System and method for connecting bluetooth-enabled devices to a personal computer

• US 7,864,797 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Chirag G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Van; Jenkey
• Application Number:
  US11/853,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20080003947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

An interface which effects communication between first and second systems and includes a first arrangement for communicating with the first system using a first protocol and a second arrangement for communicating with the second system using a second protocol. At least one of the arrangements includes a mechanism for effecting wireless communication. In accordance with the invention, a third arrangement is included for translating data received from the first system in accordance with the first protocol into data adapted for the second system in accordance with the second protocol. In the illustrative embodiment, the inventive interface further includes an arrangement for translating data received from the second system in accordance with the second protocol into data adapted for the first system in accordance with the first protocol. In the illustrative embodiment, the second system is a Personal Computer, the first system is a peripheral adapted to be connected to the computer, the first protocol is a Bluetooth protocol and the second protocol is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol. In the illustrative embodiment, the inventive interface leverages Universal Serial Bus technology, particularly “plug and play” capability, to simplify the installation and use of Bluetooth-enabled peripherals.

Claims

1. One or more circuits that provide wireless communication between a device and an electronic system, the one or more circuits comprising:

a device communicator that wirelessly communicates with the device in accordance with a wireless communication protocol;

a system communicator that communicates with the electronic system using a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, the system communicator comprising a USB protocol stack and USB multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry, the USB multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry being operatively coupled to the USB protocol stack, the USB multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry being disposed communicatively between the USB protocol stack and a translator; and

the translator that translates information received from the device in accordance with the wireless protocol into translated information for use with the electronic system in accordance with the USB protocol, the translator being operatively coupled to the device communicator, the translator being operatively coupled to the USB multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry.

2. The one or more circuits according to claim 1, wherein the translator is operative to translate information received from the electronic system in accordance with the USB protocol into translated information for use with the device in accordance with the wireless communication protocol.

3. The one or more circuits according to claim 2,

wherein the electronic system comprises a personal computer, and

wherein the one or more circuits are operatively coupled via a wired link to a USB port of the personal computer.

4. The one or more circuits according to claim 2, wherein the device communicator comprises peripheral detection and connection circuitry.

5. The one or more circuits according to claim 4, comprising:

a Bluetooth interface operatively coupled to the peripheral detection and connection circuitry,

wherein the device communicator comprises a Bluetooth protocol stack, the Bluetooth protocol stack being operatively coupled to the Bluetooth interface.

6. The one or more circuits according to claim 5, wherein the device communicator comprises Bluetooth multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry, the Bluetooth multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry being operatively coupled to the translator.

7. The one or more circuits according to claim 6, wherein the system communicator comprises a configuration database, the configuration database being operatively coupled to the USB multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry.

8. The one or more circuits according to claim 1, wherein the device communicator comprises Bluetooth multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry, the Bluetooth multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry being operatively coupled to the translator.

9. The one or more circuits according to claim 1,

wherein the wireless communication protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol, and

wherein the translator is operative to translate information received from the electronic system in accordance with the USB protocol into translated information for use with the device in accordance with the Bluetooth protocol.

10. The one or more circuits according to claim 9, wherein the device comprises a peripheral device.

11. The one or more circuits according to claim 1, comprising:

a controller that assists in establishing a wireless connection with the device and that determines a type of emulation that is to be used with the wirelessly connected device.

12. The one or more circuits according to claim 11, wherein the controller uses a lookup table in determinining the type of emulation that is to be used with the wirelessly connected device.

13. A communication system, comprising:

a computer comprising an interface that is compliant with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol; and

interface circuitry that is in communication with the computer via the interface of the computer, the interface circuitry comprising;

a device communicator that transmits information to, and receives information from, a device in accordance with a wireless communication protocol;

a system communicator that communicates with the computer using the USB protocol the system communicator comprising USB multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry, the USB multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry being operatively coupled to the translator, the USB multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry being operatively coupled to a USB protocol stack, the USB multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry being disposed communicatively between the USB protocol stack and a translator; and

the translator that translates the information received from the device in accordance with the wireless communication protocol into translated information for use with the computer in accordance with the USB protocol,

wherein the interface circuitry emulates a USB connection, from the perspective of the computer, as if the device was a USB device directly connected to the interface of the computer.

14. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein the translator is operative to translate information received from the computer in accordance with the USB protocol into translated information for use with the device in accordance with the wireless communication protocol.

15. The communication system according to claim 14, wherein the interface of the computer comprises a USB port of the computer.

16. The communication system according to claim 15, wherein the device communicator comprises peripheral detection and connection circuitry.

17. The communication system according to claim 16, comprising:

a Bluetooth interface operatively coupled to the peripheral detection and connection circuitry,

wherein the device communicator comprises a Bluetooth protocol stack, the Bluetooth protocol stack being operatively coupled to the Bluetooth interface.

18. The communication system according to claim 17, wherein the device communicator comprises Bluetooth multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry, the Bluetooth multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry being operatively coupled to the translator.

19. The communication system according to claim 18, wherein the system communicator comprises a USB protocol stack, and

wherein the interface circuitry comprises a USB interface, the USB interface being operatively coupled to the USB protocol stack.