Novel personal electronics device

• US 20020173344A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dualcor Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dualcor Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Glass, Tim J., Cupps, Bryan T.
• Application Number:
  US09/809,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173344A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An Electronic device combines the features of one or more of: cellular telephone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), personal computer, Internet Appliance (IA), pager, cordless telephone, remote control unit (for example, for use with television, stereo, entertainment devices, and so forth) and Global Positioning System (GPS) into one common easy to use universal device and User Interface (UI). In one embodiment the device is approximately the size of a cellular telephone, and includes a large touchscreen LCD, that spans a significant portion of the length and width of the device, for example, covering an area which would normally be used for both the display and keypad on a cellular telephone. The display and UI change to look appropriate for whatever application in use. In one embodiment, the cellular telephone display and UI are selected from one of a plurality of cellular telephone displays images and UIs, so that a user familiar with one brand or model of cellular telephone can have that image and UI to utilize with the device.

Claims

1. A portable telephone comprising:

telephone circuitry;

a display;

a touchscreen;

a first processor to provide one of a plurality of telephone user interface images to said display and receive user input from corresponding locations on said touchscreen.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of telephone user interface images is user defined.

3. A device as in claim 1 which further comprises:

a switch to initiate operation of one or both of said display and said touchscreen.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein said other functional images are selected from the group consisting of:

a contact manager scheduler, e-mail, cell phone and PC based software applications.

6. A device as in claim 1, which further comprises a second processor to provide user interface images to said display, and receive user input from said touchscreen, for use with tasks run by said second processor.

7. A device as in claim 6 wherein said first processor utilizes a first operating system, and said second processor utilizes a second operating system.

8. A device as in claim 6, wherein said first and second processors are coupled to said display via a shared display interface.

9. A device as in claim 8, wherein said display interface comprises:

a first set of memory locations for use by said first processor;

a second set of memory locations for use by said second processor;

control circuitry for selecting data from either said first or said second set of memory locations, to provide user interface image data to said display.

10. A device as in claim 6 which further comprises:

a first set of memory locations for use by said first processor; and

a second set of memory locations for use by said second processor.

11. A device as in claim 6 which further comprises:

a memory having a plurality of memory locations shared by said first and second processors.

12. A device as in claim 6 which further comprises:

a storage device shared by said first and second processors.

13. A device as in claim 7 which further comprises:

a first set of memory locations for use by said first processor; and

a second set of memory locations for use by said second processor.

14. A device as in claim 7 which further comprises:

a memory having a plurality of memory locations shared by said first and second processors.

15. A device as in claim 7 which further comprises:

a storage device shared by said first and second processors.

16. A device as in claim 1 which further comprises a removable Signature Identification Module.

17. A device as in claim 9 wherein said control circuitry is controlled by said first processor.

18. A device as in claim 1 which further comprises one or more modules managed by said first processor, selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular telephone module;

a cordless telephone module;

a wireless headset module;

a wireless interface module;

an electronic remote control module;

a GPS module;

a voice command and control module; and

a voice recognition module.

19. A device as in claim 18 wherein one or more of said cordless telephone module, said wireless headset module, and said wireless interface module comprise Bluetooth enabled modules.

20. A device as in claim 18, wherein said first processor provides to said display user interface images associated with one or more of said selected modules.

21. A device as in claim 6, wherein said second processor comprises a processor more powerful than said first processor and capable of quickly receiving state-of-the-art PC software applications

22. A device as in claim 6, wherein said first processor controls one or more parameters of said second processor.

23. A device as in claim 22, wherein said one or more parameters of said second processor are selected from the group of parameters consisting of:

clock speed, duty cycle, sleep mode and power consumption.

24. A device as in claim 18, wherein said first processor controls one or more parameters of one or more of said modules.

25. A device as in claim 24, wherein said one or more parameters of said modules are selected from the group of parameters consisting of:

clock speed, duty cycle, sleep mode, and power consumption.

27. A device as in claim 26 wherein said first processor utilizes a first operating system, and said second processor utilizes a second operating system.

28. A device as in claim 26 wherein at least one of said plurality of telephone user interface images is user defined.

29. A device as in claim 26 which further comprises:

a switch to initiate operation of one or both of said display and said touchscreen.

30. A device as in claim 26 wherein said first processor also serves to display other functional images to said display.

31. A device as in claim 30 wherein said other functional images are selected from the group consisting of:

a contact manager scheduler, e-mail, cellular telephone, and PC based software applications.

32. A device as in claim 26 wherein said first and second processors are coupled to said t display via a shared display interface.

33. A device as in claim 32 wherein said t display interface comprises:

a first set of memory locations for use by said first processor;

a second set of memory locations for use by said second processor;

control circuitry for selecting data from either said first or said second set of memory locations, to provide user interface image data to said display.

34. A device as in claim 26 which further comprises:

a first set of memory locations for use by said first processor; and

a second set of memory locations for use by said second processor.

35. A device as in claim 26 which further comprises:

a memory having a plurality of memory locations shared by said first and second processors.

36. A device as in claim 26 which further comprises:

a storage device shared by said first and second processors.

