US5801664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for transmitting data from a computer to a portable information device using RF emissions from a computer monitor
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1996-02-12
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2016-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A data transmission system includes a programmable portable information device, a frame-scanning graphics display device (e.g., a CRT monitor), and a display device controller (e.g., a personal computer). The display device controller supplies pixel data to the frame-scanning graphics display device which causes the display device to depict a particular changing optical pattern. To display the particular pattern, the frame-scanning graphics display device inherently fluctuates in energy output as different pixel intensities require different degrees of power. As a result, the frame-scanning graphics display device effectively emits an RF carrier signal. The programmable portable information device is equipped with an RF receiver that can receive the RF signal from the display device when the programmable portable information device is within a transmission range. The RF carrier signal is modulated to carry programming data to the portable information device. The portable information device demodulates the RF signal to obtain the digital data stream.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert B. Seidensticker
- 👤 William E. Kim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A data transmission system, comprising: a programmable portable information device having an RF receiver; a frame-scanning graphics display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns; a display device controller connected to cause the frame-scanning graphics display device to depict a particular changing optical pattern that produces energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device, the energy fluctuation defining an RF signal representing a digital data stream that can be detected by the RF receiver when the programmable portable information device is within a transmission range; and the portable information device receiving the RF signal to obtain the digital data stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A data transmission system, comprising: a programmable portable information device having an RF receiver; a frame-scanning graphics display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns; a display device controller connected to cause the frame-scanning graphics display device to depict a particular changing optical pattern that produces energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device, the energy fluctuation defining an RF signal representing a digital data stream that can be detected by the RF receiver when the programmable portable information device is within a transmission range; and the portable information device receiving the RF signal to obtain the digital data stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the framescanning graphics display device comprises a CRT monitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display device controller comprises a personal computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the portable information device comprises a programmable watch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the transmission range is approximately 2-3 feet or less.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the digital data stream comprises programming data to program the portable information device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display device controller supplies pixel data to the frame-scanning graphics display device to define the particular changing optical pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display device controller causes the frame-scanning graphics display device to vary pixel intensities during depiction of the changing optical pattern to produce the energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display device controller causes the frame-scanning graphics display device to alternately turn on or turn off pixels during depiction of the changing optical pattern to produce the energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display device controller causes the frame-scanning graphics display device to emit an RF carrier signal at a selected frequency and to modulate the RF carrier signal using the digital data stream.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 10 wherein the RF carrier signal is modulated using amplitude modulation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 10 wherein the selected frequency is a multiple of a line scan rate of the frame-scanning graphics display device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 10 wherein the portable information device has a demodulator coupled to the RF receiver to demodulate the RF carrier signal and extract the digital data stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
A data transmission system, comprising: a programmable portable information device having an RF receiver; a frame-scanning graphics display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns; a display device controller connected to supply pixel data to the frame-scanning graphics display device to define the particular changing optical pattern, the pixel data causing the frame-scanning graphics display device to vary pixel intensities during depiction of the particular changing optical pattern to produce energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device which emits an RF carrier signal at a selected frequency and modulated according to a digital data stream; and the portable information device receiving the modulated RF carrier signal when the programmable portable information device is within a transmission range, the portable information device further having a demodulator to demodulate the RF carrier signal to obtain the digital data stream.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
140 words
A data transmission system, comprising: a programmable portable information device having an RF receiver; a frame-scanning graphics display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns; a display device controller connected to supply pixel data to the frame-scanning graphics display device to define the particular changing optical pattern, the pixel data causing the frame-scanning graphics display device to vary pixel intensities during depiction of the particular changing optical pattern to produce energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device which emits an RF carrier signal at a selected frequency and modulated according to a digital data stream; and the portable information device receiving the modulated RF carrier signal when the programmable portable information device is within a transmission range, the portable information device further having a demodulator to demodulate the RF carrier signal to obtain the digital data stream.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 14 wherein the frame-scanning graphics display device comprises a CRT monitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 14 wherein the RF carrier signal is amplitude modulated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A data transmission system as recited in claim 14 wherein the selected frequency is a multiple of a line scan rate of the frame-scanning graphics display device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer system for transmitting data to a remote programmable portable information device, the computer system comprising: a frame-scanning graphics display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns; and a display device controller connected to cause the frame-scanning graphics display device to depict a particular changing optical pattern that produces energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device, the energy fluctuation defining an RF signal representing a digital data stream that can be detected by the programmable portable information device when the programmable portable information device is within a transmission range.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer system for transmitting data to a remote programmable portable information device, the computer system comprising: a frame-scanning graphics display device to display a sequence of changing optical patterns; and a display device controller connected to cause the frame-scanning graphics display device to depict a particular changing optical pattern that produces energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device, the energy fluctuation defining an RF signal representing a digital data stream that can be detected by the programmable portable information device when the programmable portable information device is within a transmission range.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A computer system as recited in claim 18 wherein: the frame-scanning graphics display device comprises a CRT monitor; and the display device controller comprises a CPU that is programmed to supply pixel data to the frame-scanning graphics display device to define the particular changing optical pattern.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer system as recited in claim 18 wherein the display device controller causes the frame-scanning graphics display device to vary pixel intensities during depiction of the changing optical pattern to produce the energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer system as recited in claim 18 wherein the display device controller causes the frame-scanning graphics display device to alternately turn on or turn off pixels during depiction of the changing optical pattern to produce the energy fluctuation in the frame-scanning graphics display device.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for transmitting data from a computer monitor to a portable information device, the portable information device being equipped with an RF receiver, the method comprising the following steps: displaying a pattern on the computer monitor that produces energy fluctuation in the computer monitor, the energy fluctuation defining an RF signal representing a digital data stream; receiving the RF signal at the portable information device when the portable information device is within a transmission range; and extracting the digital data stream from the RF signal at the portable information device.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for transmitting data from a computer monitor to a portable information device, the portable information device being equipped with an RF receiver, the method comprising the following steps: displaying a pattern on the computer monitor that produces energy fluctuation in the computer monitor, the energy fluctuation defining an RF signal representing a digital data stream; receiving the RF signal at the portable information device when the portable information device is within a transmission range; and extracting the digital data stream from the RF signal at the portable information device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 22 wherein the transmission range is approximately 2-3 feet or less.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising the step of programming the portable information device using the digital data stream.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising the step of varying pixel intensities during display of the pattern on the computer monitor to produce the energy fluctuation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising the step of alternately turning on or turning off pixels during display of the pattern on the computer monitor to produce the energy fluctuation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising the following additional steps: displaying a pattern on the computer monitor that causes the computer monitor to emit an RF carrier signal at a selected frequency; and modulating the RF carrier using the digital data stream.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 27 further comprising the step of modulating the RF carrier signal according to amplitude modulation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 27 wherein the selected frequency is a multiple of a line scan rate of the computer monitor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 27 further comprising the step of demodulating the RF carrier signal to extract the digital data stream.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |