Thread Subject: Re: Power-on Patent

Note

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From: Robinson, Norman B - Washington, DC
Date: Fri, Mar 09 2007 1:35 PM

Randy,

I have several generic computers that all have wake on keyboard
activity (not just a power button) built into the BIOS. It can activate
on any key press or mouse press or specific keypress (e.g., only F1 key)
so I believe the technology is common-place.

Rather than specifically address your one example, I do find the
subject of patents, intellectual property, and DRM to be a useful
discussion in the context of user rights; specifically users with
disabilities. I don't think this is hardware specific however.

Regards,


Norman B. Robinson
Section 508 Coordinator
IT Governance, US Postal Service
phone: 202.268.8246


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Randy
Marsden
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 2:37 PM
To: TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee
Subject: [teitac-hardware] Power-on Patent


OK - thanks guys.

So, we've established it CAN be done, and HAS been done by Apple on
certain
computers (and only Apple, it would seem). That set off an alarm for
me,
and after a bit of searching, I indeed found a patent held by Apple on
this
very idea.

It is patent number 6,256,682: Signaling of power modes over an
interface
bus, Gudan et al.

So, an important accessibility feature that we'd like to include as a
provision in Section 508 is patented by an IT manufacturer. Is there
any
precedent for this?

-Randy

------------------------------------------------
Randy Marsden
President & CEO, Madentec Limited
ATIA Global Policy Chair

780-450-8926 ext. 223
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =


> From: David Poehlman < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Reply-To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 13:41:04 -0500
> To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>
> It's a Macaley keyboard and it has a power button built into it.
>
> On Mar 9, 2007, at 1:18 PM, Sean Hayes wrote:
>
> This device http://www.welovemacs.com/usb-key-bt.html
> seems to do it, but only on certain makes of Mac.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto:teitac-hardware-
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Randy Marsden
> Sent: 09 March 2007 18:03
> To: TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee
> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>
> David:
>
> Can you confirm for us that you are using your keyboard to turn on
> your computer from a COLD shutdown (as opposed to a sleep
> condition)? If so, what key do you use on the keyboard for that, and
> what computer are you using?
> ------------------------------------------------
> Randy Marsden
> President & CEO, Madentec Limited
> ATIA Global Policy Chair
>
> 780-450-8926 ext. 223
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>
>
>> From: David Poehlman < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Reply-To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
>> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2007 05:46:18 -0500
>> To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
>> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>>
>> Yes, It came from Mac Alley. Sorry for the potentially inaccurate
>> spelling. I can dig it up later.
>>
>> On Mar 2, 2007, at 1:12 AM, Gregg Vanderheiden wrote:
>>
>> Does it work with the laptop??
>>
>> If so - great.
>>
>> Need to also address PC's though.
>>
>>
>> Gregg
>> -- ------------------------------
>> Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D.
>>
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of David
>>> Poehlman
>>> Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 5:51 PM
>>> To: TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee
>>> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>>>
>>> Hi RANDY,
>>>
>>> I'VE A MAC KEYBOARD THAT HAS A POWER PUSH BUTTON ON IT. IT'S A USB
>>> KEYBOARD AND IT WORKS. THIS SHOULD BE ADAPTABLE.
>>>
>>> On Mar 1, 2007, at 3:32 PM, Randy Marsden (Home) wrote:
>>>
>>> Thanks David. I believe what you are saying is true for most things
>>> - but
>>> utility keys are different. For example, there is no way I know of
>>> to do the equivalent of pressing on the power button via an external
>>> device connected through the USB port while the computer is turned
>>> off. I know the power button is assigned a key code, so I can use
>>> assistive technology to turn the computer off, for example (via
>>> on-screen keyboards, etc).
>>> But then
>>> how do I turn it back on?
>>>
>>> There is a direct electrical connection internally in the hardware
>>> that causes the computer to turn on when the power button is
pressed.
>>> That electrical connection is not extended to the standard ports,
>>> such as USB, that I know of.
>>> Ditto for reset buttons. They are done through hardware interrupts,
>>> so present a particular challenge.
>>> ------------------------------------------------
>>> Randy Marsden
>>> President & CEO, Madentec Limited
>>> ATIA Global Policy Chair
>>>
>>> 780-450-8926 ext. 223
>>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>>
>>>
>>>> From: David Poehlman < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>>>> Reply-To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
>>>> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>>>> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 14:57:25 -0500
>>>> To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
>>>> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>>>> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>>>>
>>>> Hi Randy,
>>>>
>>>> It flows through that anything doable frrom the keyboard is
>>> replicable
>>>> through manyy modalities or am I missing something. I was merely
>>>> plugging a hole in your example set it seemed. We deffinitely need
>>>> standards language to address this.
>>>>
>>>> On Mar 1, 2007, at 2:43 PM, Randy Marsden (Home) wrote:
>>>>
>>>> But what if you can't press a key on the keyboard...? That's my
>>>> point. Sit on your hands and then imagine how you'd do it.
>>> I don't
>>>> believe the USB port allows for an external keyboard emulator, for
>>>> example, to do the same thing as the built-in keyboard.
>>> The old Apple
>>>> ADB protocol allowed for power-on from an external device,
>>> but when it
>>>> was replaced by USB, that feature went away. Unless I'm missing
>>>> something...
>>>> ------------------------------------------------
>>>> Randy Marsden
>>>> President & CEO, Madentec Limited
>>>> ATIA Global Policy Chair
>>>>
>>>> 780-450-8926 ext. 223
>>>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> From: David Poehlman < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>>>>> Reply-To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
>>>>> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>>>>> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2007 14:32:27 -0500
>>>>> To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
>>>>> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>>>>> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Accessible utility keys
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi randy and all,
>>>>>
>>>>> Al of the examples you site can be accomplishable via the keyboard
>>>>> even if the device is turned off. On and off for
>>> instancee can be a
>>>>> key instead of a switch or small button. computers have had warm
>>>>> reset for quite a while and often, this is all that is
>>> needed. Some
>>>>> apple keyboards have a power button which turnss the system on as
>>>>> well as off. Iin other words,, I agree with thee
>>> importance of this
>>>>> though the design is less invasive than it might seem.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mar 1, 2007, at 1:36 PM, Randy Marsden (Home) wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I wanted to open a discussion item that we haven't
>>> addressed yet, but
>>>>> that is important to people with physical and mobility
>>> impairments.
>>>>> It relates to the use of "utility keys" on hardware -
>>> things like the
>>>>> on/off button, reset button, volume keys, display brightness keys,
>>>>> and so on - with a special emphasis on the Reset key and
>>> ON/Off keys.
>>>>> These are controls that can't be accessed via software.
>>>>>
>>>>> On/Off Button: Many people with mobility impairments can't access
>>>>> these keys, yet they become a critical part of the
>>> operation of the
>>>>> device. AT can't really help in the traditional sense,
>>> because the
>>>>> device may be hung (requiring reset) or simply turned off. In the
>>>>> old days, when the On/ Off control was a toggle switch, special AT
>>>>> devices were developed that turned on and off the AC power to the
>>>>> computer (like a power bar), thus effectively turning the
>>> computer on
>>>>> and off. But now, with laptops and the momentary On/Off
>>> key, these
>>>>> solutions are no longer effective. Some AT manufacturers
>>> have gone
>>>>> to the extent of kludging solenoid actuators over the On/
>>> Off key and
>>>>> provided alternative access to that. But it is far from ideal.
>>>>>
>>>>> Reset Key: these are becoming more and more prevalent (and
>>>>> necessary) on
>>>>> portable devices, such as PDA's and Smartphones. It's a
>>> reality of
>>>>> many of these devices that sooner or later it will lock up
>>> and you'll
>>>>> need to press the reset button. These are usually recessed and
>>>>> require actuation by a stylus, paper-clip, or something
>>> else small.
>>>>> I believe most manufacturers view this as a necessary evil
>>> (or they
>>>>> wouldn't put a user-controlled reset switch there in the first
>>>>> place). You know, "if all else fails, press the reset button". I
>>>>> know I have to press the one on my smartphone at least 2
>>> or 3 times a
>>>>> week. But how do people with mobility impairments do this?
>>>>> Many can't.
>>>>>
>>>>> These are not simple problems to solve. One suggestion is that if
>>>>> there is an expansion connector or slot provided on an IT device,
>>>>> that extra pins be assigned to perform the same function as the
>>>>> On/Off and Reset buttons. In this way, AT can connect to
>>> the device
>>>>> via the expansion connector and provide alternative ways of
>>>>> "pressing" the keys. Since most ports now are industry standard
>>>>> (USB, PC Card, etc), we may be talking about making
>>> recommendations
>>>>> to those standards groups (outside of the TEITAC's
>>> mandate, I know,
>>>>> but could possibly be included as non-normative comments).
>>>>> In any
>>>>> case, I think it should be added as a "should" item in
>>> 508. (I know
>>>>> it can't be a "shall" item right now, since most existing
>>> IT products
>>>>> don't presently have this capability).
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -Randy
>>>>> ------------------------------------------------
>>>>> Randy Marsden
>>>>> President & CEO, Madentec Limited
>>>>> ATIA Global Policy Chair
>>>>>
>>>>> 780-450-8926 ext. 223
>>>>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>

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