3com Corporation

Hewlett-packard Company

Palm, Incorporated

Elwin Hunt

Kenin Page

William Raines

Scott Allen Caddes

Ned Plasson

Randy C Smith

Ronald D Smith

R Kenin Page

A Bluetooth-enabled computing device includes a user interface for displaying a prompt to specify a descriptive identifier for a network device prior to performance of a Bluetooth Device Discovery Routine, the descriptive identifier being different from Bluetooth Device Discovery Routine Identifiers. A system memory has entries including descriptive identifiers, each descriptive identifier corresponding to a network device pre-configured with a connection profile. A connection manager determines if a specified descriptive identifier is a match to any entry in the system memory and to implements a connection to a network device corresponding to a matching entry. Otherwise the connection manager performs a discovery routine to locate and establish a connection to at least one available network device corresponding to the specified descriptive identifier. A Bluetooth compatible wireless transceiver is operable to transmit and receive signals associated with the connection to the network device and the discovery routine.

Apparatus for discovering devices in a wireless network

An improved method for wireless device discovery that enables a user to select devices by a descriptive identifier rather than a unique alphanumeric identifier. In addition, the method allows for certain wireless devices to be pre-configured for connection such that if they are requested, the method automatically connects the requesting device with the selected device.

Methods for discovering devices within a wireless network

A method and apparatus for opening a communications port for communication over a wireless communication network. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for opening a virtual communications (VCOM) port that is configured with a particular profile over a Bluetooth network. After an attempt to open the VCOM port is received from a first application at a first electronic device, the process is suspended until a communication path is established over the Bluetooth communication network between the first electronic device and a remote electronic device within a Bluetooth network. The remote electronic device may be selected by a user from a list of available devices. In another embodiment, a user may pre-configure the VCOM port for a specific functional profile and pre-configure a remote electronic device to the VCOM port.

Method and apparatus for opening a virtual serial communications port for establishing a wireless connection in a Bluetooth communications network

An apparatus and method for interfacing legacy applications with a wireless communication network. Specifically, the present invention discloses an integrated hardware device that creates and manages a virtual serial communication port. The virtual port is presented to legacy applications and an operating system in a computer system as a serial communication port having a UART device. An interface application ensures legacy application compatibility with the wireless communication standard, including a Bluetooth communication standard. The interface application converts outgoing data from the legacy application into a format associated with the Bluetooth communication standard. The interface application converts incoming data from a format compatible with the wireless communication standard to a format compatible with a bus and the legacy application located on the computer system. The virtual serial communication port and the integrated hardware device have device stacks compliant with a Windows (TM) driver model (WDM).

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Sandy, UT, United States of America

Elwin Hunt