WO2021150206A1

WO2021150206A1 - Data packets for controlling light sources

Info

Publication number: WO2021150206A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/014351
Authority: WO
Inventors: Irwan Halim; Charles Shaver; Khoa HUYNH
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2020-01-21
Filing date: 2020-01-21
Publication date: 2021-07-29

Abstract

In an example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method may include receiving data from a blink source, sampling the data from the blink source and, based on the sampled data, translating the data from the blink source into data packets for controlling a light source.

Description

DATA PACKETS FOR CONTROLLING LIGHT SOURCES

BACKGROUND

[0001]The emergence and popularity of mobile computing, particularly due to their compact design and light weight, has made computing devices portable. As a result, computing devices, such as thin clients, may be operated in various orientations, for example, according to the preference of users. For example, thin clients may be operated in horizontal or vertical orientations, or even disposed behind a monitor (bezel orientation). In addition to orientation, placement of a thin client may vary as well. For example, in addition to being mounted behind a monitor, thin clients may be disposed in a location away from the user, for example, mounted under a desk or disposed in a drawer. As a result, based on the placement of the thin client, any light indicators on the thin client, for example, along a front panel of the thin client, may not be visible to a user while the thin client is in use. As a result, any information conveyed by the light indicators, such as an error condition, may go unnoticed by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1 illustrates a computing device, according to an example;

[0003] FIG. 2 illustrates a system including a computing device and a peripheral coupled to the computing device via a port, according to an example; and

[0004] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] Examples disclosed herein provide the ability to trigger a light pattern on a peripheral device attached to a computing device. As a result, although the computing device may be disposed in a location away from the user, as mentioned above, light patterns usually illuminated from a light indicator on the computing device may be illuminated on the peripheral device instead, as will be further described. As the peripheral device may be viewable to the user, upon taking notice of any light pattern illuminated on the peripheral device, the user may take any necessary action, for example, if the computing device has encountered an error condition. As an example, the peripheral device may correspond to a universal serial bus (USB) device, such as a keyboard, attached to a USB port of the computing device. As will be further described, a light source on the USB device, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), may display a similar light pattern as found from a light source on the computing device itself.

[0006] With reference to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a computing device 100, such as a thin client, that may be disposed in a location away from a user of the computing device 100, according to an example. As will be further described, although light patterns illuminated on a light indicator of the computing device 100, for example, to indicate an error condition, may not be viewable by the user, such light patterns may be transmitted instead to a light source of a peripheral device attached to the computing device 100 via port 120, which is viewable by the user.

As a result, the user may take any necessary actions as needed, upon viewing the light pattern.

[0007] The computing device 100 depicts a processor 104 and a memory device 106 and, as an example of the computing device 100 performing its operations, the memory device 106 may include instructions 108-114 that are executable by the processor 104. Thus, memory device 106 can be said to store program instructions that, when executed by processor 104, implement the components of the computing device 100. The executable program instructions stored in the memory device 106 include, as an example, instructions to receive data from blink source 102 (108), instructions to sample data (110), instructions to translate data (112), and instructions to transmit data packets (114).

[0008] Instructions to receive data from blink source 102 (108) represent program instructions that when executed by the processor 104 cause the computing device 100 to receive data from a blink source 102. As an example, blink source 102 corresponds to a component of the computing device 100 to indicate conditions related to software, firmware, or hardware, such as error conditions. For example, if a component of the computing device 100 encounters a condition that needs to notify a user, or requires action from the user, a light pattern may be illuminated on the light indicator of the computing device 100, for example, typically located along a front panel of the computing device 100.

[0009] As an example, the blink source 102 can be a USB controller, super input/output (SIO) controller (e.g., system board; BIOS), an error detected by the microcontroller (MCU), or even an error condition in the MCU firmware. As an example, the blink source 102 may be connected to input/output (I/O) pins of the MCU, or the processor 104 of the computing device 100. As will be further described, the MCU firmware (e.g., associated with processor 104) may process data in the form of electrical signals from the blink source 102 and translate them to data packets, and send the data packets to a target peripheral device, in order to illuminate the corresponding light pattern on the peripheral device. As an example, if the peripheral device is a USB device attached to the computing device 100 via port 120, the processor 104 may send USB data packets to the USB device.

[0010] Instructions to sample data (110) represent program instructions that when executed by the processor 104 cause the computing device 100 to sample the data from the blink source 102. As an example, sampling the data from the blink source 102 may include determining whether the sampled data indicates a condition from the blink source 102 that warrants a user of the computing device 100 to be notified, for example, via light indicators on the computing device 100.

[0011] Instructions to translate data (112) represent program instructions that when executed by the processor 104 cause the computing device 100, based on the sampled data, to translate the data from the blink source 102 into data packets for controlling a light source. As an example, the data packets provide a pattern for enabling and disabling the light source, to indicate a condition, such as an error condition, associated with blink source 102. As an example, the light source corresponds to the peripheral device attached to the computing device 100.

[0012]As an example, if the sampled data indicates a condition, such as an error condition, the processor 104 proceeds with translating the data from the blink source 102 into the data packets. However, if the sampled data does not indicate a condition from the blink source 102 that warrants a user of the computing device 100 to be notified, no translation of the sampled data occurs for being sent to the peripheral device.

[0013] Instructions to transmit data packets (114) represent program instructions that when executed by the processor 104 cause the computing device 100 to transmit the data packets to the light source. Upon receiving the data packets, the light source, for example, a light source associated with the peripheral device attached to the computing device 100 via port 120, may illuminate to indicate the condition associated with the blink source 102. As an example of the light source associated with the peripheral device, the Num Lock light on a USB keyboard, another light on the keyboard (e.g., Caps Lock or Scroll Lock), or a combination of lights, may be utilized to illuminate the light pattern.

[0014] As described above, a blink source 102, which corresponds to a component of the computing device 100 to indicate conditions related to software, firmware, or hardware, may transmit data to indicate the condition. In addition to corresponding to a controller, such as a USB controller or SIO controller, the blink source 102 may correspond to the MCU itself (e.g., processor 104) by generating its own error code and sending it to a light source, such as a USB keyboard, and making LEDs on the keyboard to blink.

[0015] Memory device 106 represents generally any number of memory components capable of storing instructions that can be executed by processor 104. Memory device 106 is non-transitory in the sense that it does not encompass a transitory signal but instead is made up of at least one memory component configured to store the relevant instructions. As a result, the memory device 106 may be a non- transitory computer-readable storage medium. Memory device 106 may be implemented in a single device or distributed across devices. Likewise, processor 104 represents any number of processors capable of executing instructions stored by memory device 106. Processor 104 may be integrated in a single device or distributed across devices. Further, memory device 106 may be fully or partially integrated in the same device as processor 104, or it may be separate but accessible to that device and processor 104. [0016] In one example, the program instructions 108-114 can be part of an installation package that when installed can be executed by processor 104 to implement the components of the computing device 100. In this case, memory device 106 may be a portable medium such as a CD, DVD, or flash drive or a memory maintained by a server from which the installation package can be downloaded and installed. In another example, the program instructions may be part of an application or applications already installed. Here, memory device 106 can include integrated memory such as a hard drive, solid state drive, or the like.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a system 200 including a computing device 210 and a peripheral 220 coupled to the computing device 210 via a port 206, according to an example. As illustrated, the computing device 210 may include a number of blink sources 202A-N (hereinafter referred to as blink source 202) connected to a microcontroller (MCU) 204. MCU 204 may correspond to the processor 104 illustrated in FIG. 1. As described above, the MCU 204 may sample data from each blink source 202 and, based on the input data, the MCU 204 may automatically translate the blink code signal from the corresponding blink source 202 into data packets to enable or disable a light indicator on peripheral 220. As an example, the peripheral 220 may correspond to a USB keyboard, and the MCU 204 may translate blink code signals into USB data packets to enable or disable LEDs (e.g., Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock) on the connected USB keyboard.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram 300 of steps taken by a computing device to blink a light pattern on a peripheral attached to the computing device, according to an example. Although the flow diagram of FIG. 3 shows a specific order of execution, the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more blocks or arrows may be scrambled relative to the order shown. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. All such variations are within the scope of the present disclosure. [0019] At 310, the computing device receives data from a blink source. As an example, the blink source corresponds to a component of the computing device, for example, to indicate error conditions related to software, firmware, or hardware. At 320, the computing device samples the data from the blink source.

[0020]At 330, based on the sampled data, the computing device translates the data from the blink source into data packets for controlling a light source. As an example, upon sampling the data, the computing device determines whether the sampled data indicates a condition, such as an error condition. If the sampled data indicates the error condition, the computing devices translates the data into the data packets.

[0021] At 340, the computing device transmits the data packets to the light source.

As an example, the light source corresponds to a peripheral device attached to a computing device. As an example, the data packets provide a pattern for enabling and disabling the light source, and the pattern may indicate an error condition associated with blink source.

[0022] It is appreciated that examples described may include various components and features. It is also appreciated that numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. However, it is appreciated that the examples may be practiced without limitations to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the examples. Also, the examples may be used in combination with each other.

[0023] Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example, but not necessarily in other examples. The various instances of the phrase “in one example” or similar phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example. [0024] It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method comprising: receiving data from a blink source; sampling the data from the blink source; based on the sampled data, translating the data from the blink source into data packets for controlling a light source; and transmitting the data packets to the light source.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packets provide a pattern for enabling and disabling the light source, wherein the pattern indicates an error condition associated with blink source.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein translating the data into the data packets comprises: upon sampling the data, determining whether the sampled data indicates the error condition; and translating the data into the data packets if the sampled data indicates the error condition.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light source corresponds to a peripheral device attached to a computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the blink source corresponds to a component of the computing device to indicate error conditions related to software, firmware, or hardware.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the processor to: receive data from a blink source; sample the data from the blink source; based on the sampled data, translate the data from the blink source into data packets for controlling a light source; and transmit the data packets to the light source, wherein the data packets provide a pattern for enabling and disabling the light source.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the pattern indicates an error condition associated with blink source.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions to translate the data into the data packets comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: upon sampling the data, determine whether the sampled data indicates the error condition; and translate the data into the data packets if the sampled data indicates the error condition.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the light source corresponds to a peripheral device attached to the computing device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the blink source corresponds to a component of the computing device to indicate error conditions related to software, firmware, or hardware.

11. A system comprising: a peripheral device; and a computing device comprising: a blink source; a port to accommodate the peripheral device; and a processor to: receive data from the blink source; sample the data from the blink source; upon sampling the data, determine whether the sampled data indicates an error condition associated with the blink source; translate the data into data packets if the sampled data indicates the error condition; and transmit the data packets to the peripheral device.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein upon transmitting the data packets to the peripheral device, the data packets are to control a light source of the peripheral device while connected to the port.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the data packets provide a pattern for enabling and disabling the light source, the pattern indicating the error condition associated with blink source.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the blink source corresponds to a component of the computing device to indicate error conditions related to software, firmware, or hardware.

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