Peripheral Input Controller for Wireless Handheld Data Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for entering information into handheld devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are inefficient due to the need for additional hardware and power consumption, especially when using a Bluetooth keyboard, which can be costly and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral input computing architecture that captures user input data from a larger device, such as a desktop or notebook, and converts it into packets for wireless transmission to a handheld device without involving the host processor, allowing for power-efficient and cost-effective information entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a Bluetooth keyboard is used for information entry, then input capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The host device's existing keyboard is made multi-functional by enabling it to serve both as a local input device for the host processor and as a wireless input device for the handheld device. The controller intercepts keyboard input data and transmits it wirelessly to the handheld device, allowing the same physical keyboard to fulfill multiple input purposes without requiring a separate Bluetooth keyboard.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring a physical Bluetooth keyboard, the system creates a virtual copy of the keyboard functionality through software. The controller captures input data from the host device's keyboard and transmits it to the handheld device, effectively copying the keyboard's input capability to the handheld device without needing additional physical hardware.
2Ease of operation
If a Bluetooth dongle is used to share keyboard input, then input sharing is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The input sharing functionality is extracted from the host processor and implemented in a separate controller component. This allows the keyboard input interception and wireless transmission to occur independently of the host processor, reducing the computational burden on the main system and enabling input sharing without requiring the host processor to be fully operational.
Solution Approach 2:
A controller acts as an intermediary between the host device's keyboard and the handheld device. This intermediary component captures keyboard input data from the host device and transmits it wirelessly to the handheld device, enabling input sharing without requiring direct connection or host processor involvement.
3Reliability
If the host processor is fully operational to handle keyboard input, then input processing is reliable, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The input processing function is segmented from the host processor and assigned to a separate controller. This segmentation allows the host processor to remain in a low-power state while the controller handles keyboard input capture and transmission, ensuring reliable input processing without requiring the energy-intensive host processor to be fully operational.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs self-service by autonomously capturing keyboard input data and transmitting it to the handheld device without requiring host processor intervention. This self-service capability enables input processing to continue reliably even when the host processor is in a sleep state, significantly reducing power consumption.
4Ease of operation
If the host processor is activated for keyboard input, then input functionality is available, but activation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is pre-configured to intercept and transmit keyboard input data before the host processor needs to be activated. By having the controller ready to capture and forward input data independently, the system eliminates the time delay associated with activating the host processor, allowing input functionality to be available immediately.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves as an intermediary that bridges the keyboard and handheld device, enabling input functionality without requiring host processor activation. This intermediary approach allows the system to bypass the host processor entirely for input operations, eliminating activation time delays.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods may provide for receiving, at a controller of a first device having a host processor, user input data and converting the user input data into one or more packets. Additionally, the one or more packets may be sent to a wireless communication component of the first device. In one example, the one or more packets are sent to the wireless communication component while the host processor is in one or more of a sleep state or a low power state.