GB2394578A

GB2394578A - A personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card with a device for coupling it to a computer communicating at a different baud rate.

Info

Publication number: GB2394578A
Application number: GB0400449A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul R Bartholomew; Mark M Todorovich
Original assignee: Xircom Inc
Current assignee: Xircom Inc
Priority date: 1999-08-05
Filing date: 1999-11-16
Publication date: 2004-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-16
Also published as: GB0400450D0; GB0400449D0; GB0400451D0; GB2394579B; GB2394579A; GB2394580B; GB2394578B; GB2394580A

Abstract

A personal information device system, comprising: ```a personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card; ```a PCMCIA I/O port at one end of the personal information device; ```a docking station having a PCMCIA connector adapted to be coupled to said PCMCIA port of said personal information device, and a serial connector adapted to be coupled to an I/O port of a computer; ```a docking station controller in said docking station and coupled to said docking station's PCMCIA connector and serial connector, said docking station controller being operable to receive a serial transmission at a first baud rate supplied by a computer coupled to the serial connector of said docking station, and to supply a serial transmission at a second baud rate to said personal information device coupled to said PCMCIA connector of said docking station, said first and second baud rates being different; ```a memory in said personal information device; and ```a personal information device controller in said personal information device, said personal information device controller being coupled to said memory and to said PCMCIA I/O port of said personal information device, said personal information device controller being operable to receive the serial transmission supplied from said docking station and to store data represented in said serial transmission in said memory.

Description

GB 2394578 A continuation (74) Agent and/or Address for Service: J A Kemp

& Co. 14 South Square, Gray's Inn, LONDON, WC1R 5JJ, United Kingdom

I PERSONAL INFORMATION DEVICE SYSTEM

3 The present invention relates to a personal information device system, e.g., an electronic organizer, in combination with a docking station for coupling the personal information device to a computer's serial port and for converting the baud rate of signals supplied thereto so as to allow a personal information device and a computer I O corrnunicating at different baud rates to communicate with one another.

90 Recently, there has been a trend to develop and utilize compact and pocket-size electronic devices. such as compact computers (notebook; computers), compact electronic personal organizers, compact electronic dictionaries. compact electronic encyclopedias, and so on. As such devices become smaller in size, various problems result, including a reduction in the ease 5 of their operation due to, for example. reduced- sized keys, reduced-sized displays and/or reduced number of keys thereon.

Recent developments have attempted to overcome this problem as well as other problems that are inherent in compact and pocket-sized electronic devices. For example, many compact electronic personal organizers are now equipped to communicate with a personal computer.

wherein a user enters various data e.g.. telephone numbers. appointments, etc., into the computer which then transmits or downloads that entered data to the compact electronic personal organizer for storage therein. This technique provides two advantages over previous devices. Data is more easily entered with a full sized keyboard than vith a reduced-size keypad. Data is entered only once to utilize organizer programs running on both the personal computer and the compact electronic personal organizer.

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:; 1 -While che above-merltioned and other developmens have produced mo're user friendlY., '.. '.

-.: . Sier lo se md mOre sop iscated. compac: ore ie s; ere s l 's a r eed for a per or. 2 ',. ',' , ., informacion deviceT e.a., an eleclroric persorl orgarlizer. <hac is.Yec smaller. irl size:han eisuns:; -: . '; - devces and easier o.use. 'and,which is desimed o allow for easier developrnen:,of sodware-: ': ' '., driven fearur.es rherein. There also is a need co l?rovde acces50nes fcr use wih chese persorai '.,. '., ... '. inforrnacion devices rha: make such devices even easier ro use.: - '.;' '.' :..: :... .

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5 In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a docking station and corresponding method are provided for coupling and providing for data communication between a personal information device communicating at a first baud rate and a computer communicating at a second baud rate different from the first baud rate. The docking station includes a PCMCIA port adapted to be coupled to a 10 PCMCIA LO port of the personal information device, a serial connector adapted to be coupled to an I/O port of the computer, and a controller coupled to the PCMCIA port and the serial connector and operable to supply and receive data to and from the personal information device and the computer via the PCMCIA port and the serial connector. When serial data is to be supplied from the computer to the personal 15 information device, the controller receives a plurality of framed bytes supplied by the computer wherein each bit of each framed byte is received at a respective time or instruction cycle of the controller, buffers selected ones of the bits of each respective framed byte, adds a bit of predetermined value to each framed byte, and serially supplies to the personal information device via the PCMCIA port each of the bits of a 20 respective framed byte along with the added bit of the respective framed byte, each of the supplied bits of the respective framed byte being supplied at a respective time or instruction cycle of the controller.

-3

-4 According to the present invention there is provided a personal information device system, compnsmg: a personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card; a PCMCIA VO port at one end of the personal information device; 5 a docking station having a PCMCIA connector adapted to be coupled to said PCMCIA port of said personal information device, and a serial connector adapted to be coupled to an VO port of a computer; a docking station controller in said docking station and coupled to said docking station's PCMCIA connector and serial connector, said docking station controller being operable to receive a 10 serial transmission at a Dust baud rate supplied by a computer coupled to the serial connector of said docking station, and to supply a serial transmission at a second baud rate to said personal information device coupled to said PCMCIA connector of said docking station, said first and second baud rates being different; a memory in said personal information device; and 15 a personal information device controller in said personal information device, said personal information device controller being coupled to said memory and to said PCMCIA VO port of said personal information device, said personal information device controller being operable to receive the serial transmission supplied from said docking station and to store data represented in said serial transmission in said memory.

20 In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a docking station and corresponding method are provided for coupling and providing for data communication between a personal information device communicating at a first baud rate and a computer communicating at a second baud rate different from the first baud rate. The docking station includes a PCMCIA port adapted to be coupled to a PCMCIA I/O port of the personal information device, a serial connector 25 adapted to be coupled to an LO port of the computer, and a controller coupled to the PCMCIA port and the serial connector and operable to supply and receive data to and from the personal infonnation device and the computer via the PCMCIA port and the serial connector. When serial data is to be supplied from the computer to the personal information device, the controller receives a plurality of framed bytes supplied by the computer wherein each bit of each framed byte is received at a 30 respective time or instruction cycle of the controller, buffers selected ones of the bits of each respective framed byte, adds a bit of predetermined value to each framed byte, and serially supplies to the personal information device via the PCMCIA port each of the bits of a respective framed byte along with the added bit of the respective framed byte, each of the supplied bits of the respective framed byte being supplied at a respective time or instruction cycle of the controller.

: l:..: 1. BRIEFDESCRIPTIOOFTH:E: DRAWINGS:..:

-. - - -:

: The following detailed descnprion. riven by we, of exernple and not intended to limit the i::.

present invention solely thereto, will tees: be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying ........

drawings. wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts. in which: - FIGS. 1 is a schematic illustration of personal information device IO, to which the present invention can be applied ' i Figs. 2A-9l are.exemplary displays of the various orgarn?er features of personal: . 10 information device 10;.

