Multilink receiver for multiple cordless applications

• US 20060214818A1
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Junod, Philippe, Bodenmann, Olivier F., Ambuehl, Rolf, Chenes, Pierre H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,565,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/20
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a receiver for processing communication information included in transmissions received from a number of cordless devices. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing communication information included in transmissions received from a number of cordless devices. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for communicating status information from a cordless device to a corresponding driver running on a host system. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing digital information included in a transmission from a composite cordless device.

Claims

1. A method for processing a digital communication packet derived from a transmission received from a cordless device, the method comprising:

detecting a first state transition included in the digital communication packet;

assigning a first time to the first state transition;

detecting a second state transition included in the digital communication packet;

assigning a second time to the second state transition; and

determining whether a valid pulse width has been received based on the first and second times.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the valid pulse width indicates that a valid start pattern of the digital communication packet has been received.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the valid pulse width indicates that a valid stop pattern of the digital communication packet has been received.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the valid pulse width indicates that a valid bit pattern of the digital communication packet has been received.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to determining that a number of valid pulses have been received, decoding and formatting data included in the digital communication packet;

providing the decoded and formatted data to a data report engine for transmission to a host system having no active driver corresponding to the cordless device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein digital communication packets from a number of different communication links, each communication link associated with a different cordless device, are processed simultaneously.

7. A communication apparatus for processing a transmission received from a cordless device, the apparatus comprising:

a microcontroller unit having an input that receives a digital communication packet derived from the transmission, the microcontroller unit for processing the digital communication packet and further comprising;

an edge detection mechanism coupled to the input for detecting state transitions included in the digital communication packet;

a timer having a first value that is read in response to the edge detection mechanism detecting a first state transition, and a second value that is read in response to the edge detection mechanism detecting a second state transition;

a central processing unit having access to the first and second values of the timer, the central processing unit for determining whether a valid pulse width has been received based on the first and second values of the timer; and

a data report engine operatively coupled to the central processing unit, the data report engine for, in response to receiving decoded and formatted data from the central processing unit, generating a standard data report that can be transmitted to, and understood by, a host system having no active driver corresponding to the cordless device.

8. A computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, for processing a digital communication packet derived from a transmission received from a cordless device, wherein in response to the computer program product being executed by a processor, the processor performs the steps of:

detecting a first state transition included in the digital communication packet;

assigning a first time to the first state transition;

detecting a second state transition included in the digital communication packet;

assigning a second time to the second state transition; and

determining whether a valid pulse width has been received based on the first and second times.