Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Timex Corporation

Philip S Brzezinski

Neil Scott Fishman

Thomas J Dvorachek

Victor E Shiff

J Mark Miller

A system and method is provided for remotely and optically programming a portable information device, such as a programmable watch, using a visual display device, such as a CRT monitor. The monitor displays a sequence of changing optical patterns used to optically transmit a serial stream of data. The optically programmable watch has an optical sensor which detects the sequence of optical patterns to optically receive the data stream. The optical patterns transmit machine-readable information that can be detected by the optical sensor, but no meaningful information to a user. The visual display device therefore also displays a human-readable image that explains to a user the sequence of optical patterns being used to transmit the data stream. The human-readable image is displayed in a manner that renders it undetectable by the optical sensor of the programmable watch.

System for remotely programming a portable information device using

The invention includes systems and methods for calibrating bit transmission rates in a computer system which uses selected raster lines of a frame-scanning display device for serial data transmission to an external receiving device. A system in accordance with the invention includes a data processor and a frame-scanning display device having a total number of available raster lines per display frame. The computer also has an internal timer which is set to generate timing signals at a predetermined frequency. The data processor is programmed to count the number of timing signals and the number of frame scans of the frame-scanning display device which occur during a selected measurement period. The selected measurement period is preferably defined by the occurrence of a predetermined number of frame scans. The data processor is further programmed to calculate a frame scan period of the frame-scanning display device based upon the predetermined frequency of the timing signals, the predetermined number of timing signals, and the number of frame scans counted while counting the predetermined number of timing signals. The frame scan frequency is used to determine the correct spacing of the data transmission raster lines relative to each other within the total number of available raster lines. This spacing establishes a desired serial transmission bit rate to the external receiving device.

Calibrating data transmission line spacing on a frame-scanning display

Method and apparatus for synchronizing the data transfer rate for downloading data from a cathode ray tube (CRT) adapted for transmission of serial data bits as light pulses appearing as spaced lines on the CRT to a portable information device having a photosensor which receives and stores binary coded data corresponding to the light pulses at a fixed pulse reception rate. The CRT displays a calibration pattern of spaced horizontal lines, which is transmitted to the portable information device where it is repetitively compared to a stored calibration character. An acceptable error free transmission is signaled by a preselected number of matches. An audible signal indicates that the transmission rate is acceptable. The CRT pattern line spacing is adjusted until the audible signal is heard. The selectable pulse repetition rate may be automatically changed in increments by periodically changing the separation between lines on the CRT until an audible output signal is heard and providing for an operator to halt the automatic process. Alternatively, the pulse repetition rate may be manually changed in increments by an operator, until an audible output signal is heard.

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Middlebury, CT, United States of America

Philip S Brzezinski