Dual mode human interface device

• US 20060094461A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hulvey, Robert William, Tietz, Brian Jason, Hameed, Muhammad Farooq
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A dual mode human interface device (HID) includes a wireless interface for wireless communication with a host computer; a wired interface for wired communication with the host computer; and a processor coupled with the wireless interface and the wired interface for transferring data between the HID and the host computer, wherein the processor initiates establishing wireless communication with the host computer, when the HID is connected to the host computer via the wired interface.

Claims

1. A dual mode interface for data communication between a human interface device (HID) and a host computer comprising:

a wireless transceiver for wireless communication between the HID and the host computer;

a wired communication controller for wired communication between the HID and the host computer;

a HID peripheral interface for providing communication interface to the HID; and

a processor coupled with the wireless transceiver, the wired communication controller, and the HID peripheral interface for transferring data between the HID, the wireless transceiver, and the wired communication controller, wherein the processor is capable of sensing whether the wired communication controller is connected to the host computer via a wired connection.

2. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the host computer initiates establishing a wireless communication via the wireless transceiver, if the wired communication controller is connected to the host computer via a wired connection.

3. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the processor switches to wireless communication with the host computer via the wireless transceiver, when the processor senses that the wired communication controller is no longer connected to the host computer via a wired connection.

4. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the processor switches to wired communication with the host computer via the wired communication controller, when the processor senses that the wireless communication is no longer established.

5. The dual mode interface of claim 1, further comprising means for providing power to the HID via the wired connection.

6. The dual mode interface of claim 1, further comprising means for sensing that the HID is connected to the host computer via a wired connection and switching HIDs power supply to draw power from the wired connection.

7. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication transceiver is one or more of a Bluetooth, a Zigbee, a WiFi, and a UWB transceiver.

8. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the wired communication controller is a USB controller and the wired connection is a USB connection.

9. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the wired communication controller is a RS 232 controller and the wired connection is a RS 232 connection.

10. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the wired communication controller is a PS2 controller and the wired connection is a PS2 connection.

11. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver, the wired communication controller, the HID peripheral interface, and the processor are implemented in a single-chip integrated circuit.

12. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the HID is one or more of the group consisting of a keyboard, a mouse, a printer, a camera, and a game controller.

13. The dual mode interface of claim 1, wherein the host automatically configures the HID for wireless operation via the wired connection.

14. The dual mode interface of claim 13, wherein the host automatically configures the HID for wireless operation by setting a link key via the wired connection.

15. The dual mode interface of claim 13, wherein the HID automatically configures the host for wireless operation by setting a link key via the wired connection.

16. The dual mode interface of claim 1, further comprising means for pairing the HID with the host computer via the wired connection.

17. A dual mode human interface device (HID) comprising:

a wireless interface for wireless communication with a host computer;

a wired interface for wired communication with the host computer; and

a processor coupled with the wireless interface and the wired interface for transferring data between the HID and the host computer, wherein the processor is capable of establishing pairing for wireless communication with the host computer, when the HID is connected to the host computer via the wired interface.

18. The dual mode HID of claim 17, wherein the processor switches to wireless communication with the host computer, if the processor senses that the wired interface is no longer connected to the host computer.

19. The dual mode HID of claim 17, wherein the processor switches to wired communication with the host computer, if the processor senses that the wired communication becomes available.

20. The dual mode HID of claim 17, further comprising means for charging the HID via the wired interface.

21. The dual mode HID of claim 17, wherein the wireless interface is a Bluetooth interface.

22. The dual mode HID of claim 17, wherein the wired interface is a USB interface.

23. A method for data communication between a human interface device (HID) and a host computer comprising:

sensing a wired connection between the host and the HID;

transferring data between the host and the HID via the wired connection for securing subsequent wireless communication between the host and the HID via a wireless interface;

changing to wireless communication between the host and the HID via the wireless interface;

transferring data between the host and the HID via the wireless interface; and

changing back to wired communication between the host and the HID via the wired connection, when the wired connection is reconnected.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the wireless communication interface is a Bluetooth interface.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the wired communication interface is a USB interface.