Multilink receiver for multiple cordless applications

• US 7,565,583 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Bodenmann, Olivier F., Ambuehl, Rolf, Junod, Philippe, Chenes, Pierre H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kerveros; James C
• Application Number:
  US11/385,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 714/700, 714/701
• US Class Current: 714/701
• 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: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a receiver for processing communication information included in transmissions received from a number of cordless devices. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing communication information included in transmissions received from a number of cordless devices. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for communicating status information from a cordless device to a corresponding driver running on a host system. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing digital information included in a transmission from a composite cordless device.

Claims

1. A microcontroller implemented method for processing a digital communication packet derived from a transmission received from a cordless device, the method comprising:

detecting a first state transition included in the digital communication packet;

assigning a first time to the first state transition;

detecting a second state transition included in the digital communication packet;

assigning a second time to the second state transition;

determining a pulse width based on the first and second times; and

responsive to the pulse width being within a predetermined range of values,

decoding and formatting data included in the digital communication packet prior to transmitting the data to a host system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse width being within the predetermined range of values indicates that a valid start pattern of the digital communication packet has been received.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse width being within the predetermined range of values indicates that a valid stop pattern of the digital communication packet has been received.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse width being within the predetermined range of values indicates that a valid bit pattern of the digital communication packet has been received.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the decoded and formatted data to a data report engine for transmission to the host system having no active driver corresponding to the cordless device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein digital communication packets from a number of different communication links, each communication link associated with a different cordless device, are processed simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first time and the second time are assigned based on a timer.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining one or more characteristics of the pulse based on the pulse width;

determining whether the one or more characteristics comply with expected characteristics; and

responsive to the one or more characteristics complying with the expected characteristics, determining the pulse is valid.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein expected characteristics are defined by an encoding scheme used to generate the digital communication packet.

10. A communication apparatus for processing a transmission received from a cordless device, the apparatus comprising:

a microcontroller unit having an input that receives a digital communication packet derived from the transmission, the microcontroller unit for processing the digital communication packet and further comprising;

an edge detection mechanism coupled to the input for detecting state transitions included in the digital communication packet;

a timer having a first value that is read in response to the edge detection mechanism detecting a first state transition, and a second value that is read in response to the edge detection mechanism detecting a second state transition; and

a central processing unit having access to the first and second values of the timer, the central processing unit for determining a pulse width based on the first and second values of the timer and responsive to the pulse width being within a predetermined range of values, decoding and formatting data included in the digital communication packet prior to transmitting the data to a host system.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

a data report engine operatively coupled to the central processing unit, the data report engine for receiving the decoded and formatted data from the central processing unit, generating a standard data report that can be transmitted to, and understood by, the host system having no active driver corresponding to the cordless device.

12. A computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium, for processing a digital communication packet derived from a transmission received from a cordless device, wherein in response to the computer program product being executed by a processor, the processor performs the steps of:

detecting a first state transition included in the digital communication packet;

assigning a first time to the first state transition;

detecting a second state transition included in the digital communication packet;

assigning a second time to the second state transition;

determining a pulse width based on the first and second times; and

responsive to the pulse width being within a predetermined range of values,

decoding and formatting data included in the digital communication packet prior to transmitting the data to a host system.