Stylus Code Frame Scrambling for Protocol Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication incompatibility and signaling interference occur between legacy stylus devices and newer host devices, or newer stylus devices and legacy host devices, due to evolving communication protocols, leading to inaccurate data interpretation and miscommunication.

Innovation Solution

A stylus device scrambles its code frames using a pseudo-random sequence, allowing the host device to descramble and synchronize with a supported code pattern, ensuring accurate communication by avoiding repeated misinterpretations across multiple frames.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If communication protocols evolve in stylus devices and host devices, then communication capabilities and functionality are improved, but communication incompatibility and signaling interference occur between legacy and newer devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilitiesVSAvoidcommunication compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the code frame structure to include both scrambled and unscrambled data fields. The scrambling sequence is a variable parameter that can be adjusted based on the communication protocol version, allowing the system to adapt between legacy and newer protocols while maintaining reliable communication. This resolves the contradiction by making the communication parameters flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The code frame is segmented into multiple data fields with different scrambling states. Some fields are scrambled while others remain unscrambled, allowing the host device to selectively process fields based on protocol compatibility. This segmentation enables newer devices to utilize scrambled fields for enhanced functionality while legacy devices can rely on unscrambled fields, thus maintaining compatibility across device generations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If newer protocol signals are transmitted, then advanced communication features are enabled, but misinterpretation as legacy signals occurs leading to inaccurate data interpretation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoiddata interpretation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The scrambled data fields act as an intermediary mechanism between newer protocol signals and legacy interpretation systems. The scrambling sequence serves as a mediator that transforms newer protocol data into a format that can be transmitted without being misinterpreted by legacy devices. The host device, equipped with the corresponding descrambling capability, can accurately interpret the original data while legacy devices simply ignore or treat them as non-critical fields.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Different data fields within the code frame have different qualities - some are scrambled with high complexity to prevent misinterpretation, while others remain unscrambled for basic compatibility. This local differentiation of data field qualities allows the system to optimize each field for its specific purpose, ensuring that critical data fields are protected from misinterpretation while maintaining overall communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If scrambling is applied to all data fields, then signal misinterpretation is prevented, but device complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal interpretation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying scrambling to all data fields (excessive action), the patent applies scrambling selectively to only those fields that require protection from misinterpretation. This partial action approach maintains signal interpretation accuracy for critical fields while avoiding the unnecessary processing complexity that would result from scrambling every field. The host device only needs to implement descrambling for the specific scrambled fields it needs to interpret.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3631604B1Multi-protocol communications between host devices and stylus devices

Publication Date: 2022.08.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

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AI summary

A host device communicates with a stylus device. A digitizer at the host device receives a scrambled stylus code frame transmitted from the stylus device. The scrambled stylus code frame includes a scrambled data field and an unscrambled data field. The scrambled data field has been scrambled by the stylus device using a pseudo-random sequence. A descrambler descrambles the at least one scrambled data field of the scrambled stylus code frame using the pseudo-random sequence to output at least one descrambled data field in a descrambled stylus code frame. The descrambled stylus code frame further includes the at least one unscrambled data field. A synchronizer synchronizes the at least one descrambled data field and the at least one unscrambled data field of the descrambled stylus code frame with a supported code pattern.