37. A device as in claim 27 which further comprises:

a first set of memory locations for use by said first processor; and

a second set of memory locations for use by said second processor.

38. A device as in claim 27 which further comprises:

a memory having a plurality of memory locations shared by said first and second processors.

39. A device as in claim 27 which further comprises:

a storage device shared by said first and second processors.

40. A device as in claim 26 which further comprises a removable Signature Identification Module.

41. A device as in claim 26 wherein said control circuitry is controlled by said first processor.

42. A device as in claim 26 which further comprises one or more modules managed by said first processor, selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular telephone module;

a cordless telephone module;

a wireless headset module;

a wireless interface module;

an electronic remote control module;

a GPS module;

a voice command and control module; and

a voice recognition module.

43. A device as in claim 42 wherein one or more of said cordless telephone module, said wireless headset module, and said wireless interface module comprise Bluetooth enabled modules.

44. A device as in claim 33, wherein said first processor provides to said display user interface images associated with one or more of said selected modules.

45. A device as in claim 26 wherein said second processor comprises a processor more powerful than said first processor and capable of quickly receiving state-of-the-art PC software applications.

46. A device as in claim 26 wherein said first processor controls one or more parameters of said second processor.

47. A device as in claim 46, wherein said one or more parameters of said second processor are selected from the group of parameters consisting of:

clock speed, duty cycle, sleep mode and power consumption.

48. A device as in claim 42, wherein said first processor controls one or more parameters of one or more of said modules.

49. A device as in claim 48, wherein said one or more parameters of said modules are selected from the group of parameters consisting of:

clock speed, duty cycle, sleep mode, and power consumption.

4. A device as in claim 4 wherein said first processor also serves to display other functional images to said display.

26. A portable telephone comprising:

telephone circuitry;

a display;

a touchscreen;

a first processor, to provide at least one telephone user interface image to said display and receive user input from corresponding locations on said touchscreen; and

a second processor, to provide one or more user interface images to said display and receive user input from corresponding locations on said touchscreen, for use with tasks run by said second processor.

50. A portable electronic device comprising:

a display;

a touchscreen;

a first processor to provide at least one user interface image to said display and receive user input from corresponding locations on said touchscreen; and

a second processor to provide one or more user interface images to said display and receive user input from corresponding locations on said touchscreen, for use with tasks run by said second processor.

51. A device as in claim 50 wherein said first processor utilizes a first operating system, and said second processor utilizes a second operating system.

52. A device as in claim 50 wherein said at least one user interface image provided by said first processor are selected from the group consisting of:

a contact manager scheduler, e-mail, cell phone and PC based software applications.

53. A device as in claim 50, wherein said first and second processors are coupled to said display via a shared display interface.

54. A device as in claim 53, wherein said display interface comprises:

a first set of memory locations for use by said first processor;

a second set of memory locations for use by said second processor;

control circuitry for selecting data from either said first or said second set of memory locations, to provide user interface image data to said display.

55. A device as in claim 50 which further comprises:

a first set of memory locations for use by said first processor; and

a second set of memory locations for use by said second processor.

56. A device as in claim 50 which further comprises:

a memory having a plurality of memory locations shared by said first and second processors.

57. A device as in claim 50 which further comprises:

a storage device shared by said first and second processors.

58. A device as in claim 51 which further comprises:

a first set of memory locations for use by said first processor; and

a second set of memory locations for use by said second processor.

59. A device as in claim 51 which further comprises:

a memory having a plurality of memory locations shared by said first and second processors.

60. A device as in claim 51 which further comprises:

a storage device shared by said first and second processors.

61. A device as in claim 50 wherein said control circuitry is controlled by said first processor.

62. A device as in claim 50 which further comprises one or more modules managed by said first processor, selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular telephone module;

a cordless telephone module;

a wireless headset module;

a wireless interface module;

an electronic remote control module;

a GPS module;

a voice command and control module; and

a voice recognition module.

63. A device as in claim 62 wherein one or more of said cordless telephone module, said wireless headset module, and said wireless interface module comprise Bluetooth enabled modules.

64. A device as in claim 62, wherein said first processor provides to said display user interface images associated with one or more of said selected modules.

65. A device as in claim 50, wherein said second processor comprises a processor more powerful than said first processor and capable of quickly receiving state-of-the-art PC software applications.

66. A device as in claim 50 wherein said first processor controls one or more parameters of said second processor.

67. A device as in claim 66, wherein said one or more parameters of said second processor are selected from the group of parameters consisting of:

clock speed, duty cycle, sleep mode, power consumption.

68. A device as in claim 62, wherein said first processor controls one or more parameters of one or more of said modules.

69. A device as in claim 68, wherein said one or more parameters of said modules are selected from the group of parameters consisting of:

clock speed, duty cycle, sleep mode, power consumption.

70. A computer system comprising:

a monitor;

one or more user input devices;

a docking station, comprising;

a connector for interfacing with portable telephone comprising;

telephone circuitry;

a display;

a touchscreen;

a first processor to provide at least one telephone user interface image to said display and receive user input from corresponding locations on said touchscreen; and

a second processor to provide one or more user interface images to said display and receive user input from corresponding locations on said touchscreen, for use with tasks run by said second processor; and

a power source for powering said portable telephone via said connector.

