Method and apparatus for detecting and selectively utilizing peripheral devices

• US 20060105718A1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozluturk, Fatih, Louis Briancon, Alain Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/18 for HIV
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) with access to at least one peripheral device, and/or at least one peripheral device associated with an available auxiliary device. The current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU are determined. The radio frequency (RF) environment of the WTRU is scanned to determine if there are any available wireless peripheral devices or wireless auxiliary devices proximate to the WTRU. A determination is also made as to whether there is a wired peripheral device or a wired auxiliary device available. A list of currently available peripheral devices is compiled by scanning at least one peripheral device registry associated with at least one of a wireless auxiliary device and a wired auxiliary device. The list is presented on the WTRU'"'"'s display and a user selects at least one of the available peripheral devices from the list.

Claims

1. A method of assigning at least one peripheral device associated with an available auxiliary device to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) having a display, the method comprising:

(a) providing an interface between the WTRU and at least one available auxiliary device;

(b) determining the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU; and

(c) presenting on the display of the WTRU a list of currently available peripheral devices associated with the at least one auxiliary device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) scanning the radio frequency (RF) environment of the WTRU to determine if there are any available wireless auxiliary devices proximate to the WTRU.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

(e) determining whether there is a wired auxiliary device available; and

(f) compiling the list of currently available peripheral devices by scanning at least one peripheral device registry associated with at least one of a wireless auxiliary device and a wired auxiliary device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) selecting at least one of the available peripheral devices from the list presented on the display of the WTRU.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) presenting a message on the display of the WTRU indicating that there are no peripheral devices available.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU include at least one of the auxiliary device'"'"'s keyboard, mouse, display, speakers, microphone and printer.

7. A peripheral device selection unit for providing a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) with access to at least one peripheral device associated with an available auxiliary device, the WTRU being configured with a display, the selection unit comprising:

(a) at least one auxiliary device interface;

(b) at least one WTRU interface;

(c) a processor in communication with the at least one auxiliary device interface and the WTRU interface, wherein the processor determines the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU, and presents on a display of the WTRU a list of currently available peripheral devices associated with the at least one auxiliary device.

8. The peripheral selection unit of claim 7 further comprising:

(d) means for scanning the radio frequency (RF) environment of the WTRU to determine if there are any available wireless auxiliary devices proximate to the WTRU.

9. The peripheral selection unit of claim 8 further comprising:

(e) means for determining whether there is a wired auxiliary device available; and

(f) means for compiling the list of currently available peripheral devices by scanning at least one peripheral device registry associated with at least one of a wireless auxiliary device and a wired auxiliary device.

10. The peripheral selection unit of claim 7 further comprising:

(d) means for selecting at least one of the available peripheral devices from the list presented on the display of the WTRU.

11. The peripheral selection unit of claim 7 further comprising:

(d) means for presenting a message on the display of the WTRU indicating that there are no peripheral devices available.

12. The peripheral selection unit of claim 7 further comprising:

(d) means for presenting a message on the display of the WTRU indicating the security level of the device.

13. The peripheral selection unit of claim 7 further comprising:

(d) means for presenting a message on the display of the WTRU indicating the trust level of the device.

14. The peripheral selection unit of claim 7 wherein the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU include at least one of the auxiliary device'"'"'s keyboard, mouse, display, speakers, microphone and printer.

15. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to access at least one peripheral device associated with at least one available auxiliary device, the WTRU comprising:

(a) a display;

(b) at least one auxiliary device interface; and

(c) a processor in communication with the at least one auxiliary device interface, wherein the processor determines the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU and presents on the display a list of currently available peripheral devices associated with the at least one available auxiliary device.

16. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein the WTRU scans the radio frequency (RF) environment of the WTRU to determine if there are any available wireless auxiliary devices proximate to the WTRU.

17. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein the WTRU determines whether there is a wired auxiliary device available and compiles the list of currently available peripheral devices by scanning at least one peripheral device registry associated with at least one of a wireless auxiliary device and a wired auxiliary device.

18. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein a user selects at least one of the available peripheral devices from the list presented on the display of the WTRU.

19. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein when there are not available auxiliary devices and/or peripheral devices, a message is presented on the display of the WTRU indicating that there are no peripheral devices available.

20. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU include at least one of the auxiliary device'"'"'s keyboard, mouse, display, speakers, microphone and printer.

21. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to access at least one peripheral device, the WTRU comprising:

(a) a display;

(b) at least one wireless peripheral device interface; and

(c) a processor in communication with the at least one peripheral device interface, wherein the processor determines the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU and presents on the display a list of currently available peripheral devices.

22. The WTRU of claim 21 wherein the WTRU scans the radio frequency (RF) environment of the WTRU to determine if there are any available wireless peripheral devices proximate to the WTRU.

23. The WTRU of claim 21 wherein the WTRU determines whether there is a peripheral device available and compiles the list of currently available peripheral devices by scanning at least one peripheral device registry associated with at least one of a wireless peripheral device or a wired peripheral device.

24. The WTRU of claim 21 wherein a user selects at least one of the available peripheral devices from the list presented on the display of the WTRU.

25. The WTRU of claim 21 wherein when there are not available peripheral devices, a message is presented on the display of the WTRU indicating that there are no peripheral devices available.

26. The WTRU of claim 21 wherein the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU include at least one of the following peripheral devices:

keyboard, mouse, display, speakers, microphone, and printer.

27. A method of assigning at least one peripheral device to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) having a display, the method comprising:

(a) providing an interface between the WTRU and at least one available peripheral device;

(b) determining the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU; and

(c) presenting on the display of the WTRU a list of currently available peripheral devices.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

(d) scanning the radio frequency (RF) environment of the WTRU to determine if there are any available wireless peripheral devices proximate to the WTRU.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

(e) determining whether there is a wired peripheral available; and

(f) compiling the list of currently available peripheral devices by scanning at least one peripheral device registry associated with a wireless or wired peripheral device.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

(d) selecting at least one of the available peripheral devices from the list presented on the display of the WTRU.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

(d) presenting a message on the display of the WTRU indicating that there are no peripheral devices available.

32. The peripheral selection unit of claim 27 further comprising:

(d) means for presenting a message on the display of the WTRU indicating the security level of the device.

33. The peripheral selection unit of claim 27 further comprising:

(d) means for presenting a message on the display of the WTRU indicating the trust level of the device.

34. The method of claim 27 wherein the current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU include at least one of the following peripheral devices:

keyboard, mouse, display, speakers, microphone, and printer.