. . Fig. 3 is a block diagram of personal information device 1 G; ..: Fig. 4 is a data structure of dual-ported memory 9; .. 15 Fig. 5 is a data structure of another dual-ported memory 22; ...... _,

Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of docking elation 50 having personal irlfcrrnation device -: 0 10 coupled thereto in accordance with the present invention; -:.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of docking station 50 of the present n,enion; Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of the coupling of personal information device 10 via: i' .. docking station 50 to a host computer; . 35 Fig. 9 is an exemplary schematic illustration of a wallet 70 having personal information device 10 inserted therein: -.

Fig. l O is another illustration of wallet 10; Fig. I I is a Archer illustration of wallet 70 having personal information device I O inserted i O Therein: Figs. l9A and I oB are schematic diagrams of exemplary induction circuits.of wallet 70 and personal information device 10: and Fi. 13 schematically illustrates the operation of the touch-pad of wallet 70.

i::: ::;; l The personal information device illustrated in the drawings is a micro-sized device | that has the form of a PCMCL4 card and that includes therein an LCD display screen and navigation bunons. As will be discussed. the person inforrnanon device (PID) provides various organizer or other Apes of fearures to a:user and malt be inserted vihin a PCMCIA port (also identified as a PC-card slot) of a personal Ccmpuler for downloading of various information from the computer lo the perscrl inforrnaion device. Also. arid as will be discussed. the personal I 0information device may communicate with a personal computer via a docking station. The personal information device as described herein is an electronic - personal organizer having various organizer features and functions and, thus, is also identified herein as an organizer. However, the personal information device, may - embody functions and features that are no: considered to be so-called organizer functions and.

thus. the present invention is not to be limited to elec rorlic organizers. ' Referring now to the drawings, Fig. I is an exemplary illustration of a 1 persona! ?0 information device 10 1 As shown, personal information device loins a P. CMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) compatible form factor . and includes a fla: parcel display 1 ?, for example, an LCD display screen. various buttons 14 and .. - a PCMCIA port 16. Display I and buttons 14 are within the for factor of the PCMCIA card S and, thus, personal inicrrnation device 10 having such display and buttons may' tee inserted into A r the PCMCIA port of a personal computer. During 'standard" operation of the personal information device, that is, when the device is not coupled to a computer. various organizer features are provided to a user. For exarnpLe, and as shown on display I of the ecemplarv O illustration of Fig. 1. the various organizer features may be provided in the form of a menu having selectable entries therein.' In the exemplary embodiment the various organizer features of personal information device lO include a scheduLe, 'appontrnent calender. a telephone directory. a Ho do'' list. a memo holder, various time clocks and user customization. with each organizer function having a respective icon on the displayed menu. Using the appropriate input "' buttons 14. the user selects any one of the displayed icons to implement the corresponding organizer feature. and upon selection of an organizer feature. a sub-menu or other display is - :.. -6

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I - provided.

Figs. 7a-tf are exemplary displays of the six exemplary orcaluzer features Mat may be -. selected. Fig. ha is depraved upon selection of the calendar icon inthe main menu of Fig. -1. Fig. fib is displayed upon selection of the card file for Rolodex)) icon Fig 2c is displayed upon selection of the To do ' list icon. Fig. 2d is displayed upon selection of the memo icon. and Fig.; Be is displayed upon selection of the clock icon. Fin Of represents a user customizatio n menu and is displayed uponselection of the toolkit icon.

As! . shown in Fig. 1. buttons 14 includes a main menu or "home" button 1 4a a view burton 1 4b. an . .. edit button 14c. a select button 14d, art up/lef cursor movement button 14e and a downinght cursor movement burton 1 4f. In general. depression of home burton 1 4a operates lo display the "home' screen (Fig. I), that is. returns the user to the home screen from any other displayed screen. Depression of view button 14b causes a menu of currently available options lo be displayed. Depression of edit button 1 4c causes enrrv into and exit jurors the edit mode of the O present invention, as further discussed below. Depression of select burton 1 4d operates to select an option. Depression of up/left button 1 he or dowrL/ricrh: burton 1 4f causes the cursor to move in the appropriate direction. For example, when the home page (Fig. I) is displayed, the user can. , press burton 1 4e or 14f until a desired selection is displayed and then press select burton 1 4d. at : 2: which time, a particular OrariZer feature is displayed (e.g. shown in Figs. 2A - Of).

Pressing Edit burton 1 (c causes, entry into an edit i: j mode in which events contacts, to do items quicicnotes. etc. can be created, deleted or modified.

To create a calendar event,,che user initially enters the calendar mode (i.e., displays the calendar 0 shown in Fig. TV) by selecting the calendar shelve in the home page of Fig. l. The user then .. presses edit button I tic lo enter line edit mode at which time a calendar edit menu is displayed...DTD: such as shown in Fig. FIG. The user selects (if not already highlighted) the new event option and presses select burton led. Optionally, another menu then is displayed allowing the user to : ' indicate whether the new event is a recurrin= event. an all-day event, an annual event, and so on.

[Then. an entry display is shown. such as shown in Fig. OH wherein the user utilizes the up/lef: i and doT'ri-ht buttons 1 4e, 1 4f along with select burton 1 Ad to enter text and other information ..

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: i.... d.. A. i. 1 . 1 - '. ' to descrbe-the Everett Further merlus and. submenZ may also be displayed prou'dg other. - -

:... selections periment to'. the entry of a new event.. For examples specific information regarding '.' ' ' recurnug events, such as daysleek, etch may be requested in submenus.. Upon completion of.' '.' i' 5 the events edit buttorl 14ci5 pressed. -'..:.:.. ',.:.

' previously entered event may be edited. ' '::.

. -. (follow-up visit set, revised, rescheduled! canceled, etc.) by first selecting the event to be edited,.: ' (when displayed within the calendar mode) and then pressing edit button 1 4c. Ad edit menu then ' :: is displayed, such as shown in:E:ig. 2I. The desired selection.is highlighted utilizing cursor movement buttons l 4e, 1 4f and. then selected by pressing select button 1 4d.. Further submenus ': ' ' - ' pertinent to the.selected option are provided to. allow a follow-up event to. be entered, to allow; '.: . . ...

the selected eventto be revised in'time, description, etc., or to cancel the currently selected event.

The acove-discussed ability to edit the calender feature by allowing entries to be added,': edited, updated and canceled utilizing only a few bunons, including an edit button, also Is applied.; ' -:.

I to the other orgnwer; features including the telephone directory, the ' to do" list," tbe.:rnern o: : 20'.: holder, time clocks and user custorni?anon. For example, telephone and address entries can be:.' . added, edit or deleted by entering the edit mode (egg;, by pressing edit button bid) while viewing ': the telephone and address book'. Menus and submenus appropriate to the edit mode withm the. ' telephone and address entries tare similar to thos_ mentioned above, except the requested'; i .

......DTD: 25 information is pertinent to telephone and address date: As previously discussed, a single edit button along with cursor movement buttons end' en entry select button allows the user to make entries, revise; entries and delete entries without the need to attach the PID ot'the present invention to a personal computer. Also, edit button 1 4c 30 allows the user to add an entry within a desired organizer function 'and . further allows the user to modify and cancel that entry, as previously described.

The';Reororamrnina" Feature . . , . . Personal information device 10 also includes, the capability of receiving "reprogramming" data from a personal computer coupled thereto and . .....

'. reprogramming itself utilizing tone downloaded data so as to provide new applications to the user ' . .. ....

andlor to update the software currently stored in the personal inforrnahon device. The..

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:. . i: ::: I: -a: I - downloaded applications may include organizer ani/or other applications and features for the;: ..::: my: : end-user, as well as diagnostic code that is generally utilized during the production of the . . application and reprogramming code itself.: :.,. Referring to the block diagram of personal information device 10 shown in F g. 3, ': personal information device. I O includes aprocessor (CPU) 2O, a dual-ported memory 22, a work 10 memory 24, a flash memory 26 and PCMCIA port 16. Though riot shown in Fig. 3, personal .. -: information device 10 further includes display 1 a, buttons 14, previously discussed, and a battery for supplying power to the various components. Dual-ported memory 22 is accessible to processor 20 and also to a computer via a bus 30 and PC&ICIA pert 16 when coupled to personal information device 10. Processor 20 is coupled to worl memory 24, flash memory 26 and dua] ported memory 2o via a bus 28. As shown in Fig. 3, work memory 24 and flash memory 26 are not extemalJy accessible. Also, various control signals are provided between processor 20 and 20 the attached computer via lines 32 and PCMCIA port 16.

Personal information device I O is operable to cornmuucate with a host computer in one of two ways. When the host computer includes a PCMCIA port or slots and since personal , information device 10 is a PCMCIA card, the personal information device may simply be i::.

: 25 inserted into the computer's PCMCIA port. Insertion of personal information device I O into the computer's PCMCIA port is identified herein as the direct connection method. If, however, the - host computer does not Include a PCMCIA port, the docking station of the present invention is - utilized tO couple personal information device 10 tO the computer. As will be discussed, the 30 docking station includes a PCMCIA slot into which personal information device I O is inserted and a serial connector for connection to the serial port of the computer.

: The reprogTamr.ung feature carried out in three stages, a dovuloading stage, an installation stage and a reprogramming stage, and is discussed below with - the assumption that the host computer includes a PCIvlCIA slot into which personal informatiori device I O is inserted. The first or downloading stage involves the downloading of code from a computer to the personal information device. When personal information device 10 is inserted

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1... inro the PCMCIA. port of a host computer and when appropriate application code m the computer '.: - is executed application an reprogmmmg code isdo.wnloaded to dual-poned memory, " under the corral of the host computer. The application code, the reprognmg code and a special. '::-; i.

: data.5ing. which is used to facilitate the installation stage, are. stored in dual-porred memory 27.!; The application code, reprommmg code and.special data string are collectively identified as.

the reproerammmg dam The second or installation stage involves rhe transferring co,vori;.' -: memory 74 of the reprogramming code contained in the reprogramming data stoned in dual . I O ported memory 70. The progarrunmg code is transferred so.that processor 20 can safely execute ..

....DTD: it. The find or reproarnming stage involves the execution of the program ung code stored in. -:..:

word; memory SO which, in turn programs flash memory 26, as discussed below. Upon. ' completion ofthe reprograrslrning stage, the repro,, rarrlrning code passes eYeCUIion to Ih: newly ulscalled application code in the flash memory..-.; The Downloading stage -.; During the downloading smoke, the reprogramming data is cLowriLoaded from the arrached: host computer and stored m.dual-,eorted memory 22. Ln.the direct connection method, that is,. i;.

when personal: information device 10 is inserted iMo the PCMCIA port of the host computer, the ... : - host computer addresses dual-porced memorY 7 as ir,vould during nortnal communications with personal inforr.nation device 10 and stores the reprograrrlrnina data in.dual-ported memory 22.

5 When a docking station is used serial cornrnuricaion device driver sofr,vare within processor 90 utilizes several pins of PCMCIA connector L 6 as serial comrnurucacions Lines. and. : . . using an established protocol, the driver stores the reprogramrrling data (serially ransmicted. .: . . - discussed below) in dual-ported memory 72.

The reprogramung data is stored at the address locations in dual-porled memory, 3 in the manner shown in Fig. 4. As shown, a "Code Update" erring of the reprogramming data is stored ac a pre-defined address location, the reprogramming . code i5 stored at another pre-deFned address location following (or nor pre-defned location but immediately following) the code update string, and the new application code (also calied flash .... application code) to be installed into flash memory 6 is stored at a further pre-defned address location following (or nor pre- defned location but immediately following) the reproerarnc ing . . -10- :: :

: :::: -.

:': I code. As previously rnemioned. the code update steno "special data stung) identifies that the data stored in dual-ported memory oo is for reproararmning of flash memory 26 and is utilized .. ..... ...

during the irliation stage - -, --:

-. . While a particular data structure of dual-ported memor 22 is shown in Fig. 4. other structures are possible. For example, Fig; discloses a structure wherein a reprogramming -: header stored at a pre-defined address location identifies the address locations at which the reprogramming data and the new application code are stored. In this structure, greater fle.xiblirv'; 10 is achieved by utilizing (e.g during downloading) only ha: memory of dual-ported memory 22 that is necessary For example, user data that is stored in dual-porled memory 99 (prior lo the initiation of the reprogramming feature) may be retained (i.e., not overwritten during the 1: downloading s ace) for furure use by the application software. -

S2iLI vet other data structures are possible. For ecarnple, the reproorarruning and application code may be stored in blocks throughout the memory instead of in contiguous memor. In this instance, dual-pored memory 7 7 is divided into blocks of pre-defined size with :0 each block beginning with a respective block header. Also, the fragmented code in dual-ported memory 72 can be referenced by an expanded reprogng header or by a scan of each block header for a special string. - ' : The Installation Staze US When the reprograrrunino data is stored in dualporled memory 27, the installation stage begins wherein the reprogramming code is transferred by processor 70 to work memory 24. As: !:. ':

previously mentioned work memory 24 is not accessible via PCMCIA connector l 6. Thusr world . memory 74 is protected from subsequent downloading of data (write operationsj by the host 30 computer thereby providing the desired result that the reproorarnming code stored in word; memory 74 cannot be overwritten by the host computer during its execution.

The installation stage does not begin until personal inforrnarion device 10 card is removed from the computer s PCivICIA slot. The disconnection of personal information device from the host computer causes an interrupt co processor JO (via lines -,0) which. in rum. initiates a routine within processor 70 that controls processor 20 to determine if reprograrorning data has been newts, downloaded into - 1 1

: : :: : i::: . I:::

: I du-poiled memory ". If the 'Code Update" suing is stored at the predefed address within;.

dual-ported memory 71,.processor 20 transfers (installs) the reproamming. data stored in dual pored merncrY to work memory 24. at which time. the installation stage is complete.

:. Alternatively, i, processor 70 periodically pol15. . i..

d71-ported memory 97.to. determine if reprogammg data is newly dowrlloaded7 forexample, by polling forlhe "Code Update" string. Upon determination that new reprogranuning data-has.

been downloaded. processor 20 transfers the new reprosrarnmino data to work memory 24. In. . 1 l) such a case, lirstallation of reprogramming data into work memory 24 and the subsequent -programming of the flash memory (in the next staged can occur while personal information: device 10 is.still coupled ro the host computer.

15 The Reproerammina Stage -.

Upon installation of the repro.ramrrung data into work memory 24, processor 20 passes execution to the reprogramming code stored in work memory 74 to begin the reprogranuning stage. The reprogramming code, also called the reprogramming application, carries out a multi . 20 step process of first diagnosing the new application code stored in dualporled memory 29, then - erasing flash memory 26. and finally programing flash. memory 26 with the new application code stored in dual-ported memory 22.

Initially, the reprogramming application ascerTarns the integrity of the newly downloaded 25 application code. This may be achieved in any number of ways including, for example, per.forrning, a checksum of the application code. Other diagnostic techniques are well letdown in : the art and therefore are nor discussed herein. If the repro,gramrning application ascertains ermrs in the application code. it may attempt to corTect those errors if the application code also includes appropriate error correction code. If the application code is faulted and not correctable. then the reproGTamrning feature of personal information device I O.errninates thus preserving the older application code stored in flash memory 26. In an alternative embodiment. the diagnostic step is slipped In addition to diagnosing the newly downloaded application code, the status of the power Source (i.e.. battery) is verified to decerrnine if the power source can provide enough power for the personal information device to erase flash memory 26 and subsequently reprogram flash : ' -19

: :

:: :; - a: ::; At;::: I:memorv26 (discussed belong) If ale power sourceluccuresbelo,a predetermined threshold then it is Likely that the reproEramminc feature cannot be performed to completior1 and. tElus. the reproerarnmin fearure is lerrninared at this point (i.e before the flash memory is erased) thereby; S preserving the older application code stored in flash memory 96.: The reprogramming application carries out art erasmc operation of flash memory 26 : However. since the programming algorithm and pro=rarn/erase block size that are utilized to . . erase a flash memory is dependent on the type of flash device that is included within personal I O information device 10. the repro=,ramr.ung code controls processor 70 to (uery flash memory 26 for a Device ID stored therein. Upon ascertaining the device ID of flash memory 26. the ... repro=rarnming application proceeds with the erasing of the flash memory. Since the procedures i: 1.' for erasing various Apes of flash memones are well known in the err further description thereof

is DOt provided herein. Alternatively. art auto-erase type flash memory may be utilized thus obviating the need for the reprogramming application to carry out a separate erase function.

When flash memory 26 is fully erased (alternatively, partially erasedj. controller 20 -..DTD: 20 programs flash memory 26 by transferring theretothe application code stored in dual-ported: memory 29. Once flash memory 26 is programmed with the new application code, the repro=ramrning feature of personal information device I O is complete, at which time, processor, ..... 90 passes execution to the newly installed flash code. In-the presently discussed embodiment, US the newly installed flash code generally will represent user organizer features including, for example. relephoneladdress boot;. memos, and so on. Of course. the flash code may be . diagnostic code that is useful for Me development of organizer functions andlor ether types of : ::' functions. 30 The above-described reprogramming feature is camed out, as previously discussed, by inserting personal information device 10 within the PCMCIA port of a personal computer, downloading reprograrrlrning dale from the c02:puler co dualported memory 29 of personal information device 10. removing personal information device 10 from the computer s PCMCIA porn transferring the reprogramming code within the downloaded data to work memory 24.

executing the reprOgrarTlming code within worl; memory 4 which. in lure, re-prorarns flash memory 96 with the downloaded application code stored in the duaL-porred memory, and upon

:: À:::: i;:::::: :: : .: -:

:: :: I complenonofreprog8 flesh memon 36.passinc execulionto the applicauoncode stored 'I : in flash memory 96.: A.:, ,,.., 1.

Alternatively, the above-lisied "steps" . .. except the last step of passing execution co the application code. is considered to be a single pass wherein a multiple number of "passes are recuired to fully reprogram the flash memory. -

. .....DTD: In this case, flash memory 96 may be rather large in size relative to the size of dual ported memory 99. wherein each "pass causes a different portion of flash memory' 26 to be to-: A; - programmed.

When personal information device L 0 is inserted into the PCMCIA port of host personal - computer a partial arnoum of reprogramrnina data (also identified as a first set of reprogranuning data) is downloaded from the computer to dual-porled memory A. The downloaded first set of I S reprogramming data includes "first" reprogramming code and "first" application code. Personal information device 19 then is removed from the PCMCIA port ofthe host Computer, at which nme. the "first" reprograrnTung code is transferred to worl; memory 24. The 'first": 70 reprogramming code stored in work memory 24 is executed which, in rum, causes flash memory 26 to be partially reprogrammed (and erased, if necessaryj with the "first" application code stored: . . in dual-ported memory 29. Ike cornpleion of this "first" reprogramming of flash memory 26 is said to complete the first pass.

5 After the first pass. a second pass is initiated when the user reinserts personal information : device 10 into the PCMCIA port of the same host computer. at which point, a second set of - - reprogramming dale (including a second reproararnrnin code and a second applica'.ion code) is downloaded from the computer to dual-pored memory 7. Personal information device I O then 30 is again removed from the PCMCIA port of the host computer, at which time, the second reproerarnming code is transferred to work memory a, and executed which causes hash memory 96 to be again partially reprogrammed (and erased. if necessary) with the second application code stored in dual-ported memory Ad. If necessary! third, fourth and even more passes may be carried 3: out if necessary. Upon completion of all the necessary passes, execution is passed to the application code stored in flash memory 96.

In the above-discussed "multiple pass arrangement, flash ' ' ':

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1 memory 6 IS large m size relative to theorEer memory components within personal inronmation;: device 10. By providing for Multiple reproeramnung passes. iE is possible to reprogram a large .... ..

Memory (i.e.. the flashmemory) utilizing a smeller duel-ported memory as well asasmallerwork À. memory.. .,. À.. The DOCkiDO- Station...

In accordance with the present invention. personal information device I O may cortnect to. : . a host computer via a docking station. Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of a docking station 50.. ' 10 having personal information device 10 coupled thereto. Generally, docking station 50 is utilized: when the host computer does not include a PCMCIA port. As shown in Fig. 6, docking station ::: 50 includes a main body 59, a cable 54 and a serial connector 56 attached to the end of cable 54..

1 S Body 59 of the docking station is shaped in such a manner so that personal information device.

10 may be slidable therein. Docking station. 50 also includes a PCMCIA connector 6 thidden in Fio. 6) lo which PCMCIA COnneCIOr 1.6 of personal information device 10 may be coupled.

During its use. docking station 50 receives personal information device 10 in the manner 20 shown in Fig. 6 and is coupled to The host computer's serial port via serial connector 36. In . another embodiment, docking station includes an appropriate connector, in place of serial: À connector 56. that is adapted to couple to the host compuer's parallel port or to another LO port '.

of rue computer, Referring IO the blocs; diagram: of Fig. 7, docking station 50 includes serial ,. :95 connector:6. PCMCIA connector 69, a buffer memory (RAM) 58 and a processor (CPU) 60.

Alternatively. the buffer memory may be contained within processor 60 itself.

Processor 60 (alternatively, memory 58) includes stored therein docking station executable code for carrying out the.baud- rate conversion of the present invention. The executable code 30 also idenrifred herein as the baud rate conversion program or code, provides for a fast and effective. transfer rate between personal inforrnaion device 10 and the host computer. In the preferred embodiment. the baud rate conversation proorarn carries out the fastest serial transfer rare that is possible between the personal irlforrnarion device and the host computer. Generally.

the personal information device of Me presem invention is capable of faster serial communication than typical personal computers. For example. the personal inforrnaion device may have a baud rate of 67.187 K baud while q pical personal computers have a fastest baud rate of 57.6K baud.

-15

., . 1 However. these numbers generally will go up with further developments and cheaper equipment.

Even so. it is desirable for the personal irfo'ma,.ion device t0 to be able to interface with any type of personal computer and, thus. the baud rate conversion prorarn of the presem invention 5 allows for such interfacing. Without baud rate conversion. the host computer and personal information device would have to corrmunicate at the highest common baud mte of, for example, -: . .. 9600 baud.

She docking station in combination with the personal information device and the host: 1 O computer may operate in a first mode in.which baud rate conversion is carried out in docking . - station 50, or in a second mode in which baud rate conversion is not carried out and the host computer and the personal information device are "instructed" to communicate at their highest 1: common baud rate. The application software being executed by the loos'. computer may determine in which of these modes the devices are to operate. In such case, to select the; slow speed mode (i.e. . no baud rate conversions, the host computer 'transmits a zero byte at 1 9.2Kbaud (or less), and to select the "fast" speed mode, the host computer transmits a "FF" at its fast speed 20 of, for example, 57.6K baud. In the slow speed mode, the serially transmitted data simply passes through docking station 50 (i.e., processor 60 simply provides the received serial dale as an : À r output). In the fast speed mode, docking station 50 carries out baud rate conversion in the - manner discussed below.

: ', ':

5 When docking station 50 carries out baud rate conversion in accordance with the present Invention. communication between dockin station 50 and personal information device I O of the: present invention is always carried out at the personal information device's fastest . comrnurLication speed of. for example, 67.1 875K baud (hereinafter 67.0K), and communication 30 between docking station 50 and the host computer is carried out at the computer s fastest communication speed (or a suitably high speed to facilitate the present inventiori) of, for exernple, 57.6K baud. Thus, and referring to Fig. S. when data is transmitted from personal i- information device I O co the host computer. data is first sent from personal irutormation device I O to docking station:0 at the baud rate "A" of 67.'K baud. and then transmitted from docking .. station jO to the host computer at the baud rate "C" of 57.6IC baud. Forransmissions originating from the computer, data is transmitted from the computer to docking station 50 at the baud rate -16

I "C" of 57.6K baud and then transmitted from docking station:0 to personal information device 10 at the baud rate;'B" of 67.9K baud. Mile the "A" and 'B" baud rates are the same communication to docking station 50 from personal information device 10 is distinguished from S communication to personal inforrnarion device 10 from docking station 50 because the bit structure of the transmitted data is different thereberween. as discussed below.

Processor 60 of docking station '0 (in accordance with the baud rate conversion program) Counts instruction cycle times of the 10 individual instructions being executed within the baud rate conversion program and. at the proper times! inputs and\or outputs bits to\from personal information device 10 and the host computer.

That is. each bit of each framed byte' transmitted\received by docking station 50 follows a I previously transmitted received bit by a predetermined a nouns of time since both the transmitting and receiving baud rates are knows. and since the amount of time for an instruction cycle within processor 60 is kno.vn, the time at which a bit is transmitted or received is definable in terms of instruction cycles. In the given example, to maintain the 57.6K baud rate, a bit must be 90 Transmitted or received every 17.36 instruction cycles (for the particular oscillator utilized by processor 60), and to maintain the 67.1 875K baud rate, a bit must be transmitted or received every 14.9 instructions cycles. As discussed herein, a "framed byte" generally includes data bits (e.g., 8 data bits) and other bits to facilitate serial communication (e.g., start, parity and stop bitsj.

25 Table I shown below provides a docking station input/ouput (receiptltransmission) schedule of each bit of a respective framed byte that originates from personal information device 10 and that is supplied to the host computer. Moreover. to facilitate proper baud rate conversion of data supplied to docking station 50 at the 67.18758; baud 0 rate from personal information device 10 to the slower 57.6K baud rate of data transmitted from docking station 50 to the host computer, personal information device 10 transmits for each framed byte an additional two bits (an additional parity bit and an additional stop bit) that are subsequently not utilized by doctcing station 50 and thus not transmitted to the host computer.

3: Additional bits are transmitted from personal information device 10 to docking station 50 so as so effectively slow down the overall byte transfer rate. In the present embodiment. 19 bits are transmitted at the 67.1 87SK baud rate by personal information device 10 and include: a start bit.

:': ::.i::: / ::.:::: :

::: : .:

À:: :::: it.: .

: 1 8 data bits. a parers bit and slop bits. The Dockings station. in turrt. transmits to the host comparer 10 bits: a start bit. 8 data bits and a stop bit.:: . TABLE I: Personal Information Device to ComDuterInDut/Output Schedule: Instruction (:vcle Receive from PID I O Transmit to ComDuter -: : 7 - receive start bit 9. send start bit 22 receive data bit 0 (15).: 26:senddatabit0(I7).::.. : i 7 receive data bit I ( 15).

: 44. send data bit I ( 18) lO: -:. 32 receive data bit;2 (IS) 61 send data bit 2 (17) -..

67 receive data bit i ( 15) 78 send data bit 3 (17) :: 82 receive data bit 4 (15) -

96 send data bit 4 (18) 91 receive data bit 5 ( l 5) 1: - 112. send databitS(16)... 1 13 receive data bit 6 (16).

197. receive data bit 7 (14) . lo I. send data bit 6 (19) doc receive parity bit (due) -

148 send data bit 7 (17).. .

dnc receive 15' stop bit (dnc) 165 send stop bit (17) - 20. dnc. receive 2nd stop bit (due): c: do not care.: ;, Referring to Table 1, a start bit is received from personal information device 10 at instruction cycle 7 which, in turn. causes a start bit to be transmitted to the computer at 5 instruction cycle 9. Processor 60 of the docking station then polls its serial input port at instruction cycle 27 to receive data bit 0, and docking station 50 transrrits data bit 0 to the . . computer at insnuctior cycle 96. The number of cycles that have passed from the previous inpudoutput is shown in parenthesis in Table 1. As shown, there are between 14 to 16 cycles between the occurrence of two successive inputs from personal information device 10. which reflects the l 4.9 instruction cycles per bit at the 67.9K baud rate. and there are between 16 to 19 cycles berveen the occurrence of two successive outputs to the host computer. w hich reflects the . 3 17.36 instruction cycles per bit at the 57.6K baud rate. Furthermore. Table I does not identify the instruction cycles at which the parity and stop bits are received primarily since the times of reception.of these bits are unimportant to the times at which bits are output to the computer.

