Communication protocol for personal computer system human interface devices over a low bandwidth, bi-directional radio frequency link
First Claim
1. A computer system, comprising:
- a processor;
a first radio frequency transmitter/receiver (RFTR) coupled to the processor;
a peripheral device comprising a second RFTR configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal, wherein the first RFTR and the second RFTR are operable to communicate in a wireless fashion;
a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable to;
transmit a request using the first RFTR for a second RFTR response over a first channel; and
transmit the request using the first RFTR for the second RFTR response over a second channel if the second RFTR response is not received by the first RFTR.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for maintaining communications with a radio frequency (RF) peripheral device such as an RF input device and an RF output device. A computer may search for an RF peripheral device by transmitting a signal request on available channels until a response is received from an RF peripheral device. If the RF channel becomes busy and/or jammed, the RF peripheral device may tune into a predetermined channel while the computer scans for another channel to use. Once the computer finds a better channel, the computer may go to the predetermined channel and broadcast the new channel location to the RF peripheral device. In addition, if an RF signal arrives incomplete or corrupt, the computer may transmit a negative acknowledgement to the RF peripheral device, which may retransmit the previous RF signal.
64 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a processor; a first radio frequency transmitter/receiver (RFTR) coupled to the processor; a peripheral device comprising a second RFTR configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal, wherein the first RFTR and the second RFTR are operable to communicate in a wireless fashion; a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable to; transmit a request using the first RFTR for a second RFTR response over a first channel; and transmit the request using the first RFTR for the second RFTR response over a second channel if the second RFTR response is not received by the first RFTR. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer system, comprising:
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a processor; a first radio frequency transmitter/receiver (RFTR) coupled to the processor; a peripheral device comprising a second RFTR configured to transmit an RF signal, wherein the first RFTR and the second RFTR are operable to communicate in a wireless fashion; a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store program instructions executable to; identify if the first RFTR has not received an expected data packet from the second RFTR, has received a partial data packet from the second RFTR, or has received a corrupt data packet from the second RFTR; and transmit from the second RFTR the expected data packet or an original data packet that was a source of the partial data packet or the corrupt data packet. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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transmitting a request for a second radio frequency transmitter/receiver (RFTR) response over a first channel; transmitting the request for the second RFTR response over a second channel if the second RFTR response is not received; establishing a wireless connection between a first RFTR and a second RFTR, coupled to a peripheral device, if the second RFTR response is received; and transmitting a signal to a processor on computer start-up to represent the peripheral device before the second RFTR response is received by the first RFTR. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer executable to:
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transmit a request using a first radio frequency transmitter/receiver (RFTR) for a second RFTR response over a first channel, wherein the first RFTR is coupled to a processor, wherein a peripheral device comprises the second RFTR, and wherein the first RFTR and the second RFTR are operable to communicate in a wireless fashion; transmit the request using the first RFTR for the second RFTR response over a second channel if the second RFTR response is not received by the first RFTR; and transmit a signal to the processor on computer start-up to represent the peripheral device before the second RFTR response is received by the first RFTR. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer executable to:
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identify if a first radio frequency transmitter/receiver (RFTR) has not received an expected data packet from a second RFTR, has received a partial data packet from the second RFTR, or has received a corrupt data packet from the second RFTR, wherein the first RFTR is coupled to a processor, wherein the second RFTR is coupled to a peripheral device, and wherein the first RFTR and the second RFTR are operable to communicate in a wireless fashion; and transmit from the second RFTR the expected data packet or an original data packet that was a source of the partial data packet or the corrupt data packet. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer executable to:
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transmit a request for a second radio frequency transmitter/receiver (RFTR) response over a first channel; transmit the request for the second RFTR response over a second channel if the second RFTR response is not received; establish a wireless connection between a first RFTR and a second RFTR, coupled to a peripheral device, if the second RFTR response is received; and transmit a signal to a processor on computer staff-up to represent the peripheral device before the second RFTR response is received by the first RFTR. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification