System and method for automatically reconnecting a wireless interface device to a host computer

• US 6,092,117 A
• Filed: 10/16/1995
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Packard Bell NEC
• Inventors: Gladwin, S. Christopher, Wilson, James Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, ZARNI
• Application Number:
  US08/543,425
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 364/146, 364/424.1, 364/514 BS, 364/514 B, 379/58, 455/91, 375/219, 395/200.01-200.09, 395/200.11, 395/200.14, 395/200.2, 395/200.3, 395/200.54, 395/200.67, 395/200.8, 395/200.69
• US Class Current: 709/239
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3237 by disabling clock generation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/1097 Boot, Start, Initialise, Power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• 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 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A wireless interface device is adapted to be connected to a host computer. On power-up, a list of available hosts is identified in a dialog box on the display of the wireless interface device. Once a host is selected, the node address for the selected host is stored in an EEPROM. On a subsequent power-up of the wireless interface device, a connection is automatically made to the last selected host.

Claims

1. A wireless interface device for use with one or more host computers, the wireless interface device comprising:

means for communicating with one of said one or more host computers;

means for enabling said wireless interface device to take control of one of said one or more host computers after communication is established;

means for storing a node address corresponding to the last host computer to which the wireless interface was successfully connected;

means for determining, on power up, the availability of a connection to the last host computer;

means for updating said node address to indicate an alternative host computer upon determining that said connection is not available; and

means for automatically connecting said wireless interface device to the host indicated by said node address.

2. A wireless interface device according to claim 1, said connecting means including means for checking a validity of said node address.

3. A wireless interface device according to claim 1, further including means for enabling said wireless interface device to enter a power down state.

4. A method for operating a wireless interface device in a system with one or more host computers:

communicating with one of said one or more host computers;

enabling said wireless interface device to take control of one of said one or more host computers after communication is established;

storing a node address corresponding to the last host computer to which the wireless interface was successfully connected;

means for determining, on power up, the availability of a connection to the last host computer;

updating said node address to indicate an alternative host computer upon determining that said connection is not available; and

automatically connecting said wireless interface device to the host indicated by said node address.

5. A method according to claim 4, further including:

checking a validity of said node address.

6. A method according to claim 4, further including entering a power down state.

7. A wireless interface device for use with one or more host computers, the wireless interface device comprising:

means for communicating with one of said one or more host computers;

means for enabling said wireless interface device to take control of one of said one or more host computers after communication is established;

means for automatically connecting said wireless interface device to the last host to which it was successfully connected on power-up, said connecting means including means for identifying a node address of said last host, means for storing said node address, and means for checking a validity of said node address; and

means permitting said wireless interface device to enter a power down state, wherein said storing means is configured to store said address prior to said wireless interface device entering said power down state.

8. A method for operating a wireless interface device in a system with one or more host computers:

communicating with one of said one or more host computers;

enabling said wireless interface device to take control of one of said one or more host computers after communication is established;

automatically connecting said wireless interface device to the last host to which it was successfully connected on power-up;

identifying a node address of said last host;

checking a validity of said node address;

storing said address prior to said wireless interface device entering a power down state; and

entering said power down state.

9. A wireless interface device for use with one or more host computers, the wireless interface device comprising:

a radio transceiver for communicating with one of said one or more host computers;

a memory storing a node address corresponding to the last host computer to which the wireless interface was successfully connected;

a processor determining, on power up, the availability of a connection to the last host computer, and upon determining that said connection is not available, updating said node address to indicate an alternative host computer, said processor automatically connecting said wireless interface device to the host indicated by said node address.