`puter to a dedicated short distance RF communication
`module or device; a first power cable coupling the computer
`to a dedicated AC power supply; and a second power cable
`coupling the dedicated short distance RF communication
`module or device to a dedicated AC power supply.
`FIG. 5 illustrates a battery pack being recharged in a
`dedicated battery recharger.
`FIG. 6 illustrates a cellular phone recharging in a cradle
`which itself is coupled to a dedicated power supply via a
`power cable.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a cradle for a cellular phone in which the
`cradle has a first connector coupled to a dedicated power
`supply via a power cable and a second connector coupled to
`a data source (computer) via a data cable.
`FIG. 8 illustrates a system in which a data cable couples
`a portable computer to a cradle upon which a cellular phone
`is resting and recharging; a power cable couples the portable
`computer to a dedicated AC power supply; and a power
`cable coupling the cradle to a dedicated AC power supply.
`FIG. 9 illustrates a system in which a data cable couples
`a portable computer to a cradle having a single data/power
`connector upon which a cellular phone may rest and/or
`recharge; a power cable couples the portable computer to a
`dedicated AC power supply; and a power cable coupling the
`cradle to a dedicated AC power supply.
`FIG. 10 illustrates a system in which a data cable couples
`a portable computer to a cradle having a Bluetooth radio and
`a data connector and a power connector upon which a
`cellular phone may rest and/or recharge; a power cable
`couples the portable computer to a dedicated AC power
`supply; and a power cable coupling the cradle to a dedicated
`AC power supply.
`FIG. 11 illustrates the system of FIG. 10 further including
`one technique for coupling the components within the
`cradle.
`
`FIG. 12 is a high-level block diagram of a system in which
`a data cable couples a personal computer to a cradle incor-
`porating a Bluetooth radio.
`FIG. 13 is the high-level block diagram of FIG. 12 further
`including another Bluetooth radio to which the Bluetooth
`radio in the cradle communicates.
`
`FIG. 14 is the high-level block diagram of FIG. 13 further
`including a mobile device without a Bluetooth radio being
`coupled to the cradle.
`FIG. 15 illustrates the system of FIG. 10 further including
`a non-Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone resting in the
`cradle and being coupled to the cradle’s power and data
`connectors.
`
`FIG. 16 is the high-level block diagram of FIG. 13 further
`including a mobile device incorporating a Bluetooth radio
`being coupled to the cradle.
`FIG. 17 illustrates the system of FIG. 10 further including
`a Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone resting in the cradle
`and being coupled to the cradle’s power and data connectors.
`FIG. 18 illustrates a high level block diagram of the
`relevant portions of personal computer 10 that enable the
`computer to communicate with a Bluetooth radio in a cradle.
`FIG. 19 is a high-level block diagram of the relevant
`elements of a cradle.
`
`FIG. 3 illustrates a data cable coupling a portable com-
`puter to a cellular telephone; a first power cable coupling the
`
`FIG. 20 illustrates a portable computer equipped with at
`least one universal serial bus “USB” connector.
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`FIG. 21 illustrates a bus topology for a universal serial
`bus.
`FIG. 22 illustrates a USB cable.
`
`FIG. 23 illustrates a low-power bus-powered function.
`FIG. 24 illustrates a high-power bus-powered function.
`FIG. 25 illustrates a system in which a data/power cable
`couples a portable computer to a cradle having a Bluetooth
`radio and a data connector and a power connector upon
`which a cellular phone may rest and/or recharge and a power
`cable couples the portable computer to a dedicated AC
`power supply, according to another embodiment of the
`invention.
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`FIG. 26 illustrates the system of FIG. 25 further including
`one technique for coupling the components within the
`cradle.
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`FIG. 27 illustrates a connector that couples a data/power
`cable to the USB connector of a computer.
`FIG. 28 illustrates a system in which a first data/power
`cable couples a portable computer to a module having
`electronic circuitry, a second data/power cable couples the
`module to a cradle having a Bluetooth radio and a data
`connector and a power connector upon which a cellular
`phone may rest and/or recharge and a power cable couples
`the portable computer to a dedicated AC power supply,
`according to yet another embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 29 illustrates the system of FIG. 25 in which a
`combined data/power connector replaces the separate data
`and power connectors in the cradle, according to still yet
`another embodiment of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`The communications industry has adopted the Bluetooth
`Specification as a recommended communications technique
`for short distance wireless RF communication applications.
