Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Palm, Incorporated

Tandem Computers Incorporated

Hewlett-packard Company

Qualcomm Incorporated

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.p.

Palmsource Inc.

Palmone, Incorporated

John Michael Brown

Craig Stuart Skinner

William P Bunton

Edward Joseph Vertatschitsch

Gautam Mehrotra

William Wong

Kenneth Johnson

Don W Dyer

Patricia L Whiteside

Mindy Chahel

Lisa King

William F Bruckert

Gary Garrabrant

Steven C Meyers

Katherine Elliott

Carol Lang

Edward Vertatschtisch

Robert W Horst

David Allen Brown

David J Garcia

John D Coddington

Kevin T Lefebvre

William J Watson

John C Krause

David P Sonnier

Douglas E Jewett

William Edward Baker

Richard W Cutts, Jr

James S Klecka

Susan S Meredith

Geoffrey I Iswandhi

Stephen G Low

Daniel L Fowler

Frank A Williams

Linda Ellen Zalzala

Randall G Banton

Paul N Hintikka

William Shu-Woon Wong

James Stevens Klecka

Charles E Peet, Jr

Curtis Willard Jones, Jr

Gary F Campbell

James E Holeman

Carol L Lang

James Stephens Klecka

Barry Lee Drexler

Harry Frank Elrod

A method and system for establishing a wireless connection between a portable computer system and a wireless network, particularly when the portable computer system goes out of coverage and a wireless connection needs to be re-established. The portable computer system has a main processor and a digital signal processor (DSP). The main processor is placed in a low power mode, conserving battery power. When the portable computer system goes out of coverage, broadcast channels used by the wireless network are scanned by the DSP instead of the main processor to identify channels that have sufficient signal strength for the wireless connection. Thus, the main processor remains in the low power mode. When the DSP identifies acceptable channels, it wakes up the main processor and identifies the channels having sufficient signal strength. The main processor then establishes a wireless connection using one of the channels identified by the DSP.

Direct digital signal processor control of multi-channel scan for re-establishing connections in a wirelessly networked device

A panel has been provided to a wireless device that turns off all RF capability of the wireless device (including, but not limited to notifications, wireless web clipping, instant messaging, email sending/receiving, phone calls, etc.). The panel is brought up on a screen of the wireless device by pressing a programmed hard button for more than 1 second. Once the RF capability has been turned off, if the user attempts to access a program or other device that requires the RF capabilities, a notification is displayed that identifies the RF capabilities as being disabled and prompts the user whether to continue. If the user continues, the RF device is automatically enabled, otherwise the RF device remains disabled.

Events notification and functions selection mechanisms in a wireless device

A property of a wireless signal over time is monitored while a processor is maintained in a first power state that utilizes less power than a second power state. While the processor remains in the first power state, a measure of the property is compared to a first threshold and to a second threshold. The processor can be transitioned from the first power state to the second power state if the measure crosses the first threshold and the second threshold, and otherwise the processor is maintained in the first power state.

Managing power consumption in a wireless device

A method of performing a frequency correction of a radio module. Multiple samples of frequency data during a quiescent portion of the base station transmission is taken to estimate the amount of frequency correction needed. An embodiment applies the frequency data to a median filter to eliminate invalid data. Next, a new reference frequency is applied to a radio transceiver in the radio module to provide the frequency correction. If the frequency was corrected by greater than a pre-determined amount, the process performs a large shift frequency correction, including verifying that the first frequency correction was satisfactory and verifying that the radio transceiver is able to receive data after the frequency correction has been performed. If the frequency was corrected by smaller than a pre-determined amount, the process performs a small shift frequency correction, including updating a total of all frequency corrections made since a stored reference frequency was updated.

Method for performing a frequency correction of a wireless device

To manage power in a wireless communication device, broadcast channels used by the network are scanned with a first processor in a lower power mode. The scanning is performed using a second processor that uses less power than the first processor. The scanning is performed at periodic points in time until a broadcast channel acceptable for the wireless connection is identified. The second processor is placed in the lower power mode between scans. The second processor is awakened from the lower power mode to perform the scanning.

Control of multi-channel scan for re-establishing connections in a wirelessly networked device

A system for identification and assessment of performance optimizations implemented in the graphics environment, the identification and assessment of the performance optimizations based upon an optimized graphics call sequence generated by an application of one or more optimizations applied to a captured graphics call sequence occurring between said first and second drivers. The resulting optimized graphics call sequence causes the same graphics rendering to occur when provided to the graphics system as the original graphics call sequence. As such, the graphics application and associated graphics interface driver may then be analyzed by the application developer to identify specific modifications which, when implemented, would generate such an optimized graphics call sequence. This may include implementing specific modifications to the graphics application as well as implementing portions or all of the present invention into the driver for real-time execution.

System and method for assessing performance optimizations in a graphics system

Notification mechanisms in a wireless device

Frequency correction of a radio module. An estimate is made of the amount of frequency correction needed while applying an original reference frequency. If the frequency correction needed is greater than a pre-determined amount, a large shift frequency correction is performed, including applying a new reference frequency and verifying that the large shift frequency correction is satisfactory. If the large shift frequency correction is unsatisfactory, the original reference frequency is restored. If the frequency correction needed is smaller than a pre-determined amount, a small shift frequency correction is performed, including applying a new reference frequency and updating a total of all frequency corrections made since a stored reference frequency was updated.

Software enabled on/off switch for radio functionality in a wireless device

A method and system of periodically measuring the signal strength fluctuations in a wireless connection between a portable computer system and a wireless network. The portable computer system has a main processor and a DSP (digital signal processor). The DSP receives instructions from the main processor for controlling the periodic measuring, and subsequent thereto is placed in low power mode. The main processor is placed into a low power mode after sending the instructions. The DSP periodically awakens to measure the signal strength fluctuations while the main processor remains in a low power mode. When the signal strength fluctuation is unacceptable, this triggers the DSP to awaken the main processor. When the signal strength fluctuation is acceptable, the DSP returns to a low power state until the next periodic measuring.

Digital signal processor update of single channel strength signal

A computer system is disclosed having a bus capability determination mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the computer system includes a backplane having sockets into which system and peripheral boards may be inserted. The sockets are coupled together by a backplane bus that includes a bus capability line. Each board preferably includes a voting circuit that, when enabled, limits the voltage on the capability signal line to no more than a predetermined voltage that is indicative of the capability of the board. The voltage on the capability signal line will thus be determined by the board having the lowest voltage limit. The clock source for the bus can then be set to the clock rate indicated by the voltage on the capability signal line. Zener devices are preferably used to carry out the voting operation, and may be disabled after the voting operation is complete.

Bus capability voting mechanism

A preferences option maintains preferences for enabling and disabling notifications for device(s) of an electronic device. The notifications are for any of e-mails, phone calls, or other communications, or events (datebook alarms, for example). One or more devices may produce notifications, and individual preferences for each device may be maintained, or a single set of notifications preferences may direct the output of notifications for each device. The notifications preferences includes a schedule option that allows a time period where the notifications may be specifically enabled or disabled automatically. In one embodiment, the notifications preferences control notifications only, and in other embodiments, the notification preferences control notifications and whether or not the devices themselves are enabled or operating (for example, turning a cell phone device off). A confirmation screen is provided that positively identifies whether the device(s) are RF enabled or not (and therefore safe to enter an airport, hospital, or other no RF zone).

Method and apparatus for automated flexible configuring of notifications and activation

Frequency correction of a radio module. Multiple samples of frequency data are taken during a quiescent portion of the base station transmission, to estimate the amount of frequency correction needed. An embodiment applies the frequency data to a median filter to eliminate invalid data. Next, a new reference frequency is applied to a radio transceiver in the radio module to provide the frequency correction. If the frequency was corrected by greater than a pre-determined amount, the process performs a large shift frequency correction, including verifying that the first frequency correction was satisfactory and verifying that the radio transceiver is able to receive data after the frequency correction has been performed. If the frequency was corrected by smaller than a pre-determined amount, the process performs a small shift frequency correction, including updating a total of all frequency corrections made since a stored reference frequency was updated.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

John Michael Brown