Method of operating an electronic writing apparatus having an identifying tone and data communications

Abstract

A method for execution by an electronic writing apparatus, the method includes transmitting a transmit reference signal to a touch screen computing device, where the transmit reference signal has a unique waveform characteristic that identifies an electronic writing apparatus as a pen or an eraser. The method further includes receiving a response from the touch screen computing device based on the transmit reference signal. The method further includes interpreting the response to determine a function of a plurality of functions to be executed by the electronic writing apparatus. The method further includes executing the function to produce a result. The method further includes transmitting a second transmit reference signal to the touch screen computing device, where the second transmit reference signal includes information based on one or more of the response and the result.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for execution by an electronic writing apparatus, the method comprising:
 transmitting a transmit reference signal to a touch screen computing device, wherein the transmit reference signal has a unique waveform characteristic that identifies the electronic writing apparatus as a pen or an eraser;   receiving a response from the touch screen computing device based on the transmit reference signal;   interpreting the response to determine a function of a plurality of functions to be executed by the electronic writing apparatus; and   executing the function to produce a result; and   transmitting a second transmit reference signal to the touch screen computing device, wherein the second transmit reference signal includes information based on one or more of the response and the result.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 detecting a stimulus associated with the electronic writing apparatus; and 
 generating the transmit reference signal based on the detected stimulus. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the stimulus comprises one or more of:
 a received data signal from the touch screen computing device;   a button selection;   a vibration;   a voice command;   an acceleration;   a touch;   a torque;   a pressure; and   an orientation.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the function is transmitting data associated with the result to the touch screen computing device:
 modulating data representing the result onto a reference signal to produce the second transmit reference signal; and   driving, by a drive sense circuit of the electronic writing apparatus, the second transmit reference signal onto a conductor of the electronic writing apparatus, wherein the transmit reference signal couples to the touch screen computing device via the conductor.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the response comprises one or more of:
 a command requesting data from the electronic writing apparatus;   a pen operation message;   updated settings for one or more of a beacon mode, a data communication mode, and a ring-back mode of the electronic writing apparatus; and   processing scheme information that indicates processing allocation between the electronic writing apparatus and the touch screen computing device for certain data.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the updated settings comprises one or more of:
 frequency;   modulation scheme;   a number of conductors of the electronic writing apparatus to utilize; and   an identification of which data types to transmit on each conductor of the number of conductors.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the function comprises one or more of:
 sending data to the touch screen computing device;   generating a vibration;   storing functional data;   writing data received from the touch screen computing device to memory of the electronic writing apparatus;   changing a property of the electronic writing apparatus; and   changing a communication setting for communicating data between the electronic writing apparatus and the touch screen computing device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the property comprises one or more of:
 a color of a light emitted diode of the electronic writing apparatus; and   a vibration frequency.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the changing the communication setting comprises one or more of:
 changing a transmit beacon frequency; and   changing transmit settings from transmitting all data on a primary conductor of the electronic writing apparatus to transmitting first data on the primary conductor and transmitting second data on a second conductor of the electronic writing apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the result comprises one or more of:
 a pressure measurement;   an operational mode of the electronic writing apparatus;   a button state for a button of the electronic writing apparatus; and   capacitance change values.   
     
     
         11 . A computer readable storage device comprises:
 at least one memory section for storing operational instructions, that when executed by a processing module of an electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to:   transmit a transmit reference signal to a touch screen computing device, wherein the transmit reference signal has a unique waveform characteristic that identifies the electronic writing apparatus as a pen or an eraser;   receive a response from the touch screen computing device based on the transmit reference signal;   interpret the response to determine a function of a plurality of functions to be executed by the electronic writing apparatus; and   execute the function to produce a result; and   transmit a second transmit reference signal to the touch screen computing device, wherein the second transmit reference signal includes information based on one or more of the response and the result.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to:
 detect a stimulus associated with the electronic writing apparatus; and   generate the transmit reference signal based on the detected stimulus.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to determine the stimulus includes one or more of:
 a received data signal from the touch screen computing device;   a button selection;   a vibration;   a voice command;   an acceleration;   a touch;   a torque;   a pressure; and   an orientation.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 11 , wherein when the function is transmitting data associated with the result to the touch screen computing device the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to:
 modulate data representing the result onto a reference signal to produce the second transmit reference signal; and   drive, by a drive sense circuit of the electronic writing apparatus, the second transmit reference signal onto a conductor of the electronic writing apparatus, wherein the transmit reference signal couples to the touch screen computing device via the conductor.   
     
     
         15 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to determine the response includes one or more of:
 a command requesting data from the electronic writing apparatus;   a pen operation message;   updated settings for one or more of a beacon mode, a data communication mode, and a ring-back mode of the electronic writing apparatus; and   processing scheme information that indicates processing allocation between the electronic writing apparatus and the touch screen computing device for certain data.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to determine the updated settings includes one or more of:
 frequency;   modulation scheme;   a number of conductors of the electronic writing apparatus to utilize; and   an identification of which data types to transmit on each conductor of the number of conductors.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to determine the function includes one or more of:
 sending data to the touch screen computing device;   generating a vibration;   storing functional data;   writing data received from the touch screen computing device to memory of the electronic writing apparatus;   changing a property of the electronic writing apparatus; and   changing a communication setting for communicating data between the electronic writing apparatus and the touch screen computing device.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to determine the property includes one or more of:
 a color of a light emitted diode of the electronic writing apparatus; and   a vibration frequency.   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to determine the changing the communication setting includes one or more of:
 changing a transmit beacon frequency; and   changing transmit settings from transmitting all data on a primary conductor of the electronic writing apparatus to transmitting first data on the primary conductor and transmitting second data on a second conductor of the electronic writing apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the electronic writing apparatus, cause the electronic writing apparatus to determine the result includes one or more of:
 a pressure measurement;   an operational mode of the electronic writing apparatus;   a button state for a button of the electronic writing apparatus; and   capacitance change values.