Abstract:
A Method and System for Enabling Wireless Data Communications with Electronic Devices having Disparate Operating Systems is disclosed. Also disclosed is a system that compares the Infrared or RF communications configuration of an electronic appliance to a target profile, and then uploads the target configuration profile to the appliance, if necessary. The preferred device and system perform a functional testing on the wireless communications system of the electronic appliance, including the transceiver hardware and all device drivers and software stacks. Furthermore, the device of the present invention is able to adopt the target configuration from an electronic appliance by downloading it from one or more appliances. Still further, the device of the present invention is able to communicate with two or more electronic appliances simultaneously. The device and system of the present invention are operable independent of the BIOS of the electronic appliance(s) to be configured. Finally, the method of the present invention includes steps for comparing the wireless communications configuration of an electronic appliance to a target configuration and then uploading the target system and testing the electronic appliance for operability with the new configuration.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to infrared and radio frequency communications systems and, more specifically, to a Method and System for Enabling Wireless Data Communications with Electronic Devices having Disparate Operating Systems. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As technology becomes continually more accessible to the “common man,” the ability to use, store, transfer and otherwise manipulate information has become the focus of most businesses as well as for the individual consumer. Access to the information resources is commonly by some sort of network system, including World Wide Web, “Intranets”, local area networks, wide area networks, as well as corporate databases. 
     While the conventional method for connecting to one of these information networks has been via cable and wire, as the reliance upon connectivity to information has deepened, the desire to gain such access from mobile or portable devices has strengthened. These portable devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants, handheld computers, cellular telephones, and even digital cameras are now being connected to each other and to networks via Infrared Data Communications. In fact, it is virtually impossible to purchase a notebook computer today that does not include an Infrared or Radio Frequency (RF) Data Communications assembly resident within it. 
     With this proliferation of Ir and RF communications capability, a number of compatibility problems have arisen. From this point forward, we will focus upon Ir data communications systems; this is under the understanding that the identical issues and solutions pertain to RF data communications. 
     Ir communications equipment and software has been evolving so rapidly that it is common that two filly Ir-capable appliances cannot communicate with one another. Alternatively, many times even when two appliances having disparate Ir communications are actually able to communicate with one another, the differences between the systems are so severe as to seriously degrade the quality, analog error rate, and reliability (and therefore speed) of the data transfer. What is needed is a “configurator” system and method for: (1) detecting and testing the configuration of a particular electronic appliance (e.g. a desktop personal computer); (2) comparing that configuration to a standard, such as the configuration of another electronic appliance (e.g. a digital camera); and (3) uploading a configuration to either the desktop personal computer or the digital camera (or both), such that the two devices are mutually Ir-compatible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Method and System for Enabling Wireless Data Communications with Electronic Devices having Disparate Operating Systems. The preferred system should compare the Infrared or RF communications configuration of an electronic appliance to a target profile, and then upload the target configuration profile to the appliance, if necessary. It is an object that the device and system perform a functional testing on the wireless communications system of the electronic appliance, including the transceiver hardware and all device drivers and software stacks. It is a further object that the device of the present invention be able to adopt the target configuration from an electronic appliance by downloading it from one or more appliances. It is yet another object that the device of the present invention be able to communicate with two or more electronic appliances simultaneously. It is still another object that the device and system of the present invention be operable independent of the BIOS of the electronic appliance(s) to be configured. It is a further object that there be a method for comparing the wireless communications configuration of an electronic appliance to a target configuration and then uploading the target system and testing the electronic appliance for operability with the new configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
     FIG. 1 depicts the major component parts of an Infrared Communications system in conventional Ir-enabled stationary and portable appliances; 
     FIGS. 2A,  2 B and  2 C depict the operation of a preferred embodiment of the Infrared Configuration Means of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a preferred method for enabling infrared communications between electronic devices having disparate operating systems and/or Ir communication configurations; 
     FIGS. 4A,  4 B and  4 C depict the operation of another preferred embodiment of the Infrared Configuration Means in which the Ir Configuration Means comprises a self-contained device that obtains the target configuration from an Ir-capable appliance; and 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B depict the operation of another preferred embodiment of the Ir Configuration Means in which the Ir Configuration Means comprises a standalone device capable of simultaneous communication with at least two Ir-enabled electronic appliances. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Method and System for Enabling Wireless Data Communications with Electronic Devices having Disparate Operating Systems. 
     The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG.  1 . FIG. 1 depicts the major component parts of an Infrared Communications system between conventional Ir-enabled stationary and portable appliances  10  and  12 , respectively. This figure includes a stationary electronic appliance  10 , such as a desktop personal computer, for the purposes of discussion, however, it should be appreciated that the stationary appliance  10  is interchangeable with a portable electronic appliance having Ir communications capability of the type discussed above. 
