Electronic paging device including a computer connection port

• US 6,011,486 A
• Filed: 12/16/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Casey, M. Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/991,311
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.07, 340/311.1, 455/31.3, 455/38.4, 455/575, 455/351, 395/750.01, 361/814, 708/109
• US Class Current: 340/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches

Abstract

An electronic paging device has a port including a plurality of conductors to connect to a computer system, and interface logic to assert and receive signals on the plurality of conductors to transfer data to and from the computer system.

Claims

1. An electronic pager comprising:

a port including a plurality of conductors to connect to a computer system wherein at least one of the plurality of conductors is useful for conducting data to and from the computer system;

interface logic to assert and receive signals on the plurality of conductors to transfer data to and from the computer system;

a pager body that encapsulates the interface logic; and

a securing clip coupled to the pager body to secure the pager to an article of clothing wherein the port including the plurality of conductors is embodied in the securing clip.

2. The electronic paging device of claim 1 wherein the port is a Universal Serial Bus port.

3. The electronic paging device of claim 1 further comprising file management logic to transfer data to the computer system in response to a file access request.

4. The electronic paging device of claim 1 further comprising:

a radio-frequency (RF) receiver; and

a memory to store data received via the RF receiver, wherein

when the electronic paging device is connected to the computer system via the port, the interface logic automatically transfers the data stored in the memory to the computer system via the port.

5. The electronic paging device of claim 1 wherein the securing clip includes a first end rotatably mounted to the pager body and a second end that is adapted to be connected to a reciprocating connector on the computer system.

6. The electronic paging device of claim 5 wherein the second end of the securing clip forms a plug that is received by a receptacle on the computer system.

7. The electronic paging device of claim 1 further comprising a receptacle to hold a rechargeable power source, and wherein the port further includes a conductor to deliver a charging current from the computer system to the rechargable power source.

8. The electronic paging device of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, wherein when the electronic paging device is connected to the computer system via the port, the interface logic, in response to transfer of data from the computer system via the port, transfers the data to the RF transmitter via an interconnection path from the port for transmission via the RF transmitter.

9. The electronic paging device of claim 8 further comprising a RF receiver wherein the interface logic automatically transfers the data from the RF receiver via an interconnection path to the port for transfer to the computer system.

10. The electronic paging device of claim 1 further comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter;

a response button that, when pressed, causes a text message associated with the response button to be transmitted via the RF transmitter; and

programming logic to receive a text message from the computer system via the port and to associate the text message with the response button.

11. The electronic paging device of claim 1 further comprising:

a processor; and

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor and having stored therein program code which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to implement a file management system that translates requests from the computer system to read sectors of a rotating disk into requests to read addresses of the non-volatile memory so that electronic paging device appears to the computer system to be a rotating-disk storage media.

12. The electronic paging device of claim 11 further comprising a radio-frequency (RF) receiver coupled to the processor, and wherein the file management system stores data received via the RF receiver in one or more files according to a Flash Translation Layer (FTL) format.

13. A method comprising the steps of:

detecting connection of an electronic paging device to a computer system via a port embodied in a securing clip coupled to the electronic paging device, the port including at least one conductor that transfers data to and from the computer system;

automatically loading program code into a memory of the computer system in response to detecting connection of the electronic paging device to the computer system;

executing the program code to request the electronic paging device to transfer data to the computer system; and

transferring data from the electronic paging device to the computer system in response to the request.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of automatically loading program code comprises the step of loading a device driver program into the memory of the computer system.

15. A method comprising the steps of:

connecting an electronic paging device to a computer system via a port embodied in a securing clip coupled to the electronic paging device, the port including at least one conductor that transfers data to and from the computer system;

automatically loading program code into a memory of the computer system via the port in response to connecting the electronic paging device to the computer system;

executing the program code to transfer data from the computer system to the electronic paging device via the port; and

transmitting the data via a radio frequency (RF) transmitter included in the electronic paging device.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

receiving data in the electronic paging device via a RF receiver; and

transferring the received data to the computer system via the port.

17. A method comprising the steps of:

connecting an electronic paging device to a computer system via a port on the electronic paging device wherein the port includes a plurality of conductors wherein at least one conductor transfers data to and from the computer system;

transferring message data from the computer system to the electronic paging device via the port;

associating the message data transferred from the computer system to the electronic paging device with a response button on the electronic paging device; and

transmitting the message data associated with the response button via a radio frequency (RF) transmitter in the electronic paging device when the response button is pressed.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of associating the message data with a response button on the electronic paging device includes the step of overwriting previous message data associated with the response button.

19. An electronic paging device comprising:

means for connecting the electronic paging device to a computer system;

means for asserting and receiving signals on the means for connecting to transfer data to and from the computer system; and

means for securing the electronic paging device to an article of clothing, wherein the means for connecting the electronic paging device to the computer system is embodied in the means for securing.

20. The electronic paging device of claim 19 further comprising means for receiving a radio frequency (RF) transmission;

means for storing data received via the means for receiving wherein when the electronic paging device is connected to the computer system via the means for connecting, the means for asserting and receiving signals, in response to detection of connection by the computer system, automatically transfers the data stored in the means for storing via a means for interconnection to the means for connection for transfer to the computer system.