Wireless network computing

• US 7,292,588 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta4Hand Inc.
• Original Assignee: Meta4Hand Inc.
• Inventors: Milley, Milton E., Fedorak, Mark V., Lou, Edmond, Carolan, John-Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/135,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20020186676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: 370/503, 370/401, 345/2.3, 709/201, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are provided for obtaining and displaying Internet content using a remote secondary display and a primary handheld computing device. The primary device includes a cellular or satellite modem to connect to the Internet and wireless data transport system to communicate with the secondary device. The primary device retrieves network data from the Internet and transmits it to the secondary device for display. The secondary device includes a graphical user interface which may be controlled from the primary device.

Claims

1. A method of network computing using a primary device and a secondary device, wherein said primary device includes a central processing unit, a memory, a user input device, wireless network connection means and wireless secondary device connection means, and wherein the secondary device includes an operating system, a graphical user interface that comprises display means and wireless primary device connection means, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a wireless two-way communication connection between the primary device and the secondary device;

(b) establishing a wireless network connection between the primary device and a computer network;

(c) generating command data for synchronizing the secondary device with the primary device and controlling the secondary device from the primary device and transmitting command data to the secondary device;

(d) receiving user input commands at the primary device and transmitting user input commands as interface data from the primary device to the secondary device;

(e) receiving data and data requests generated by the secondary device at the primary device and transmitting the data and data requests to the computer network from the primary device;

(f) receiving computer network data and data requests from the computer network at the primary device and transmitting the computer network data and data requests to the secondary device from the primary device; and

(g) wirelessly controlling the secondary device with the primary device to display the computer network data using the display means of the secondary device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer network is the Internet and computer network data comprises Internet content.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the secondary device further comprises a browser and the display means comprises a display screen.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the interface data comprise pointer movement control and click commands, and key inputs.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least two of interface data, command data and network data are interleaved or multiplexed within the primary device before transmission to the secondary device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein all three of interface data, command data and network data are interleaved or multiplexed within the primary device before transmission to the secondary device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein all three of interface data, command data and network data are sent as three distinct signals.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary device may connect to a plurality of secondary devices, either simultaneously or sequentially.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of primary computers devices may connect to one or more secondary devices, either simultaneously or sequentially.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one intermediate device is disposed between the primary computer device and the secondary device and wherein the intermediate device may separately communicate with the primary computer device and the secondary device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein at least two intermediate devices are provided and each intermediate device communicates with a primary, secondary or another intermediate device that is adjacent in the chain.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the secondary device is connected to its own computer data network and the secondary device may fulfill its own data requests in response to interface data received from the primary device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the data transmitted between the primary device and the secondary device is encrypted.

14. A handheld computing device including a central processing unit and a memory comprising:

(a) wireless computer network connection means;

(b) means for wirelessly connecting with a secondary device which includes an operating system and a graphical user interface comprising display means;

(c) means for accepting user input commands and generating interface data;

(d) means for receiving data and data requests from the secondary device and transmitting them to the computer network;

(e) means for receiving computer network data and data requests from the computer network;

(f) means for generating command data for synchronizing the secondary device with the handheld device, for controlling the secondary device from the handheld device and for commanding the secondary device to display computer network data using said display means; and

(g) means for transmitting command data, interface data and computer network data and data requests to the secondary device whereby said handheld device is capable of wirelessly controlling the secondary device to display the computer network data using said display means.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein wirless network connection means comprises a cellular or satellite modem.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the secondary device connection means comprises a radio frequency transport system.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the transport system utilizes the Bluetooth protocol.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the transport system utilizes the IEEE 802.11 protocol.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein the computer network is the Internet.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the secondary device further includes a browser and the means for accepting user input commands accepts interface data generated from pointer movement control and click commands, and key input.

21. The device of claim 16 wherein the transport system comprises separate transport controllers for each of network data, command data and interface data.

22. The device of claim 20 further comprising a multiplexer/demultiplexer for multiplexing two or more of network data, command data and/or interface data.

23. A method for controlling a secondary device from a primary device in network computing, said method being embodied on a computer-readable medium such that, when implemented on the primary device including wireless computer network connection means and means for wirelessly connecting with the secondary device which includes an operating system (and/or virtual machine, and/or interpreter), a graphical user interface and wireless primary device connection means, said method permits control of the secondary device by the primary device, the computer-readable medium comprising:

(a) a code segment which generates command data for synchronizing the secondary device with the primary device and controlling the secondary device from the primary device.

(b) a code segment which processes user input commands to the primary device and generates interface data;

(c) a code segment which receives data and data requests from the secondary device and transmits them to the computer network;

(d) a code segment which receives and processes network data and data requests from the computer network, and

(e) a code segment which causes transmission of command data, interface data and network data and data requests to the secondary device whereby the primary device is capable of wirelessly controlling the secondary device to display the computer network data on the graphical user interface.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises a code segment which multiplexes two or more of the command data, interface data, and network data for transmission to the secondary device.

25. A computing device including a central processing unit and a memory comprising:

(a) wireless computer network connection means;

(b) means for wirelessly connecting with a secondary device which includes an operating system and a graphical user interface;

(c) logic which generates command data for synchronizing the secondary device with the computing device and controlling the secondary device from the computing device;

(d) logic which processes command data;

(e) logic which processes user input commands and generates interface data;

(f) logic which receives network data and data requests from the secondary device and transmits them to the computer network;

(g) logic which receives data and data requests from the computer network; and

(h) logic which causes transmission of command data, interface data and network data and data requests to a secondary device whereby the computing device is capable of wirelessly controlling the secondary device to display the computer network data on the graphical user interface.

26. The device of claim 25 further comprising logic which multiplexes two or more of the command data, interface data, and network data for transmission to the secondary device.