Data transfer between host and peripheral devices
A device, which may be a peripheral device or a host computing device, comprises a communication interface, a memory and a processor. The processor is arranged to detect imminent disconnection of a communication link between the peripheral device and the host computing device and in response to detecting the imminent disconnection of the communication link, to trigger a data transfer from the host computing device to the peripheral device via the communication interface. The data transfer defines, at least in part, a fixed output data set which, after disconnection, is output via an output device in the peripheral device.
1. A peripheral device comprising:
a wireless communication interface arranged to communicate with a host computing device;
an output device;
a memory arranged to store an output data set for output via the output device; and
a processor arranged to:
monitor parameters of a wireless communication link between the host computing device and the peripheral via the wireless communication interface;
detect imminent disconnection of the wireless communication link based on the parameters of the wireless communication link;
trigger, in response to imminent disconnection detection, a data transfer from the host computing device to the peripheral device via the wireless communication interface;
receive, in response to the trigger, the output data set; and
display the output data set via the output device, wherein following disconnection of the wireless communication link the output data set is fixed such that the output data set does not change.
2. The peripheral device according to claim 1 , wherein the output data set is defined based, at least in part, on the triggered data transfer.
3. The peripheral device according to claim 2 , wherein the triggered data transfer includes the output data set.
4. The peripheral device according to claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism arranged to wirelessly receive power from the host computing device and wherein the processor is arranged to detect imminent disconnection of the communication link between the peripheral device and the host computing device based in part on a lack of received power via the connecting mechanism.
5. The peripheral device according to claim 1 , wherein the output device is an electronic paper display.
6. The peripheral device according to claim 1 , further comprising an input device and wherein the output data set comprises a plurality of data items and the processor is arranged to output a different one of the plurality of data items via the output device in response to a user input via the input device.
7. A host computing device comprising:
a wireless communication interface arranged to communicate with a peripheral device comprising an output device; and
a processor arranged to:
monitor parameters of a wireless communication link between the host computing device and the peripheral via the wireless communication interface;
detect imminent disconnection of wireless communication link based on the parameters of the wireless communication link; and
trigger, in response to imminent disconnection detection, a data transfer of output data from the host computing device to the peripheral device via the wireless communication interface, wherein the output data is fixed at the peripheral device such that the output data does not change.
8. The host computing device according to claim 7 , wherein the triggered data transfer includes the output data set.
9. The host computing device according to claim 7 , further comprising a power source and a connecting mechanism arranged to provide power and optionally data to the peripheral device and wherein the processor is arranged to detect imminent disconnection of the communication link between the peripheral device and the host computing device based on reduction in load on the power source.
10. The host computing device according to claim 7 , wherein the processor is further arranged, in response to the trigger, to select data for transfer to the peripheral device based on at least one of:
auto-detection of information based on a user's history of browsed information; and
user specified data items.
11. The peripheral device according to claim 1 , further comprising a non-continuous power source arranged to provide power to the output device, wherein the output device requires power to change a display.
12. The peripheral device according to claim 1 , wherein the output data comprises first data encoded with a first encoding scheme, wherein the processor is further arranged to:
trigger, upon receipt of the first data, a second data transfer; and
receive, as part of the second data transfer, second data, wherein the second data includes the first data encoded with a second encoding scheme, wherein the first data encoded with the second encoding scheme is higher resolution compared to the first data encoded with the first encoding scheme.
13. The peripheral device according to claim 1 , wherein the output data comprises first data associated with a first priority, wherein the processor is further arranged to:
trigger, upon receipt of the first data, a second data transfer; and
receive, as part of the second data transfer, second data associated with a second priority, wherein the first priority is a higher priority compared to the second priority, and wherein the first data is transferred before the second data based on the first priority and the second priority.
14. The peripheral device according to claim 1 , wherein the output data set is defined based, at least in part, on the parameters of the wireless communication link.
15. The peripheral device according to claim 1 , wherein the output data set is received via a scheme selected based on the imminent disconnection detection.
16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions causing an electronic processor to perform operations comprising:
monitoring parameters of a wireless communication link between a host computing device and a peripheral via a wireless communication interface;
detecting imminent disconnection of the wireless communication link based on the parameters of the wireless communication link;
triggering, in response to imminent disconnection detection, a data transfer from the host computing device to the peripheral device via the wireless communication interface;
receiving, in response to the trigger, the output data set; and
displaying the output data set to an output device, wherein following disconnection of the wireless communication link the output data set is fixed such that the output data set does not change.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 16 , wherein the output data set is defined based, at least in part, on the triggered data transfer.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 17 , wherein the triggered data transfer includes the output data set.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise wirelessly receiving power from the host computing device and wherein the processor is arranged to detect imminent disconnection of the communication link between the peripheral device and the host computing device based in part on a lack of received power.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 16 , wherein the output device is an electronic paper display.