Structure and method for controlling a host computer using a remote hand-held interface device

Abstract

A mobile interface device receiving input from a stylus is provided to remotely control application programs running on a host computer. Such an interface device provides convenient access to any resource of the host computer, including, for example, a sharable database. An embodiment of such an interface device includes a pen-based graphical interface which communicates with an operating system on the host computer. In that embodiment, the operating system on the host computer has handwriting recognition capability.

1 . A mobile user interface device for controlling a host computer, comprising: 
 a graphical display subsystem, including a graphical display, for displaying an image;    an input subsystem, including a stylus, for receiving from a user positional data representing spatial positions of said stylus; and    a wireless communication subsystem for sending data to and receiving data from said host computer over a wireless communication link; and    means for controlling operations of said graphical display subsystem, said input subsystem and said wireless communication subsystem, said means for controlling (i) causing said wireless communication link to be created; (ii) causing an application program to be run on said host computer; (iii) receiving from said input subsystem said positional data, providing a response to said user in acknowledgment of said positional data, and transmitting over said wireless communication link said positional data to said application program; and (iv) receiving over said wireless communication link from said application program data representing said image, and causing said graphical display subsystem to display said image on said graphical display.    
     
     
         2 . A mobile user interface device as in  claim 1 , wherein said means for controlling comprises: 
 a central processing unit;    a processor bus coupled to data and address terminals of said central processing unit;    a memory subsystem accessible by said central processing unit over said processor bus;    a peripheral bus coupled to said input device subsystem, said graphical display subsystem and said wireless communication subsystem;    a system controller unit, coupled to said processor and peripheral busses and under the control of said central processing unit, for controlling over said peripheral bus the operations of said input device subsystem, said graphical subsystem, and said wireless communication subsystem.    
     
     
         3 . A mobile user interface unit as in  claim 2 , further comprising a keyboard controller coupled to said peripheral bus for receiving keyboard input from one of: (i) a keyboard connected to said mobile user interface; and (ii) a keyboard emulation program executed by said central processing unit, wherein said keyboard emulation program mapping said positional data received in said input subsystem to selections of keys from a keyboard image displayed on said graphical display.  
     
     
         4 . A mobile user interface device as in  claim 1 , wherein said host computer interprets said positional data as representing digitized strokes of a handwriting.  
     
     
         5 . A mobile user interface device as in  claim 2 , wherein said system controller unit includes a power conservation circuit for temporarily suspending operation of said mobile user interface device when a predetermined time period elapses without positional data received in said input subsystem.  
     
     
         6 . A computer system comprising: 
 a hand-held interface devices comprising (i) a display device; (ii) a position input device; (iii) a wireless receiver and transmitter circuit;    and (iv) control means for providing an image on said display device; and    a host computer being coupled to (i) a wireless receiver and transmitter circuit for communicating with said hand held interface device; and (ii) means for modifying said image.    
     
     
         7 . A computer system as in  claim 6 , wherein said wireless receiver and transmitter circuit is accessed by said host computer as a shared resource on a local area network.  
     
     
         8 . A computer system as in  claim 7 , wherein said position input device provides a plurality of data points each indicating a position of said position input device relative to an origin, said data points being queued in a pen event buffer in said hand held interface device for transmission to said host computer over a wireless link established between said wireless receiver and transmitter circuit of said hand held interface device and said wireless receiver and transmitter circuit coupled to said host computer.  
     
     
         9 . A computer system as in  claim 6 , wherein said host computer provides commands over said wireless link for displaying graphical images on said display device of said hand held interface device.  
     
     
         10 . A computer system as in  claim 8 , wherein said host computer has (i) buffer means for storing said data points received over said wireless link; (ii) means for processing said data points; and (iii) an event injector means for introducing said data points one by one into said means for processing.  
     
     
         11 . A method for providing a mobile user interface device, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a graphical display;    providing an input device for indicating locations on said graphical display; and    providing a wireless transceiver for communicating display information from said host computer to said mobile user interface device and for communicating said locations from said mobile user interface device to said host computer; and    sending data representing said locations to said host computer over said wireless link.    
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of interpreting in said host computer said locations as representing digitized strokes of a handwriting.  
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of providing a power conservation circuit for temporarily suspending operation of said mobile user interface device when a predetermined time period elapses during which said positional and selection data are out of a predetermined range.