`The Bluetooth Specification can be found at www.Blue-
`tooth.com or www.Bluetooth.net. FIG. 10 discloses a pre-
`ferred embodiment of the invention in which an antenna 42
`
`and an RF transceiver or radio 44 (a Bluetooth radio in the
`preferred embodiment, but could also be any other RF
`transceiver having a low power transmitter capable of short
`distance transmissions of less than 100 m) are added to a
`charging cradle (such as charging cradle 34) to produce a
`combination charging and short distance communication (in
`this case Bluetooth) enabled cradle 46. FIG. 11 illustrates
`one technique for coupling the data cable 12 to a USB hub
`43. USB hub 43 is coupled to radio 44 and to data connector
`38. Power line 22 is coupled to power connector 36 and
`radio 44.
`Short distance RF communication enabled cradle 46
`
`enables a system in which a legacy architecture personal
`computer 10 (to which it is coupled) to communicate to
`other short distance RF communication enabled electronic
`devices. Such communication is enabled whether or not
`
`another RF communication enabled portable electronic
`device is coupled to cradle 46. FIG. 12 is a high-level block
`diagram of a system comprising personal computer 10, data
`cable 12 and cradle 46. FIG. 13 illustrates the high level
`block diagram of the system of FIG. 12 further including
`another short distance RF communication device 50, such as
`a computer system, PDA, keyboard, etc., which can com-
`municate with short distance RF communication enabled
`
`system 48. FIG. 14 illustrates the system of FIG. 13 further
`including a mobile device without a Bluetooth radio 52. In
`this particular embodiment, mobile device 52 is a cellular
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`telephone that includes a transceiver and antenna to com-
`municate with cellular telephone base stations, but is not
`otherwise enabled to communicate with low power short
`distance wireless devices. FIG. 15 illustrates a system imple-
`mentation of the block diagram of FIG. 14.
`FIG. 16 illustrates the system of FIG. 13 further including
`a mobile device with a Bluetooth radio 54. In this particular
`embodiment, mobile device 54 is a cellular telephone that
`includes a transceiver and antenna to communicate with
`
`cellular telephone base stations and includes a transceiver
`and antenna to communicate with low power short distance
`wireless devices. FIG. 17 illustrates a system implementa-
`tion of the block diagram of FIG. 16.
`FIG. 18 illustrates a high level block diagram of the
`relevant portions of personal computer 10 that enable the
`computer to communicate with the Bluetooth radio in cradle
`46. Computer 10 includes a bus driver 56 (one example
`being shown on FIG. 3, page 12, of the WinHEC 99 White
`Page Bluetooth Radio System Overview, hereby incorpo-
`rated by reference). RF Communication 58 emulates a serial
`port to personal computer 10 (or, as an alternative, it can
`interface to the Network Transport Protocols, as shown in
`FIG. 3 of the WinHEC 99 White Page Bluetooth Radio
`System Overview). As a result, a PC application program-
`mer only sees the serial port, not the Bluetooth connection
`that is behind the serial port. Computer 10 also requires
`Bluetooth profiles 60, such as found in the Bluetooth Profile
`Specification, which can be found at www.Bluetooth.com or
`www.Bluetooth.net, hereby incorporated by reference,
`which are applications that insure compatibility between
`devices—not just at the physical layer or protocol layer, but
`compatibility at the application layer so that if, for example,
`data synchronization is required, the computer knows how
`to do data synchronization with mobile device 54 (see for
`example, FIG. 21 in the Profile Stack section on page 171 of
`the Bluetooth Profile Specification). Computer 10 can be
`enhanced by the addition of an application 60 that enables
`the user to configure, control, and use all Bluetooth devices
`that are connected to a computer (e.g., application such as
`Bluetooth Advisor—see WinHEC 99 White Paper submitted
`herewith, or Bluetooth Neighborhood—see also
`www.Bluetooth.net). In the event that computer 10 is to be
`coupled to cradle 46 via a Universal Serial Bus “USB”, the
`computer 10 also requires a USB driver 62 in addition to a
`PC operating system 61, such as Microsoft’s Windows 98.
`FIG. 19 is a high-level block diagram of the relevant
`elements of cradle 46. As with computer 10, cradle 46
`requires a bus driver. If computer 10 is to be coupled to
`cradle 46 via a Universal Serial Bus “USB”, cradle 46 will
`require a USB driver 62. Next, USB driver 62 is coupled to
`HCI 64 (which is a set of commands that describes how the
`cradle communicates with the computer—an example of
`which can also be see in HCI USB Transport Layer—
`addendum to the HCI document—in particular FIG. 1.2 on
`page 753 of the Bluetooth Specification Version 1.08, hereby
`incorporated by reference—or in general Host Controller
`Interface Functional Specification page 516—748, also incor-
`porated by reference). USB driver 62 and HCI 64 (host
`controller I/F for interpreting the Bluetooth software module
`high level commands) are further coupled to a Link Manager
`(carries control
`information exchange between the Link
`Manager master and slave—one example being shown on
`page 77 or the Bluetooth Baseband Specification—see also
`pages 191—244) and a Link Controller 66 (carries low level
`link control information like ARQ flow control and payload
`characterization—one example being shown on page 77 of
`the Bluetooth Baseband Specification and otherwise dis-
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`cussed in the Bluetooth Baseband Specification) and to a
`Bluetooth Base Band processor 68 (such as a BSN 6020
`Base Band processor available from Texas Instruments). In
`this particular embodiment of the invention, the Blue tooth
`applications do not run on the phone. For example, on
`computer 10, you can implement an application called
`“Bluetooth Advisor” or something similar. At the control
`panel, you might have an icon “Bluetooth Advisor” which,
`when selected, utilizes a data sync profile to work with a
`service discovery profile, which would list all of the devices
`around computer 10 that are Bluetootli devices. All of the
`Bluetooth software stack below HCI is performed by the
`Bluetooth radio on cradle 46. The software below the host
`controller interface is run on the radio in cradle 46. The rest
`
`is run on computer 10’s processor. The result to computer 10
`is the same as if computer 10 were itself short distance RF
`wireless communication enabled. An advantage of the
`present
`invention is that
`it enables Legacy architecture
`computers (PC without Bluetooth) to now become Blue-
`tooth enabled. It also enables a Bluetooth enabled computer,
`having a defective or disabled Bluetooth capability,
`to
`become Bluetooth enabled.
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention, computer 10
`communicates with cradle 46 via a Universal Serial Bus.
`
`FIG. 20 illustrates a portable computer 70 equipped with at
`least one universal serial bus “USB” connector 72. USB
`
`connector 72 is coupled to a USB within computer 70 (not
`shown). Universal serial bus is defined in the Universal
`Serial Bus Specification Revision 1.1, Sep. 23, 1998, incor-
`porated herein by reference. FIG. 21 illustrates a bus topol-
`ogy of the USE. The USB connects USB devices with the
`USB host. The USB physical interconnect is a tiered star
`topology. A hub is at the center of each star. Each wire
`segment is a point-to-point connection between the host and
`a hub or function, or a hub connected to another hub or
`function. There is only one host in any USB system. The
`USB interface to the host computer system is referred to as
`the Host Controller. The Host Controller may be imple-
`mented in a combination of hardware, firmware, or software.
`A root hub is integrated within the host system to provide
`one or more attachment points.
`USB devices are one of the following: hubs, which
`provide additional attachment points to the USB; or
`functions, which provide capabilities to the system, such as
`an ISDN connection, a digital joystick, speakers, etc. USB
`devices present a standard USB interface in terms of the
`following: their comprehension of the USB protocol; their
`response to standard USB operations, such as configuration
`and reset; and their standard capability descriptive informa-
`tion.
`
`The USB transfers signal and power over a four-wire
`cable, shown in FIG. 22. The signal occurs over two wires
`on each point-to-point segment. There are two data rates: the
`USB full-speed signal bit rate is 12 Mb/s; and a limited
`capability low-speed signal mode is also defined at 1.5 Mb/s.
`The low-speed mode requires less EMI protection. Both
`modes can be supported in the same USB bus by automatic
`dynamic mode switching between transfers. The low-speed
`mode is defined to support a limited number of low-
`bandwidth devices, such as mice, because general use would
`degrade bus utilization. The clock is transmitted, encoded
`along with the differential data. The clock-encoding scheme
`is NRZI with bit stuffing to ensure adequate transitions. A
`SYNC field precedes each packet to allow the receiver(s) to
`synchronize their bit recovery clocks. The cable also carries
`Vbus is nominally +5V at the source. The USB allows cable
`segments of variable lengths, up to several meters, by
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`choosing the appropriate conductor gauge to match the
`specified IR drop and other attributes such as device power
`budget and cable flexibility. In order to provide guaranteed
`input voltage levels and proper termination impedance,
`biased terminations are used at each end of the cable. The
`terminations also permit the detection of attach and detach
`at each port and differentiate between full-speed and low-
`speed devices.
`There are also both low and high power bus-powered
`functions. A low power function is one that draws up to one
`unit load from the USB cable when operational. FIG. 23
`shows a typical buspowered, low-power function, such as a
`mouse. Low-power regulation can be integrated into the
`function silicon. Low-power functions must be capable of
`operating with input Vbus voltages as low as 4.40V, mea-
`sured at the end of the cable.
`
`A function is defined as being high-power if, when fully
`powered, it draws over one but less than five unit loads from
`the USB cable. A high-power function requires staged
`switching of power. It must first come up in a reduced power
`state of less than one unit load. At bus enumeration time, its
`total power requirements are obtained and compared against