Data communication method
AssigneeZarlink Semiconductor Inc.
InventorMarcus Richard Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communications system comprises a PDA and a Bluetooth peripheral device. The Bluetooth peripheral device is connected to the PDA by a data channel. The Bluetooth peripheral device enables the PDA to communicate with remote data networks using the Bluetooth wireless protocol. The system is configured to operate according to an algorithm that enables the Bluetooth peripheral device to enter an ultra-low power mode in which a receiver associated with data transfer can be disabled when no data is required to be transmitted. Data loss is prevented through the use of a hardware handshake mechanism that stops the PDA from sending data while the Bluetooth peripheral device is in the low power mode. Latency in the PDA responding to a change in handshake signals is provided.
Claims20
A method of transferring data from a host communications device to a peripheral device over a data channel, the peripheral device including a receiver for processing received data, the method comprising the steps of:
- (i) monitoring the amount of data being transferred from a host communications device to a peripheral device over a data channel;
- (ii) determining when the amount of data being transferred over the data channel is at, or below, a predetermined amount;
- (iii) disabling a receiver within the peripheral device in response to a determination that the amount of transferred data is at, or below, the predetermined amount;
- and
- (iv) re-enabling the receiver within the peripheral device when data is able to be transferred to the peripheral device.
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for managing the transfer of data from a host communications device to a peripheral device over a data channel, the peripheral device including a receiver, said program comprising:
- computer readable instructions for monitoring the amount of data being transferred from a host communications device to a peripheral device over a data channel;
- computer readable instructions for determining when the amount of data being transferred over the data channel is at, or below, a predetermined amount;
- computer readable instructions for disabling a receiver within the peripheral device in response to a determination that the amount of transferred data is at, or below, the predetermined amount;
- and
- computer readable instructions for re-enabling the receiver within the peripheral device when data is able to be transferred to the peripheral device.
A peripheral device for receiving data from a host communications device over a data channel, the peripheral device comprising:
- a receiver for processing received data;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- (i) monitor the amount of data being transferred from the host communications device;
- (ii) determine when the amount of data being transferred is at, or below, a predetermined amount,
- (iii) disable the receiver in response to the amount of transferred data being at, or below, the predetermined amount;
- and
- (iv) re-enable the receiver when data is able to be transferred to the peripheral device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.