Abstract:
A stylus includes a wireless transceiver, a processor controlling the transceiver, and a data storage device. Data can be selected on a first computer such as a first personal digital assistant (PDA) and then transmitted via wireless link to the stylus, when the user manipulates a button on the stylus to signal to the operating system of the first PDA that it is ready to receive data. The data is transmitted to the stylus and stored therein. Then, the stylus is aimed at a second PDA and the button is manipulated to cause the stylus to transmit the data to the second PDA via wireless link. With this invention, users of the PDAs can, e.g., quickly and efficiently exchange business cards electronically, without excessive manual data entry and without resorting to connecting their PDAs to a network.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to hand held computing devices, and more particularly to quick and efficient data transfer between two or more hand held computing devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Hand held computing devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) are becoming ubiquitous. PDAs are compact, easily portable devices that provide a great deal of convenient data storage and program execution capability to a person who otherwise might not be able or inclined to access relatively bulkier computers such as a personal computer or a laptop computer. Indeed, the use of hand held computing devices such as PDAs can be expected to continue to grow as the operating systems for the devices, e.g., Palm Operating System, Windows CE, etc., continue to improve, extending the capabilities of the devices. 
     Thus, it will be appreciated that hand held computing devices such as PDAs can execute many useful software application programs. The present invention recognizes that the usefulness of many such applications is promoted by sharing data between two or more PDAs. As but one example, personal data that conventionally appears on business cards can be stored in PDAs, thereby alleviating the requirement of keeping and maintaining a plethora of hard copy business cards. The present invention recognizes that two people possessing PDAs might want to exchange software versions of their business cards with each other by communicating the data directly from PDA to PDA. 
     Unfortunately, to communicate data between PDAs, either a user must read the data displayed on one PDA and manually type in the data to input it to a second PDA, or both PDAs must be connected to a computer network to facilitate electronic data transfer. As recognized herein, typing in the data is cumbersome and it wastes time, while an existing computer network might not always be immediately available to the users of PDAs desiring to exchange data. The present invention recognizes that the above-noted shortcomings can be addressed as set forth herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A data transfer device includes a stylus housing, a processor in the housing, and a wireless communication transceiver in the housing under the control of the microprocessor. A data storage device is also in the housing and is accessible by the processor. Further, storage logic means are associated with the processor for causing data received by the transceiver to be stored in the data storage device. Moreover, transmitting logic means associated with the processor cause the data to be user-selectively transmitted by the transceiver. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a control surface such as a button is engaged with the housing and is manipulable by a user to cause the device to transmit data via the wireless transceiver. If desired, a display can be provided on the housing of the stylus for displaying data in the data storage device. 
     In one embodiment, the data received by the transceiver is computer-usable digital data. In an alternate embodiment, the data received by the transceiver is optical data, and the storage logic of the stylus processor includes optical character recognition logic for transforming the optical data to computer-usable digital data. 
     As intended by the present invention, the wireless communication transceiver can be an infrared transceiver or a radiofrequency transceiver. Or, the wireless communication transceiver can be a personal area network (PAN) transceiver. 
     As disclosed in detail below, the data received by the transceiver of the stylus is received from a hand held computing device, and the data transfer device is disclosed in combination with the hand held computing device. An operating system transfer module can be installed in the hand held computing device for effecting data transfer between the transceiver of the hand held computing device and a data clipboard implemented in the hand held computing device, in response to manipulation of the control surface of the data transfer device. 
     In another aspect, an operating system module for a hand held computing device having a data storage such as a clipboard, a display, and a wireless data transceiver is disclosed. The operating system module includes logic means for causing data in the data storage to be transmitted by the wireless transceiver in response to a request for data signal received by the transceiver. Furthermore, the operating system module includes logic means for causing data received by the wireless transceiver to be copied into the data storage device. 
     In still another aspect, a method is disclosed for transferring data between a first computer and a second computer. The method includes pointing a stylus at the first computer, and then transferring data from the first computer to the stylus via a wireless communication link. The stylus is then pointed at the second computer, and the data transferred from the stylus to the second computer via a wireless communication link by appropriately manipulating the stylus. 
     The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing first and second hand held computing devices transmitting data to each other by means of a hand held stylus; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a computer program storage device; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the present stylus; 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the logic of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing alternate logic of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring initially to FIG. 1, a system is shown, generally designated  10 , for transferring data between first and second computers, and more particularly between first and second hand held computing devices (also referred to as “palm top” computers) such as first and second personal digital assistants (PDAs)  12  and  14 . In one intended embodiment, the PDAs  12 ,  14  may be PDAs made by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) of Armonk, N.Y. as shown, or they may be any computer, including IBM personal computers or laptop computers. 
