Abstract:
An operation method for a first host apparatus is provided by the present invention. First, the operation method captures an event of the first host apparatus, so as to generate an event information. Then, the event information is transmitted to a second host apparatus, so as to control the second host apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/426,000 filed on Dec. 22, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a control method, and more particularly to a control method for controlling a host apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Usually, the current hand-held computing device, such as the tablet computer or smart phone, is controlled by using finger or other object to touch the screen of the hand-held computing device. Therefore, a user can control the hand-held computing device very intuitively and conveniently. 
         [0004]    However, in some situation, such like typing the short message or e-mail, the user is still used to use tradition input means, for example the using keyboard or the mouse. Therefore, some hand-held computing devices have a query keyboard, so as to make the user using habitual tool to operate the hand-held computing device. Nevertheless, since the query keyboard is too small to press the key, it is still difficult for many users. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide operation method and a control method for controlling a host apparatus by using habitual means. 
         [0006]    An operation method for a first host apparatus is provided by the present invention. First, the operation method captures an event of the first host apparatus, so as to generate an event information. Then, the event information is transmitted to a second host apparatus, so as to control the second host apparatus. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of capturing the event of the first host apparatus is to detect whether or not at least one of a plurality of keys of a keyboard connected to the first host apparatus is pressed. When at least one of keys of the keyboard is pressed, it is determining that the event is triggered. 
         [0008]    In addition, the step of capturing the event of the first apparatus is to detect whether or not a mouse connected to the first host apparatus is moved or at least one of keys or the roll wheel of the mouse is operated. When the mouse is moved or one of keys or the roll wheel is operated, it is determining that the event is triggered. 
         [0009]    From another viewpoint, a control method for a first host apparatus is provided by the present invention. First, an event information is received from a second host apparatus. Wherein, the event information is generated by capturing an event of the second host apparatus. Therefore, the first host apparatus can be controlled according to the event information. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the event information is packed into a TCP/IP data. Thus, the control method needs to unpack the TCP/IP data to extract the event information. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the event information is converted into a USB data. So that, the control method needs to recover the TCP/IP data to extract the event information. 
         [0012]    Since the present invention uses the event information, which is generated by capturing the event of the host apparatus, the user can use habitual means to control the hand-held computing device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system shown in the  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system shown in the  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system shown in the  FIG. 4  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system shown in the  FIG. 4  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system shown in the  FIG. 4  according to still another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the control system  100  of the embodiment comprises host apparatuses  102  and  104 . In this embodiment, the host apparatuses  102  and  104  are coupled through a USB transmission cable  106 . Wherein, the host apparatus  102  is probably a desktop computer or a notebook computer. Therefore, the host apparatus  102  can be coupled to at least one input device, such like the keyboard  112  or mouse  114 . In other embodiments, the keyboard  112  can build-in the host apparatus  102 . In addition, a touch-control pad displacing the mouse  114  could build-in the host apparatus  102 . 
         [0023]    Furthermore, the host apparatus  104  is a hand-held device, such as the tablet computer or a smart phone. In this embodiment, both the host apparatuses  102  and  104  have an application program respectively. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , both the host apparatuses  102  and  104  have an application layer  200  and a system layer  220 . In the application layer  200 , the host apparatus  102  has the application program  202  and an upper intermediate module  204 . In addition, the host apparatus  104  also has an application program  206  and an upper intermediate module  208  in the application layer  200 . 
         [0025]    Additionally, in the system layer  220 , the host apparatus  102  has a lower intermediate module  222 , a TCP/IP control unit  224 , a proprietary TCP/IP and converting driver  226 , a standard USB driver stack unit  228 , and a USB host controller  230 . Similarly, the host apparatus  104  also has a lower intermediate module  232 , a TCP/IP control unit  234 , a proprietary TCP/IP and converting driver  236 , a standard USB driver stack unit  238 , and a USB host controller  240  in the system layer  220 . Furthermore, a USB device chipset  242  is configured in the system layer  220  of the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0026]    Referring to the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the host apparatus  104  links to the host apparatus  102  via the USB cable  106  and the application programs  202  and  206  is started, a plurality of steps is executed as following: 
         [0027]    1. The USB device chipset  242  declares the host apparatus  104  as a USB device. Therefore, the application program  202  recognizes the host apparatus  104  as the USB device. In addition, the application program  202  would give the user a prompt that the input device is used to control the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0028]    2. Meanwhile, the upper intermediate module  204  and the lower intermediate module  222  would build a communication link between the host apparatuses  102  and  104 . Then, the upper intermediate module  204  and the lower intermediate module  222  handshakes with the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0029]    3. When an event of the input device is triggered, such like at least one keys of the keyboard  112  being pressed or at least one key or a roll wheel of the mouse  114  being operated, the application program  202  would capture the event of the input device for generating an event information. 
         [0030]    4. The TCP/IP control unit  224  would pack the event information into a TCP/IP data. 
         [0031]    5. The TCP/IP data is sent to the standard USB driver stack unit  228  via the proprietary TCP/IP and USB converting driver  226 . Therefore, the standard USB driver stack unit  228  converts the TCP/IP data into a USB data. 
         [0032]    6. The USB data is sent to the USB host controller  230  by the standard USB driver stack unit  228 . Therefore, the USB host controller  230  would transmit the USB data to the host apparatus  104  through the USB cable  106 . 
         [0033]    7. When the host apparatus  104  receives the USB data, the USB host controller  240  would obtain the USB data and send it to the standard USB driver stack unit  238 . 
         [0034]    8. Meanwhile, the standard USB driver stack driver  236  would convert the USB data into the TCP/IP data, and send the TCP/IP data to the TCP/IP control unit  234  via the proprietary TCP/IP and USB converting driver  236 . 
         [0035]    9. The TCP/IP control unit  234  would unpack the TCP/IP data to extract the event information. 
         [0036]    10. The event information is sent to the application program  206  pass through the lower intermediate module  232  and the upper intermediate module  208 . Therefore, the application program  206  would control the host apparatus  104  according to the event information. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the host apparatus  102  and  104  also has an application layer  300  and a system layer  320 . In the application layer  300 , the host apparatus  102  has the application program  302 , and an upper intermediate module  304 . Similarly, the host apparatus  104  also has an application program  306  and an upper intermediate module  308  in the application layer  300 . 
         [0038]    Additionally, in the system layer  320 , the host apparatus  102  has a lower intermediate module  322 , a standard USB driver stack unit  324 , and a USB host controller  326 . Similarly, the host apparatus  104  also has a lower intermediate module  328 , a standard USB driver stack unit  330 , a USB host controller  332 , and a USB device chipset  334  in the system layer  320 . 
         [0039]    When the host apparatus  104  links to the host apparatus  102  via the USB cable  106  and the application programs  302  and  306  is started, a plurality of steps is executed as following: 
         [0040]    1. The USB device chipset  334  declares the host apparatus  104  as a USB device. Therefore, the application program  302  recognizes the host apparatus  104  as the USB device. In addition, the application program  302  would give the user a prompt that the input device is used to control the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0041]    2. Meanwhile, the upper intermediate module  304  and the lower intermediate module  322  would build a communication link between the host apparatuses  102  and  104 . Then, the upper intermediate module  304  and the lower intermediate module  322  handshakes with the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0042]    3. When an event of the input device is triggered as above maintained, the application program  302  would capture the event of the input device for generating an event information. 
         [0043]    4. The event information is sent to the standard USB driver stack unit  324  for converting the event information into a USB data. 
         [0044]    5. Then, the USB data is sent to the USB host controller  326 . Therefore, the USB host controller  326  would transmit the USB data to the host apparatus  104  through the USB cable  106 . 
         [0045]    6. When the host apparatus  104  receives the USB data, the USB host controller  332  would obtain the USB data and send it to the standard USB driver stack unit  330 . 
         [0046]    7. Meanwhile, the standard USB driver stack driver  330  would convert the USB data into the event information, and send it to the application program  306  pass through the lower intermediate module  328  and the upper intermediate module  308 . Therefore, the application program  306  would control the host apparatus  104  according to the event information. 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, a control system  400  is provided. In the control system  400 , the host apparatus  102  is linked with the host apparatus  104  through a dual-USB-PHY device  402 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system  400  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , both the host apparatuses  102  and  104  have an application layer  500  and a system layer  520 . In the application layer  500 , the host apparatus  102  has the application program  502  and an upper intermediate module  504 . The same, the host apparatus  104  has an application program  506  and an upper intermediate module  508  in the application layer  500 . 
