Hand-held wireless computer controller system

• US 4,775,928 A
• Filed: 10/30/1985
• Issued: 10/04/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kendall, Carroll D., Kendall, Lynn P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Application Number:
  US06/793,060
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4063 Device-to-bus coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4269 using a handshaking protocol, e.g. Centronics connection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A hand-held, battery powered, wireless control station transmits alphanumeric characters and control functions to a receiver interfaced with a host computer. The control station includes a microcomputer which converts keyboard signals into a secured character code and transmits the secured character code to a computer interface transceiver using a frequency shift key modulation technique. The keyboard is a multiple function keyboard having plural shift keys allowing several character codes for each key. The computer interface transceiver only recognizes or accepts secured character codes. For the character codes accepted the computer interface transceiver forwards the character to the host computer via an RS 232 interface link. The computer interface transceiver also transmits the secured character code back to the hand-held control station which then displays the characters on a display confirming for the operator receipt of the character by the computer end transceiver. In addition, messages which originate in the computer can be transmitted to the hand-held control station and displayed on the display therein in a secure manner.

Claims

1. A wireless hand-held computer controller system for a host computer, comprising:

a hand-held terminal including;

a keyboard for entering a key code;

first processing means for converting the key code into a character code, outputting the character code, receiving both a character code echo and a returned security code and determining whether the returned security code is correct;

first security code means for producing a security code;

first wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly transmitting the output character code and the security code together, and receiving the character code echo and the returned security code; and

display means for displaying the character code echo when the returned security code is correct; and

a computer end transceiver including;

second wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly receiving the character code and the security code, and always transmitting, when produced, both the character code echo and the returned security code; and

second processing means for receiving the character code and the security code, and, when the security code is correct, always producing both the character code echo and the returned security code and transmitting the character code to the host computer.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein when the host computer sends a message to said second processing means, said second processing means, through said second and first wireless transmit/receive means, sends the message to said first processing means and said first processing means displays the message on said display means.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first processing means comprises:

a microprocessor; and

a memory connected to said microprocessor and both having a power down mode.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the microprocessor is interrupt driven and awaits an interrupt in the power down mode.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a common bus connected to said memory and said microprocessor, and used as both a data bus and an address bus.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said memory includes:

a read only memory, connected to said common bus, for storing a control program and a key/character code translation table, and having a low power standby mode controllable by said microprocessor; and

a random access memory, connected to said common bus, having a low power mode controllable by said microprocessor and including transmit and receive buffers areas.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said keyboard includes two shift keys and N character keys where N is an integer, said first processing means converting a character key depression into one of three character codes in dependence upon the depression of one of said shift keys.

8. A wireless hand-held computer controller system for a host computer, comprising:

a hand-held terminal including;

a keyboard for entering a key code;

first processing means for converting the key code into a character code, outputting the character code and receiving character code echo;

first wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessely transmitting the output character code and receiving the character code echo; and

display means for displaying the character code echo; and

a computer end transceiver including;

second wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly receiving the character code and transmitting the character code echo; and

second processing means for receiving the character code, returning the character code echo and transmitting the character code to the host computer, said second processing means comprising;

a master microcomputer receiving and storing the character codes and producing the character code echo; and

a common memory connected to said master microprocessor for storing the character code; and

a slave microcomputer, connected to said common memory and the host computer, for retrieving the character code from said common memory and sending the character code to the computer.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a common bus connected to said common memory and said master and slave microprocessors, said common bus used as both an address and data bus.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said second processing means includes:

master status means for visually indicating transmission and reception status between said hand-held terminal and said computer end transceiver; and

slave status means for visually indicating transmission and reception status between said computer end transceiver and the host computer.

11. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said master and slave microcomputers obtain access to said common memory by interrupt hand shaking.

12. A wireless hand-held computer controller system for a light water nuclear power plant simulator host computer, comprising:

a hand-held terminal including;

a keyboard having multiple function keys and shift keys for entering a key code;

first processing means for converting the key code into a character code and receiving a returned security code and a character code echo and having a program and data memory accessed over a common address and data bus and having a low power consumption mode; and

first wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly transmitting the output character and a security code together and receiving both the character code echo and the returned security code; and

a computer and transceiver including;

second wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly receiving the security and character code and always transmitting, when produced, both the returned security code and character code echo; and

second processing means for checking the security code, and always propducing both the returned security code and the character code echo and transferring the character code echo to the host computer if the security code is correct, and said first processing means displaying the character code echo when the returned security code is correct.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein when the host computer sends a message to said second processing means, said second processing means, through said second and first wireless transmit/receive means, sends the message to said first processing means and said first processing means displays the message on said display means.

14. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein said keyboard includes two shift keys and N character keys where N is an integer, said first processing means converting a character key depression into one of three character codes in dependence upon the depression of one of said shift keys.

15. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein said second processing means includes:

master status means for indicating transmission and reception status between said hand-held terminal and said computer end transceiver;

slave status means for indicating transmission and reception status between said computer end transceiver and the computer.