GB2366489A

GB2366489A - Method for configuring a communication channel between a computer and wireless peripheral device

Info

Publication number: GB2366489A
Application number: GB0021094A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chris Wang; I I Chen
Original assignee: Behavior Technical Computer Corp
Current assignee: Behavior Technical Computer Corp
Priority date: 2000-08-25
Filing date: 2000-08-25
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Also published as: GB0021094D0

Abstract

A wireless computer peripheral such as a keyboard has a transmitter which transmits a channel switching signal through a first channel selected from a number of channels. A receiver in a computer scans through all the channels to find the channel containing the switching signal. Once detected a wireless connection is established between the peripheral and computer through the first channel. If no signal is detected the receiver returns to its original channel. The channel switching signal comprises channel identification information so the receiver can confirm the detected channel. The transmitter may have a configuration switch for manual selection of a communication channel for transmitting the switching signal. The receiver may also have a configuration switch for manual selection of a communication channel for detecting the signal.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> METHOD FOR CONFIGURING COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BETWEEN COMPUTER AND WIRELESS PERIPHERAL DEVICE The present invention generally relates to wireless communication between a computer and a wireless peripheral device, and in particular to a method for switching/resetting communication channels between a computer and a wireless peripheral device.

Conventionally, a computer communicates with peripheral devices via cables or wires. The cable or wire that connects a peripheral device to a computer interferes with the activity of a computer user and limits the operation of some peripheral devices. For example, the operation of a keyboard may be restricted by the cable thereof.

Wireless connection between a peripheral device and a computer solves the problem. One example of the wireless connection is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) based wireless connection. A USB communication interface is incorporated in the computer while a counterpart transmitter is added in the peripheral device whereby USB based signals are transmitted between the peripheral device and the computer, allowing a user to control the computer via the peripheral device in a wireless fashion, However, to perform wireless communication between the receiver and the transmitter, a communication channel between them must be established with a particular frequency. If one of them is not set to the particular frequency, then the communication cannot be performed.

Furthermore, a communication channel of a predetermined frequency may be readily subject to interference by other electromagnetic signal generating devices, resulting in poor communication quality and unstable connection between a computer and its peripheral device.

It is thus desirable to overcome the drawback by providing a method allowing a computer user to configure his or her computer system by switching among communication channels of different frequencies in order to fonn a stable connection between a computer and its peripheral device.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for configuring a communication channel of a computer system having wireless connection with a peripheral device for ensuring a proper communication between the computer and the peripheral device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for allowing a user of a computer having a wireless peripheral device to switch among different communication frequencies for ensuring a stable wireless connection between the computer and the peripheral device without electromagnetic interference.

To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for establishing a communication channel out of a number of channels between a transmitter and a receiver incorporated in a wireless computer peripheral device and a computer to form a wireless connection between the computer and the peripheral device. The method comprises the steps of generating a channel switching signal through the transmitter in a first one of the channels, actuating the receiver to go through all the channels for finding out a channel corresponding to the first channel in which the channel switching

signal is transmitted and thus properly detecting the channel switching signal whereby a stable and proper wireless connection is established between the computer and the peripheral device.

In the drawings: The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of an illustrative example thereof, with reference to the sole drawing, Figure 1, which is a schematic view showing a communication system including a transmitter and a receiver for demonstrating a method for configuring a communication channel between a computer and a wireless peripheral device in accordance with the present invention.

The present invention illustrates a method for configuring a wireless communication channel between a computer and a wireless peripheral device, such as USB-based wireless peripheral device, for example a keyboard, wherein a plurality of communication channels of different frequencies are employed. The method of the present invention allows a user of the computer to select one of the channels that provides a stable wireless connection between the computer and the peripheral device.

In accordance with the present invention, in switching among different channels for selecting a communication channel to form a stable wireless connection between a computer and a wireless peripheral device, a particular channel switching signal is generating for coordinating the computer and the peripheral device. If both the computer and the peripheral device recognize the particular signal, then a communication

channel is successfully established and a wireless connection between the computer and the peripheral device is formed.

