Mode switching for pen-based computer systems

• US 6,924,790 B1
• Filed: 01/15/1997
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Bi, Depeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US08/784,212
• Time in Patent Office: 3,121 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345/157, 345/173, 395/700, 382181-187, 478/18, 235/462, 708/141, 455/432
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• 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 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A pen-based portable computer system which includes one or more pen-based wireless interface devices that are adapted to communicate by way of a radio link to a remote host personal computer or server. The pen-based wireless interface device is adapted to operate in a pen mode and a mouse mode. In a mouse mode, pen down events are translated to mouse data and formulated into mouse data packets which, in turn, are transmitted over the radio link to the remote host computer or server. In order to enable the wireless interface device to switch to a pen mode, one or more ink field is created within a container application. On power-up, the system comes up in a mouse mode. Pen events within the ink field cause the system to transfer to a pen mode. Pen events within the container application are translated into pen data packets transmitted over the radio link to the remote host computer or server.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

one or more remote host computers, said remote host computers having a CPU and a storage device for running and storing programs;

means for enabling radio communication between said one or more remote host computers and one or more remote devices; and

one or more wireless interface devices, each wireless interface device including means for selecting one of said one or more remote host computers and communicating with a selected remote host computer by way of a radio link, and means for enabling said wireless interface device to take control of and access said selected remote host computer and said programs on said selected remote host computer, each wireless interface device including a digitizer panel for receiving input from a passive stylus, said wireless interface device having a pen mode and a mouse mode, wherein in said mouse mode said digitizer panel is responsive to said passive stylus and emulates the movement of a mouse and the clicking of a mouse button, means for translating pen events from a passive stylus into pen data defining a pen mode and means for switching between a mouse mode and a pen mode.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said selected remote host computer is a server connected to a local area network (LAN) defining a LAN segment.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said selected remote host computer includes means for communicating with a single wireless interface device.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said selected remote host computer includes means for communicating with a plurality of wireless interface devices.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said enabling means includes one or more wireless LAN adapters.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said switching means includes an ink field control which enables the system to be switched between a mouse mode and a pen mode as a function of pen events relative to the ink field control.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, further including means for establishing a predetermined default state for the mode of operation during predetermined conditions.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein predetermined default state is a mouse mode.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said predetermined conditions include power-up of said wireless interface device.

10. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said switching means includes a predetermined default state on power-up of said wireless interface device.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said predetermined default state is a mouse mode.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said predetermined default state is a pen mode.

13. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said switching means includes means for causing pen-down events within said ink field control to cause the system to switch to a pen mode.

14. The system as recited in claim 6, further including means for disabling said ink field control.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said disabling means includes means for automatically disabling said ink field control as a result of predetermined events.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said wireless interface device includes a keyboard and said disabling means including means for monitoring said keyboard and disabling said ink field control when one or more predetermined keys are selected.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said keyboard is an on screen keyboard.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said keyboard includes an ALTERNATE key and said disabling means disables said ink field control when said ALTERNATE key is selected.

19. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said disabling means disables said ink field control when any key on said keyboard is selected.

20. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said predetermined event includes pen-down events outside said ink field control.

21. A wireless interface device comprising:

means for selecting a remote host computer and enabling radio communication with a selected remote host computer, said selected remote host computer having a CPU and a storage device for running and storing programs;

means for enabling said wireless interface device to take control of and access said selected remote host computer and said programs on said selected remote host computer;

a digitizer panel for receiving input data from a passive stylus;

means for translating pen events from a passive stylus relative to said digitizer panel to mouse data defining a mouse mode and emulating the movement of a mouse and the clicking of a mouse button;

means for translating pen events from a passive stylus relative to said digitizer panel to pen data defining a pen mode; and

means for switching between a mouse mode and a pen mode.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein said enabling means includes one or more wireless LAN adapters.

23. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein said switching means includes an ink field control which enables the system to be switched between a mouse mode and a pen mode as a function of pen events relative to the ink field control.

24. The system as recited in claim 21, further including means for establishing a predetermined default state for the mode of operation during predetermined conditions.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein predetermined default state is a mouse mode.

26. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein said predetermined conditions include power-up of said wireless interface device.

27. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein said switching means includes a predetermined default state on power-up of said wireless interface device.

28. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein said predetermined default state is a mouse mode.

29. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein said predetermined default state is a pen mode.

30. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein said switching means includes means for causing pen-down events within said ink field control to cause the system to switch to a pen mode.

31. The system as recited in claim 23, further including means for disabling said ink field control.

32. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said disabling means includes means for automatically disabling said ink field control as a result of predetermined events.

33. The system as recited in claim 32, wherein said wireless interface device includes a keyboard and said disabling means including means for monitoring said keyboard and disabling said ink field control when one or more predetermined keys are selected.

34. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein said keyboard is an on-screen keyboard.

35. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein said keyboard includes an ALTERNATE key and said disabling means disables said ink field control when said ALTERNATE key is selected.

36. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein said disabling means disables said ink field control when any key on said keyboard is selected.

37. The system as recited in claim 32, wherein said predetermined event includes pen-down events.