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US4775928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hand-held wireless computer controller system
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1985-10-30
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Granted: 1988-10-04
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Expires: 2005-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A hand-held, battery powered, wireless control station transmits alphanumeric characters and control functions to a receiver interfaced with a host computer. The control station includes a microcomputer which converts keyboard signals into a secured character code and transmits the secured character code to a computer interface transceiver using a frequency shift key modulation technique. The keyboard is a multiple function keyboard having plural shift keys allowing several character codes for each key. The computer interface transceiver only recognizes or accepts secured character codes. For the character codes accepted the computer interface transceiver forwards the character to the host computer via an RS 232 interface link. The computer interface transceiver also transmits the secured character code back to the hand-held control station which then displays the characters on a display confirming for the operator receipt of the character by the computer end transceiver. In addition, messages which originate in the computer can be transmitted to the hand-held control station and displayed on the display therein in a secure manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Carroll D. Kendall
- 👤 Lynn P. Kendall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/42; G06F13/4265; G06F13/4269; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0227; G06F3/023; G06F3/0231
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A wireless hand-held computer controller system for a host computer, comprising: a hand-held terminal including: a keyboard for entering a key code; first processing means for converting the key code into a character code, outputting the character code, receiving both a character code echo and a returned security code and determining whether the returned security code is correct; first security code means for producing a security code; first wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly transmitting the output character code and the security code together, and receiving the character code echo and the returned security code; and display means for displaying the character code echo when the returned security code is correct; and a computer end transceiver including: second wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly receiving the character code and the security code, and always transmitting, when produced, both the character code echo and the returned security code; and second processing means for receiving the character code and the security code, and, when the security code is correct, always producing both the character code echo and the returned security code and transmitting the character code to the host computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A wireless hand-held computer controller system for a host computer, comprising: a hand-held terminal including: a keyboard for entering a key code; first processing means for converting the key code into a character code, outputting the character code, receiving both a character code echo and a returned security code and determining whether the returned security code is correct; first security code means for producing a security code; first wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly transmitting the output character code and the security code together, and receiving the character code echo and the returned security code; and display means for displaying the character code echo when the returned security code is correct; and a computer end transceiver including: second wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly receiving the character code and the security code, and always transmitting, when produced, both the character code echo and the returned security code; and second processing means for receiving the character code and the security code, and, when the security code is correct, always producing both the character code echo and the returned security code and transmitting the character code to the host computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein when the host computer sends a message to said second processing means, said second processing means, through said second and first wireless transmit/receive means, sends the message to said first processing means and said first processing means displays the message on said display means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first processing means comprises: a microprocessor; and a memory connected to said microprocessor and both having a power down mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the microprocessor is interrupt driven and awaits an interrupt in the power down mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a common bus connected to said memory and said microprocessor, and used as both a data bus and an address bus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said memory includes: a read only memory, connected to said common bus, for storing a control program and a key/character code translation table, and having a low power standby mode controllable by said microprocessor; and a random access memory, connected to said common bus, having a low power mode controllable by said microprocessor and including transmit and receive buffers areas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said keyboard includes two shift keys and N character keys where N is an integer, said first processing means converting a character key depression into one of three character codes in dependence upon the depression of one of said shift keys.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
178 words
A wireless hand-held computer controller system for a host computer, comprising: a hand-held terminal including: a keyboard for entering a key code; first processing means for converting the key code into a character code, outputting the character code and receiving character code echo; first wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessely transmitting the output character code and receiving the character code echo; and display means for displaying the character code echo; and a computer end transceiver including: second wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly receiving the character code and transmitting the character code echo; and second processing means for receiving the character code, returning the character code echo and transmitting the character code to the host computer, said second processing means comprising: a master microcomputer receiving and storing the character codes and producing the character code echo; and a common memory connected to said master microprocessor for storing the character code; and a slave microcomputer, connected to said common memory and the host computer, for retrieving the character code from said common memory and sending the character code to the computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
A wireless hand-held computer controller system for a host computer, comprising: a hand-held terminal including: a keyboard for entering a key code; first processing means for converting the key code into a character code, outputting the character code and receiving character code echo; first wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessely transmitting the output character code and receiving the character code echo; and display means for displaying the character code echo; and a computer end transceiver including: second wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly receiving the character code and transmitting the character code echo; and second processing means for receiving the character code, returning the character code echo and transmitting the character code to the host computer, said second processing means comprising: a master microcomputer receiving and storing the character codes and producing the character code echo; and a common memory connected to said master microprocessor for storing the character code; and a slave microcomputer, connected to said common memory and the host computer, for retrieving the character code from said common memory and sending the character code to the computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a common bus connected to said common memory and said master and slave microprocessors, said common bus used as both an address and data bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said second processing means includes: master status means for visually indicating transmission and reception status between said hand-held terminal and said computer end transceiver; and slave status means for visually indicating transmission and reception status between said computer end transceiver and the host computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said master and slave microcomputers obtain access to said common memory by interrupt hand shaking.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
195 words
A wireless hand-held computer controller system for a light water nuclear power plant simulator host computer, comprising: a hand-held terminal including: a keyboard having multiple function keys and shift keys for entering a key code; first processing means for converting the key code into a character code and receiving a returned security code and a character code echo and having a program and data memory accessed over a common address and data bus and having a low power consumption mode; and first wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly transmitting the output character and a security code together and receiving both the character code echo and the returned security code; and a computer and transceiver including: second wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly receiving the security and character code and always transmitting, when produced, both the returned security code and character code echo; and second processing means for checking the security code, and always propducing both the returned security code and the character code echo and transferring the character code echo to the host computer if the security code is correct, and said first processing means displaying the character code echo when the returned security code is correct.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
195 words
A wireless hand-held computer controller system for a light water nuclear power plant simulator host computer, comprising: a hand-held terminal including: a keyboard having multiple function keys and shift keys for entering a key code; first processing means for converting the key code into a character code and receiving a returned security code and a character code echo and having a program and data memory accessed over a common address and data bus and having a low power consumption mode; and first wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly transmitting the output character and a security code together and receiving both the character code echo and the returned security code; and a computer and transceiver including: second wireless transmit/receive means for wirelessly receiving the security and character code and always transmitting, when produced, both the returned security code and character code echo; and second processing means for checking the security code, and always propducing both the returned security code and the character code echo and transferring the character code echo to the host computer if the security code is correct, and said first processing means displaying the character code echo when the returned security code is correct.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as recited in claim 12, wherein when the host computer sends a message to said second processing means, said second processing means, through said second and first wireless transmit/receive means, sends the message to said first processing means and said first processing means displays the message on said display means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as recited in claim 12, wherein said keyboard includes two shift keys and N character keys where N is an integer, said first processing means converting a character key depression into one of three character codes in dependence upon the depression of one of said shift keys.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as recited in claim 12, wherein said second processing means includes: master status means for indicating transmission and reception status between said hand-held terminal and said computer end transceiver; slave status means for indicating transmission and reception status between said computer end transceiver and the computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-04-04 | 1992-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-04 | 1996-04-04 | 1996-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-04-04 | 2000-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |