System and method for establishing wireless connection

• US 6,806,866 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Michel, Patrick, Toubol, Gilles, Benayoun, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jennifer T.
• Application Number:
  US09/894,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20020044131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/163, 345/169, 345/173, 345/717, 345/718, 370/535, 370/338
• US Class Current: 345/163
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A system for establishing wireless connection between a peripheral device and an intelligent device in a multi-computer environment having a plurality of intelligent devices is disclosed. The system is in part included within the peripheral device which is preferably a mouse device and also is included within the intelligent device which is preferably a computer system. Specific routines of the system allow a user to work with any of the intelligent devices using only the one mouse device.

Claims

1. A computer system capable of coupling to a wireless peripheral device, the computer system comprising:

a first actuation means on a wireless peripheral device, the first actuation means enabling a transmission of an identifier signal that identifies a request for a wireless communication initialization between the wireless peripheral device and a computer; and

a second actuation means on the computer, the second actuation means enabling a transmission of an acknowledgment signal, the acknowledgment signal acknowledging an initialization of a wireless coupling between the wireless peripheral device and the computer in response to the identifier signal, wherein the initialization of the wireless coupling is effected only when the first and second actuation means are simultaneously engaged by one or more users.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein a device driver for the wireless peripheral device is stored in the computer, and the device driver is identified by the identifier signal.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein a device driver for the wireless peripheral device is transmitted from the wireless peripheral device to the computer.

4. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third actuation means an the computer, wherein the third actuation means enables a transmission from the computer of a disengagement signal when the third actuation means and the first actuation means are simultaneously engaged by one or more users, the disengagement signal acknowledging a disengagement of the wireless coupling between the wireless peripheral device and the computer in response to the computer performing the disengagement.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising:

an error light on the wireless peripheral device, the error light illuminating when an internal self-test of the wireless peripheral device fails.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the identifier signal is in a format using High-level Data Link Control (HDLC) frames.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the wireless peripheral device is a mouse.

8. A wireless peripheral device capable of coupling to a computer system, the wireless peripheral device comprising:

a first actuation means, the first actuation means enabling a transmission of an identifier signal that identifies a request for a wireless communication initialization between the wireless peripheral device and a computer, and

a synchronization signal receiving means, the synchronization signal receiving means being capable of receiving an acknowledgment signal from the computer, the acknowledgment signal acknowledging a synchronization of a wireless coupling between the wireless peripheral device and the computer in response to the identifier signal when the first actuation means on the wireless peripheral device and a second actuation means on the computer are simultaneously engaged by one or more users.

9. The wireless peripheral device of claim 8, wherein a device driver for the wireless peripheral device is stored in the computer, and the device driver is identified by the identifier signal.

10. The wireless peripheral device of claim 8, wherein a device driver for the wireless peripheral device is transmitted from the wireless peripheral device to the computer.

11. The wireless peripheral device of claim 8, further comprising:

a visual error light that illuminates if the wireless peripheral device fails an internal self-test.

12. The wireless peripheral device of claim 8, wherein the identifier signal is in a format using High-level Data Link Control (HDLC) frames.

13. The wireless peripheral device of claim 8, wherein the wireless peripheral device is a mouse.

14. A method for coupling a wireless peripheral device to a computer, the method comprising:

transmitting from a wireless peripheral device an identifier signal that identifies a request for a wireless communication initialization between the wireless peripheral device and a computer;

transmitting of an acknowledgment signal from the computer, the acknowledgment signal acknowledging an initialization of a wireless coupling between the wireless peripheral device and the computer in response to the identifier signal; and

detecting if a first actuation means on the wireless peripheral device for transmitting the identifier signal and a second actuation means on the computer for transmitting the acknowledgment signal are simultaneously engaged, wherein the initialization of the wireless coupling is effected only when a first and second actuation means are simultaneously engaged by one or more users.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a device driver for the wireless peripheral device is stored in the computer, and the device driver is identified by the identifier signal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a device driver for the wireless peripheral device is transmitted from the wireless peripheral device to the computer.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising:

transmitting a disengagement signal from the computer by engaging a third actuation means on the computer simultaneously with an engagement of the first actuation means, wherein the simultaneous engagement of the first and third actuation means by one or more users enables a transmission of a disengagement signal, the disengagement signal acknowledging a disengagement of the wireless coupling between the wireless peripheral device and the computer in response to the computer performing the disengagement.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

illuminating an error light on the wireless peripheral device when the wireless peripheral device fails an internal self-test.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifier signal is in a format using High-level Data Link Control (HDLC) frames.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless peripheral device is a mouse.