Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-18
2001-05-08
Hjerpe, Richard A. (Department: 2774)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S157000, C345S161000, C463S038000, C463S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229526
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a method and system for data processing and in particular to an improved method and system of user interface to a data processing system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved method and system for simultaneous operation of multiple display control devices, such as a pair of joysticks.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been great interest in providing Internet access at minimal economic cost. While most computers now are pre-configured for Internet access, a significant percentage of households still do not have a personal computer. Thus, it has now been proposed to provide a data processing system that, much like a VCR, may be connected to a television set and used in lieu of a personal computer to provide World Wide Web access through a conventional remote control device associated with the system unit. Such a system enables the television to become, in effect, a “Web” appliance. The viewer can rapidly switch between conventional television and Internet access using the remote control unit. All of the conventional “Internet” access tools and navigational functions are preferably “built-in” to the system and thus hidden to the user.
The remote control unit used to control the Web appliance is battery-powered and will typically include an infrared source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), which cooperates with a phototransistor in a receiver unit to effect the transfer of control signals for the appliance. An infrared control unit, however, is not easily adaptable for use in providing control of computer games, which use joysticks or glove control devices, because many of these games involve multiple players. In particular, multiple infrared remote devices interfere with each other when used in the same physical environment. This problem has sought to be addressed in the prior art by modifying the control units. Thus, for example, one approach to the problem of eliminating interference between control signals from multiple IR devices is to interlace control signals with quiescent periods during transmission. This technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,450. The control signals are received and validated by the receiver based on the quiescent periods. Another approach, illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,227, assigns each control unit with a specific discrete carrier frequency. The receiver includes a switching circuit that is automatically controlled by a digital processor for selectively tuning the receiver to receive information from each control unit separately in a predetermined sequence.
Although these approaches enable the simultaneous use of a pair of infrared joystick devices, they requires specialized circuitry in each control unit as well as complex differentiation circuitry at the receiver. This is undesirable, especially in the context of a Web appliance, where it is a goal to reduce the complexity of the device as well as the machine interaction required by the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a method and system for wireless display control in a personal computer.
It is still another principal object to provide a control system for computer games that includes at least a pair of wireless remote control devices adapted to be used by two (or more) people simultaneously and without interference.
It is a further object of the invention to enhance the control of a data processing system using wireless control devices that are selectively polled from a receiver to obtain control signals useful in controlling display screen objects on a display screen.
Another object of the present invention is to enhance the entertainment value of a computer system by obviating wired IR control devices.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple and cost-effective method for supporting use of multiple infrared control devices in a personal computer.
Yet another more general object is to provide an improved method and system of user interface within a data processing system.
These and other objects are provided in a system for controlling a display of a data processing system. The system comprises first and second wireless position control devices, such as a pair of joystick (or other input) controls, and a control base unit associated with a data processing system, such as a personal computer. The first wireless position control device includes an infrared device transmitter (e.g., a LED) for transmitting a first signal upon which X-Y position and/or other action control signals generated by the device are imposed. A second wireless position control device includes a transducer for transmitting a second signal upon which X-Y position and/or other action control signals generated by the second control device are imposed. The first and second signals may be the same frequency or may have different frequencies. To avoid interference, however, each of the wireless position control devices is normally in a non-transmitting mode of operation and is uniquely identified. Information from a particular control device is obtained by polling the device from a central control source, which is preferably the receiver used in the system. Thus, a particular control device only transmits information to the receiver for use in controlling the display device when it is requested to do so. The polling signals for each of the devices are separated temporally, and thus individual control devices do not interfere with each other even if the devices operate on the same or substantially the same carrier frequency.
In addition, if a particular control device is not being used or polled, its power supply may be reduced to a low power setting to conserve battery supply.
Thus, the control base associated with the data processing system includes appropriate circuitry for generating the polling signals, and for receiving and decoding the first and second signals to generate decoded X-Y position control signals and/or other action control signals. The decoded X-Y position control signals and/or the action control signals are then used to drive the display device. In particular, the position control and action control signals received from the first wireless position control device cause a first action and/or event on the display, while the position control and action control signals received from the second wireless position control device cause a second action and/or event on the display. The first and second actions or events facilitate the play of some multiplayer, interactive game or exercise.
In accordance with a more general aspect of the invention, a method of controlling a display of a data processing system is also provided. According to the method, first and second signals upon which control signals are imposed are selectively transmitted from respective first and second handheld, wireless control devices in response to respective polling signals. Preferably, a given polling signal uniquely identifies only a respective one of the control devices. Control information generated at the device is not transmitted until a polling signal for the device is received. When a polling signal for the particular device is received, the information is transmitted to the receiver, where it is then decoded and used to drive the display device (or some other program or program element).
In particular, the control signals from a particular control device include X-Y position control signals, action control signals, or both. At the receiver, the first and second signals (from the respective devices) are processed to generate display control signals. The display control signals are then used to drive a display device or other element of a data processing system. In this manner, a pair of users of the first and second wireless control devices may interact with each other without interference. To conserve energy, each of the control devices is battery-powered and is also placed in a “powered-down” mode o
Dinh Duc
Hjerpe Richard A.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Judson David H.
LaBaw Jeffrey S.
LandOfFree
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