Modular wireless communicator

• US 10,027,789 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Moran, Dov, Sherman, Itay, Bychkov, Eyal, Cohen, Itay, Segalov, Yaron, Demri, Tamir, Miller, Eran, Ron, Uri, Engelstein, Tal, Katz, Hagay, Perry, Hagit
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US15/369,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20170099377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 4555561, 455557, 4555501
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A wireless communicator including a housing, wireless communication functionality located within the housing, native user interface functionality cooperating with the wireless communication functionality and including user interface surfaces located on at least one outer facing surface of the housing, and pouching responsive electrical interconnection functionality responsive to pouching orientation of the housing in a pouch of an enhanced function device for automatically causing the wireless communication functionality to adapt to interoperation with parenting user interface functionality forming part of the enhanced function device at least partially instead of with the native user interface functionality. A method is also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication comprising:

in response to orientation of a wireless communicator to a connector of an enhanced function device, the wireless communicator associated with a first identifier and having a first wireless communication functionality and a native user interface, the enhanced function device associated with a second identifier and having a second wireless communication functionality and a parent user interface;

adapting the wireless communicator to conform with the parent user interface at least partially instead of with the native user interface by at least adapting screen graphics of the wireless communicator to conform with parent look-and-feel parameters of the parent user interface at least partially instead of with native look-and-feel parameters of the native user interface; and

changing an identity of the wireless communicator in a wireless network from the first identifier to the second identifier by switching from the first wireless communication functionality to the second wireless communication functionality to access the wireless network using the second identifier.

2. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the switching switches in response to the wireless communicator making an international call.

3. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the switching switches in response to sending or receiving an SMS message.

4. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the switching switches in response to use of data services.

5. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the first and second identifiers are each associated with an IP address or a subscriber identifier module, and further comprising prompting a user to select between the first and second identifiers, and wherein the switching switches in response to selection of the second identifier.

6. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the switching comprises disconnecting the wireless communicator from the wireless network and reconnecting the wireless communicator to the wireless network using the second identifier.

7. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication functionality and the second wireless communication functionality comprise a first subscriber identifier module and a second wireless secure digital (SD) card, respectively.

8. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the connector is a pouch of the enhanced function device.

9. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication functionality comprises a SIM card.

10. A method for communication comprising:

in response to orientation of a wireless communicator to a connector of an enhanced function device, the wireless communicator associated with a first identifier and having a first wireless communication functionality and a native user interface, the enhanced function device associated with a second identifier and having a second wired communication functionality and a parent user interface;

adapting screen graphics of the wireless communicator to conform with parent look-and-feel parameters of the parent user interface at least partially instead of with native look-and-feel parameters of the native user interface;

switching from the first wireless communication functionality to the second wired communication functionality and from the first identifier to the second identifier to access a communication network using the second identifier for the wireless communicator; and

accessing the communication network using the second identifier for the wireless communicator in place of the first identifier.

11. The method for communication of claim 10, wherein the switching switches in response to the wireless communicator making an international call.

12. The method for communication of claim 10, wherein the switching switches in response to sending or receiving an SMS message.

13. The method for communication of claim 10, wherein the switching switches in response to use of data services.

14. The method for communication of claim 10, wherein the connector is a pouch of the enhanced function device.

15. The method for communication of claim 10, wherein the first wireless communication functionality comprises a SIM card.

16. The method for communication of claim 10, wherein:

the first identifier is associated with a first internet protocol (IP) address; and

the second identifier is associated with a second IP address that is different than the first IP address.

17. An enhanced function device comprising:

a connector configured to receive a wireless communicator having native user interface functionality and a first wireless communication functionality with a first subscriber identifier module for accessing a communication network;

wired or wireless communication functionality including a second subscriber identifier module for accessing the communication network;

parenting user interface functionality configured to provide interface functionality instead of, or in conjunction with, the native user interface functionality, the interface functionality provided responsive to the wireless communicator being oriented to the connector, the parenting user interface functionality enabling selection to switch from the first wireless communication functionality to the wired or wireless communication functionality and from the first subscriber identifier module to the second subscriber identifier module to enable the wireless communicator to access the communication network using the second subscriber identifier module to identify the wireless communicator; and

a controller configured to control display of graphics screen images generated and adapted by the wireless communicator to conform with parent look-and-feel parameters of the parenting user interface functionality at least partially instead of with native look-and-feel parameters of the native user interface functionality.

18. The enhanced function device of claim 17, wherein the wired or wireless communication functionality is operable to switch from the first subscriber identifier module to the second subscriber identifier module to maintain access to the communication network.

19. The enhanced function device of claim 17, wherein the first subscriber identifier module and the second subscriber identifier module are associated with different access rights to resources of the communication network.

20. The enhanced function device of claim 17, wherein the connector is configured to mechanically support the wireless communicator.