In the following, an example will be given to illustrate the present invention, which is for illustration only, not to limit the scope of the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1, which shows, for illustrating and explaining the present invention, an example of a communication system adapted to be incorporated in a computer system (not shown) having a wireless peripheral device for establishing wireless communication between the computer and the peripheral device, the communication system comprises a transmitter 10 and a receiver 20 capable of communicating each other with a number of communication channels, for example ten channels (Channels 1-10), of different frequencies. The transmitter 10 and the receiver 20 both are provided with a configuration switch 11, 2 1 for user's actuation to change an initially tuned channel to the next channel for the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20.

A keyboard is taken as an example in this illustration. The transmitter 10 is incorporated in the keyboard, while the receiver 20 is mounted in the computer whereby the actuation of keys of the keyboard may be transmitted to the computer via the wireless connection between the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20 when a proper wireless communication may be properly established.

When an interference is encountered during the operation of the computer or when a proper wireless connection cannot be established between the computer and the peripheral device, the computer user may switch to a different channel or re-set the communication channel by the following process in accordance with the present invention:

(1) The user actuates the configuration switch 21 of the receiver 20 to trigger the receiver 20 to change to the next available channel for detecting a channel switching signal emitted from the transmitter 10 (assuming the transmitter 10 is operating) in a channel unknown to the receiver 20; the channel switching signal, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a "command signal" indicating the switching request and a rc channel number/ID signal" indicating the channel in which the channel switching signal is emitted; (2) If the receiver 20 cannot detect and identify the channel switching signal after a predetermined period, such as 100 ms, then the receiver,20 is automatically or manually (via the configuration switch 2 1) switched to the ftirther next available channel; (3) Step 2 is repeated until the receiver 20 detects and identifies the unknown channel switching channel used by the transmitter 10 to transmit the channel switching signal; (4) Alternatively, the receiver 20 may return to its original channel after having not detected and identified the channel switching signal for a predetermined time-out period, such as 15 seconds; (5) When the receiver 20 receives and identifies the channel switching signal, including the command signal and the channel number/ID signal, the receiver 20 may confirm the new communication channel by double checking the channel number/ID signal which contains an identification of the associated channel whereby a proper and stable wireless connection may be formed between the computer and the peripheral device.

(A) The user actuates the configuration switch I I of the transmitter 10 after the configuration switch 21 of the receiver 20 is actuated and strikes a specific key, such as Function key F3, of the keyboard to generate a desired channel switching signal to be transmit to the receiver 20 wherein the channel switching signal comprises the channel number/11) signal corresponding to a desired channel, such as Channel 3; (B) The transmitter 10 returns to its original channel or switch to a ftirther next channel after a predetermined time period, such as 15 seconds (in other words, the transmitter 10 continuously emitting for a period of 15 seconds the channel switching signal containing the particular command signal and the channel number/ID signal associated with Channel 3); and (C) When the receiver 20 receives and identifies the channel switching signal from the transmitter 10, the receiver 20 may confirm the new channel by double checking the channel it is usmig and the channel number/ID signal from the transmitter 10.

If desired, an indicator, such as a light emitting diode, may be mounted on the receiver 20 for informing the computer user of successfully establishing the new communication channel by means of for example blinking and a proper connection is restored between the computer and the peripheral device.

To sununan*ze, the method of the present invention requires the transmitter to generate the "particular command signal" for informing the receiver of a request of switching communication channels and the receiver goes through all the available channels to detect a matched one. The transmitter also generates a channel ID signal which, after being received by the receiver, allows the receivers to double check the channel

that they are to switch to. An efficient way to restore or re-set a proper wireless connection between a computer and a wireless peripheral device may thus be obtained in accordance with the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: I. A method for establishing a communication channel out of a number of channels between a transmitter and a receiver incorporated in a wireless computer peripheral device and a computer to form a wireless connection between the computer and the peripheral device, the method comprising the steps of generating a channel switching signal through the transmitter in a first one of the channels, actuating the receiver to go through all the channels for finding out a channel corresponding to the first channel in which the channel switching signal is transmitted and thus properly detecting the channel switching signal whereby a stable and proper wireless connection is established between the computer and the peripheral device.
2. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the number of the channel is ten.
3. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmitter and the receiver both have a configuration switch for manual actuation and selection of the communication channels.
4. The method as claimed in Claim I comprising the following steps of changing the communication channels: (a) actuating a first switch of the receiver for changing the receiver from an original communication channel to a next cominunication channel for detecting the channel switching signal from the transmitter; (b) the receiver switching to a further next channel after having not detected and identified the switch for a first period; (c) repeating step (b) until the receiver detects and identifies the channel switching signal otherwise the receiver returning to the

