Patent Publication Number: US-2004044913-A1

Title: Method for coordinating built-in bluetooth modules

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a method for coordinating built-in bluetooth modules and particularly a method that establishes a coordinating program in a bluetooth keyboard module to coordinate a wireless keyboard control equation and processing procedures of a host controller interface (HCI) and to be compatible with conventional computer keyboard functions.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] In existing standard bluetooth modules such as the one shown in FIG. 1, there are three designated electric interface standards, i.e. RS-232, UART and USB. The application interface of the protocol between the bluetooth module and the application processor is done through a host controller interface (HCI). As the present bluetooth standards do not provide keyboard function, the bluetooth module is directly inserted into a USB slot of the host end of the personal computer. The bluetooth USB does not include USB Human Interface Device (HID) keyboard functions, hence the BIOS resided in the personal computer cannot directly use the bluetooth module.  
       [0003] Therefore at present there is no standard specification in terms of bluethooth wireless keyboard applications. Most adopt and extend existing standards, such as employing the standard Cable Replacement Protocol (RFCOMM) and HID keyboard standards specified in the USB standards, and including an embedded microprocessor for controlling. In such an architecture the bluetooth module merely functions as a wireless data transmission medium. In the event of operating system upgrade in the future, the HCI portion cannot be directly controlled, as it is already intercepted by the microprocessor located at the receiving end of the keyboard that controls the communication with the USB of the personal computer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] Therefore the primary object of the invention is to resolve the aforesaid disadvantages incurred to conventional bluetooth module applications. The invention provides a built-in coordinating program in the bluetooth keyboard module to enable the wireless bluetooth keyboard module compatible with conventional computer keyboard function, and can be started for use whenever there is a USB supported by BIOS.  
       [0005] Another object of the invention is to enable the bluetooth module at the receiving end of the bluetooth keyboard to become a standardized specification for future operating systems that equip with a bluetooth driver program so that to purchase an additional bluetooth module is not necessary.  
       [0006] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a standard bluetooth module of the invention.  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the bluetooth module of the invention.  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is a process flow chart of the coordinating procedure of the bluetooth module and bluetooth protocol process according to the invention.  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of another embodiment of the invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 5 is a system block diagram of yet another embodiment of the invention 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0012] Refer to FIG. 2 for the system block diagram of the bluetooth module of the invention. The method of the invention mainly includes adding a coordinating procedure and a bluetooth protocol process program  2  in a bluetooth keyboard  1  to form a wireless keyboard of a wireless bluetooth module that has overlapped functions.  
     [0013] The bluetooth keyboard module  1  includes a USB  11 , a HUB  12 , a wireless keyboard control equation 13, a host controller interface (HCI) process procedure  14 , a bluetooth base band  15  and a bluetooth radio frequency (RF)  16 . The HUB  12 , wireless keyboard control equation  13 , HCI process procedure  14 , and bluetooth base band  15  are linked to the coordinating procedure and bluetooth protocol process program  2  for coordinating the wireless keyboard and the HCI.  
     [0014] The coordinating procedure and bluetooth protocol process program  2  is loaded into the bluetooth keyboard module  1 . A conventional compute is connected to the bluetooth keyboard module  1 , and generates (or simulates) a keyboard signal through the coordinating procedure and bluetooth protocol process program  2 . The keyboard signal is detected by the BIOS of the conventional computer and confirmed that the keyboard has been connected to the bluetooth keyboard module  1 , then the computer is started for operation. Hence the wireless bluetooth keyboard module not only is totally compatible with the keyboard functions of previous computers (such as desk top computers) without the need of operating system upgrade, it also can function as long as there is a USB  1  supported by BIOS. The bluetooth module at the receiving end of the bluetooth keyboard may also be directly used and form a standardized specification for future operating systems that equip with a bluetooth driver program without the need to buy an additional bluetooth module.  
     [0015] Refer to FIG. 3 for the process flow chart of the coordinating procedure of the bluetooth module and bluetooth protocol process according to the invention. As shown in the drawing, the coordinating procedure and bluetooth protocol process program  2  is loaded into the bluetooth keyboard module  1 . When in use, the program performs authentication process (identifying passwords). At the initial time of the authentication process, users may enter a serial number (password) or a self-setting password on the keyboard to make registration to the computer. The password will be verified and authenticated every time the user trying to use the computer. Access to the computer will be denied when the entering password is incorrect.  
     [0016] When the coordinating procedure and bluetooth protocol process program  2  coordinates the process, first, determine whether the process is the initial operation (cold start)  3 ; if positive (i.e. initial operation), determine whether the authentication key  4  is depressed; if the authentication key  4  is not depressed, enter the USB keyboard module and register to the PC processor  5  if the authentication key  4  is depressed, proceed the authentication process  6  and the keyboard transmission and receiving end processes hand-shaking and authentication  7 , and register the USB keyboard module to the PC processor  5 ; if it is not the initial operation, directly register the USB keyboard module to the PC processor  5  and proceed USB Dongle/HCI  8  process; after the USB Dongle/HCI  8  process, determine whether having received keyboard commands or data  9  from the USB; if negative (i.e. not receiving keyboard commands or data from the USB), determine whether having received data or commands emitted from the wireless keyboard  101 ; if the received keyboard commands or data  9  is from the USB, enter into a wireless keyboard process and control procedure  10 , then determine whether having received data or commands emitted from the wireless keyboard  101 ; if negative (i.e. not receiving data or commands emitted from the wireless keyboard  101 ), determine whether having received bluetooth module HCI commands or data from the USB  103 ; if positive (i.e. having received data or commands emitted from the wireless keyboard  101 ), proceed a wireless keyboard function process and control procedure  102 , then determine whether having received bluetooth module HCI commands or data from the USB  103 ; if negative (i.e. not receiving bluetooth module HCI commands or data from the USB  103 ), determine whether having received other non-keyboard commands or data from the bluetooth base band  105 ; if positive (i.e. having received bluetooth module HCI commands or data from the USB  103 ), proceed bluetooth module HCI process and interpretation program  104 , then determine whether having received other non-keyboard commands or data from the bluetooth base band  105 ; if negative (i.e. not receiving other non-keyboard commands or data from the bluetooth base band  105 ), determine whether to proceed the power saving operation mode  107 ; if positive (having received other non-keyboard commands or data from the bluetooth base band  105 ), proceed the bluetooth HCI process program  106 , then determine whether to proceed the power saving operation mode  107 ; if negative (i.e. not to proceed the power saving operation mode  107 ), go back to the step  9  to repeat the process of determining whether having received keyboard commands or data. If the power saving operation is determined to be performed, proceed park, hold or sniff mode alteration and process for the bluetooth module base band portion  108 , then go back to the step  9  to repeat the process of determining whether having received keyboard commands or data. If no data or commands are received at the step  9 ,  101 ,  103  or  105 , the system directly enters into a standby state.  
     [0017] Refer to FIG. 4 for another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the coordinating procedure and bluetooth protocol process program  2  is directly loaded into a chip  109  which is linked to the wireless keyboard control equation  13  and the HCI process procedure  14  to achieve the coordination control.  
     [0018] Refer to FIG. 5 for yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the coordinating procedure and bluetooth protocol process program  2 , the wireless keyboard control equation  13  and the HCI process procedure  14  are integrated in a single chip  110 .