Abstract:
A method and an apparatus are disclosed for optimizing the use of a plurality of peripheral devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, display unit, printer, etc.) with the computing capabilities of a portable processing device (e.g., PDA, handheld computer, portable computer, smart phone, PC tablet, etc.). Specific functions include using wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc., for communicating between a connectivity platform and the portable processing device, rerouting of data signals from the portable processing device&#39;s existing peripherals to corresponding external peripheral devices, and providing contact-less energy replenishment capabilities.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the field of communications. More precisely, this invention pertains to the field of wireless proximity area networks (e.g., local area networks, personal area networks, and body area networks).  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Personal digital assistants, personal computers, portable computers, PC tablets and smart phones are amongst mobile and portable processing devices for which computing and processing performance is increasing. Such processing devices enable their users to use them in a wide variety of locations.  
         [0003]     In fact, the foregoing devices are capable of communicating with similar devices as well as with peripheral devices using technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.15, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc. However, it has been contemplated that such communication is not efficient in many cases. For instance, such communication causes extra power consumption in that additional power is required to communicate and to power up the peripheral device. Also, many peripheral devices require a dedicated power outlet, which is not really convenient, especially in an environment where a limited number of power outlets is available, as in a car for instance.  
         [0004]     Moreover, in the case where a given processing device has a limited number of communication interfaces, it is impossible to use a desired peripheral device which has a communication interface that is incompatible with the communication interface located in the given processing device.  
         [0005]     There is therefore a need for a method and apparatus that will overcome the above-identified drawbacks.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is an object of the invention to provide a method for optimizing a use of a plurality of peripheral devices with a processing device.  
         [0007]     Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for optimizing a use of a plurality of peripheral devices with a processing device.  
         [0008]     According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for allowing communication between a peripheral device and a portable processing device. The peripheral device is capable of communicating with a connectivity platform. The connectivity platform and portable processing device are capable of wireless communication. The method comprises determining that the portable processing device is within wireless communication range of the connectivity platform; establishing wireless communication between the portable processing device and the connectivity platform; launching an application on the portable processing device, the application being indicative of accessibility of the peripheral device; and allowing communication between the peripheral device and the portable processing device using the application.  
         [0009]     According to another embodiment, the present invention provides a connectivity platform for allowing communication between a peripheral device and a portable processing device. The peripheral device is capable of communicating with a connectivity platform and the-portable processing device is capable of wireless communication. The connectivity platform comprises a wireless communication port for detecting the presence of the portable processing device within wireless communication range of the connectivity platform and for establishing wireless communication between the portable processing device and the connectivity platform. The connectivity platform further comprises a processing unit for sending a message to the portable processing device indicative of accessibility of the peripheral device and for allowing communication between the peripheral device and the portable processing device upon receipt of a confirmation message from the portable processing device.  
         [0010]     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for optimizing a use of a processing device, the method comprising detecting a peripheral device connected to a connectivity platform, detecting an existing peripheral device used by the processing device, detecting the processing device wirelessly capable of communicating with the connectivity platform according to a wireless protocol and providing an alternate data path for replacing the existing peripheral device with the peripheral device connected to the connectivity platform, wherein the processing device is capable of using the peripheral device connected to the connectivity platform thereby optimizing its use.  
         [0011]     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a connectivity platform for optimizing a use of a plurality of peripheral devices with a processing device to which is connected a plurality of existing peripheral devices, the connectivity platform comprising a communication port for communicating with the plurality of peripheral devices and further with the processing device, a memory unit storing an indication of the plurality of peripheral devices and the plurality of existing peripheral devices, a processing unit operatively coupled to the communication port and the memory unit, the processing unit receiving a data signal provided by the processing device via the communication port and providing at least one part of the data signal to a peripheral device corresponding to a given existing peripheral device via the communication port, the processing unit further providing a disabling signal to the processing device for disabling the given existing peripheral device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram which shows a system having a connectivity platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram which shows, inter alia, the connectivity platform in accordance with a preferred embodiment;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart which shows how the connectivity platform is used in a preferred embodiment; a processing device is detected with existing peripheral devices, at least one peripheral device is detected, a rerouting of data is selected and the selected rerouting of data is performed;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart which shows how the processing device is detected with existing peripheral devices according to a preferred embodiment;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart which shows how the plurality of peripheral devices is detected according to a preferred embodiment;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart which shows how the selection of a rerouting of data is performed in a preferred embodiment;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart which shows how the selected rerouting of data is performed in a preferred embodiment;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a schematic showing a connectivity platform, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the components with which it may communicate; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a schematic showing a connectivity platform, according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, and the components with which it may communicate. 
     
    
       [0022]     It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Now referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a system where connectivity platform  15  is used in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the system comprises connectivity platform  15 , a processing device  10  connected to a first existing peripheral device  11  and to a second existing peripheral device  13 . The system further comprises a first peripheral device  12 , a second peripheral device  14  and another peripheral device  16 .  
         [0024]     Processing device  10  may be any one of a portable mobile computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a hand held computing device or the like. In fact, processing device  10  comprises at least one processor.  
         [0025]     In the system disclosed in  FIG. 1 , processing device  10  is connected to first existing peripheral device  11  and to second existing peripheral device  13 . First existing peripheral device  11  and second existing peripheral device  13  may be any one of an internal peripheral device such as a soundcard or an external peripheral device such as a display screen, a printer or the like.  
         [0026]     In fact, it should be understood that while it has been disclosed that first existing peripheral device  11  and second existing peripheral device  13  are connected to processing device  10 , those skilled in the art should appreciate that first existing peripheral device  11  and second existing peripheral device  13  may be part of processing device  10 .  
         [0027]     Generally, peripheral devices are meant to include at least input/output peripheral devices such as those listed below. First peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16  may be selected, for example, from a group consisting of at least a mouse, a keyboard, a printer, a screen display, a Hi-Fi headphone, a microphone; an ambient speaker, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a haptic or non haptic steering wheel device, an accelerator/break pedal apparatus, a game controller, a mobile communication device, a trackball, a universal remote mobile controller, a set-top box, an image/video capture unit or a wireless pointer.  
         [0028]     In fact, it should be understood by the person skilled in the art that first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16  are selected more generally from a group comprising any wireless or wired communication enabled and capable devices.  
         [0029]     Connectivity platform  15  receives processed data from processing device  10  and provides at least one part of the processed data to at least one of first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 . Connectivity platform  15  provides a data signal to be processed by processing device  10 .  
         [0030]     A plurality of connection links are created between connectivity platform  15  and at least one of first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 . It will be appreciated that a connection link between connectivity platform  15  and a peripheral device is used to provide at least one of a data signal and a power signal as explained below.  
         [0031]     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a preferred embodiment of connectivity platform  15 . Connectivity platform  15  comprises a wireless communication port  24 , a wired communication port  26 , a contact-less energy connection  28 , a wired energy connection  30 , a memory unit  32 , a processing unit  34  and an energy providing unit  36 .  
         [0032]     Wireless communication port  24  is used to communicate with at least one of processing device  10 , first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 . More precisely, wireless communication port  24  receives/provides a wireless data signal from at least one of processing device  10 , first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 . Wireless communication port  24  further receives a wireless data signal which is provided by processing unit  34 . Wireless communication port  24  provides to processing unit  34  a received wireless data signal. It is also contemplated to provide wireless communications ports  24  of various types.  
         [0033]     In the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 2 , wireless communication port  24  is used to communicate with processing device  10 . It will be appreciated that wireless communication port  24  may be used to communicate with any wireless communication interface. Wireless communication port  24  may therefore be adapted to communicate according to at least one of the following standards: IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.15, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Ultra Wideband (UWB), or the like.  
         [0034]     A person skilled in the art will understand that the selection of wireless communication port  24  is dependent at least on the power consumption and on the data transfer rate.  
         [0035]     Wired communication port  26  is used to communicate with at least one of processing device  10 , first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 . Wired communication port  26  provides/receives a wired data signal to/from at least one of processing device  10 , first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 . Wired communication port  26  further receives a wired data signal to provide from processing unit  34  and further provides a received wired data signal to processing unit  34 .  
         [0036]     In the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 2 , wired communication port  26  is used to communicate with a keyboard  20 . It will be appreciated that wired communication port  26  may be used to communicate with any wired communication interface. Wired communication port  26  may therefore be any one of at least a serial port (RS232), a parallel port, an RGB port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), a PS/2 port, an IEEE 1394 port (Firewire), an SNideo port or the like. In the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 2 , wired communication port  26  provides a signal to display to a display device  22 .  
         [0037]     Contact-less energy connection port  28  is used to provide a contact-less power signal to at least one of processing device  10 , first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 , shown in  FIG. 1  but for clarity purposes not in  FIG. 2 . Contact-less energy connection port  28  receives a contact-less energy signal to provide power from energy providing unit  36  and provides a contact-less signal to at least one of processing device  10 , first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 .  
         [0038]     In a preferred embodiment, contact-less energy connection port  28  operates according to contact-less power transfer apparatus disclosed in published U.S. patent application N o 2003/0210106 and entitled “Contact-less power transfer”, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0039]     Wired energy connection  30  is used to provide power to at least one of processing device  10 , first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 . More precisely, wired energy connection  30  receives a wired energy signal to provide from energy providing unit  36  and provides an energy signal to at least one of processing device  10 , first peripheral device  12 , second peripheral device  14  and peripheral device  16 .  
         [0040]     Wired energy connection  30  provides the energy signal in accordance with a desired specification. Those skilled in the art will therefore appreciate that the energy signal may be at least one of an AC and/or a DC power source and may further have electrical characteristics compatible with a device to which power is fed. It is also understood that wired energy connection  30  provides power bar and power surge management capabilities. In the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 2 , wired energy connection  30  provides an energy signal to display device  22 .  
         [0041]     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the connectivity platform comprises processing unit  34 . Processing unit  34  in turn comprises a processor (not shown). Connectivity platform  15  further comprises memory unit  32 . Memory unit  32  is used to store data for the operation of connectivity platform  15 . Memory unit  32  receives a data signal to store from processing unit  34  and provides a data signal to retrieve to processing unit  34 .  
         [0042]     Still in the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 2 , connectivity platform  15  comprises energy providing unit  36 . Energy providing unit  36  is adapted to provide a contact-less energy signal to contact-less energy connection  28 . More precisely, energy providing unit  36  provides contact-less energy signal to contact-less energy connection  28  and further provides to wired energy connection  30  wired energy signal to provide. Energy providing unit  36  is preferably controlled by processing unit  34  using an energy providing unit control signal.  
         [0043]     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown how connectivity platform  15  operates according to an embodiment of the invention. According to step  40 , a processing device with existing peripheral devices is detected. In a preferred embodiment, the detection is performed by connectivity platform  15 . According to step  42 , at least one peripheral device to be used with the detected processing device is detected. In a preferred embodiment, the detection is performed by connectivity platform  15 . Alternatively, it could be performed by other means external to the connectivity platform known to those skilled in the art and a detection status signal could then be provided to the connectivity platform.  
         [0044]     According to step  44 , a selection of a rerouting of data is performed. In a preferred embodiment, the selection is performed using processing device  10  as explained herein. According to step  46 , a rerouting of data is performed. In a preferred embodiment, the rerouting of data is performed in accordance with the selection performed at step  44 .  
         [0045]     Now returning to  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment, the method of the present invention enables communication between peripheral devices  12  to  16  and portable processing device  10 . Peripheral devices  12  to  16  are capable of communicating With connectivity platform  15 . Connectivity platform  15  and portable processing devices  12  to  16  are capable of wireless communication. The method includes a step of determining that portable processing device  10  is within wireless communication range of connectivity platform  15 . Wireless communication between portable processing device  10  and connectivity platform  15  is then established. The next step is to launch an application on portable processing device  10 . The application is indicative of accessibility of peripheral devices  12  to  16 . Finally, the method enables communication between peripheral devices  12  to  16  and portable processing device  10  using the application.  
         [0046]     In a preferred embodiment, the application provides a list of the accessible peripheral device  12  to  16 . The method may also further include selecting at least one of peripheral devices  12  to  16  from the list thereby allowing use of the selected peripheral device by portable processing device  10 .  
         [0047]     According to an embodiment, connectivity platform  15  enables communication between peripheral devices  12  to  16  and portable processing device  10 . Peripheral devices  12  to  16  are capable of communicating with connectivity platform  15  and portable processing device  10  is capable of wireless communication. Connectivity platform  15  comprises wireless communication port  24  for detecting the presence of portable processing device  10  within wireless communication range of connectivity platform  15 . Connectivity platform  15  is also capable of establishing a wireless communication between portable processing device  10  and connectivity platform  15 . Connectivity platform  15  further comprises processing unit  34  for sending a message to portable processing device  10  indicative of accessibility of peripheral devices  12  to  16 . The message from connectivity platform  15  is also for allowing communication between peripheral devices  12  to  16  and portable processing device  10  upon receipt of a confirmation message from portable processing device  10 .  
         [0048]     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown the detection of processing device  10  with its existing peripheral devices. According to step  50 , processing device  10  is detected. Now referring back to  FIG. 2 , processing device  10  may be detected using at least one of wireless communication port  24  and the wired communication port.  
         [0049]     Connectivity platform  15  is compatible with a predetermined set of processing devices. In a preferred embodiment, processing device  10  is detected using a polling scheme via the wireless port or the wired port.  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIG. 4  and according to step  52 , a plurality of existing peripheral devices connected to detected processing device  10  is detected. It will be appreciated that the plurality of existing peripheral devices connected to detected processing device  10  may be detected using various strategies.  
         [0051]     For instance, in one embodiment, a user of processing device  10  may disclose via processing device  10  a list indicative of the plurality of existing peripheral devices connected to detected processing device  10 . In fact, in a preferred embodiment, a user-based profile determines the list of peripherals. It is also contemplated that the profile may be manually overridden.  
         [0052]     Alternatively, the step of detecting a plurality of existing peripheral devices connected to detected processing device  10  may comprise providing to processing unit  34  of connectivity platform  15 , a configuration file of processing device  10 . The configuration file being indicative of the plurality of existing peripheral devices which are connected to detected processing device  10 .  
         [0053]     In fact it will be appreciated that, preferably, a driver is provided to processing device  10  upon its detection. Such providing enables the provision of the configuration file of processing device  10  to connectivity platform  15 .  
         [0054]     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown how at least one peripheral device to be used with a detected processing device is detected. According to step  48 , a wired peripheral device is detected.  
         [0055]     Now referring back to  FIG. 2 , it will be appreciated that the wired peripheral device is detected using wired communication port  26 .  
         [0056]     Referring to  FIG. 5  and according to step  50 , a wireless peripheral device is detected. It will be appreciated that wireless peripheral device is detected using wireless communication port  24 . Upon detection of at least one peripheral device to be used by processing device  10 , an indication of such detection is stored preferably in memory unit  32 .  
         [0057]     Now referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown how a selection of a rerouting of data is performed. More precisely, according to step  52 , at least one possible rerouting solution is detected. It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that for instance, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the detected peripheral device may comprise display device  22 . It may be further appreciated that processing device  10  is already connected to an existing peripheral device which is also a display device. Accordingly, it may be of great advantage to use display device  22  rather than to use the existing peripheral display device. In such case, there may exist a possible rerouting solution of data from the existing display device to display device  22 .  
         [0058]     It will be appreciated that a plurality of rerouting solutions may be identified depending on the detected existing peripheral devices of processing device  10  and the detected peripheral devices.  
         [0059]     In one embodiment the plurality of rerouting solutions is automatically identified by processing unit  34  of connectivity platform  15 , while in another embodiment, the plurality of rerouting solutions are identified manually by the user via processing device  10 .  
         [0060]     According to step  54 , an indication of at least one identified rerouting solution identified according to step  52  is provided to the user of processing device  10 . It will be appreciated that the indication of at least one identified rerouting solution may be provided to the user of processing device  10  according to various schemes. For instance, the indication of at least one identified rerouting solution may be provided for an existing peripheral device.  
         [0061]     According to step  56 , at least one rerouting solution is selected. In one embodiment, the selection is performed automatically using a configuration file. Alternatively, the user of processing device  10  may select manually, via processing device  10 , at least one rerouting solution using the indication of at least one identified rerouting solution. It will be appreciated that preferably an indication of the selection of at least one possible rerouting solution is stored in the memory unit  32  of connectivity platform  15 .  
         [0062]     Now referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown how the rerouting of data is performed. According to step  60 , a data signal indicative of at least one rerouting solution selected to implement is provided to processing device  10 .  
         [0063]     According to step  62 , at least one existing peripheral device is disabled according to the data signal indicative of at least one rerouting solution selected to implement. In some instances, disabling of a peripheral may not be desired by the user. It is therefore also contemplated to reroute or, in some cases, reestablish the signal to a peripheral device while keeping the existing peripheral in operation. That is, the existing peripheral may still be used if the user so desires.  
         [0064]     In a preferred embodiment, the disabling is performed by processing device  10 . It will be appreciated that such disabling may, in many cases, imply a reduction of power consumption which is of great advantage. Still in a preferred embodiment, the disabling will be performed depending on the existing peripheral device and on how the existing peripheral device is connected to processing device  10 . According to step  64 , the data signal is rerouted according to at least one selected rerouting solution. The rerouting of the data signal is performed via connectivity platform  15 .  
         [0065]     Now referring back to  FIG. 2 , it should be understood that connectivity platform  15  further provides an energy signal to the plurality of peripheral devices depending on at least which of the plurality of peripheral devices is used. The energy signal may be provided using at least one of contact-less energy connection  28  and the wired energy connection.  
         [0066]     The person skilled in the art will therefore appreciate that connectivity platform  15  provides to the user of processing device  10  a great connectivity tool. Such connectivity platform  15  is preferably used for accommodating a single processing device  10 . Alternatively, connectivity platform  15  may be used with more than one processing device  10 .  
         [0067]     Connectivity platform  15  may be used for instance by the traveler in a hotel room or airport business lounge where many peripheral devices may be located in the vicinity of processing device  10 . Other applications include small offices, homes, aircraft, trains, watercraft, conference rooms, health care institutions, etc. Numerous other examples would be equally possible. In such cases, the processing device may be a PDA, and peripheral devices may comprise an LCD screen, a mobile phone, or the like. It has been contemplated that connectivity platform  15  is of great advantage when communication is performed via wireless communication port  24 . One such advantage is apparent when the user is equipped with connectivity platforms located at both office and home thereby enabling an extremely portable and fully functional environment.  
         [0068]     Now turning to  FIG. 8 , a schematic diagram shows a connectivity platform  15  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, PDA  76  and laptop computer  78  are wirelessly connected (dashed lines) to connectivity platform  15 . Connectivity platform  15  is shown connected to commonly used peripheral devices such as display  80 , printer  74 , mouse  72  and keyboard  70 . In  FIG. 8 , the connections to the peripherals are shown as hardwire connections. However, the peripherals could also be wirelessly connected to connectivity platform  15 .  
         [0069]     Now referring to  FIG. 9 , a schematic diagram shows connectivity platform  15 , according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. In this particular embodiment, a contact-less energy connection  81  is mounted on connectivity platform  15 . Contact-less energy connection  81  is used to provide a contact-less power signal to any of the components shown on  FIG. 9  which are adapted to receive power from such a source (e.g., PDA  76 ). In the second preferred embodiment, portable processing device  96  (e.g., PDA, smart phone, laptop, handheld computer, PC tablet, etc.) and desktop computer  85  are connected (wirelessly or hardwired) to connectivity platform  15 . Connectivity platform  15  may also be connected to (wirelessly or hardwired) peripherals such as keypad  82 , mouse  83 , microphone  84 , digital camera  86 , video camera  87 , printer  88 , speakers  89 ,  90 ,  91 , display  94 , webcam  99 , gaming controls  97 ,  98 , set top box  95 , multimedia player and recorder  92 , or any other devices  93  such as appliances, light switches, security systems, remote mobile controllers, Hi-Fi stereo headsets, haptic/non-haptic steering wheels, track balls, pen, etc.  
         [0070]     The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.