     In its usual form, the components pertinent to the configuration of the Ir communications system of the stationary appliance  10  are the data communications protocol stack  14  (hereinafter “IrCP”), which, along with the operating system  16  of the appliance  10  are maintained within the available resident memory  18  (e.g. Random Access Memory) when the appliance  10  is in an operating condition. The IrCP  14  is a set of rules and protocols in software form for determining the communications format or type that the appliance  10  will use (in this case for Ir communications). The device of the present invention will remedy this situation, as is discussed in detail below in connection with FIGS. 2-5. 
     Another component of the Ir communications system of this appliance  10  is the driver library  20  (hereinafter “IrD”), which is a library of “drivers” which determine how the incoming and outgoing Ir-based messages are interpreted by the central processing unit of the appliance  10 . The driver library  20  (“IrD”) is typically maintained within the permanent storage memory  22  (e.g. a hard drive). This example presumes that the IrCP  14  and IrD  20  are previously resident within the appliance  10 ; in some cases, there is Ir-capable hardware without the corresponding software (i.e. the IRCP  14  and IrD  20 ) to operate it. 
     Finally, the data is actually sent from and received to the appliance  10  via the Ir transceiver system  24 . The hardware and/or software comprising the Ir transceiver system  24  determines the physical capability of the Ir communications for the appliance  10 . Consequently, the maximum speed and transmission range of the Ir data transferred by the appliance  10  is determined by the transceiver system  24 . It should be apparent that the connection  25  between the Ir transceiver system  24  and the IrCP  14  and/or the IrD  20  will not exist if either the IrCP  14  and/or IrD  20  are missing. 
     Similarly, a conventional portable electronic appliance  12 , such as a digital camera, includes an IrCP  26  and Operating System  28  maintained within the resident memory  30 . Also, there is a driver library  32  maintained in the permanent storage memory  34 , and an Ir transceiver system  36  for communicating with other Ir-capable appliances. 
     As demonstrated in this FIG. 1, in many circumstances, a user approaches the stationary appliance  10  (e.g. desktop personal computer) with his or her digital camera (portable appliance  12 ). The user&#39;s intent is to download the snapshots captured within the camera  12  onto the desktop PC  10  for manipulation, printing and/or storage. The camera  12  first queries the desktop PC  10 , as in balloon  38 —alerting the desktop PC  10  and attempting to establish communications. Unless the two IrCP&#39;s  14  and  26 , the two IrD&#39;s  20  and  32 , and the two Ir transceivers  24  and  36  have compatible interfaces, the desktop PC  10 , while aware that it is being “pinged”, will not be able to “understand” the sent data (depicted by balloon  40 ). 
     Now tuning to FIGS. 2A-2C, we will begin discussion of the advancement of the present invention. FIGS. 2A,  2 B and  2 C depict the operation of a preferred embodiment of the Infrared Configuration Means  42  of the present invention The IrCM  42  has target values (and associated data) for the preferred IrCP and IrD, known as the TIrCP  44  and TIrD  46  (“target IrCP” and “target IrD”, respectively)—these settings and data might be assigned because they are the latest releases, or because they provide certain benefits for the particular situation over other protocols, among other reasons. Furthermore, the IrCM  42  includes an IrCM (“Ir configuration means”) interface  48 , which can be either a wireless or wire-type port for communication to the stationary appliance  10  via communication means  50  (i.e. the wire or wireless connection). 
     At the stationary appliance  10 , the communication means  50  cooperates with the SA (“stationary appliance”) interface  52  (again, a wired or wireless port). Upon connection, the IrCM  42  will install the TIrCP  44  and the TIrD  46  into the stationary appliance  10  (if necessary), so that the IrCP  14  and IrD  20  now have compatible interfaces with the TIrCP 44  and TIrD  46 . 
     Next, as shown by FIG. 2B, the IrCM  42  is connected to the portable appliance  12  via communication means  54  and a portable appliance interface  56  (similar to elements  50  and  52 , above), after which the TIrCP  44  and TIrD  46  are installed onto the portable appliance  12 . 
     As depicted by FIG. 2C, now the stationary appliance  10  and the portable appliance  12  have compatible IrCP&#39;s and IrD&#39;s, such that the conversation simulated by balloon  58  can proceed, including the transfer of data. 
