Typematic guard protocol for wireless keyboards

• US 6,567,016 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rajamani, Krishnan, Reid, John L., Johnson, Harley D., Yellepeddy, Venkatakrishna U., Lo, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US09/454,143
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 341/24, 341/176, 341/22, 341/26, 341/23, 379/368, 708/145, 708/142, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 348/734
• US Class Current: 341/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A wireless keyboard may be provided with a guard protocol which prevents unintended typematics. An alive signal may be periodically generated to advise a host processor-based system that the keyboard communication link is still effective. If the host processor-based system receives a key make signal but does not receive a break signal or an alive signal, the processor-based system may deduce that the link has gone inactive, and may generate its own break signal. This avoids unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary typematics.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

communicating, over a wireless link, when a key has been operated on a wireless keyboard; and

periodically generating a wireless signal from said wireless keyboard to test whether said wireless link is still working.

2. The method of claim 1 further including starting a timer after communicating a key operation, determining whether the timer times out, and if the timer times out, automatically generating a typematic.

3. The method of claim 2 further including resetting the timer upon receipt of a key make or break code.

4. The method of claim 1 including generating said wireless signal with a period equal to half the time period which automatically produces a typematic.

5. The method of claim 1 including causing a processor-based system to automatically generate a break code when a typematic would otherwise be produced and the wireless signal generated from the wireless keyboard was not received.

6. The method of claim 1 including only generating a wireless signal after a key has been operated.

7. A wireless keyboard comprising:

a key code generator; and

a device to periodically produce a signal to test whether the wireless link is working.

8. The keyboard of claim 7 wherein said device produces an alive signal whenever a key make or break code is not generated.

9. The keyboard of claim 7 wherein said device produces a signal twice per typematic periodic.

10. The keyboard of claim 7 wherein said keyboard is a remote control device.

11. The keyboard of claim 7 wherein said keyboard is a cursor control device.

12. An article comprising a medium storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to:

communicate, over a wireless link, when a key has been operated on a wireless keyboard; and

periodically generate a wireless signal from said wireless keyboard to test whether said wireless link is still working.

13. The article of claim 12 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to start a timer after communicating a key operation, determine whether the timer times out, and if the timer times out, automatically generate a typematic.

14. The article of claim 13 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to reset the timer upon the receipt of a key make or break code.

15. The article of claim 12 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to generate said wireless signal with a period equal to half the time period which automatically produces a typematic.

16. The article of claim 12 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to automatically generate a break code when a typematic would otherwise be produced and the wireless signal generated from the wireless keyboard was not received.

17. The article of claim 12 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to produce said wireless signal only when a key is depressed on said keyboard.