Palm, Incorporated

Palmsource Inc.

Transmeta Corporation

Palmone, Incorporated

Access Systems Americas, Inc.

Other

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Access Company, Ltd.

Palm Computing, Inc.

Neal A Osborn

Francis James Canova, Jr

Steven C Lemke

Eric Michael Lunsford

Scott R Johnson

Regis Nicolas

James B Burr

David Stowers

Robert Chipin Fu

Madeleine L Francavilla

Alan C Urban

Jesse Donaldson

Nicholas Twyman

Shawn Robert Gettemy

David Kammer

Ronald Marianetti, Ii

David Zachary Creemer

E Michael Lunsford

Joe Tate

Jesse Earl Donaldson

Rod Alligood

A dynamic performance circuit adjustment system and method that flexibly adjusts the performance of a logic circuit. The dynamic performance circuit adjustment system and method facilitates flexible power conservation. In one exemplary implementation, a dynamic performance adjustment control circuit controls performance adjustments to a logic circuit (e.g., a processor) and adjusts support functions for the logic circuit. The logic circuit performs operational functions (e.g., processing) or tasks that have different performance requirements. For example, some tasks performed by the logic circuit are required to be performed in a relatively short duration of time and other tasks performed by logic circuit have relatively longer time limitations. The dynamic performance adjustment control circuit adjusts the clock frequency and voltage at which the logic circuit operates to a relatively greater frequency and voltage for tasks required to be performed in a shorter duration of time and adjusts the frequency and voltage at which the logic circuit operates to a relatively lower frequency and voltage for tasks with longer timing tolerances. The dynamic performance adjustment system and method includes provisions to manage a transition in performance and support functions in a manner that reduces the risk of spurious signals or 'glitches.'

Dynamic performance adjustment of computation means

A method and system for changing the power state of a portable electronic device is disclosed. A portable electronic device may be powered up or powered down responsive to a user interaction with the portable electronic device. The user interaction may be an insertion of a stylus or other user interface object into a housing of the portable electronic device. Alternatively, the user interaction may be a removal of a stylus or other user interface object from the housing of the portable electronic device. The user interaction may be a rotation of a cover of the portable electronic device.

Method and system for changing the power state of a portable electronic device

A method and system of voltage compensated integrated circuits. Operating characteristics of integrated circuitry are enhanced by application of voltage compensation.

Voltage compensated integrated circuits

A palmtop computer utilizes SD memory modules or other types of memory modules to provide expansion memory. The expansion memory module plugs in to the palmtop computer via an external slot or compartment that is easily accessed by the user. This provides additional memory to the palmtop computer. To facilitate use of expansion devices such as sled or cradle based devices, a connector is provided on the palmtop computer that not only includes conventional power, ground and serial communication terminals, but also provides direct access to the memory module for use by the expansion device. This provides the advantage that the sled or cradle based device can directly access the palmtop computer's memory without using the palmtop computer's processing resources.

Palmtop computer expansion using shaped memory access

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for scheduling an event. The method includes signaling a request from a first computer to schedule an event to a second computer. A schedule is then received from the second, the schedule includes indicators of available time periods in the calendar period from the second computer. A consolidated schedule is then generated. The consolidated schedule comprises information comparing the indicators of available time periods from the second computer with indicators of available time periods from the first computer.

Mutual scheduling of events on handheld computers

An improved method and apparatus manages communications port contention and power consumption for a handheld computer, particularly handheld computers with a communications protocol that boosts power consumption when active, such as an RS-232 protocol. The improved method provides communications channel management that automatically opens the communications channel in response to a wake-up signal sent to a handheld computer from a peripheral device. The computer peripheral device is explicitly and/or implicitly identified. The opened communications channel is closed in response to receiving some data from the peripheral device, and/or after a device timeout expires without the handheld computer receiving data from the computer peripheral device.

System and method for managing power of peripheral communications by automatically closing communications channel immediately after finishing a communication with a peripheral device

A method and system for importing and exporting selected directory and calendar information of a first format found in various electronic media to and from personal information management computer applications of a second format is described. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system for importing directory and calendar information that is structured in standardized vCard and vCalendar formats from a first application to corresponding electronic address book and calendar applications via clipboard and automatic translator applications. The invention includes an automatic translator that takes the standardized information from the clipboard application and translates the vCard and vCalendar information into a format that is native to the corresponding target application, e.g., electronic address book and calendar applications. Additionally, the present invention discloses a method and system for exporting directory and calendar information by translating record entries from the databases of the address book and calendar applications of particular native formats to corresponding standardized vCard and vCalendar formats and exporting the standardized information via electronic mail.

Method and apparatus for importing and exporting directory and calendar information to and from personal information management applications

A method and apparatus for automatic power-up and power-down of an electronic device is disclosed. More specifically, an electronic device may be automatically powered-up in response to removal of a user interface object from a portion of a housing of the electronic device. The electronic device may be placed in a power conservation mode when the user interface object is placed in the portion of the housing of the electronic device. The electronic device may include a cover operable to cover a display device of the electronic device, where the electronic device may be automatically powered-up in response to uncovering the display device. The electronic device may be placed in a power conservation mode when the display device is covered by the cover.

Method and apparatus for automatic power-up and power-down of an electronic device

Palmtop computer expansion using shared memory access

Embodiments of this invention provide for a portable computer that determines whether an accessory device is actively connected to it. In one embodiment, the portable computer may include a signal line accessible through an output of the portable computing device. The signal line may be connected to a communication device such as a communication cradle. The portable computer may detect a signal on the signal line to determine whether the communication device is actively connected to the portable computer. If the communication device is actively connected, the portable computer suspends implementation of a time-out feature that would otherwise reduce power consumption of the portable computer.

System and method for detection of an accessory device connection status

A method and system of automating two-way beaming of information from one handheld electronic device to another handheld electronic device. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system for selectively transmitting business cards, calendar appointments or executable programs from one device to a requesting device. The receiver makes the selection of a response. The receiver accepts the information, accepts and automatically transmits information of the same category, or rejects the information based on a user choice. If the user select the receive and transmit option, the device will automatically receives and file the information and sends information of the same category to the initiator of the transmission. The two-way transmission of information appears as one integral transmission between the users. In one embodiment, the data to be exchanged is business cards and the devices are handheld computer system.

Method and apparatus for selective and automatic two-way beaming of related information to and from personal information management systems

A method and system for automatic power-up and automatic power-down of a computer system based on the position and/or rotation of an associated stylus and/or hinge. In one embodiment, the computer system is a portable computer having a logic board, a display screen, a digitizer and a receiving slot for an associated stylus. When the stylus is removed from the receiving slot, a switch automatically turns full power onto the computer system thereby allowing a user full use of the computer without requiring an on/off button to be pressed. When the stylus is inserted back into the receiving slot, the switch automatically returns the computer to a power reduction mode where one or all of the components of the computer are powered down. Again, the power reduction mode is entered without requiring the user to press the on/off button. The switch can be made of a single detector or a dual detector combination and can be of a mechanical, electro-magnetic, optical or electrical nature. In another embodiment, the stylus-based automatic power-up and power-down features work in concert with other power-up and power-down mechanisms of the computer, such power-on interrupts, the on/off button, and time-out power off modes. In another embodiment, the stylus is a hinge attached to a cover that can be rotated to protect the computer or rotated away to use the computer. When rotated to cover, the switch automatically powers down the computer. When rotated out for computer use, the switch automatically powers up the computer.

Growing community of inventors

Milpitas, CA, United States of America

Neal A Osborn