Docking method for establishing secure wireless connection between computer devices using a docket port

• US 5,923,757 A
• Filed: 04/10/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hocker, Michael D., Bahnub, Brent J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Callahan, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US08/843,666
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1-80.28, 379/90.01-108.02, 379/350-386, 340/286.01-333, 364/130-194, 364/424.04, 364/707, 364/140.01, 364/708, 455/4.1-5.1, 455/403-466, 455/500, 455/524-525, 455/73, 345/158, 361/686, 395/186, 395/750
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A docking method for establishing secure wireless connection between computer devices is presented. The technique assumes that at least one of the computer devices comprises a portable device. Further, a docking area or docking port is associated with the other computer device. The docking port is sized to at least partially engageably receive the portable device. Means are provided for automatically establishing wireless connection between the portable device and the second device when the portable device is brought within the docking port (or docking area) of the second device. This automatic establishing of wireless connection includes communicating an address identifier between the portable device and the second device once the portable device is "docked." If desired, an encryption key can also be exchanged with the address identifier to allow for encryption of information communicated between the devices. After docking, the first device can be removed from the docking area (or docking port) without affecting the wireless connection between the first device and the second device.

Claims

1. A method for establishing wireless data communications having a computer docking system comprising the steps of:

providing a first portable device having a first communications means;

providing a second communication component having a docking port, said docking port being able to at least partially engageably receive said first device;

docking said first device within said docking port; and

automatically establishing wireless connection between said first device and said second component in response to said docking step while said docking port and said device are partially engaged; and

maintaining said wireless connection for communication of information after said first device is removed.

2. The docking method of claim 1 further comprising providing means for communicating an address identifier between said first device and said second component once said first device is engaged within said docking port, wherein after removal of said first device from said docking port, said first device and said second component maintain said wireless connection for communication of information there between using said exchanged address identifier.

3. The docking method of claim 2, wherein said second component comprises a computer system and said means for automatically exchanging said address identifier includes means for automatically initiating said address identifier exchange when said portable device physically engages said docking port.

4. The docking method of claim 3, wherein said docking system is a component of a display means of said computer system.

5. The docking method of claim 4, wherein said docking port comprises a U-shaped port disposed adjacent to a display means of said computer system.

6. The docking method of claim 1, further comprising the step of signalling a user once secure wireless connection has been established between the first device and the second component.

7. The docking method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a first encryption means associated with said first device and a second encryption means associated with said second component, said first and second encryption means allowing for encryption of information to be transferred between said first device and said second component over secure wireless connection, and wherein said system further comprises means for exchanging an encryption key between said first device and said second component when said first device is brought within any predefined docking area of said second component.

8. The docking method of claim 1, wherein said second component comprises a computer system, and further comprising the step of physically coupling said docking port to said computer system.

9. The docking method of claim 8, wherein said docking port comprises a U-shaped structure physically disposed on a display means of said computer system, and wherein said first device comprises a data mouse.

10. The docking method of claim 1, wherein said first communication means and said second communication means each comprise electromagnetic communication means.

11. The docking method of claim 1, wherein said first communication means and said second communication means each comprise infrared communication means.