Processing device peripheral with integral network interface circuitry
First Claim
1. A peripheral connectable to a processing device, the peripheral comprising:
- a housing;
wireless network interface circuitry at least partially enclosed within the housing, the network interface circuitry being utilizable by the processing device to establish a wireless connection between the processing device and a network; and
peripheral circuitry disposed within the housing and adapted to perform at least a portion of at least one of an input function and an output function for the processing device in a manner unrelated to utilization of the network interface circuitry by the processing device;
wherein the function comprises transferring information between the processing device and an element external to the peripheral without requiring a network connection between the peripheral and the element external to the peripheral.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A peripheral connectable to a processing device includes a housing and network interface circuitry at least partially enclosed within the housing, the network interface circuitry being utilizable by the processing device to establish a connection between the processing device and a network. The peripheral further includes peripheral circuitry disposed within the housing and adapted to perform at least a portion of at least one of an input function and an output function for the processing device in a manner unrelated to utilization of the network interface circuitry by the processing device. In an illustrative embodiment, the network interface circuitry comprises a wireless local area network (LAN) interface card, module or access point, the processing device comprises a computer, and the peripheral comprises a keyboard, monitor, speaker, docking station or other peripheral connectable to the computer.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A peripheral connectable to a processing device, the peripheral comprising:
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a housing; wireless network interface circuitry at least partially enclosed within the housing, the network interface circuitry being utilizable by the processing device to establish a wireless connection between the processing device and a network; and peripheral circuitry disposed within the housing and adapted to perform at least a portion of at least one of an input function and an output function for the processing device in a manner unrelated to utilization of the network interface circuitry by the processing device; wherein the function comprises transferring information between the processing device and an element external to the peripheral without requiring a network connection between the peripheral and the element external to the peripheral. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A processing system comprising:
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a processing device; and a peripheral connectable to the processing device, the peripheral comprising a housing, wireless network interface circuitry at least partially enclosed within the housing, and peripheral circuitry disposed within the housing, the wireless network interface circuitry being utilizable by the processing device to establish a wireless connection between the processing device and a network, the peripheral circuitry being adapted to perform at least a portion of at least one of an input function and an output function for the processing device in a manner unrelated to utilization of the network interface circuitry by the processing device; wherein the function comprises transferring information between the processing device and an element external to the peripheral without requiring a network connection between the peripheral and the element external to the peripheral.
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20. A method for use in a processing system comprising a processing device and a peripheral connectable to the processing device, the method comprising the steps of:
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at least partially enclosing wireless network interface circuitry within a housing of the peripheral; and utilizing the wireless network interface circuitry to establish a connection between the processing device and a network; the peripheral further comprising peripheral circuitry being disposed within the housing and adapted to perform at least a portion of at least one of an input function and an output function for the processing device in a manner unrelated to utilization of the network interface circuitry by the processing device; wherein the function comprises transferring information between the processing device and an element external to the peripheral without requiring a network connection between the peripheral and the element external to the peripheral.
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Specification