     To further understand the novel features of the present invention, we will now discuss FIG.  3 . FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a preferred method  100  for enabling infrared communications between electronic devices having disparate operating systems and/or Ir communication configurations. In this case, the IrCM  42  executes the steps of the flowchart  100 , by communicating with an Ir-capable device, such as the stationary appliance  10  of FIGS. 1 and 2. Upon establishment of communications via the interfaces  48  and  52  and communications means  50 , the IrCM  42  will begin seeking the (Ir) configuration and capabilities of the stationary appliance  10 . The configuration means  42  first executes step  110  and detects (and identifies) the operating system; once this is done, step  120  of querying the operating system for the existence of an Ir transceiver subsystem is completed. For the purposes of the discussion connected to this FIG. 3, the “Ir transceiver subsystem” includes the IrD, the IrCP, and the Ir transceiver system itself (see FIGS.  1  and  2 ). If an Ir transceiver subsystem is found, step  130  of identifying the Ir transceiver subsystem&#39;s capabilities is performed, after which step  140  of diagnosing the hardware and software quality of the Ir transceiver is executed. Assuming that the condition of the Ir transceiver subsystem is in need of revision in order to match the target settings (see FIG.  2 ), step  150  is performed, which entails the installation of software to replace missing or faulty or obsolete software detected within the stationary appliance  10 . Once the process  100  is complete (and tested satisfactorily as such), the stationary appliance  10  will be able to communicate under the target configuration. 
     It should be appreciated that the IrCM  42  (and those embodiments later described herein) does not necessarily have to be a stand-alone device. The configuration means  42  could be in the form of software stored on portable digital storage media (e.g. a floppy disk, CD-ROM or “zip” disk), which is inserted into a disk drive within the stationary appliance  10  itself. Alternatively, the IrCM  42  might be hardware and software actually incorporated within the electronic appliance itself In this form, the host appliance (i.e. host for the IrCM  42 ) would be able to configure and then communicate with any desired Ir-capable appliance. What is unique is the method of detecting and configuring the IrCP  14  and IrD  20  and even the Ir transceiver  24  so that communications are enabled. 
     FIGS. 4A-4C depict the operation of another preferred embodiment of the Infrared Configuration Means  58  in which the Ir Configuration Means  58  comprises a self-contained device that obtains the target configuration from an Ir-capable appliance. As shown in FIG. 4A, the alternative IrCM  58  communicates with the portable appliance  12  via infrared data transfer. The IrCM  58  is capable of communications with virtually any appliance  12 , no matter the installed Ir setup, because it essentially contains virtually every protocol and driver released for integration into commercially-sold devices. Upon connection, the IrCM  58  presents the query of balloon  60 , i.e. requesting the IrD and IrCP data, which is transmitted by the portable appliance  12  as depicted in balloon  62 . Once received, the IrCM  58  stores the data as the target configuration. 
     As shown in FIG. 4B, the IrCM  58  is now configured with the TIrCP  44  and TIrD  46  (just downloaded from the first portable appliance  12 ). Once connected to a second portable appliance  13  (e.g. a cellular telephone), the TIrCP  44  and TIrD  46  are uploaded from the IrCM  58  to the cellular telephone  13  (see balloon  64 ). Upon receiving the upload, the IrCM  58  queries whether the upload is functional (see balloon  65 ), whereupon the second portable appliance  13  responds in the affirmative, if appropriate (see balloon  66 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 4C, once uploaded, the first and second portable appliances  12  and  13  can carry on the “discussion” represented by balloon  68 , since both will be using the same Ir communications protocol. 
     It is also pointed out that the IrCM  58  may have the ability to compare the configurations of the two portable appliances  12  and  13 ; had it determined that the first portable appliance  12  included software that was obsolete as compared to that stored in the second portable appliance  13 , it might assign the second appliance&#39;s  13  configuration as the target, thereafter prompting the user to re-establish communications with the first appliance  12  to upgrade its configuration to match the second appliance&#39;s  13  later version(s). 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B depict yet another novel embodiment of the Ir Configuration Means  68  of the present invention, in which the Ir Configuration Means  68  comprises a standalone device capable of simultaneous communication with at least two Ir-enabled electronic appliances  12  and  13 . In this case, the IrCM  68  is in communication with the first portable appliance  12  via infrared means. Simultaneously, the IrCM  68  is connected to the second portable appliance  13  via another means for communication (as discussed previously in connection with FIGS.  2 A- 2 C). Once connected to both appliances  12  and  13 , the IrCM  68  presents the query represented by balloon  70 , requesting the Ir configurations and capabilities of both appliances  12  and  13 . The appliances  12  and  13  respond as depicted by balloons  72  and  74 , respectively. If we assume that “Type II” is the most recent IrCP (as compared to “Type I”), and that “B01” is the most recent IrD (as compared to “A00”), we will notice that the first portable appliance  12  contains the preferred IrD configuration (i.e. “B01”), but the second appliance  13  contains the preferred IrCP configuration (i.e. “Type II”). 
     In this situation, the IrCM  68  will detect the status and act as shown in balloon  76 ; thereby upgrading both appliances  12  and  13  to the preferred IrD and IrDP configurations. The resultant status is depicted by the balloon  78  of FIG.  5 B. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.