Finally. received data bits are temporally buffered within docking station SO.when necessary so - 1 ::

:.: :: :: i::': :; : that they may be supplied out at the appropriate instruction cycle. -

When data is transmitted from the host computer via docking station 50 to personal -; irlforrnanon device 10. the baud rate of the transmitted data is increased Mom the computer s..

transmission baud rate of 57.6K baud to the personal information device s reception baud rate: of o7.i 875K baud. In accordance with the present invention! Table 2 shown below provides a docking station inputloutput (receipt/transmission) schedule of each bit the: onginates from the: host computer and that is supplied to personal information device 10. In addition, to facilitate; 10 a proper decrease in baud rate, docking station 50 adds art additional bit to each framed byte supplied by the host computer. In the present embodiment. the host computer supplies to the docking station 10 bits: a start bit, 8 data bits and a StOp bit. which 1 O bits have the same structure as the 10 bit; supplied to the host computer during personal information device to computer 15 communication, discussed above. The docking station transmits to the personal information device 11 bits: a start bit, 8 dare bits, a parity (set) bit and a stop bit. The parity bit in the preferred embodirnen: Is simply a set bit, but may be a reset bit or art actual parity bit.

0 I TABLE If: Computer to Personal Infomnation Device -- InputlOutut Schedule l Instruction Cvcle Receive from Computer Transmit to PID 10..: 4-11 receive start bit.

o6 receive data bit O send start bit 4s receive data bit I ( 11) send data bit O ( 15) 47 send databit l (14) 677 receive data bit (l9) send data bit 7 (16): 78 receive data bit 3 (16) send data bit 3 (15) JO 106 receive data bit 4 (17) send data bit 4 (14) I, I receive data bit ( 18) send data bit 5 ( 15) À 1,O6 receive data bic 6 (17) send data bit 6 (I;! 148 receive data bic 7 ( 18) send data bit 7 ( l 5) iS 166S7 receive stop (I7) send parirs (set) (16) I Referring to Table A. a start bit is received from the 'cost computer sometime between instruction cycle 4 and I I, and then data bit O is receive at instruction cycle 96. The dale bit is - 1 9

I buffered and a start bit is transmitted to personal inforrna,.ion device 10 at inst action cvcie 39.

. Data bits I - 7 and the stop bit are received by docking station 50 at the instruction cycles indicated in the table, and data bits 0 - 7 are transmitted from docking station 50 to personal 5 information device 10 at the instruction cycles indicated. Finail a parity (set) bit is supplied to personal information device 10 at instruction cycle 167, and thereafter a stop bit is transmitted to personal infor nation device 10. In the prefe Ted embodirnen.. the values of the parity and stop bits are the same and. thus. the output. remains the same to supply the stop bit after the parity (set) 10 bill The docking station as discussed above, uses instruction cycles to determine when bits are to be input or output to a connected device. In an alternative . 1: arrangement a timer is utilized wherein the baud rate conversion program provides for receiving or outputting a respective bit at a time that is a function of the tuner value end the baud rate all which the data is input or output. If the timer is reset after receiving/oupUmg each bit, then the timer value itself identifies the passage of time after 20 reception/transmission of the previously input/output bit. If the timer is not reset, then bits are received/output at predetermined timer values. One or more timers may be utilized. In one embodiment. a first timer is provided for received bits and a second timer is utilized for output bits. -25 As discussed above, the personal information device whether or not used in combination with the docking station includes therein the capability of re-programming its own flash memory with new/revised application code. The reprogramming feature provides for safe reprogramming by utilizing a 30 separate work memory that is not accessible to the host computer for reprogramming purposes and by providing a mechanism for veriEving that newly downloaded application code is error free prior to the reprograrruning of the flash memory. In addition, the PCMCIA card design of the personal information device is perfectly suited for mobile use but with advantageously powerful organizer capability. The personal information device s reprogramming feature further provides for easier development of application code. Finally, the docking station allows the personal information device lo interface with a host computer that does not include -90

::: t:;: i::: ::: A:: i:. it: i:: i: -;.. |;. :; ma; a.; a:;. d.:' t:::::: i: i:: -:: À:::-:;:: ::::: : ::::;;;-::::::::::::;.::::: :: i:::,. : I:::: it:' -::;:::.::'::--

.!: ' '.:':,

,'...'' '. ':,, ".. ' ''",.,,',, '' ' ' " ' ' ' '.,.',.:'. '.' '' i' I ' therein a' PCMCIA portly arid' filrher'provides the advantageous feature of allowing the hoer. ':: ' ';. ': ": -,.. ,,.,., -.......

computer to cormnicace with the personal information device at,iu fastest baud rate.., - i:..,' ::., The Wallet..: '.,. .,,.:, -::,. : - 2.:.. Afle. xible wallet. ea a leaer,wlec maybe '.,. ',','. :: ' used us combination with the above-desonbed personal information de.vce. as weLl as with other. i,'-

similar types of devices. Fig q is an exemplary schematic illustration. of wallet 70 having - personal information device i 0 inserted therein. As shown. wallet 70 includes borwm and top, . : -' O halves 70, 74 (or kf right halves. etc.) that may be openedlclosed (represented by 'arrows 'A") , ...

in a wallet" like manner. Bottom half 7o includes a touchpad 80 and optionally may include a. ; serial connector 89 TO which a cable90 may be. coupled (tO be discussed). Top haLf 74,may '.

include a device holder 76 that operates tO hold a personal information device when inserted: ' -therein in the direction shown bv arrow 'B ". Altematively, the device holder may be a so rap or'.: ::,: :orher suitable device that holds the personal information device in place. '. ' ' Referring co Fig lQ, which illustrates wallet 70 withour. the personal information device,. ': ' ' ' coupled thereto. cuff half 74 of vallet,70 includes contact pins 84 which operate t remake contact. ', with, appropriate opposing surfaces on.the back of personal,information device 1.0 for electrical connection thereto. Contact Fins 84 are electrically cormected co rouchpad 80 and operate as the '$: input/ourput terminal of rouchpad 80. Ire one. example, and as will be discussed. personal inforrnacion device}0 via contact pins 84 provides a source of popover co. ' ' ouchpad 80. Contact pins 84 also function as art output. to personal information device 10 by supplying a signal thereto that represents the user input on touchpad 80...DTD: Wallet ? further includes hooks 86 chat assist in holding device I O once inserted, Aiders -

83 that operate to guide device I O into wallet 70 for proper insertion therein. and a snap 89 that maintains wallet 70 in its closed position wit.'n bor,com and top halves 72. 74 touching).

\3fEen personal information device l O is inserted willun wallet 70. such as shown in both.

Figs. 9 and I 1, both the display and the input burcons of device l O. are readable\accessible to the user.,and wallet 70 operates to allows user to input dale and other information inCo device 10 in a number of ways. In Qperaricn. personal information device 10 detects when it is coupled to ... . wallet 70 in any appropriate fashnon. for example. by poLiina its electrical surfaces (that are .... :, '.. ' -91 -. ':

, "..,

::::::::::;:::

i '. .2. ..d..;.: t, I. t. l L 2 À ',!;,. '.. .. '

' % ' ',, 2 ' ' '; '} ' I-

. ; -. ',.,...DTD: I.: ' ' imended lo. make contact Nvith,contact pins 84) for input thereto. by means of an Lulempt or ' ' -'. ' ':.. '.:', -:.,; ' other method- that is know in theft; When c'onnectian to Alec 70.i's.detected., persorinl:".,: . inforrnacon;device] O generally provides. to the user all of the.ncens and fearuIes that are,,. ..

i,. provided when' not cormected lo wallet 70. but further provides various additional features.::.: ,.rucluding., for example, those features That are provided a. the user via the host conputer. as ':-' '...

À '', previously, discussed. Such features include telephone/address 'oook,enrries. note envies, , appointment enmesh and so.on.. - ' ': -;': . ,. In a preferred example: Contact pus,84 as well as OppOsiDg -

À, electrical surfaces on the personal inforrnaian device are not utilized 'end, instead.' i;: ' : -;Cortlrnunication between wallet 70 and personal information device I O is camed out by the use -: - ' ofelecrsmag,neuc nduction, CornTnurlicalionviaeleccro- magneticinductioniscan7ac7lessand, ':' ' ' Thus. external components are urmecessarv for wallet 70to. provide data to personal.infomation i:; ': : device 1.0 and far personal inforrnatian device I O to provide data co wallet 70; In this preferred embodiúnen,, one coil (not shown) is provided within the' personal iforrnanon.d.,evice and one. i 20 ' coil (also not shown). is'providedT for example, on a rigid board such as.a small PC board withir: '.: ::. - ' :.. .....,. -,.

the top half 74 of the wallet. The PC board within the top half of the. wallet may include the ',,;...

necessary,circuitry lo couple the waLletrs coil to louchpad 80. '. - ' '. ' ',.

-.'.: As is appreciated, corurn,nicaion between wallet 7.0 and personal irfo malign device 10 À 23 via elec,;ro-magnecic induction provides various advancages over hard-wired or electrically À - coupled corarnunication (e.g., v a pins 84). Pins are susceptible loo wear and breakage! and-,.: comcnunica7don between the devices is prone lo errors when the metal surfaces are note clean. - ',,...DTD: Moreover exposed elecc.cal contacts often present an elec'ro-scaic discharge ('r-SD) problem JO and generally require that 'here be a tight physical and aligned. connection between the devices À. to ensure proper contact.

.....DTD: :When wallet JO and personal inforrn,alion device 10 are deigned to corrLrnunica'e via .... À. i elec7ro-magneic induction. and note by direct eLeclr.ical con, act, wallet 10 requires its own.power Source (e.g. , barter,v). The!inPul device (i.e.,. touchpad 50) of wallet.iO) remains "off." (Ike.. essentially unpowered) so as lo maximize batlerv life, . . .

...DTD: : unless an attached personal irdOrcnaliOr device is on. WalLet 70 is on" (i.e the input device of .. . ..

À.. 9 9...

:....,.:

À::.'.:: ::.i.:::;:.:::': - -:::::;:' i: -::::::::::::: it::::; .,.d..1 'I -, .- '. J ' ';,.;,.'' ';;'. A- ' :: \:.::; Id:;: -:: :::::::::::.:: :::: :::;:: f: :::::::::: ::;:::: I:::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::':-:;-

:;:.:::

I the À allet is pawered).when the attached personal Formation device Is on Tc wake up' wallet' '', ', 7.0. persori nrormaticn device 10 sends a so-called wake" signal which is. forexampie. a burst.. ',. '.," -,.::. '": on a I OHz.carrier siaL via the induction coils to the wallet., When the Circuitry whir wa let '.,.:, '. ' :.i. 70 detects The lOKHz signal. rouchpad.80 is automatically turned on.' 1L a prferre'd.'.. i' ':,' example, The persor;al information d'evceas desicned.:o send a. so-cailed, "stay awake' signal '..,: : periodically (e.g., every Seconds. every JO secorids. every 60 seconds,' etc.) and wailer 70 is ':.

:, - designed tO. remain awake if the staY awake signal is received periodically. If wallet 70 doesn't. '. '.., 1,0, receive the slay awake, signal within a predecerrnined rime period, the input device (i.e., the,. :. ' '. ': :,.,. -,.-:..

couchpad) of wallet 10 is. de-powered. In this instance, barterv life of the wallet is preserved if,. ',: ', . the personal information device is turned off or if the personal uLforrnauon device u removed..: i. ^ from wallet 70 Once nmed.on. wallet 70 transfers dare serially co personal information device :.10 using, for example. bursts on an.80 Adz carrier. Mine received signal is converted within ':. .

: personal information device IQ to the appropriale,da '. ',. -. ' ':, ... . ..

. Figs. LEA and l?B schematically illustrate exernplarY circuits the: can be utilized \vithin ' '.,. 4. ' '.',.

2'0 Wallet 70 and personal information device lO, respectively. The ouchpad 80 hardware may be. ' . ....... .

coupled,lo a small microcomputer to drive the wallet s coil. and in order to wake the wallet tile...

., touchpad 80). a balldpass. filter (alternalive,ly, a microcontroller) filters out all but the I OKHz ' ' ': '.signal used by the personal in; forcnarion device to signal the: it is.on. Within personal '.'' 2i'.; irorrrlion device I0, circuitry lo drive device I O's induction coil to signal that device I Q is on:: ma\ be bulk into the ASiC of the personal information device. Also circuitry is bull: into the' '.

. ASIC co convert the 80 KHz signal into serial dare:..4 bandpass filter is utilized to filler out all bucche 80 Izsianal. Since theparticularoperations ofthe circuits chosen inFios. lAand l9B are known to one of ordinary still in the art. a detailed description of the operation of these

exemplar circuits is omirced herein. Of course. ocher L;nown. appropnace, circuits may be utilized. In the wallet 70, touchpad 80 may be sill;screened,ih a complete keyboard such as shown in Fins. I O and L i. and thus all entries' that can be made via.a computer keyboard can be made via the key board on touchpad so.

Touchpad 80 may be a pressure sensitive ripe disuLas. However, in the preferred example :-2i-:: ,., -.

::: _...k,-. i.. j jig l- I;; is À: ?

i'.:'W ':::d:;:;:::;-:^:::' i: I:: ,,,,,. ' touchpad 8C 15 a Cirque GlidePon'c touchpad which is based,on '...

",electncal capacitance and which does not.requic pressure or direct Contract Such touchpad. ' '.:':,.' '.; ' - contains a two-laver gnd.,of electrodes which are connected to an integrated circuit mounted on: ' -:,.

. ' the reverse side of the,touchpad. the first (upper) layer concairlLn vertical electrode strips and the,:. ' ','. ' '.

-.. ' Second (lower),layer contair.ung horizontal electrical strips. M, urual capacitance from each of the. , ',, ' :. horizontal electrodes IOeach of the vertical elecrodes.'arid which is modified by the presence of '., :. : a human finger. is measured by the touchpad s Integrated circuit. Fig. 1 i schematically illustrates. '..

the operation of the louchpad; Upon detection of the hr.uman finger. touchpad 80 supplies as an ' ' '' output (via,conacts 84 or electromaeretic induction) the coordinates of the finger position and,,,'.,' the personal information device' identifies. the selected kev- as a function of the supplied....,. ' ., coordinates,,Alterriativelv. touchpad 80 supplies as an output a signal representing a claw value, -.:: .. that identifies,the,-selected key (e.g., i ='"A", 7 = "B", etch.. ' ', Wallet: 70 advantageously allows a user to enter: " ..... .

all.necessary inforr.acion into personal inforrnation.device L0 without he.,need for a host- ' ' '' '.

0 Computer, As shown in Figs. 9-11, wallet 70 is compact and conforms to the shape of personal irlformaion device' L Q thus allowing one co easily utilize wallet 70 in. combination with personal.: ' ' information device l 0' at all times. ',,.. ':. Ouch pad 80 may be replaced 75, With a touchsensitive (pressure sensitive or aLtenaively' noi-pressure sensitive) display that is.. ', . . ....

operable to display an'image (display) thereon in accordance with a signals) (i.e., data) supplied .. . from personal information device 10 thereto via contact pins SW or electromagnetic induction.

In this example, 'the display on the touch-sensicive display varies in accordance with the user 30 selected fimction co facilitate ease of use of chat particular ELnction. For e:campLe, upon user selection of the appointment schedule feature, personal information device I O supplies to wallet 70 an appropriate signal (i.e.. data) so. that a calendar is displayed by the,:couch-sensitive display of wallet 70 and the user simply selects (i.e., touches) that day/date at which an appointment is t o be scheduled. Upon selection of tine' desired day/date, the display of wallet, 70 may then be controlled by,personal ir,vformation device. 10 to display different times of the day (e.o.''9 a.m . . ... lOa.m., ccc.) for selection by the user. Fl,at panel display l1,ofpersonal information device 10 ' - 4 .. ,. :.:

::, it::::,i:;::::: I::::;:::::::::::: I::. -:::::;:::::::::-:::d::::::l A-.. ICIl I;- i- -;: i 'be; ;; \ 7 ' iw : c::::::::;:: l: : :: i.::i.:.i: I: ..!, ' may. dunno Bach' step mentioned above.: provide instructions to the' user as well, as any other.; " ' ,:..:irormation to facilitate ease of use of the device. Wallet 70 mav include a buffer memory for -.... ' '. ': Storm therein the display data supp lied from personal information device 10.' AtternatiYeIY the " i,.,;.,., 5 ' mernorY within wallets mav by anor-voLatile memory haying pre-storedthereindatap,ertaintuc. ',,., ' to plural displays and thus the dispLav data mentioned above that is suppled'from persorial,:,: i: information device 10 may simply identify which of the pre-stored displays wallet 70 is to: ' provide, to the user., :.. ' ' 10 In accordance with a further;; example of wallet 70 touchpad,. ' ' .80 provides for user iriput via drawing with a finger or stylus (i.e. . "irking". The drawn input '..

representing,. for example, a memo or note. may be stored as a graphic Wilshire personal.. ':,' information device lO. Alternatively, personal information device lO includes appropriate ',' ' 'I 13,,,.,,,':,..,:.

I ' recognition software that converts the drawn irlforrnation into text data that is then stored in,,,:-

memory.,,. j '' : In'accordance with yet another example iof wallet 70, Top half: :.. I..; hi:..

Z3, ?4 of wallet 70 includes a PCMCIA connector, for example. within holder 76 shown in'Fig. 9; '. '.;..', - to which the PCMCIA cormector of personal inforr.narion device i O may be,directly coupled.' 'In. ' this embodiment,' wallet 10 generall.v.will, not require contact pins 84 or electrd-macneric... ' i..;' . ... :induction technology..The various power and data' signals are.supplied via the respective- ' ' i' PCivlCIA connectors of wallet JO ancL personal information device 10. The operation of wallet ': ..... 70 having a PCMCL connector may be similar co those examples |previousl,v discussed.

Referring bact; to Fig. 9. and as previously mentioned. wallet 70 may include a serial, connector So to which a cable 40 may be coupled for the purpose of interfacing personal 0 information device 10, when inserted inta wallet 70. to a host computer. Cable 90 may include attached thereto a serial connector or other type o f connector, (not shown) that may be connected.

to the serial or other port of the host computer. Cable SO. may even be ar,tched to a PCMCIA card that can be inserted into the PCMCLA port of the host computer.. S till further. cable 90 may be attached tO a device that functions in a manner similar to that of docking station 30. previously discussed, to carry, out baud rate conversion. When wallet 70 has inserted therein personal information device 10 and,is also couDIed to a host computer, for example, via cable 90', arts, and .. - '...

.......DTD:

:: I al of the previcy Discuses fcarurr. Slav be perfonner including the cowndraiirr Or; reproammm data from the host computer to personal information device 10 and/or the downloading of user-emered data E.g., appointment information address/telephone irforrnarion.

elc.!. in addition' the added capability, of uploading dale from personal inforrrianon device I O :, may be provided since personal information device may include information therein that is entered thereto via wallet 70 and the: is not reflected in the host computer A; Serial i connector 82 of to wailer 70 may be coupled via cable 90 (or other suitable cable) to any one of a number of .. - peripheral devices including. for example. a modem, a facsimile machine, another personal information device. embodying the present invention and so on. I he application code within personal information device-10 inserted within wallet 70 provides the appropriate signals to the attached peripheral device. i While the present invention has been particularly shown and described in conjunction I withpreferred embodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated by those of, ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the, 2 0 j scope of the invention as defined in the claims. | For example, although the present discussion is directed to a device to be used as a ricro-sized personal organizer' the present invention is not limited solely thereto and may applied to devices that perform other functions. Various other devices include pagers, mobile telephones. electronic - 25 maps. safety devices, classroom training devices, etc as well as other devices that may be - ucorporaled within a PCMCIA card or other equivalent and which may be interfaced with a personal computer for downloading of application code and reprograrruning code thereto.

As another example. although the present discussion is directed lo a personal information device m the form of a PCMCIA card. other physical formats may be utilized such as floppy disks. compact disks. magnetic cards. smart cards, etc. As a further e:cample. although specific baud rates of cormnunication have been discussed - herein. the docking elation of the present invention may be utilized to provide for conversion of serially transmitted and received data at other baud rates.

-'6 : :,:

Claims

-27 CLAIMS

1. A personal information device system, comprising: a personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card; 5 a PCMCIA I/O port at one end of the personal information device; a docking station having a PCMCIA connector adapted to be coupled to said PCMCIA port of said personal information device, and a serial connector adapted to be coupled to an I/O port of a computer; a docking station controller in said docking station and coupled to said 10 docking station's PCMCIA connector and serial connector, said docking station controller being operable to receive a serial transmission at a first baud rate supplied by a computer coupled to the serial connector of said docking station, and to supply a serial transmission at a second baud rate to said personal information device coupled to said PCMCIA connector of said docking station, said first and second baud rates 15 being different; a memory in said personal information device; and a personal information device controller in said personal information device, said personal information device controller being coupled to said memory and to said PCMCIA I/O port of said personal information device, said personal information 20 device controller being operable to receive the serial transmission supplied from said docking station and to store data represented in said serial transmission in said memory.