Wireless cable replacement for computer peripherals using a master adapter

• US 20040122649A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSR Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microtune, Inc. (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Singamsetty, Suresh Kumar, Barrett, Richard M. Jr., Bartek, David J., Govindarajulu, Sarath Babu, Tran, Kim Phuong, Devadiga, Yashodhara
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A method for emulating a physical connection using a wireless connection includes establishing a communication connection with a peripheral according to a communication protocol using a host controller. The method further includes receiving a wireless signal carrying data having a format specified by the communication protocol, extracting the data from the wireless signal, and communicating the data to the peripheral using the communication connection.

Claims

1. A method for emulating a physical connection using a wireless connection, comprising:

using a host controller, establishing a communication connection with a peripheral according to a communication protocol;

receiving a wireless signal comprising data having a format specified by the communication protocol;

extracting the data from the wireless signal; and

communicating the data to the peripheral using the communication connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises a Bluetooth signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless signal comprises a wireless packet, the wireless packet comprising a first header, a second header and a plurality of accumulated packets; and

the step of extracting further comprises;

identifying the first header and the second header for the wireless packet;

based on the first header, extracting information from the wireless packet; and

based on the second header, identifying each of the accumulated packets.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the host controller comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) host controller;

the communication protocol comprises USB protocol; and

the step of establishing comprises;

receiving registration information from the peripheral; and

establishing a USB connection with the peripheral based at least in part on the registration information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral is selected from the group consisting of:

a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, a web camera, a modem, a personal digital assistant, a PC tablet, a joystick, a mouse, and a keyboard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a wireless device within range; and

establishing a wireless connection with the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving wireless signals from a plurality of wireless devices; and

performing the steps of extracting and communicating for each of the wireless signals received.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication connection carries information in a medium selected from the group consisting of:

an optical signal, an electrical signal, and a wireless signal.

10. A device, comprising:

a host controller operable to establish a communication connection with a peripheral according to a communication protocol;

a wireless interface operable to receive a wireless signal comprising data having a format specified by the communication protocol; and

a peripheral interface operable to communicate the data to the peripheral.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the wireless signal comprises a Bluetooth signal.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the communication connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus connection.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the device further comprises a printed circuit board;

the peripheral interface comprises a B connector for USB connections; and

the B connector is integral to the printed circuit board.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the host controller comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) host controller;

the communication protocol comprises USB protocol; and

the host controller is further operable to;

receive registration information from the peripheral; and

establish a USB connection with the peripheral based at least in part on the registration information.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the peripheral is selected from the group consisting of:

a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, a web camera, a modem, a personal digital assistant, a PC tablet, a joystick, a mouse, and a keyboard.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the device further comprises a memory operable to store an encryption key; and

the wireless signal is encrypted using the encryption key.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising an encryption module operable to couple to the peripheral interface, the encryption module further operable to program the memory with the encryption key.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the communication connection carries information in a medium selected from the group consisting of:

an optical signal, an electrical signal, and a wireless signal.

19. A method for emulating a physical connection using a wireless connection, comprising:

using a host controller, establishing a communication connection with a peripheral according to a communication protocol;

receiving data from the peripheral, the data having a format specified by the communication protocol;

communicating the data in a wireless signal to a wireless device coupled to a computer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless signal comprises a Bluetooth signal.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the communication connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus connection.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of communicating the data in the wireless signal further comprises encrypting the wireless signal according to an encryption key.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the wireless signal comprises a wireless packet, the wireless packet comprising a first header, a second header and a plurality of accumulated packets; and

the step of communicating the data in the wireless signal further comprises;

generating the first header for the packet, the first header identifying the accumulated packets; and

generating the second header for the packet, the second header comprising information used for wireless routing of the wireless packet.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the host controller comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) host controller;

the communication protocol comprises USB protocol; and

the step of establishing comprises;

receiving registration information from the peripheral; and

establishing a USB connection with the peripheral based at least in part on the registration information.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the peripheral is selected from the group consisting of:

a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, a web camera, a modem, a personal digital assistant, a PC tablet, a joystick, a mouse, and a keyboard.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a wireless device within range; and

establishing a wireless connection with the wireless device.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the communication connection carries information in a medium selected from the group consisting of:

an optical signal, an electrical signal, and a wireless signal.

28. A device, comprising:

a host controller operable to establish a communication connection with a peripheral according to a communication protocol;

a peripheral interface operable to receive data formatted according to the communication protocol from the peripheral; and

a wireless interface operable to communicate the data as a wireless signal to a remote device coupled to a computer.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the wireless signal comprises a Bluetooth signal.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the communication connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus connection.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein:

the device further comprises a printed circuit board;

the peripheral interface comprises a B connector for USB connections; and

the B connector is integral to the printed circuit board.

32. The device of claim 28, wherein:

the host controller comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) host controller;

the communication protocol comprises USB protocol; and

the host controller is further operable to;

receive registration information from the peripheral; and

establish a USB connection with the peripheral based at least in part on the registration information.

33. The device of claim 28, wherein the peripheral is selected from the group consisting of:

a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, a web camera, a modem, a personal digital assistant, a PC tablet, a joystick, a mouse, and a keyboard.

34. The device of claim 28, wherein:

the device further comprises a memory operable to store an encryption key; and

the wireless signal is encrypted using the encryption key.

35. The device of claim 34, further comprising an encryption module operable to couple to the peripheral interface, the encryption module further operable to program the memory with the encryption key.

36. The device of claim 28, wherein the communication connection carries information in a medium selected from the group consisting of:

an optical signal, an electrical signal, and a wireless signal.