Connecting a hand-held device to peripheral devices
First Claim
1. A method of communication with a hand-held computing device having a device electrical port at a device surface thereof, the method comprising:
- providing a first peripheral module having a first electrical port receiver at a first surface thereof, configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device, and a first peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, at a second surface thereof, opposite the first surface;
coupling the first peripheral module to the computing device by bringing the first surface of the module into proximity with the device surface of the computing device and connecting the electrical port receiver of the peripheral module to the device electrical port, so that the first peripheral electrical port at the second surface of the first peripheral module is available for communication with a second peripheral module having a second electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device; and
conveying electrical signals between the hand-held computing device and the first peripheral module through the connected port receiver and electrical port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A peripheral module for a hand-held computing device having a device electrical port at a device surface thereof. The module includes a first electrical port receiver at a first surface of the module, configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device, and a first peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, at a second surface of the module, opposite the first surface. The first peripheral electrical port is available to mate with a further peripheral module having a second electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device. Circuitry, coupled between the first electrical port receiver and the first peripheral electrical port, is adapted to carry out an application function in association with the computing device while the first electrical port receiver is mated with the device electrical port of the computing device.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of communication with a hand-held computing device having a device electrical port at a device surface thereof, the method comprising:
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providing a first peripheral module having a first electrical port receiver at a first surface thereof, configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device, and a first peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, at a second surface thereof, opposite the first surface;
coupling the first peripheral module to the computing device by bringing the first surface of the module into proximity with the device surface of the computing device and connecting the electrical port receiver of the peripheral module to the device electrical port, so that the first peripheral electrical port at the second surface of the first peripheral module is available for communication with a second peripheral module having a second electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device; and
conveying electrical signals between the hand-held computing device and the first peripheral module through the connected port receiver and electrical port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A peripheral module for a hand-held computing device having a device electrical port at a device surface thereof, comprising:
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a first electrical port receiver at a first surface of the module, configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device;
a first peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, at a second surface of the module, opposite the first surface, which first peripheral electrical port is available to mate with a further peripheral module having a second electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device; and
circuitry, coupled between the first electrical port receiver and the first peripheral electrical port, which is adapted to carry out an application function in association with the computing device while the first electrical port receiver is mated with the device electrical port of the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Computing apparatus, comprising:
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a hand-held computing device having a device electrical port at a device surface thereof; and
a first peripheral module, which comprises;
a first electrical port receiver at a first surface of the module, configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device;
a first peripheral electrical port, of substantially identical shape and electrical functionality to the device electrical port, at a second surface of the module, opposite the first surface, which first peripheral electrical port is available to mate with a second peripheral module having a second electrical port receiver that is also configured to mate with the device electrical port of the hand-held computing device; and
circuitry, coupled between the first electrical port receiver and the first peripheral electrical port, which is adapted to carry out an application function in association with the computing device while the first electrical port receiver is mated with the device electrical port of the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification