Patent Application
20050281224
NOT APPLICABLE
NOT APPLICABLE
NOT APPLICABLE
The present invention relates generally to wireless input/output (I/O) systems for computer systems, and more specifically to reconfiguring an ID code associated with a receiver to enable a receiver to respond to data packets tagged with the ID code sent from a desired transmitter.
Wireless input/output systems have proliferated over the last few years. The systems typically include a transmitter associated with a device, such as a keyboard or mouse. A receiver is coupled to the appropriate I/O port on a computer system, and the device communicates to the computer system by broadcasting data signals from the transmitter to the receiver. This solution is simple and efficient, yet has problems when multiple devices are used on one or more computer systems.
Wireless I/O solutions developed a solution to this problem of associating data packets sent from each transmitter with a unique ID code. A receiver that was to operate with a particular transmitter would be matched by associating the receiver with the same ID code. The receiver would accept only those data packets having the associated ID code and reject all other data packets.
The solution was effective, but introduced yet another complication in that users wanted to be able to use a device on different computer systems or otherwise change the interrelationship between various device(s) and the one or more computer systems. The solution that was developed was to provide each receiver with a reconfiguration button. When activated, the reconfiguration button would put the receiver into a reconfiguration mode and a subsequent transmission from a transmitter with a particular ID would cause the receiver to associate itself with the newly transmitted ID code embedded in the data packet. The solution did not require a change to the transmitter data packets or use of different transmitted information.
One disadvantage to these solutions is that it is not always readily apparent to a user which transmitter it is associating with the receiver. Additionally, the reconfiguration buttons can at times be small and hard to access/activate, making the reconfiguration of the receiver inconvenient at times.
A system and method is disclosed for reconfiguring an ID code associated with a receiver to enable a receiver to respond to data packets tagged with the ID code sent from a desired transmitter. A preferred embodiment includes a transmitter for broadcasting a data packet at a first power level, the data packet including an ID code, the transmitter broadcasting an ID configuration command having a configuration ID code at a second power level less than the first power level. A receiver in range of the ID configuration command adopts the configuration ID as the ID code to use to qualify tagged data packets, which may be different from the ID code that the receiver used previously. When the receiver changes ID codes, the receiver is reconfigured.
The preferred embodiment of a method for operating a transmitter includes the steps of broadcasting a data packet at a first power level when an enable signal is asserted, the data packet including an ID code; and broadcasting an ID configuration command at a second power level less than the first power level when the enable signal is deasserted, the ID configuration command including a configuration ID code.
The transmitter and system of the preferred embodiment simply and efficiently permit a user to unambiguously and simply reconfigure a wireless receiver to work with a transmitter of the user's choice. In the case that there are several transmitters and receivers each operating in a limited space, all within the normal operational distance of the transmitters, a user may unambiguously, simply and efficiently configure a receiver to work with a particular transmitter by just moving the desired receiver and transmitter close enough together to touch or practically touch depending upon the desired application.
The novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These drawings include the following figures, with like numerals indicating like parts.
The present invention relates to wireless input/output (I/O) systems for computer systems, and more specifically to reconfiguring an ID code associated with a receiver to enable a receiver to respond to data packets tagged with the ID code sent from a desired transmitter. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
Keyboard 115 and pointing device 120 both include radiofrequency (RF) transmitters though other wireless transmissions systems (e.g., IR systems or acoustic systems) could be employed with the invention. To unambiguously communicate with their respective devices, keyboard 115 and pointing device 120 each broadcast data packets tagged with a unique ID code. This code is also preferably a ten-bit ID code. Each receiver includes, in the preferred embodiment, a non-volatile memory for associating an ID code with the receiver. This non-volatile memory is preferably a writeable memory, such as NVRAM or EEPROM and includes a ten-bit ID code that corresponds to the ID code in the transmitter. That is, the ID code in keyboard receiver 125 corresponds to the ID code tagged to data packets transmitted from wireless keyboard 115. Similarly, the ID code in mouse receiver 130 corresponds to the ID code tagged to data packets transmitted from pointing device 120. Each system 100, in the preferred embodiment, has unique ID codes for each receiver, keyboard, mouse or other. Correspondence for purposes of the present application means shat the ID codes are related to each other to enable the receiver to process the tagged data packet. In the preferred embodiment, correspondence is achieved upon matching the ID code of a transmitted data packet to the stored ID code of the receiver. In other embodiments, the ID codes may be supersets or subsets of one other, or have other defined relationships.
The corresponding receiver does not reject data packets that are transmitted with a corresponding ID code. As long as data transactions are occurring, transmitters and receivers continue to decode and act upon properly tagged data packets, while rejecting the others. Thus a user of one system 100 could use both keyboard 115 and pointing device 120 at the same time and at the same time that another user of another computer system 100 is using both keyboard 115 and pointing device 120, as the corresponding receivers will reject data packets from the other wireless device. This is true for additional receivers in the same or additional systems.
