Abstract: A radio receiver apparatus comprises radio circuitry for receiving a sequence of radio data packets, transmitted at regular intervals, wherein the sequence of radio data packets encodes a digital audio stream and each radio data packet encodes a respective number of audio samples from the digital audio stream. The apparatus also comprises a digital audio interface for outputting audio samples from the received digital audio stream, a controllable oscillator arranged to control an output rate at which the audio samples are output from the digital audio interface, and a timer. The apparatus also comprises control logic, configured to use the timer to measure an interval between receiving each of a pair of the radio data packets, and to control the oscillator to vary the output rate incrementally, in a number of steps, while outputting the audio samples from one radio data packet. The number of steps, or the size of each step, or both, depends on the measured interval.

Abstract: An integrated circuit microprocessor device comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and a general purpose input or output subsystem (2) having at least one external connection (4). The external connection is configured to provide an input to or output from the device depending upon an associated setting in the general purpose input or output subsystem. At least one further module on the device is configured to be able to request at least a first or a second task which may control a state of the external connection, the general purpose input or output subsystem being configured, upon receipt of conflicting requests for the first and second tasks, to apply a predetermined priority to allow only one of the tasks to be applied to the external connection.

Abstract: A digital microprocessor device (2) has: a central processing unit; a memory (8); and an output signal module (4). The output signal module comprises: a counter (6) arranged to count to a predetermined count value; and at least one comparator (10a, 10b, 10c) arranged to change an output signal (14a, 14b, 14c) from a first output state to a second output state when the counter reaches a predetermined comparator value. The output signal module is arranged to load automatically from the memory at least one parameter selected from the group comprising: the predetermined count value, the predetermined comparator value and the first output state or the second output state, without receipt of an instruction from the central processing unit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit microprocessor device comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and a general purpose input or output subsystem (2) having at least one external connection (4). The external connection is configured to provide an input to or output from the device depending upon an associated setting in the general purpose input or output subsystem. At least one further module on the device is configured to be able to request at least a first or a second task which may control a state of the external connection, the general purpose input or output subsystem being configured, upon receipt of conflicting requests for the first and second tasks, to apply a predetermined priority to allow only one of the tasks to be applied to the external connection.

Abstract: A digital microprocessor device (2) has: a central processing unit; a memory (8); and an output signal module (4). The output signal module comprises: a counter (6) arranged to count to a predetermined count value; and at least one comparator (10a, 10b, 10c) arranged to change an output signal (14a, 14b, 14c) from a first output state to a second output state when the counter reaches a predetermined comparator value. The output signal module is arranged to load automatically from the memory at least one parameter selected from the group comprising: the predetermined count value, the predetermined comparator value and the first output state or the second output state, without receipt of an instruction from the central processing unit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit microprocessor device comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and a general purpose input or output module (2) having a plurality of external connections (4). The external connections are configured by the general purpose input or output module to provide respective inputs to the device. The device further comprises respective memory locations (6) corresponding to each of the external connections. The memory locations are arranged to record a change of state on one or more of the external connections in the event that the change of state occurs while the central processing unit is in a low power state or otherwise unable to react to the change of state.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises: at least two inputs (18, 20); and a decoder (24) arranged to: sample (28) said inputs in a first cycle; sample said inputs in a second, later cycle; alter a first memory location (34) if only one of said sampled inputs changes from the first cycle to the second cycle; and alter a second memory location (46) if both of said sampled inputs change from the first cycle to the second cycle.

Abstract: A communication protocol in a wireless network of a transceiver and a plurality of devices, in which at least one device is a bidirectional device, and in which one or more other devices can be unidirectional devices. The unidirectional device communicates with the transceiver in a unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver and the bidirectional device communicates with the transceiver either in a bidirectional mode or in an unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver. The communication protocol is configured to determine which transmission mode is to be used for each device. Various techniques are provided in order to optimize the time and energy spent to transmit information from one peer to the other.

Abstract: A communication protocol in a wireless network of a transceiver and a plurality of devices, in which at least one device is a bidirectional device, and in which one or more other devices can be unidirectional devices. The unidirectional device communicates with the transceiver in a unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver and the bidirectional device communicates with the transceiver either in a bidirectional mode or in an unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver. The communication protocol is configured to determine which transmission mode is to be used for each device. Various techniques are provided in order to optimize the time and energy spent to transmit information from one peer to the other.

Abstract: A communication protocol in a wireless network of a transceiver and a plurality of devices, in which at least one device is a bidirectional device, and in which one or more other devices can be unidirectional devices. The unidirectional device communicates with the transceiver in a unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver and the bidirectional device communicates with the transceiver either in a bidirectional mode or in an unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver. The communication protocol is configured to determine which transmission mode is to be used for each device. Various techniques are provided in order to optimize the time and energy spent to transmit information from one peer to the other.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a receiver for processing communication information included in transmissions received from a number of cordless devices. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing communication information included in transmissions received from a number of cordless devices. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for communicating status information from a cordless device to a corresponding driver running on a host system. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing digital information included in a transmission from a composite cordless device.

Abstract: A control device includes a case having a bottom surface that has a front portion and a back portion; and a first friction pad and a second friction pad disposed on the front portion of the bottom surface. The first and second friction pads are configured to detect pressure from a user hand to power-up the control device. The first and second friction pads are also configured to detect the absence of the user hand and place the control device in a sleep mode based on the detection of the absence of the user hand.

Abstract: A control device is provided for controlling scrolling of a graphical object displayed on a computer monitor. The control device includes a housing; and a slider device disposed at a front portion of the housing configured to control scrolling of the graphical object on the monitor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securely connecting one or more wireless peripheral devices such as keyboards, mice, gamepads, remote controllers, joysticks and one or more host systems such as personal computers or workstations, the secure connection reducing the vulnerability of wireless communications between a wireless peripheral device and a host system to accidental or malicious interference or eavesdropping.

Abstract: A communication protocol in a wireless network of a transceiver and a plurality of devices, in which at least one device is a bidirectional device, and in which one or more other devices can be unidirectional devices. The unidirectional device communicates with the transceiver in a unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver and the bidirectional device communicates with the transceiver either in a bidirectional mode or in an unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver. The communication protocol is configured to determine which transmission mode is to be used for each device. Various techniques are provided in order to optimize the time and energy spent to transmit information from one peer to the other.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a receiver for processing communication information included in transmissions received from a number of cordless devices. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing communication information included in transmissions received from a number of cordless devices. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for communicating status information from a cordless device to a corresponding driver running on a host system. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing digital information included in a transmission from a composite cordless device.

Abstract: A control device is provided for controlling scrolling of a graphical object displayed on a computer monitor. The control device includes a housing; and a slider device disposed at a front portion of the housing configured to control scrolling of the graphical object on the monitor.

Abstract: A peripheral device station couples two or more peripheral devices with a host computer system. The station includes two or more peripheral device interfaces, a power unit, a communication intermediary, and a host interface. At least one peripheral device interface includes a communication connection and a power connection. The power unit couples with the power connection and provides an electrical charge for charging a power source of a peripheral device. The communication intermediary couples with the communication connection and provides a communication coupling between a peripheral device and the host computer system. The host interface couples with and communicates with the host computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securely connecting one or more wireless peripheral devices such as keyboards, mice, gamepads, remote controllers, joysticks and one or more host systems such as personal computers or workstations, the secure connection reducing the vulnerability of wireless communications between a wireless peripheral device and a host system to accidental or malicious interference or eavesdropping.