Mouse Port and Peripherals

This section defines the specific requirements for pointing device connections and peripherals. Because the Windows operating system requires a pointing device, a system board in a PC 97 system should include an auxiliary port for an external pointing device (most commonly, a mouse). For PC 97, it is recommended that systems designers use the USB port for the connection and also consider implementing wireless support for an external pointing device.

10. General device requirements

These include the standard requirements for a Plug and Play device identifier, automated software-only settings for device configuration, standard device drivers and Windows-based installation, and icons for external connectors. For more information, see the "Basic PC 97" chapter of this guide.

11. PS/2 port specifications, if PS/2-style port is used

The following requirements must be met if a PS/2-style port is used:

• Comply in full with Personal System/2 Specification requirements published by IBM.
• Use an 8042 chip (or equivalent) to ensure compatibility with Windows. (In most cases, the existing 8042 keyboard port is sufficient.) The 8042 initiates an IRQ 12 interrupt when the mouse is connected to the port.
• Support IRQ 12 to enable the proper functioning of software written for
  legacy systems that expect this IRQ signal to be used.
• Return expected codes, including send identifier (0F2h), response: ACK (0FAh) + 1-byte ID.

12. USB Specification and device class specifications, if USB is used

This device must comply with the Universal Serial Bus Specification v. 1.0 or higher, and the related USB device class specification. This ensures that all Plug and Play requirements are met and that Microsoft drivers support this device. For more information, see the "USB" chapter in Part 3 of this guide.

13. IR wireless specifications, if IR device is used

An infrared device must support IrDA codes and all other requirements specified in the IrDA specification.

14. RF wireless specifications, if RF wireless device is used

Numerous consumer electronics remote controls use proprietary RF communications protocols to provide low-cost, one-way remote control functionality, often at relatively great distances (up to 10 meters).

For more information about support and standards being developed at Microsoft for RF devices, see http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/devdes/.

15. Remote control provides minimum support, if present

The range of functions implemented on the remote control device will depend on whether the remote control is designed for the business desktop or for Entertainment PC 97 use. There is no defined list of the functions that must be included on a remote control device, but such a device might provide the following types of functions and buttons:

• Power button that turns devices on and off
• Start button, with Windows Logo, that causes a Start menu to be displayed
• Menu button that causes an application-specific menu to be displayed
• Help button that causes application-specific help to be displayed
• South, North, East, and West direction capability which functions similarly to the Down-arrow, Up-arrow, Left-arrow, and Right-arrow keys on a keyboard
• Select button that functions similarly to the Enter key on a keyboard

The following functions and buttons can also be considered for a remote control used with an Entertainment PC 97 system:

• TV button that selects the TV as the device with focus
• Mute button
• Device control buttons, including Volume Up, Volume Down, Channel Up, Channel Down, Fast Forward, Rewind, Play, Stop, Pause, and Record
• Number keys equivalent to a telephone keypad