System and method for switching control between a host computer and a remote interface device

• US 6,137,473 A
• Filed: 10/16/1995
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: George, Jose T., Gladwin, S. Christopher, Wilson, James Y., Cortopassi, Michael, Voegeli, Derick W., Hsiung, Harry, Parham, John Allan, Lim, Peng
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Do Hyun
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, HONG CHONG
• Application Number:
  US08/551,936
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 395/827, 395/275, 395/500, 395/200.54, 345/158, 345/173, 345/179, 345/348, 345/163, 345/168, 345/156, 178/18, 178/19, 455/151, 455/2, 709/217, 709/208, 709/224, 710/7
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3237 by disabling clock generation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/1097 Boot, Start, Initialise, Power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wireless interface device and more particularly to a wireless interface device for interfacing with a host computer connected in either a wired or wireless local area network. Once a connection is made between the wireless interface device and a host computer, the host computer is under the control of the wireless interface device. In order to provide a convenient way to return control back to the host computer, a hot icon is provided on the wireless interface device which, in response to a pen-down event, automatically returns the control back to the host computer.

Claims

1. A wireless interface device for use with one or more host computers and a wireless communications link, said one or more host computers having a CPU and a storage device for running and storing programs and an associated display for displaying images, the wireless interface device comprising:

a display;

input means for receiving inputs to said wireless interface device;

means for displaying on said display any images that are being displayed on said host computer and for displaying locally generated images once a wireless connection is established;

means for wirelessly communicating with a plurality of host computers and establishing a wireless connection between one of said plurality of host computers and said wireless interface device;

means for enabling said wireless interface device to take control of and access said host computer to which a wireless connection has been established with said wireless interface device and said programs on said host computers;

means for disabling predetermined input and output devices of said host computer; and

means for returning control to said host computer.

2. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 1, wherein said communicating means employs a radio link.

3. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 1, wherein said input means is configured to be responsive to a passive stylus.

4. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 3, wherein said input means includes means for operating in first and second modes.

5. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 4, wherein said first mode is a mouse mode.

6. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 4, wherein said second mode is a pen mode.

7. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means is configured to display a virtual keypad, said virtual keypad operable to receive inputs for controlling said host computer.

8. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 1, wherein said disabling means is user selectable.

9. A wireless interface device for communicating with a remote host computer having a CPU and a CPU input device including a keyboard, a mouse and a wireless communication link and a storage device for running and storing programs, the wireless interface device comprising:

a display adapted to display whatever images that are being displayed on said remote host computer and for displaying locally generated images when said communication link is established;

a transceiver configured for communicating with said host computer by way of said communication link; and

means for enabling said wireless interface device to communicate with one or more host computers and establishing a wireless connection with one of said host computers;

means for enabling said wire control of and access said host computer to which a wireless connection has been established with said wireless interface device and said programs on said host computer in addition said CPU input devices, said means for enabling including means for disabling predetermined input and output devices of said host computer.

10. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 9, wherein said remote link is a radio link.

11. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 9, wherein said viewer manager is configured to be responsive to a passive stylus.

12. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 11, wherein said viewer manager is configured to operate in first and second modes.

13. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 12, wherein said first mode is a mouse mode.

14. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 12, wherein said second mode is a pen mode.

15. The wireless interface device as recited in claim 9, wherein said viewer manager is configured to display a virtual keyboard, said virtual keyboard operable to receive inputs for controlling said host computer.

16. A method for allowing a wireless interface device to communicate with a remote host computer having a CPU and a storage device for running and storing programs and an associated display for displaying images, the method comprising:

communicating wirelessly with one or more said host computers;

establishing a wireless connection with one of said one or more host computers;

receiving input into said wireless interface device;

displaying on a display on said wireless interface device images being displayed on said host computer to which a wireless connection has been established with said wireless interface device and for displaying locally generated images once a wireless connection is established between said wireless interface device and said host computer; and

enabling said wireless interface device to take control of and access said host computer and said programs on said host computer after communication is established;

disabling one or more host computer input and display devices when said wireless interface device thus control of said host computer.