Computer system including multi-channel wireless communication link to a remote station

• US 6,799,056 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Swartzendruber, Eric, Curley, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/774,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20020102979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/450, 455/452.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/62, 455/434, 375/222, 370/338, 370/329
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/10 Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A computer system which is capable of transmitting information content through walls and other barriers to a remote station such as a home entertainment system. The system tests a plurality of radio frequency channels to locate a channel that is not in use. Channels that are in already in use are rejected to avoid interference with existing services. Once an unused channel is located, the computer system displays indicia of that channel to the user and transmits information content on the unused channel. The remote station receives the information content. In one embodiment, the remote station is a home entertainment system with audio amplifiers and speakers substantially larger and more powerful than those typically associated with computer systems such as personal and other computers. In this manner the audio and/or video qualities of the computer system are substantially enhanced by transmitting content to the remote system for presentation in an acoustically and/or visually enhanced environment.

Claims

1. A computer system for communicating information content to a remote station, the computer system comprising:

an RF processing section coupled to a digital processing section;

the RF processing section including;

a programmable channel receiver for receiving a plurality of radio frequency channels;

a programmable channel transmitter for transmitting information content on a selected channel; and

a control means for enabling the digital processing section to reset the transmitter and receiver and for setting transmitting and receiving operating frequencies;

the digital processing section including;

an information processor;

a memory coupled to the information processor;

an information content source, coupled to the information processor, for supplying information content; and

the information processor instructing the programmable channel receiver to cycle through the plurality of radio frequency channels until an unused channel is found, the information processor then instructing the programmable channel transmitter to transmit the information content on the unused channel which becomes the selected channel.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the digital processing section and the RF processing section share a common chassis.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the RF processing section is configured as a standalone unit with respect to the digital processing section.

4. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a USB connection between the digital processing section and the RF processing section.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the channel programmable receiver and the programmable channel transmitter employ frequency modulation.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the channel programmable receiver and the programmable channel transmitter employ amplitude modulation.

7. A computer system for communicating information content to a remote station, the computer system comprising:

a digital processing section including;

an information processor;

a memory coupled to the information processor; and

an information content source, coupled to the information processor, for supplying information content; and

an RF processing section, coupled to the digital processing section, including;

a channel programmable receiver for receiving a plurality of radio frequency channels and testing the plurality of radio frequency channels to find an unused channel;

a channel programmable transmitter for transmitting the information content on the unused channel; and

a controller for enabling the digital processing section to reset the transmitter and receiver and for setting transmitting and receiving operating frequencies.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the RF processing section is configured as a standalone unit with respect to the digital processing section.

9. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the digital processing section and the RF processing section share a common chassis.

10. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the channel programmable receiver and the channel programmable transmitter employ frequency modulation.

11. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the channel programmable receiver and the programmable channel transmitter employ amplitude modulation.

12. A computer system for communicating information content to a remote station, the computer system comprising:

an information processor;

a memory coupled to the information processor;

an information content source, coupled to the information processor, for supplying information content;

a channel programmable receiver, coupled to the information processor, for receiving a plurality of radio frequency channels;

testing means, coupled to the receiver, for testing the plurality of radio frequency channels to find an unused channel;

a channel programmable transmitter, coupled to the information content source, for transmitting the information content on the unused channel; and

means for resetting the transmitter and receiver and for setting transmitting and receiving operating frequencies.

13. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the channel programmable receiver and the programmable channel receiver employ frequency modulation.

14. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the channel programmable receiver and the programmable channel transmitter employ amplitude modulation.

15. A method of communicating an information content signal from a computer system to a remote station comprising:

programming a receiver to receive a plurality of candidate frequency channels;

testing the candidate frequency channels until an unused candidate frequency channel is found;

programming a transmitter to transmit on the unused candidate frequency channel found in the testing step;

transmitting the information content from the computer system on the unused candidate frequency channel;

resetting the transmitter and receiver; and

setting transmitting and receiving operating frequencies.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the information content signal by the remote station.

17. A method of communicating an information content signal from a computer system to a remote station wherein the computer system includes a digital processing section and a RF processing section, the method comprising:

the digital processing section instructing the RF processing section to receive a candidate frequency channel;

the RF processing section receiving the candidate radio frequency channel the RF processing section providing a channel availability signal to the digital processing section;

the digital processing section continuing to instruct the RF processing section to receive different candidate frequency channels until an unused candidate frequency channel is found as indicated by the channel availability signal; and

the RF processing section including;

a control means for enabling the digital processing section to reset the transmitter and receiver and for setting transmitting and receiving operating frequencies.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the digital processing section instructing the RF processing section to transmit the information content signal on the unused candidate frequency channel indicated by the channel availability signal.