71. A device as in claim 70 wherein said first processor utilizes a first operating system, and said second processor utilizes a second operating system.

72. A device as in claim 70 which further comprises structure for:

creating image data defining an image of X pixels wide by Y pixels high;

displaying on said display a portion of said image equal to X pixels wide and Y/N pixels high; and

displaying on said monitor said image of X pixels wide by Y pixels high.

73. A device as in claim 72 where N equals two.

74. A device as in claim 70 which further comprises structure for:

displaying on said display a portion of said image equal to X1 pixels wide and Y1 pixels high; and

displaying on said monitor said image of X2 pixels wide by Y2 pixels high.

75. A device as in claim 70 wherein said docking station comprises a telephone connection, and means for operating said telephone connection concurrently with the operation of said telephone circuitry, achieving two concurrent telephone sessions.

76. A computer system as in claim 70 which further comprises one or more user input devices selected from the group consisting of keyboard, mouse, tablet, touchscreen, joystick, and speech recognition unit.

77. A computer system as in claim 70 wherein said docking station comprises a computer.

78. A computer system as in claim 77 wherein said computer uses said portable telephone as a slave device.

79. A computer system as in claim 70 wherein said docking station includes audio interfaces for use by said Electronic Device while said Electronic Device is interfaced with said connector.

80. A computer system as in claim 79, further comprising voice command and control to operate one or more functions of said computer system via user voice command.

81. A system as in claim 80 wherein said voice command and control serves to control at least one function of said first processor and at least one function of said second processor.

82. A computer system as in claim 70 wherein said docking station comprises a network connection, allowing said Electronic Device to connect to said network.

94. A system as in claim 80 wherein said voice command and control serves to control at least one function of said first processor and at least one function of said second processor.

95. A computer system as in claim 70 wherein said docking station comprises a network connection, allowing said Electronic Device to connect to said network.

83. A computer system comprising:

a monitor;

one or more user input devices;

a docking station, comprising;

a connector for interfacing with portable electronic device comprising;

a display;

a touchscreen;

a first processor to provide at least one telephone user interface image to said display and receive user input from corresponding locations on said touchscreen; and

a second processor to provide one or more user interface images to said display and receive user input from corresponding locations on said touchscreen, for use with tasks run by said second processor; and

a power source for powering said Electronic Device via said connector.

84. A device as in claim 83 wherein said first processor utilizes a first operating system, and said second processor utilizes a second operating system.

85. A device as in claim 83 which further comprises structure for:

creating image data defining an image of X pixels wide by Y pixels high;

displaying on said display a portion of said image equal to X pixels wide and Y/N pixels high; and

displaying on said monitor said image of X pixels wide by Y pixels high.

86. A device as in claim 85 where N equals two.

87. A device as in claim 83 which further comprises structure for:

displaying on said display a portion of said image equal to X1 pixels wide and Y1 pixels high; and

displaying on said monitor said image of X2 pixels wide by Y2 pixels high.

88. A device as in claim 83 wherein said docking station comprises a telephone connection, and means for operating said telephone connection concurrently with the operation of said telephone circuitry, achieving two concurrent telephone sessions.

89. A computer system as in claim 83 which further comprises one or more user input devices selected from the group consisting of keyboard, mouse, tablet, touchscreen, joystick, and speech recognition unit.

90. A computer system as in claim 83 wherein said docking station comprises a computer.

91. A computer system as in claim 83 wherein said computer uses said Electronic Device as a slave device.

92. A computer system as in claim 83 wherein said docking station includes audio interfaces for use by said Electronic Device while said Electronic Device is interfaced with said connector.

93. A computer system as in claim 92, further comprising voice command and control to operate one or more functions of said computer system via user voice command.

96. A method for operating a computer system comprising a first display and a second display comprising the steps of:

creating image data defining an image of X pixels wide by Y pixels high;

displaying on said first display a portion of said image equal to X pixels wide and Y/N pixels high; and

displaying on said second display said image of X pixels wide by Y pixels high.

97. A method as in claim 96 wherein said first display is disabled when said second display is displaying image information.

98. A method for operating an electronic device comprising telephone circuitry, a display, a user input device, a first processor, and a second processor, comprising the steps of:

using said first processor as a system processor to control said telephone circuitry during telephone operation; and

awakening said second processor and utilizing said second processor to perform higher level computing tasks.

99. A method as in claim 98 which further comprises a step of utilizing said system processor for low level operational and computational tasks without awakening said second processor.

100. A method as in claim 99 wherein said display receives from said system processor display data associated with tasks performed by said system processor and said display receives from said second processor display data associated with tasks performed by said second processor.

101. A method as in claim 98 wherein said second processor retrieves its state information from disk upon awakening.

102. A method as in claim 98, wherein said first processor utilizes a first operating system and said second processor utilizes a second operating system.

103. A method as in claim 102 which further comprises the step of synchronizing data used by similar programs operating in said first and said second operating systems.