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original communication channel after the receiver has not detected and identified the channel switching signal for a second period of time; and (d) a wireless connection being formed between the computer and the peripheral device via the detected communication channel.
5. The method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the channel switching signal comprising a portion indicating an associated channel identification information whereby the receiver confirms the detected channel by checking the portion of the channel identification information.
6. The method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the first period is 100 ins.
7. The method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the second period is 15 seconds.
8. The method as claimed in Claim 4 further comprising the following step: (e) actuating a second switch of the transmitter after the first switch of the receiver is actuated to change from an old channel to a new channel and generate a channel switching signal associated with the new channel whereby when the receiver detects and identifies the switching signal, a wireless connection is formed between the computer and the peripheral device based on the new channel.
9. The method as claimed in Claim 8 ffirther comprising the following step: (f) the transmitter returns to the old channel after a third period of time.

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10. The method as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the third period is 15 seconds.
11. The method as claimed in Claim 8 Further comprising the following step: (g) the transmitter switches to a further channel after a third period of time period.
12. The method as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the third period of time is 15 seconds. 13. The method as claimed in Claim 8, further comprising the following step: (h) actuating a channel key of the transmitter for generating a channel identification signal associated with a desired channel, the channel identification signal being combined with the switching signal whereby when the receiver detects and identifies the switching signal, the receiver further confirms the channel by checking the channel identification signal. 14. The method as claimed in Claim 4 further comprising following step: (1) verifying the established channel by generating a user perceivable signal. 15. The method as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the user perceivable signal is generated by blinking an indicator mounted on the receiver. . 16. The method as claimed in Claiml 15, wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A method for estabAshing a communication channel out of a number of channels between a transmitter and a receiver incorporated in a wireless computer peripheral device and a computer to form a wireless connection between the computer and the peripheral device, the method comprising the steps of generating a channel switching signal through the transmitter in a first one of the channels, actuating the receiver to go through all the channels for finding out a channel corresponding to the first channel in which the channel switching signal is transmitted and thus properly detecting the channel switching signal whereby a stable and proper wireless connection is established between the computer and the peripheral device, the channel switching signal comprising a portion indicating an associated channel identification information whereby the receiver confirms the detected channel by checking the portion of the channel identification information. 2. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the number of the channel is ten. 3. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the transmitter and the receiver both have a configuration switch for manual actuation and selection of the communication channels. 4. The method as claimed in Claim I comprising the following steps of changing the communication channels: (a) actuating a first switch of the receiver for changing the receiver from an original communication channel to a next communication channel for detecting the channel switching signal from the transmitter; (b) the receiver switching to a ftirther next channel after having not detected and identified the switch for a first period; (c) repeating step (b) until the receiver detects and identifies the channel switching signal otherwise the receiver returning to the original communication channel after the receiver has not detected and identified the channel switching signal for a second period of time; and

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(d) a wireless connection being formed between the computer and the peripheral device via the detected communication channel. 5. The method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the first period is 100 ins. 6. The method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the second period is 15 seconds. 7. The method as claimed in Claim 4 further comprising the following step: (e) actuating a second switch of the transmitter after the first switch of the receiver is actuated to change ftorn an old channel to a new channel and generate a channel switching signal associated with the new channel whereby when the receiver detects and identifies the switching signal, a wireless connection is formed between the computer and the peripheral device based on the new channel. 8. The method as claimed in Claim 7 further comprising the following step: (f) the transmitter returns to the old channel after a third period of time. 9. The method as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the third period is 15 seconds. 10. The method as claimed in Claim 7 further comprising the following step: (g) the transmitter switches to a further channel after a third period of time period. 11. The method as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the third period of time is 15 seconds. 12. The method as claimed in Claim 7. further comprising the following step: (h) actuating a channel key of the transmitter for generating a channel identification signal associated with a desired channel, the channel identification signal being combined with the switching signal whereby when the receiver detects and identifies the switching signal, the receiver further confirms- the channel by checking the channel identification signal.

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13. The method as claimed in Claim 4 ftu-ther comprising following step: (i) verifying the established channel by generating a user perceivable signal. IX.
14. The method as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the user perceivable signal is generated by blinking an indicator mounted on the receiver.
15. The method as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode.