System using a living body as a transmission medium

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, comprising:

• a computer readable program code for detecting contact between the hand of a user and a pointing device, the pointing device being further coupled to a computing device;
• a computer readable program code for transmitting an initialization message to the pointing device through a first electrode in contact with the hand of the user;
• a computer readable program code for receiving a confirmation message from the pointing device establishing a communication link through a second electrode in contact with a conductive surface;
• and
• a computer readable program code for communicating information over the communication link by sending information through the first electrode and receiving information from the second electrode, wherein the pointing device converts the information to a communication medium suitable for the computing device.

A method, comprising:

• receiving an initialization message from a portable computing device coupled through the hand of a user to a first electrode on a pointing device in contact with the hand of the user;
• sending a confirmation message to the portable computing device establishing the connection through a second electrode in contact with a conductive surface;
• and
• communicating information to the portable computing device by receiving information through the first electrode in the pointing device and sending information from the second electrode in the pointing device, wherein the pointing device converts the information to a communication medium suitable for the portable computing device.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium, comprising:

• a computer readable program code for receiving an initialization message from a portable computing device coupled through the hand of a user to a first electrode on a pointing device in contact with the hand of the user;
• a computer readable program code for sending a confirmation message to the portable computing device establishing the connection through a second electrode in contact with a conductive surface;
• and
• a computer readable program code for communicating information to the portable computing device by receiving information through the first electrode in the pointing device and sending information from the second electrode in the pointing device, wherein the pointing device converts the information to a communication medium suitable for the portable computing device.

A system, comprising:

• a portable computing device coupled to the arm of a user;
• a stationary computing device;
• and
• a pointing device coupled to the stationary computing device;
• the portable computing device sensing, through at least one of two electrodes in the portable computing device, an electrical coupling to the pointing device;
• the portable computing device further transmitting an initialization message to the pointing device through a first electrode in contact with the hand of the user;
• the pointing device receiving the initialization message through an electrode in the pointing device that is contact with the user, and further sending a confirmation message back to the pointing device through a second electrode in contact with a conductive planar surface;
• the portable computing device further receiving the confirmation message from the pointing device establishing a communication link through a second electrode in contact with the conductive planar surface;
• and
• the portable computing device further communicating information for the stationary computing device over the communication link by sending information through the first electrode and receiving information from the second electrode, wherein the pointing device converts the information to a communication medium suitable for the computing device.