Active Stylus Dynamic Search Protocol for Seamless Device Pairing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing active styluses face challenges in seamlessly switching between multiple touch-enabled devices with different communication protocols and configurations, leading to increased power expenditure and processing time, requiring users to manually prompt protocol changes.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic search protocol is implemented in the stylus to detect and pair with digitizer systems, adjusting timing and resource allocation based on computed probabilities of device usage, allowing automatic switching between devices without user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the stylus continuously searches for multiple digitizer systems with different communication protocols, then the ability to seamlessly switch between devices is improved, but power expenditure and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to switch between devicesVSAvoidpower expenditure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The search protocol dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the current state and historical data. The stylus modifies search timing, duration, and protocol selection in real-time based on computed probabilities of which digitizer system is most likely to be the target, rather than continuously searching all protocols at full intensity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters of the search protocol including timing intervals, search duration, and protocol selection based on computed probabilities. These parameter adjustments optimize the balance between adaptability and power consumption by intensifying search efforts only when necessary

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the stylus implements a comprehensive search protocol for multiple digitizer systems, then device compatibility is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The stylus performs preliminary actions by maintaining a history log of previous pairing events and computing probabilities before initiating a full search. This preliminary analysis allows the system to prioritize which digitizer systems to search for first, reducing overall processing time while maintaining compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The search protocol is dynamically adjusted based on computed probabilities from historical data. The system adapts its search strategy in real-time, intensifying efforts on likely targets and reducing or skipping searches on unlikely targets, thereby reducing processing time while preserving compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the stylus uses fixed search protocol timings for each digitizer system, then simplicity of implementation is improved, but responsiveness to frequently used devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol implementation complexityVSAvoidpairing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from fixed timings to dynamic timings that adapt based on usage patterns. Search protocol timings are automatically adjusted based on computed probabilities derived from historical pairing data, allowing faster pairing with frequently used devices while maintaining functionality for less common devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3682316B1Active stylus pairing with a digitizer
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3682316B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3682316B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3682316B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method includes storing a log of pairing events between the stylus and each of a plurality of digitizer systems from which the stylus is configured to receive input and defining a search protocol to identify which digitizer system from the plurality of digitizer systems is providing input to the stylus based on the log. The method also includes searching for the digitizer system that is communicating with the stylus based the input detected and transmitting signals from an interacting tip of the stylus using a protocol configured for communicating with the digitizer system identified during the searching. The log of pairing events is stored while a user is operating a stylus and the search protocol is dynamically defined based on the log.