Adapter module for a personal digital assistant and method for using the same

• US 20020078248A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Viviana Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Viviana Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Edwards, Bruce, Janik, Craig M., Ferguson, Josh, Kalayjian, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/946,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/252
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An adapter module for a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a method for using the same are provided. The adapter module includes a processing sub-system enclosed by a housing, and a first and second connector coupled to the processor. The first connector electrically connects to a corresponding connector on the PDA. This allows for communication between the adapter module and PDA. The second connector electrically connects to a corresponding connector on a PDA dock. This allows for communication between the adapter module and the PDA dock. The adapter module may be mechanically and electrically coupled to the PDA while the PDA is docked in the PDA dock.

Claims

1. An adapter module comprising:

a housing;

a processing sub-system enclosed in the housing;

a first connector for electrically connecting to a corresponding connector on a personal digital assistant (PDA) to allow communication between the adapter module and the PDA, the first connector coupled to the processing sub-system; and

a second connector for electrically connecting to a corresponding connector on a PDA dock to allow communication between the adapter module and the PDA dock, the second connector coupled to the processing sub-system.

2. The adapter module of claim 1 wherein the housing is shaped so that the adapter module is capable of being mechanically and electrically coupled to the PDA while the PDA is docked in the PDA dock.

3. The adapter module of claim 1 further comprising a fastener protruding from the housing to mechanically connect the adapter module to the PDA.

4. The adapter module of claim 1 further comprising:

an antenna; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna to send and receive data via a wireless communication standard.

5. The adapter module of claim 4 wherein the wireless communication standard is IEEE 802.1 b.

6. The adapter module of claim 4 wherein the wireless communication standard is Bluetooth™

.

7. The adapter module of claim 1 further comprising a battery.

8. The adapter module of claim 7 further comprising a circuit to allow the PDA dock to charge the battery in the adapter module.

9. The adapter module of claim 8 wherein the circuit is a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) circuit.

10. The adapter module of claim 1 wherein the processing sub-system includes a bar code scanning sub-system.

11. The adapter module of claim 3 wherein the fastener is a latch hook to be inserted into a latch hole on the personal digital assistant.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the housing is shaped so that the adapter module is capable of being mechanically and electrically coupled to the PDA while the PDA is docked in the PDA dock.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising a fastener protruding from the housing to mechanically connect the adapter module to the PDA.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

an antenna; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna to send and receive data via a wireless communication standard.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the wireless communication standard is IEEE 802.11 b.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the wireless communication standard is Bluetooth™

.

18. The system of claim 12 further comprising a battery.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a circuit to allow the PDA dock to charge the battery in the adapter module.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the circuit is a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) circuit.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein the processing sub-system includes a bar code scanning sub-system.

22. The adapter module of claim 14 wherein the fastener is a latch hook to be inserted into a latch hole on the personal digital assistant.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the remote location is a computer system.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the adapter module sending the data obtained from the PDA dock to the PDA via the first connector.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the data includes MP3 files to be played by the PDA.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising charging a battery in the adapter module using the PDA dock.

12. A system comprising:

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

an adapter module capable of being mechanically and electrically coupled to the PDA while the PDA is docked in a PDA dock, the adapter module including a processing sub-system enclosed in the housing, a first connector for electrically connecting to a corresponding connector on a personal digital assistant (PDA) to allow communication between the adapter module and the PDA, the first connector coupled to the processing sub-system, and a second connector for electrically connecting to a corresponding connector on a PDA dock to allow communication between the adapter module and the PDA dock, the second connector coupled to the processing sub-system.

23. A method of obtaining data using an adapter module comprising:

mechanically attaching the adapter module to a personal digital assistant (PDA) using a fastener;

electrically connecting a first connector on the adapter module to a corresponding connector on the PDA to allow communication between the adapter module and PDA, the first connector coupled to a processing sub-system in the adapter module;

placing the PDA with the adapter module attached in a PDA dock;

electrically connecting a second connector on the adapter module to a corresponding connector on the PDA dock to allow communication between the adapter module and the PDA dock, the second connector coupled to the processing sub-system in the adapter module; and

the adapter module obtaining data from the PDA dock via the second connector, the PDA dock receiving data from a remote location.