         [0049]    Additionally, in the system layer  520 , the host apparatus  102  has a lower intermediate module  522 , a TCP/IP control unit  524 , a proprietary TCP/IP and converting driver  526 , a standard USB driver stack unit  528 , and a USB host controller  530 . Similarly, the host apparatus  104  also has a lower intermediate module  532 , a TCP/IP control unit  534 , a proprietary TCP/IP and converting driver  536 , a standard USB driver stack unit  538 , and a USB host controller  540 . 
         [0050]    When the host apparatus  104  links to the host apparatus  102  via the dual-USB-PHY device  402  and the application programs  502  and  506  is started, a plurality of steps is executed as following: 
         [0051]    1. The dual-USB-PHY device  402  instead of the USB device chipset in the  FIGS. 2 and 3  declares the host apparatus  104  as a USB device. Therefore, the application program  502  recognizes the host apparatus  104  as the USB device. In addition, the application program  402  would give the user a prompt that the input device is used to control the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0052]    2. Meanwhile, the upper intermediate module  504  and the lower intermediate module  522  would build a communication link between the host apparatuses  102  and  104 . Then, the upper intermediate module  504  and the lower intermediate module  522  handshakes with the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0053]    3. When an event of the input device is triggered as above maintained, the application program  502  would capture the event of the input device for generating an event information. 
         [0054]    4. The TCP/IP control unit  524  would pack the event information into a TCP/IP data. 
         [0055]    5. The TCP/IP data is sent to the standard USB driver stack unit  528  via the proprietary TCP/IP and USB converting driver  526 . Therefore, the standard USB driver stack unit  528  converts the TCP/IP data into a USB data. 
         [0056]    6. The USB data is sent to the USB host controller  526  by the standard USB driver stack unit  528 . Therefore, the USB host controller  530  would transmit the USB data to the host apparatus  104  through the dual-USB-PHY device  402 . 
         [0057]    7. When the host apparatus  104  receives the USB data, the USB host controller  540  would obtain the USB data and send it to the standard USB driver stack unit  538 . 
         [0058]    8. Meanwhile, the standard USB driver stack driver  536  would convert the USB data into the TCP/IP data, and send the TCP/IP data to the TCP/IP control unit  534  via the proprietary TCP/IP and USB converting driver  536 . 
         [0059]    9. The TCP/IP control unit  534  would unpack the TCP/IP data to extract the event information. 
         [0060]    10. The event information is sent to the application program  506  pass through the lower intermediate module  532  and the upper intermediate module  508 . Therefore, the application program  506  would control the host apparatus  104  according to the event information. 
         [0061]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system  400  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 6 , in this embodiment, the host apparatus  102  and  104  also has an application layer  600  and a system layer  620 . In the application layer  600 , the host apparatus  602  has the application program  602 , and an upper intermediate module  604 . Similarly, the host apparatus  104  also has an application program  606  and an upper intermediate module  608  in the application layer  600 . 
         [0062]    Additionally, in the system layer  620 , the host apparatus  602  has a lower intermediate module  622 , a standard USB driver stack unit  624 , and a USB host controller  626 . Similarly, the host apparatus  104  also has a lower intermediate module  628 , a standard USB driver stack unit  630 , and a USB host controller  632  in the system layer  620 . 
         [0063]    When the host apparatus  104  links to the host apparatus  102  via the USB cable  106  and the application programs  602  and  606  is started, a plurality of steps is executed as following: 
         [0064]    1. The dual-USB-PHY device  402  declares the host apparatus  104  as a USB device. Therefore, the application program  602  recognizes the host apparatus  104  as the USB device. In addition, the application program  602  would give the user a prompt that the input device is used to control the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0065]    2. Meanwhile, the upper intermediate module  604  and the lower intermediate module  622  would build a communication link between the host apparatuses  102  and  104 . Then, the upper intermediate module  604  and the lower intermediate module  622  handshakes with the upper intermediate module  608  and the lower intermediate module  628 . 