     Each PDA  12 ,  14  includes a respective display  16 ,  18 , a respective operating system  20 ,  22 , and one or more respective data storages, such as respective clipboards  24 ,  26 . The operating systems  20 ,  22  can be Palm™ Operating Systems, Windows CE™ operating systems, or other appropriate palm top/hand held computing device operating system. Furthermore, the PDAs  12 ,  14  include respective wireless communication transceivers  28 ,  30  with appropriate interface circuitry for communicating with their respective computers. As intended by the present invention, the transceivers  28 ,  30  can be infrared (IR) transceivers, radiofrequency (RF) transceivers, or personal area network (PAN) transceivers. For example, the transceivers  28 ,  30  can be PAN transceivers that operate in accordance with the principles set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,827 to Coppersmith et al., owned by the present assignee and incorporated herein by reference. 
     In accordance with the present invention, each PDA  12 ,  14  also includes a respective clipboard access module  32 ,  34 . Each clipboard access module  32 ,  34  is a software-implemented operating system adjunct module that is added to the respective native operating system  20 ,  22  for effecting data transfer between the respective clipboard  24 ,  26  and respective transceiver  28 ,  30  in accordance with principles set forth below. 
     The clipboard access module of the present invention represents logic elements that may be executed by a processor embodying the operating system of the PDA as a series of computer-executable instructions. These logical instructions may reside, for example, in RAM of the PDA  12 ,  14 , or on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip in the PDA  12 ,  14 . 
     Alternatively, the instructions may be contained on a data storage device with a computer readable medium, such as a computer diskette  36  having a computer storage medium  38  containing computer program code elements A-D in accordance with the present invention, as shown in FIG.  2 . Or, the instructions may be stored on a DASD array, magnetic tape, conventional hard disk drive, electronic read-only memory, optical storage device, or other appropriate data storage device. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the computer-executable instructions may be lines of compiled C ++ compatible code. 
     FIG. 1 also shows that each PDA  12 ,  14  can include one or more respective input devices such as a respective computer keyboard or keypad  40 ,  42 . Input devices other than the keyboard or keypad  40 ,  42  can be used, e.g., a mouse, or trackballs, touch screens, and voice recognition devices. Indeed, in the preferred embodiment the displays  16 ,  18  are touchscreens. 
     To effect wireless data transfer between the PDAs  12 ,  14 , a stylus  44  can be manipulated by a user as described below to copy data from the first PDA  12  and transfer it to the second PDA  14 , and vice-versa. FIG. 3 shows the details of the present stylus  44 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the stylus  44  is a hand held device that includes a hollow rigid generally cylindrical metal or plastic stylus housing  46 . A digital processor  48  is mounted in the housing  46 , and the processor  48  communicates with a wireless communication transceiver  50  that is also mounted in the housing  46 , with the microprocessor  48  controlling the transceiver  50 . It is to be understood that the transceiver  50  is configured complementarily to the particular type of transceivers  28 ,  30  of the PDAs  12 ,  14 , such that a communication link can be established between the stylus  44  and each one of the PDAs  12 ,  14 . Thus, the transceiver  50  can be an IR transceiver, RF transceiver, PAN transceiver, a combination thereof, or other appropriate transceiver. 
     Additionally, a data storage device  52  is mounted in the housing  46  and is accessible by the processor  48  as shown. Moreover, a display  54  can be provided on the housing  46  for displaying data in the data storage device  52 . One or more batteries  56  are mounted in the housing and are electrically connected to the electrical components therein to energize the components. 
     As set forth further below in reference to FIG. 4, storage logic is associated with the processor  48  for causing data received by the transceiver  50  to be stored in the data storage device  52 . Moreover, transmitting logic is associated with the processor  48  for causing the data to be transmitted by the transceiver  50 . The storage logic and transmitting logic are invoked when a user appropriately manipulates a control surface  58  that is coupled to the processor  48 . In one preferred embodiment, the control surface  58  is established by a spring-loaded button that reciprocates on the housing  46 , although other control surfaces such as slides, toggles, etc. can be used. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the data to be received from the first PDA  12  by the transceiver  50  of the stylus  44  is computer-usable digital data. That is, it is data that has been stored in a computer usable medium and rendered for transmission to the stylus  44  in accordance with digital data communication principles. 
     FIG. 4 shows the logic of the above-mentioned embodiment. Commencing at block  60 , data to be copied to the second, or target, PDA  14  is selected on the first, or source, PDA  12 . To select this data, the user can highlight the data using the keypad  40  of the first PDA  12  in accordance with principles known in the art. Or, the user can move the stylus  44  against the pressure-sensitive display  16  of the first PDA  12  over the data sought to be transferred. 
     Once the data has been selected, the logic moves to block  62  to copy the data into the clipboard  24  or other data storage device of the first PDA  12 . This transfer can occur by using the conventional data copy or data cut provisions of the editor of the operating system  20  of the first PDA  12 , or it can occur automatically when, for example, the user depresses the control surface  58  of the stylus  44 . Such a manipulation of the control surface  58  causes the processor  48  of the stylus  44  to transmit a request for data signal via the transceivers  50 ,  28  to the clipboard access module  32 , which in turn executes the copy function. 
     Moving to block  64 , the clipboard access module  32  transmits the data in the clipboard  24  to the processor  48  of the stylus  44  via the transceivers  28 ,  50 . The processor  48  causes the data to be stored in the data storage device  52 . To invoke the transmission, the user can, e.g., double click the control surface  58 . Alternatively, when the user has depressed the control surface  58  to invoke the copy function as described above, the clipboard access module  32  can automatically transmit the data from the clipboard  24  to the stylus  44  without further signalling from the stylus  44 . 
     Proceeding to block  66 , the user aims the stylus  44  generally at the second, or target, PDA  14  and then depresses the control surface  58 . When the control surface  58  is depressed, the processor  48  of the stylus  44  causes the data in the data storage device  52  to be sent, via the transceivers  50 ,  30 , to the clipboard access module  34  of the second PDA  14 . At block  68 , the clipboard access module  34  of the second PDA  14  pastes the data into the clipboard  26  of the second PDA  14 , or it inserts the data into whatever document happens to be open in the second PDA  14 , at the current cursor position of the second PDA  14 , as desired by the user. 
     To avoid the transfer of data to a device with which it is not intended to communicate, the transmission power of the stylus transceiver  50  is relatively low. Moreover, the transmission beam of the stylus  44  is narrow. More specifically, referring back to FIG. 3 the stylus  44  defines a long axis  70 , and the transmission beam covers a conical half angle θ (i.e., the angle outside of which transmission power is less than 50% of what it is along the axis  70 ) of about thirty degrees, centered on the axis  70 . Thus, in one preferred embodiment the angle between the axis  70  and a line of sight between the stylus  44  and, e.g., a PDA transceiver is no more than thirty degrees, and preferably is no more than fifteen degrees (i.e., one half θ), to effect directional communication between the stylus  44  and the transceiver. 
     If desired, multiple messages can be held in the data storage device  52  of the stylus  44 . The user can select which message to transmit by toggling through the various messages as presented on the display  54  and then selecting the message sought to be transmitted by, e.g., double clicking the button  58 . Various combinations of button clicks, button hold-down, etc. can be used as desired to control data transfer via the stylus  44 . For example, a single button click can cause the first PDA  12  to transmit data to the stylus  44 , and a subsequent double click can then cause the stylus  44  to transmit the data to the second PDA  14 . Or, the control surface (button)  58  can be held down to receive data from the first PDA  12  and then released to transmit the data to the second PDA  14 . 
     FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment in which the stylus transceiver  50  is a hybrid transceiver that can include, for example, an optical character recognition (OCR) device and an IR or RF transmitter. It is to be understood that in such an embodiment, the data received by the stylus  44  is optical data, and the processor  48  includes logic for transforming the optical data to computer-usable digital data. In other words, the processor  48  can include optical character recognition logic that operates in accordance with optical recognition principles known in the art. 
     Commencing at block  72  of FIG. 5, the user scans the stylus  44  across the display  16  of the first, or source, PDA  12  to read text displayed therein in accordance with OCR principles known in the art. The optical data so read is transformed by the processor  48  to digital data, also in accordance with OCR principles known in the art, and stored in the data storage device  52  of the stylus  44 . 
     Proceeding to block  74 , the user aims the stylus  44  generally at the second, or target, PDA  14  and then depresses the control surface  58  to cause the data in the data storage device  52  to be sent, via the transceivers  50 ,  30 , to the clipboard access module  34  of the second PDA  14 . At block  76 , the clipboard access module  34  of the second PDA  14  pastes the data into the clipboard  26  of the second PDA  14 , or it inserts the data into whatever document happens to be open in the second PDA  14 , at the current cursor position of the second PDA  14 , as desired by the user. 
     While the particular CUT AND PASTE PEN FOR PERVASIVE COMPUTING DEVICES as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims.