WO2002001819A2

WO2002001819A2 - Apparatus and associated method for wireless peripherals

Info

Publication number: WO2002001819A2
Application number: PCT/IB2001/001160
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toni Sormunen; Pasi Leino
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation; Nokia Inc.; Microsoft Corporation
Priority date: 2000-06-30
Filing date: 2001-06-29
Publication date: 2002-01-03
Also published as: WO2002001819A3; AU2001267763A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a peripheral device (320) for establishing low-powered communication links between peripheral devices (320) using bluetooth technology. Preferably, the peripheral (320) includes bluetooth electronics (410) and peripheral electronics (325) connected to universal serial bus hub (430) that is further connected to the universal serial bus port (330) on the computer (300).

Description

APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR WIRELESS

PERIPHERALS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wireless communication between computing devices and peripherals and more particularly to integrating a low-powered wireless communicating device into those peripherals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, computing devices are connected to peripheral or external devices using direct communication links such as, for example, cables and buses. Information and data is transferred over the cables and buses using various bus protocols. One particular protocol is known as the universal serial bus ("USB") . USB allows several devices to be connected to the computer through the same bus.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional computer 100 using USB. Computer 100 includes a host 110, a root hub 120, a first USB hub 130, and a second USB hub 140. First USB hub 130 has connectors or ports 132, 134, 136, and 138. Second USB hub 140 has connectors or ports 142, 144, 146, and 148. Ports 132, 134, 136, 138, 142, 144, 146, and 148 are used to connect peripheral (not shown) and external devices to the host 110. As shown in Fig. 1, one port, for example port 136, is used to connect second hub 140 to host 110. In this way additional hubs can be connected to computer 100 that allows more peripheral and external device to be connected to computer 100. Bus segments 150 are provided to connect the peripherals and hubs to a single bus (not shown) in host 110. Typically, personal computers ("PCs") only have two USB ports. A new Global Specification for Wireless Connectivity, known as Bluetooth technology, has recently been published that allows for wireless transmission of data and voice using a low-power short-range radio link. Currently, the electronics and software for providing bluetooth technology to existing systems is contained in a bluetooth base unit. In particular, the bluetooth technology allows wireless communication links to replace direct communication links that use cables and buses, as described above.

When using bluetooth technology, two or more digital devices are linked by low-power radio frequencies to establish a "piconet . " While each device contains similar bluetooth base units, the digital device initiating the wireless communication link becomes the master unit, and the other device (s) become the slave unit(s) . Thus, the master or initiating unit exists to synchronize the sequences between the different slaves with the master.

Due to the low-power, however, integrating the bluetooth base unit directly into a main unit or chassis of a PC is not satisfactory because the bluetooth base unit does not have sufficient power to penetrate the PC chassis and any other barrier, such as a desk top. Attempting to connect an external bluetooth base unit to the chassis is also unsatisfactory because it requires use of one of the two USB ports available in the typical PC. Thus, it would be beneficial to connect the bluetooth base unit external to the PC chassis without using one of the two USB ports available in the typical PC. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a computing system using wireless communication is provided. The computing system includes a computer in a main chassis that has a port adapted for communication between the computer and a first peripheral. A wireless communication device is integrated into the first peripheral device and adapted to establish wireless communication with other peripheral device. A non-wireless communication link exists to establish a connection between the computer and the first peripheral device.

An embodiment of the present invention also provides for a wireless peripheral device that includes a universal serial bus hub integrated into a peripheral device. The universal serial bus hub has at least a first and second port. Wireless electronics are integrated into the peripheral and connected to the first port. The wireless electronics are adapted to establish wireless communication links with other peripheral devices using wireless communication protocols. The peripheral electronics are connected to the second port . The universal serial bus hub is adapted to be connected to a computer using universal serial bus protocols.

An embodiment of the present invention also provides for a low-power wireless computing system that includes a computer in a main chassis that has a port adapted for communication between the computer and a first peripheral . A low-power wireless communication device is integrated into the first peripheral device and adapted to establish wireless communication with other peripheral device. A high powered wireless communication link exists to establish a connection between the computer and the first peripheral device.

The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the following drawings :

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of a computing device including universal serial bus technology;

Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of a typically personal computer including universal serial bus technology and at least one peripheral; Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of a personal computer including universal serial bus technology and at least one peripheral and a bluetooth base unit;

Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram integrating a bluetooth base unit into a peripheral device using universal serial bus technology; and

Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a bluetooth peripheral separated for a personal computer main chassis by a barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention discloses an apparatus that integrates bluetooth technology into a peripheral device of a computing device. Fig. 2 shows a computing system 200 having a host computer 210 and at least one peripheral 220 connected to a first USB port 230. For example, peripheral 220 could be a pointing unit or mouse. Additionally, other peripherals, such as a keyboard 224, could be connected to host computer 210 at a second USB port 240. The number of peripherals is limited by the number of ports available. A USB cable 250 connects each peripheral 220 and 224 to host computer 210. Fig. 3 shows a computing system 300 having a host 310. Host 310 has a peripheral 320, such as a mouse, connected to a first USB port 330 using a first USB cable 340. A bluetooth base unit 350 is connected to a second USB port 360 using a second USB cable 370. Bluetooth base unit 350 has bluetooth electronics and software 355. Computer peripheral 320 , which in the preferred embodiment is a mouse but can be any type of peripheral, has mouse electronics and software 325. As Fig. 3 shows, separately connecting bluetooth base unit 350 to computing system 300 uses one of the two available USB ports.

Using USB technology, a preferred embodiment of computing system 300 integrates a bluetooth base unit 410 into mouse 320. While it is preferred to integrate the bluetooth base unit 410 into mouse 320, bluetooth base unit 410 could be integrated into any peripheral such as a keyboard (not shown) . Fig. 4 shows mouse 320 with integrated bluetooth base unit 410 in more detail. Mouse 320 has mouse electronics and software 325 and bluetooth electronics and software 420 housed in bluetooth base unit 410 (notice bluetooth base unit 410 is shown for ease of reference, but is not a necessary physical boundary between the bluetooth electronics and software and the mouse electronics and software) . Mouse electronics and software 325 and bluetooth electronics and software 420 are connected to a USB hub 430 through first and second USB ports 440 and 450, respectively, using first and second USB cables 460 and 470, respectively. USB hub 430 in mouse 320 is connected to host 310 using USB cable 340 in a conventional manner. Thus, mouse 320 and bluetooth base unit 410 use only one of the two USB ports 330 and 360, in this example port 330. This leaves the other of the two USB ports 330 and 360, in this example port 360, free for other uses .

Additionally, by integrating the bluetooth technology into, for example, mouse 320, the PC chassis can be removed or separated from the work area. Fig. 5 shows workstation 500 having a PC chassis 510 separated from a bluetooth peripheral 520 by a barrier 530. Barrier 530 could be, for example, ' a desk top, wall, or the like. Bluetooth peripheral 520, which is preferably a mouse, is connected to PC chassis 510, and PC electronics contained in PC chassis 510 not shown, using a USB cable 540 that spans from peripheral 520 to chassis 510 through barrier 530. Other peripherals, not shown, would communicate with the electronics contained in PC chassis 510 by establishing a wireless communication network with bluetooth peripheral 520. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that USB cable 540 could be replaced by a wireless communication link of sufficient power, i.e., high power, to penetrate the barrier (s) and PC chassis 510. As one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize based on the above descriptions, the functions of the bluetooth base unit and peripherals could be implemented using circuit hardware, software or firmware, or some combination thereof. In the preferred embodiment, portions of the functionality of the bluetooth technology are performed using a combination of hardware and software to drive the base unit . A presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and many of its improvements have been described with a degree of particularity. It should be understood that this description has been made by way of example, and that the invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim :

1. A wireless computing system, comprising: a computer in a main chassis wherein the main chassis has at least one peripheral communication port ; a first peripheral device coupled to the peripheral communication port having a wireless communicating device integrated into the first peripheral device adapted to establish wireless communication links with other peripheral devices; and a non-wireless communication link established between the first peripheral device and the at least one peripheral communication port.

2. The computing system according to claim 1 ^• wherein the non-wireless communication link uses universal serial bus protocols.

3. The computing system according to claim 1 wherein the wireless communication link is established using low power.

4. The computing system according to claim 1 wherein the wireless communication links use bluetooth technology.

5. The computing system according to claim 1 wherein the first peripheral device is a mouse.

6. The computing system according to claim 1 wherein the first peripheral device includes: a universal serial bus hub having at least a first and second port; peripheral electronics connected to the first port ; and wireless electronics connected to the second port .

7. The computing system according to claim 6 wherein the main chassis is separated from the first peripheral by a barrier.

8. A wireless peripheral device, comprising: a universal serial bus hub integrated into the peripheral device having at least a first and second port ; wireless electronics integrated into the peripheral device and connected to the first port are adapted to establish wireless communication links with other peripheral devices; peripheral device electronics connected to the second port ; and the universal serial bus hub adapted to be connected to a computer.

9. The wireless peripheral device according to claim 8 wherein the device is a mouse.

10. The wireless peripheral device according to claim 8 wherein the wireless protocols use bluetooth technology.

11. The wireless peripheral device according to claim 8 wherein the wireless protocols use low power.

12. The wireless peripheral device according to claim 8 wherein the wireless peripheral is adapted to be connected to the computer through at least one barrier.

13. The wireless peripheral device according to claim 12 wherein the at least one barrier is a desk top .

14. The wireless peripheral device according to claim 12 wherein the universal serial bus hub is adapted to be connected to the computer using universal serial bus protocols.

15. The wireless peripheral device according to claim 12 wherein the universal serial bus hub is adapted to be connected to the computer using high- power wireless communication links.

16. A wireless computing system, comprising: a computer in a main chassis wherein the main chassis has a high power wireless communication device adapted for communication between the computer and a first peripheral; the first peripheral device having a peripheral wireless communicating device integrated into the first peripheral device, the peripheral wireless communication device having a high power portion and a low power portion; the low power portion of the peripheral wireless communication device adapted to establish low power communication links with other peripheral devices; and the high power portion of the peripheral wireless communication device adapted to establish a high power communication link with the high power wireless communication device of the computer.

17. The computing system according to claim 16 wherein the low power communication links are established using bluetooth technology.

18. The computing system according to claim 16 wherein the first peripheral device is a mouse.