Resource controlled user interface resource management

• US 20050065770A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for managing the allocation and utilization of user interface resources in a communication system. Various aspects of the present invention comprise establishing a wireless communication link between a user interface resource and a system with which the user interface resource may be used. It may be determined that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system. Various aspects of the present invention may communicate that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system. A request may be made that at least a portion of the user interface resource be allocated for use with the system. The allocation request may be received, and at least a portion of the user interface resource may be allocated for use with the system. The allocated user interface resource may be utilized with the system.

Claims

1. In a communication network, a method for managing a user interface resource, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link between a user interface resource and a system;

determining, by the user interface resource, that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system;

communicating that at least portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system;

requesting that at least a portion of the user interface resource be allocated for use with the system; and

allocating at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a second wireless communication link between the user interface resource and a second system, and wherein:

the determining comprises determining, by the user interface resource, that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the second system; and

the communicating comprises communicating that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the second system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining whether using at least a portion of the user interface resource with the system is authorized.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining secure communication capability of at least one of the system and the user interface resource.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the user interface resource with the first system, wherein using the user interface resource with the system comprises encrypting at least a portion of information communicated between the system and the user interface resource.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting comprises using an input device of the user interface resource to request that at least a portion of the user interface resource be allocated for use with the system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating that at least a portion of the user interface resource has been allocated for use with the system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating comprises communicating, on an output device of the user interface resource, that the user interface resource may be used with the system.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing to a second system information related to the allocation of at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the allocating comprises allocating at least a portion of the user interface resource and at least a portion of a second user interface resource for use with the system.

11. In a user interface resource, a method for managing utilization of the user interface resource, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link with a system;

determining that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system;

communicating that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system;

receiving a request to allocate at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system; and

allocating at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising establishing a second communication link between the user interface resource and a second system, and wherein:

the determining comprises determining that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the second system; and

the communicating comprises communicating that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the second system.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining comprises determining whether using at least a portion of the user interface resource with the system is authorized.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining comprises determining secure communication capability of at least one of the system and the user interface resource.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising using the user interface resource with the first system, wherein using the user interface resource with the system comprises at least one of encrypting and decrypting information communicated between the system and the user interface resource.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the communicating comprises communicating, on an output device of the user interface resource, that the user interface resource may be used with the system.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving comprises receiving, from an input device of the user interface resource, a request to allocate at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating to a user information related to the allocation of at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating to the system information related to the allocation of at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating to a second system information related to the allocation of at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the allocating comprises allocating at least a portion of the user interface resource and at least a portion of a second user interface resource for use with the system.

22. A user interface resource comprising:

a communication module capable of communicatively coupling the user interface system with a system; and

a U/I resource management module communicatively coupled to the communication module, the U/I resource management module comprising;

an availability determination module that determines whether at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system, and communicates that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system; and

an allocation module that receives a request to allocate at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system, and allocates at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

23. The user interface resource of claim 22, wherein:

the communication module is further capable of coupling the user interface resource with a second system; and

the availability determination module determines whether at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the second system, and communicates that at least a portion of the user interface system may be used with the second system.

24. The user interface resource of claim 22, wherein the determination module determines whether using at least a portion of the user interface resource with the system is authorized.

25. The user interface resource of claim 22, wherein the determination module determines secure communication capability of at least one of the user interface resource and the system.

26. The user interface resource of claim 22, further comprising a secure communication module communicatively coupled to the communication module that is capable of at least one of encrypting and decrypting at least a portion of information communicated between the user interface resource and the system.

27. The user interface resource of claim 22, further comprising an output module communicatively coupled to the availability determination module that communicates to a user that at least a portion of the user interface resource may be used with the system.

28. The user interface resource of claim 22, further comprising an input module communicatively coupled to the allocation module that receives input from a user requesting allocation of at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

29. The user interface resource of claim 22, further comprising an output module communicatively coupled to the allocation module that communicates to a user that at least a portion of the user interface resource has been allocated for use with the system.

30. The user interface resource of claim 22, wherein the allocation module utilizes the communication module to communicate to the system information related to the allocation of at least a portion of the user interface resource for use with the system.

31. The user interface resource of claim 22, wherein the allocation module utilizes the communication module to communicate to a second system information related to the allocation of at least a portion of the user interface system for use with the system.

32. The user interface resource of claim 22, further comprising a U/I resource interface module communicatively coupled to a second user interface resource, and wherein the allocation module further allocates at least a portion of the second user interface resource for use with the system.