Wireless transmitter control lockout

• US 7,206,556 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Edward W., Intihar, Bruce R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tony T.
• Application Number:
  US10/637,295
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 455/115.1, 455/115.3, 455/115.4, 455/127.1, 455/127.4, 455/269, 455/403, 455/418, 455/420, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/13.4, 455/39, 455/500, 455/522
• US Class Current: 455/115.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Modification of transmission control parameters is prevented during data transmission in a wireless transmitter. A lockout unit is used to prevent modification of the transmission control parameters during data transmission and allow modification of the transmission control parameters when data is not being transmitted. When the wireless transmitter is included in a computing system a software driver for the wireless transmitter does not need to include a software lockout mechanism. Furthermore, the wireless transmitter including the lockout unit may be tested as a standalone device, facilitating regulatory agency certification as a modular transmitter.

Claims

1. A modular wireless transmitter for data transmission that is further configured to operate independently of commands from a host computer, comprising:

a storage element, the storage element configured to store a transmission control parameter; and

a lockout unit coupled to the storage element, the lockout unit configurable to prevent a modification of the transmission control parameter stored in the storage element during the data transmission and to allow modification of the parameter following the data transmission, whereby the transmitter may be submitted for certification as a modular transmitter independent of the host computer.

2. The wireless transmitter of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit configured to activate the lockout unit.

3. The wireless transmitter of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit configured to deactivate the lockout unit.

4. The wireless transmitter of claim 2, wherein the control unit activates the lockout unit when data is received for transmission.

5. The wireless transmitter of claim 3, wherein the control unit deactivates the lockout unit when data is not received for transmission.

6. The wireless transmitter of claim 1, wherein the storage element comprises a register configured to store one or more bits of data for each transmission control parameter.

7. A system configured to transmit data using a modular wireless transmitter configurable for operation independent of commands from a host computer, comprising:

a host processor;

a host memory, the host memory storing at least one program for the host processor;

a system interface coupled to the host processor and a wireless transmitter; and

the wireless transmitter including

a storage element configured to store at least one transmission control parameter; and

a lockout unit coupled to the storage element, the lockout unit configured to prevent a modification of the at least one transmission control parameter during data transmission and to allow modification of the parameter following the data transmission, whereby the transmitter may be submitted for certification as a modular transmitter independent of the host computer.

8. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the host processor, host memory, and system interface are contained within a first subsystem.

9. The computing system of claim 8, wherein the wireless transmitter is contained within the first subsystem.

10. The computing system of claim 8, wherein the wireless transmitter is contained within a second subsystem coupled to the first subsystem via an interface.

11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the interface is digital.

12. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the second subsystem includes an antenna.

13. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the second subsystem is located in a display device.

14. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the second subsystem is configured for submission to a regulatory agency for certification as a modular transmitter.

15. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the host memory stores a driver configured to communicate at least one transmission control parameter between the program and the wireless transmitter.

16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the driver does not prevent communication of a transmission control parameter to the wireless transmitter during data transmission.

17. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the driver prevents communication of a transmission control parameter to the wireless transmitter during data transmission.

18. A method of preventing modifications to at least one transmission control parameter in a modular wireless transmitter during data transmission and to allow modification of the parameter following the data transmission independent of commands from a host computer, comprising:

receiving data for transmission; and

configuring a lockout unit in the modular wireless transmitter to prevent modification of the at least one transmission control parameter during the transmission of the data.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

detecting data transmission has ended; and

configuring the lockout unit to enable modification of the at least one transmission control parameter.

20. A method of enabling modifications of at least one transmission control parameter in a modular wireless transmitter following a data transmission during the data transmission and to allow modification of the parameter following the data transmission, whereby the transmitter may be submitted for certification as a modular transmitter independent of a host computer, comprising:

detecting the data transmission has ended; and

configuring a lockout unit incorporated in the modular wireless transmitter to enable modification of the at least one transmission control parameter.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving data for transmission; and

configuring the lockout unit to prevent modification of the at least one transmission control parameter.