Portable communication devices with accessory functions and related methods
First Claim
1. A portable communication device comprising:
- a housing;
an interface connector disposed at said housing, said interface connector configured to couple to an accessory module configured to provide at least one accessory function; and
a processor disposed at least partially within said housing, said processor coupled to said interface connector and wherein said processor is configured to;
determine whether a coupled accessory module is an approved module for use with the portable communication device, based on an identity of the accessory module;
if the accessory module is an approved module, enable power at said interface connector such that communication between the portable communication device and the accessory module is permitted;
determine that the accessory module includes at least one module battery;
receive, from a user, a selection of one of a battery of the portable communication device and the at least one module battery;
power the portable communication device based on the selection;
select at least one of a plurality of communication protocols based on the identity of the accessory module and powering at least one communication channel between the accessory module and the portable communication device to support the selected communication protocol; and
disable power to a component associated with said interface connector for a communication channel not selected between the accessory module and the portable communication device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Portable communication devices and related methods for use in supporting voice and/or data communication are provided. One example portable communication device includes a housing, an interface connector disposed at the housing. The interface connector is configured to couple to an accessory module configured to provide at least one accessory function. The example portable communication device also includes a processor disposed at least partially within the housing. The processor is coupled to the interface connector and is configured to determine whether a coupled accessory module is an approved module for use with the portable communication device, based on an identity of the accessory module, and if the accessory module is an approved module, enable power at the interface connector such that communication between the portable communication device and the accessory module is permitted.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A portable communication device comprising:
-
a housing; an interface connector disposed at said housing, said interface connector configured to couple to an accessory module configured to provide at least one accessory function; and a processor disposed at least partially within said housing, said processor coupled to said interface connector and wherein said processor is configured to; determine whether a coupled accessory module is an approved module for use with the portable communication device, based on an identity of the accessory module; if the accessory module is an approved module, enable power at said interface connector such that communication between the portable communication device and the accessory module is permitted; determine that the accessory module includes at least one module battery; receive, from a user, a selection of one of a battery of the portable communication device and the at least one module battery; power the portable communication device based on the selection; select at least one of a plurality of communication protocols based on the identity of the accessory module and powering at least one communication channel between the accessory module and the portable communication device to support the selected communication protocol; and disable power to a component associated with said interface connector for a communication channel not selected between the accessory module and the portable communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for providing at least one accessory function to a portable communication device, the portable communication device including a housing, a back panel, a processor, and an interface connector, said method comprising:
-
coupling an accessory module to the housing in place of the back panel such that a module connector of the accessory module is coupled to the interface connector of the portable communication device; determining whether the accessory module is an approved module for use with the portable communication device, based on an identity of the accessory module; if the accessory module is an approved module, enabling power at the interface connector such that communication between the portable communication device and the accessory module is permitted; determining that the accessory module includes at least one module battery; receiving, from a user, a selection of one of a battery of the portable communication device and the at least one module battery; powering the portable communication device based on the selection; selecting at least one of a plurality of communication protocols based on the identity of the accessory module and powering at least one communication channel between the accessory module and the portable communication device to support the selected communication protocol; and disabling power to a component associated with the interface connector for a communication channel not selected between the accessory module and the portable communication device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A portable communication device comprising:
-
a housing; an interface connector disposed at said housing, said interface connector configured to couple to an accessory module configured to provide at least one accessory function; and a processor disposed at least partially within said housing, said processor coupled to said interface connector and wherein said processor is configured to; determine whether a coupled accessory module is an approved module for use with the portable communication device, based on an identity of the accessory module; if the accessory module is an approved module, enable power at said interface connector such that communication between the portable communication device and the accessory module is permitted; determine that the accessory module includes at least one module battery; receive, from a user, a selection of the at least one module battery; power the portable communication device from the at least one module battery of the accessory module; and perform an eject sequence to maintain uninterrupted power to the portable communication device when the accessory module is removed from the portable communication device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for providing at least one accessory function to a portable communication device, the portable communication device including a housing, a back panel, a processor, and an interface connector, said method comprising:
-
coupling an accessory module to the housing in place of the back panel such that a module connector of the accessory module is coupled to the interface connector of the portable communication device; determining whether the accessory module is an approved module for use with the portable communication device, based on an identity of the accessory module; if the accessory module is an approved module, enabling power at the interface connector such that communication between the portable communication device and the accessory module is permitted; determining that the accessory module includes at least one module battery; receiving, from a user, a selection of the at least one module battery; powering the portable communication device from the at least one module battery of the accessory module; and performing, by the processor, an eject sequence to maintain uninterrupted power to the portable communication device when the accessory module is removed from the portable communication device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification