Automatic IR port detection and switching
US6029213A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/385
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An automatic IR port detection device is provided in a portable computer including a first and a second transceiver data port. An external device is adjacent the computer and includes at least one external transceiver data port. An IR port detection and scanning program in the computer is actuated by an initiating key combination. A controller in the computer generates a systems management interrupt in response to the initiating key combination being actuated. An IR scan timer is initiated in response to the systems management interrupt being generated. A system BIOS in the computer actuates the first transceiver data port to scan for an external IR signal and sequentially actuates the second transceiver data port to scan for the external IR signal in response to the absence of the external IR signal received by the first transceiver data port. The IR scan timer is resettable in the absence of the IR signal being received from the external transceiver data port by either of the first and second transceiver data ports.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.