Method and apparatus for synchronizing data between a watch and external digital device

• US 6,977,868 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fossil Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fossil Incorporated
• Inventors: Bruneau, Jeffrey Keith, Delaney, Brian Richard, Brewer, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuneo, Kamand
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Thanh S.
• Application Number:
  US10/075,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 368 46- 47, 368/10, 455/231
• US Class Current: 368/46
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method for synchronizing and updating the memory of an external digital device, such as a personal digital assistant, and the memory of a watch via a two way communication link providing for the synchronous transfer of data between the devices. The data transfer is accomplished by placing the external digital device and watch into an alignment device which secures and positions each device in an appropriate spatial relationship allowing data to be transferred between devices. A separate integrated display controller provides for operation of the watch display thereby conserving power required to operate the device.

Claims

1. A method of conserving power in a wrist watch having an electronic display while synchronizing a first data set in a personal digital assistant device with a second data set in said wrist watch, comprising the steps of:

(a) powering a microcontroller, a processor and a data transfer mechanism integral to said watch, wherein said watch includes a display having an integrated controller for driving said display operations;

(b) running a configuration program resident on the watch, wherein said program identifies said second data set to synchronize;

(c) establishing a communication link between the personal digital assistant device and the watch;

(d) transmitting the configuration program from said watch to said personal digital assistant device via said communication link, wherein said program identifies and selects said first data set located on said device;

(e) transferring said first data set from said personal digital assistant device to said watch via said communication link;

(f) comparing said first and second data sets, wherein said configuration program prompts a user to synchronize said data sets when said first data set conflicts with said second data set;

(g) overwriting said second data set with said first data set; and

(h) powering down said watch microcontroller, processor and data transfer mechanism, upon verification by resident configuration program that said first and second data sets are identical.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication link is established via wireless signals.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said overwriting step is accomplished by erasing said second data set on the watch memory and inputting said first data set on the watch memory.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication link is established via an IR port, an internet connection, an intranet connection or a satellite link.

5. A system for conserving power in a wrist watch having an electronic display while synchronizing a first data set in a personal digital assistant device with a second data set in said wrist watch, comprising the steps of:

(a) means for powering a microcontroller, a processor and a data transfer mechanism integral to said watch, wherein said watch includes a display having an integrated controller for driving said display operations;

(b) means for running a program resident on the watch, wherein said program identifies said second data set to synchronize;

(c) means for identifying and selecting said first data set located on said personal digital assistant device;

(d) means for establishing a communication link between the personal digital assistant device and the watch;

(e) means for synchronizing said first and second data sets when said program detects a conflict between said data sets; and

(f) means for powering down said microcontroller, processor and data transfer mechanism, while maintaining power to said display having said integrated controller.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising means for erasing said second data set located on the memory of a watch.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said resident program is transmitted to a memory of said personal digital assistant device.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said communication link is established via wireless signals.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein said updating is accomplished by erasing at least one data set on the watch memory and inputting at least one updated data set on the watch memory.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein said communication link is established via an IR port, an internet connection, an intranet connection or a satellite link.

11. A system for conserving power while updating data comprising:

(a) a personal digital assistant device having a processor and a memory containing a first data set;

(b) an electronic watch having a display which includes an integrated controller for driving said display, wherein said watch further includes a microcontroller, a processor and a memory containing a second data set;

wherein said microcontroller periodically powers up at from a standby mode to a powered mode to update said integrated controller to change the time on the display;

(c) means for manually powering said microcontroller to initiate a memory update synchronization;

(d) means for establishing a two way communication link between the personal digital assistant device and the watch during a memory update synchronization;

(e) means for comparing said first data set located on the personal digital assistant memory with said second data set on the watch memory;

(f) means for updating said second data set with said first data set when said comparing means detects a conflict between said data sets; and

(g) means for automatically powering down said microcontroller to said standby mode upon completion of said memory update synchronization.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the personal digital assistant device is a wristwatch, a wireless telephone, a wireless pager or a personal computer.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the two way communication link is established via an IR port, an RF port, a wire link, a wireless link, an internet connection, an intranet connection or a satellite link.

14. A system for enabling the synchronization of data sets between a watch having an electronic display and a personal digital assistant device while conserving power in the watch, comprising:

(a) an integrated controller incorporated into said electronic display, wherein said integrated controller drives said display;

(b) a microcontroller connected to said display, wherein said microcontroller automatically and periodically activates from a standby mode to a momentary powered mode to update said integrated controller to change the time on the display;

(c) a processor connected to said microcontroller;

(d) a memory connected to said processor, wherein said memory contains a first data set and an operating system;

(e) means for manually activating said microcontroller to initiate a memory update synchronization;

(e) means for establishing a two way communication link between said watch and said personal digital assistant device upon initiation of said memory update synchronization;

(f) means for synchronizing said first data set with a second data set located on the personal digital assistant device; and

(g) means for automatically powering down said microcontroller to said standby mode upon completion of said memory update synchronization.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said means for synchronizing comprises:

i) means for comparing said first data set with said second data set; and

ii) means for updating said first data set with said second data set when said comparing means detects a conflict between said data sets.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display, an electrophoretic display or an organic light emitting device display.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for manually activating said microcontroller comprises a touch screen, a push-button or a rocker switch.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the microcontroller automatically activates at least once every minute from a standby mode to a momentary powered mode to update said integrated controller to change the time on the display.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the microcontroller automatically activates at least once every second from a standby mode to a momentary powered mode to update said integrated controller to change the time on the display.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the microcontroller automatically activates at least once every tenth of a second from a standby mode to a momentary powered mode to update said integrated controller to change the time on the display.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein the two way communication link means comprises an IR port, an RF port, a wire link, a wireless link, an internet connection, an intranet connection or a satellite link.