System and method of establishing communication between an appliance and an external device

US6819341B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. · US

Inventors

• James C. Dow · Fort Collins, US
• Dan L. Dalton · Greeley, US
• Michael Rudd · Fort Collins, US
• Karin C. Ruffatto · Fort Collins, US
• Kevin N. Smith · San Diego, US
• Daniel Formosa · Montvale, US
• Sandra Nieves · New York, US
• Paul Hamburger · New York, US
• Michael J. DeVries · Loveland, US
• Nancy Shepard · Arvada, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 28, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 16, 2004
• Expiry date: Feb 21, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04N2201/3287
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An appliance indicates that it is transferring information over a wireless communication path to an external device by displaying an animation. In one embodiment, an animation indicates that the appliance is attempting to establish communication over an infra red (IR) port with the external device by displaying an animation having an light emitting diode (LED) with emanating waves propagating away from the LED. Movement of the waves stop when communication is established. The wave edges indicate a maximum cone angle indicating the direction that the IR port must be pointed to establish and maintain communication with the external device.