Customized hardware selection for a mobile phone
First Claim
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1. A modular phone structure comprising:
- a shell configured to be grasped by a human user and including a first hardware component receiver and a second hardware component receiver;
the first hardware component receiver configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a first interchangeable mobile phone hardware component selected from a set of first interchangeable mobile phone hardware components;
the second hardware component receiver configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a second interchangeable mobile phone hardware component selected from a set of second interchangeable mobile phone hardware components, the second hardware component receiver having a second dimensional or structural configuration allowing it to removably receive and electrically couple with any member of the set of second interchangeable mobile phone hardware components but not with any member of the set of first interchangeable mobile phone hardware components; and
processing electronics including a communication circuit configured to communicate with a first interchangeable mobile phone hardware component removably received and electrically coupled with the first hardware component receiver and with a second interchangeable mobile phone hardware component removably received and electrically coupled with the second hardware component receiver.
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Abstract
A method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components.
44 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A modular phone structure comprising:
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a shell configured to be grasped by a human user and including a first hardware component receiver and a second hardware component receiver; the first hardware component receiver configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a first interchangeable mobile phone hardware component selected from a set of first interchangeable mobile phone hardware components; the second hardware component receiver configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a second interchangeable mobile phone hardware component selected from a set of second interchangeable mobile phone hardware components, the second hardware component receiver having a second dimensional or structural configuration allowing it to removably receive and electrically couple with any member of the set of second interchangeable mobile phone hardware components but not with any member of the set of first interchangeable mobile phone hardware components; and processing electronics including a communication circuit configured to communicate with a first interchangeable mobile phone hardware component removably received and electrically coupled with the first hardware component receiver and with a second interchangeable mobile phone hardware component removably received and electrically coupled with the second hardware component receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A modular-phone structure comprising:
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a shell configured to be grasped by a human user and including at least two hardware component receivers; the at least two hardware component receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable mobile phone hardware component selected from at least two interchangeable mobile phone hardware components; and processing electronics including a bus configured to communicate with each respective interchangeable mobile phone hardware component removably received and electrically coupled with a hardware component receiver of each the at least two hardware component receivers, wherein the at least two hardware component receivers and the processing electronics have a bus modular architecture allowing the number and locations of interchangeable hardware components respectively electrically coupled with the at least two hardware component receivers to vary.
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24. A modular-phone structure comprising:
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a shell configured to be grasped by a human user and including at least two hardware component receivers; the at least two hardware component receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable mobile phone hardware component selected from a set of interchangeable mobile phone hardware components; and processing electronics including a bus configured to communicate with each respective interchangeable mobile phone hardware component removably received and electrically coupled with a hardware component receiver of each the at least two hardware component receivers, wherein the at least two hardware component receivers and the processing electronics both comply with a hardware interchangeability standard, and wherein the hardware interchangeability standard specifies (i) a dimensional configuration providing the removable receiving between a hardware component receiver and an interchangeable mobile phone hardware component, (ii) a configuration of electrical contacts providing the electrical coupling between a hardware component receiver and an interchangeable mobile phone hardware component, and (iii) a protocol for communicating between the processing electronics and the interchangeable mobile phone hardware component.
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Specification