         [0066]    3. When an event of the input device is triggered as above maintained, the application program  602  would capture the event of the input device for generating an event information. 
         [0067]    4. The event information is sent to the standard USB driver stack unit  624  for converting the event information into a USB data. 
         [0068]    5. Then, the USB data is sent to the USB host controller  626 . Therefore, the USB host controller  626  would transmit the USB data to the host apparatus  104  through the dual-USB-PHY  402 . 
         [0069]    6. When the host apparatus  104  receives the USB data, the USB host controller  632  would obtain the USB data and send it to the standard USB driver stack unit  630 . 
         [0070]    7. Meanwhile, the standard USB driver stack driver  630  would convert the USB data into the event information, and send it to the application program  606  pass through the lower intermediate module  628  and the upper intermediate module  608 . Therefore, the application program  606  would control the host apparatus  104  according to the event information. 
         [0071]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a layer structure of the control system  400  according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , in this embodiment, the host apparatus  102  and  104  also has an application layer  700  and a system layer  720 . In the application layer  700 , the host apparatus  102  has the application program  702 , and an upper intermediate module  704 . In particularly, the host apparatus  104  just has an application program  706  in the application layer  700 . 
         [0072]    Additionally, in the system layer  720 , the host apparatus  702  has a lower intermediate module  722 , a standard USB driver stack unit  724 , and a USB host controller  726 . In addition, the host apparatus  104  has a standard USB driver stack unit  728  and a USB host controller  730  in the system layer  720 . 
         [0073]    When the host apparatus  104  links to the host apparatus  102  via the dual-USB-PHY device  402  and the application programs  702  and  706  is started, a plurality of steps is executed as following: 
         [0074]    1. The dual-USB-PHY device  402  declares the host apparatus  104  as a USB device. Therefore, the application program  702  recognizes the host apparatus  104  as the USB device. In addition, the application program  702  would give the user a prompt that the input device is used to control the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0075]    2. Meanwhile, the upper intermediate module  704  and the lower intermediate module  722  would build a communication link between the host apparatuses  102  and  104 . Then, the upper intermediate module  604  and the lower intermediate module  722  handshakes with the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0076]    3. When an event of the input device is triggered as above maintained, the application program  702  would capture the event of the input device for generating an event information. 
         [0077]    4. The event information is sent to the standard USB driver stack unit  724  for converting the event information into a USB data. 
         [0078]    5. Then, the USB data is sent to the USB host controller  726 . Therefore, the USB host controller  726  would transmit the USB data to the host apparatus  104  through the dual-USB-PHY  402 . 
         [0079]    6. When the host apparatus  104  receives the USB data, the USB host controller  730  would obtain the USB data and send it to the standard USB driver stack unit  728 . 
         [0080]    7. Meanwhile, the standard USB driver stack driver  728  would convert the USB data into the event information, and send it to the application program  706 . Therefore, the application program  706  would control the host apparatus  104  according to the event information. 
         [0081]    In some embodiments, when the host apparatus  102  is connected with the host apparatus  104 , the application program installed into the host apparatus  102  further determines whether or not the host apparatus  104  is a permitted host apparatus. For example, the application program installed into the host apparatus  102  would determine whether or not a predetermined information is stored in the host apparatus  104 . Wherein, the predetermined information is probably at least one of serial number, vendor name and a specific phone number. 
         [0082]    If the application program installed into the host apparatus  104  determines that the predetermined information is stored in the host apparatus  104 , the application program installed into the host apparatus  102  would authenticate that the host apparatus  104  is the permitted host apparatus. So that, the application program installed into the host apparatus  102  would control the host apparatus  102  transmitting the event information to the host apparatus  104 , such that the host apparatus  104  is controlled according to the event information. However, if the host apparatus  104  is not authenticated as the permitted host apparatus, the application program installed into the host apparatus  102  would forbid transmitting the event information to the host apparatus  104 . 
         [0083]    In summary, the present invention can use the event information, which is generated by operating an input device coupled to a host apparatus, to control another host apparatus, such as the hand-held computing device. Therefore, the present invention allows the user use habitual control means to control the hand-held computing device. 
         [0084]    While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.