The transmitters in the wireless devices (e.g., wireless keyboard 115 and wireless pointing device 120) of the preferred embodiment also include a second operational mode: a receiver reconfiguration mode. In this mode, the transmitters will issue an ID code reconfiguration command at a reduced power level. Any receiver in range of the transmitter sending this reconfiguration command has the associated ID code stored in the respective nonvolatile memory rewritten to the commanded ID code. In the preferred embodiment, the transmitter modes are discrete, with the transmitter in one mode or the other at any time. In some applications, it may be that the transmitter modes overlap for all or a portion of the time.
In the preferred embodiment, the ID code reconfiguration command includes a transmission of fifteen reconfiguration signals, along with a configuration ID code. Any receiver picking up ten or more of the reconfiguration signals is caused to associate itself with the newly transmitted ID code. In other embodiments, a reconfiguration command may not transmit directly a configuration ID code for the receiver to use. Rather, it may cause the receiver to write a new predetermined, or determinable, value to the nonvolatile memory. For example, the reconfiguration command may cause the old ID value to be incremented or decremented by one and used as the new associated ID code for the receiver. In other embodiments, the ID code reconfiguration command may be a single signal or other specially recognized message to the receiver.
In the preferred embodiment, each transmitter has an associated ID code, and it is this ID code that is used in the ID reconfiguration command. The associated ID code is typically permanently set in the transmitter, but in some applications it may be desirable to have the user associate a new ID code with a transmitter. Such as where multiple transmitters attempt to use the same ID code. In other instances, a transmitter may automatically detect the use of the same ID code by another transmitter and reconfigure itself to use another ID code.
If the wireless device becomes active during the reconfiguration command, the reconfiguration is aborted until data transactions between the transmitter and receiver are complete. Thereafter, transmitters may attempt to retransmit the reconfiguration command if reconfiguration is still desired.
In the preferred embodiment, the reduced power level of the transmitters is set to be detectable from receivers placed within a six to twelve inch radius of the transmitter. In contrast, the normal, full power operation of the wireless transmitters makes the data packets detectable at about six to nine feet from a transmitter. In the preferred embodiment, the low power mode transmission is about 62 decibels down from the full power mode.
When the high power enable signal is asserted, each output stage 210 is enabled and transmitter block 200 broadcasts data packets at full power. As discussed above, the preferred reception range is about six to nine feet. When the high power enable signal is deasserted, the output stages are disabled with oscillator 205 operational. Oscillator 205, in cooperation with other components and PCB traces, is sufficient to broadcast at low power to a range of about six to twelve inches. Oscillator 205 is functionally disconnected from antenna 225 and broadcasts without amplification.
From a user's perspective, reconfiguration of an ID code of a receiver is a matter of positioning a transmitter close (i.e., within the low power range) to a receiver, and operating the wireless device associated with the transmitter. Thereafter the receiver will have its ID code updated automatically.
Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the preferred embodiment has been implemented between a transmitter and a receiver. In some applications, the present invention is applicable to pairs of transceivers that exchange configuration information (e.g., enumeration and interrogation commands such as used in Bluetooth systems). By appropriately and consistently reducing an effective range for certain of the configuration signals, transceiving systems could be used to configure devices that are ‘closer’ together than the full operational range of the devices. For many devices used in close quarters, the invention makes it easier for a user to appropriately configure the devices with the appropriate computing system. In these close quarters, it may be that a user does not have access to a transmitter/receiver/transceiver or its associated system to respond to inappropriate configuration signals directed to other, undesired, systems.
Additionally, the preferred embodiment employs an enable signal to configure a transmitter to selectively send the ID configuration signal with a configuration ID code. In some applications, it may be appropriate to continuously send configuration ID codes, which may be interspersed with data packets For example, a transmitter may be in an operational mode, a configuration mode, or a combination of the two at any particular time, depending upon the application.
Further, the preferred embodiment provides that the receiver be configured/reconfigured responsive to an ID configuration signal and that the receiver be used to discriminate data packets with mismatching ID codes. Only valid data packets with appropriate ID code tags are sent to the associated computing system In some applications, it may be preferable to have the receiver pass ID configuration signals and all valid data packets to the associated computing system to have the operating system or a software/hardware/firmware driver operating with the receiver be appropriately configured and/or perform the necessary discrimination.
Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the receiver has a single valid ID code at any time. A receiver in range of a transmitter when the transmitter issues the configuration change signal uses the configuration ID code included in the transmitter ID configuration signal. In other applications, it may be desirable to have a receiver have capacity to accept multiple ID codes, and any configuration ID code that is received that does not match any current ID code associated with the receiver will be additionally written rather than being replaced in the receiver.
Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10278749 | Oct 2002 | US |
| Child | 11209599 | Aug 2005 | US |
