System and method for communicating information content between a client and a host

• US 6,813,630 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sanamrad, Mohammad Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Winder, Patrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B.
• Application Number:
  US09/510,182
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217-219, 709/200, 345/158, 345/168-169, 345/156
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are a system, apparatus, method and computer program for communicating information content using wireless means between a host and a client in a communications system, wherein the client is adapted to transmit pointer movement signals and selection signals to a host. The host is adapted to receive pointer movement signals and selection signals and to display a pointer and a selection boundary, and is further adapted to transmit data to the client. The client is adapted to receive and store in storage the data thus acquired. Preferably the client is further adapted to transmit to a host pointer movement and insertion point selection signals and to transmit selected data from its storage to the host. The host is adapted to receive these signals and data, and to respond by displaying the data according to the insertion point selection signal.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

a client apparatus including a storage device, a pointer, a control program in communication with a first wireless apparatus adapter to transmit pointer movement and selection signals, and first means responsive to said selection signals for communicating a first information content from said client apparatus to a host apparatus; and

said host apparatus including a display, a control program in communication with a second wireless apparatus adapted to receive said pointer movement and selection signals from said client apparatus, means responsive to said signals for locating and selecting one or more positions on said display, and second means responsive to said selection signal for communicating a second information content from said host apparatus to said client apparatus for storage in said storage device, wherein the communications system is further characterized in that said pointer movement and selection signals are generated responsive to one of keyboard keystrokes and actions carried out on a touchscreen.

2. A communications system as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that said selection signals comprise area selection signals to select an area of content on said display, whereby said area of content is selected for communication from said host to said client.

3. A communications system as claimed in claim 2, further characterised in that said area of content comprises one or more objects.

4. A communications system as claimed in claim 1, further characterised in that said pointer movement and selection signals are generated responsive to movements of a pointer device.

5. A communications system as claimed in claim 1, further characterised in that said wireless apparatus comprises IrDA apparatus.

6. A communications system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to said storage on said client apparatus, means for sending at least said first or said second information content from said client apparatus to said host apparatus.

7. Host apparatus comprising:

a display;

a control program in communication with a wireless apparatus adapted to receive pointer movement and selection signals from a client apparatus, wherein the client apparatus is further characterized in that said pointer movement and selection signals are generated responsive to one of keyboard keystrokes and actions carried out on a touchscreen;

means responsive to said signals for locating and selecting one or more positions on said display; and

means responsive to said selection signal for communicating information content from said host apparatus to said client apparatus for storage in a storage device at said client apparatus.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further characterised in that said wireless apparatus is IrDA apparatus.

9. A method for communicating information content using wireless apparatus in communications system, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting, by a client, pointer movement and selection signals, wherein the client is further characterized in that said pointer movement and selection signals are generated responsive to one of keyboard keystrokes and actions carried out on a touchscreen;

receiving by a host said pointer movement and selection signals;

responsive to said pointer movement signals and selection signals, locating and selecting one or more positions on a display at said host; and

responsive to said selection signal, communicating information content from said host to said client for storage in a storage device at said client.

10. A method for communicating information content using wireless apparatus in a communications system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of, subsequent to said storage on said client, sending said information content from said client apparatus to said host apparatus.

11. A computer program product comprising program code stored on a computer-readable storage medium, the program code comprising means for, when executed on a computer system:

causing a client to transmit by wireless means pointer movement and selection signals to a host, wherein the client apparatus is further characterized in that said pointer movement and selection signals are generated responsive to one of keyboard keystrokes and actions carried out on a touchscreen; and

responsive to said pointer movement signals and said selection signals, causing said client and said host to locate and communicate by wireless means information content from said host to said client for storage in a storage device at said client.

12. A computer program product comprising program code stored on a computer-readable storage medium, the program code comprising means for, when executed on a computer system:

causing a host to receive by wireless means pointer movement and selection signals from a client, wherein the client is further characterized in that said pointer movement and selection signals are generated responsive to one of keyboard keystrokes and actions carried out on a touchscreen; and

responsive to said pointer movement signals and said selection signals, causing said client and said host to locate and communicate by wireless means information content from said host to said client for storage in a storage device at said client.