Universal communication device and peripheral docking station

• US 20030115395A1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Maltz, David, Delorenzi, Stephane, Bull, Chris, Lazzarrato, Sergio, Karcher, Yves, Ambuehl, Rolf, Pavillard, Denis
• Application Number:
  US10/231,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115395A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A peripheral device station couples two or more peripheral devices with a host computer system. The station includes two or more peripheral device interfaces, a power unit, a communication intermediary, and a host interface. At least one peripheral device interface includes a communication connection and a power connection. The power unit couples with the power connection and provides an electrical charge for charging a power source of a peripheral device. The communication intermediary couples with the communication connection and provides a communication coupling between a peripheral device and the host computer system. The host interface couples with and communicates with the host computer system.

Claims

1. a peripheral device station for coupling a plurality of peripheral devices and a host computer system, the station comprising:

a plurality of peripheral device interfaces, each peripheral device interface configured to couple with at least one peripheral device and at least one peripheral device interface comprising a communication connection and a power connection;

a power unit coupled to the power connection and configured to provide an electrical charge for charging a power source of a peripheral device;

a communication intermediary coupled to the communication connection and configured to provide a communication coupling between a peripheral device and the host computer system; and

a host interface configured to couple with and communicate with the host computer system.

2. The peripheral device station of claim 1, wherein the communication intermediary comprises a non-tethered peer-to-peer communication protocol.

3. The peripheral device station of claim 2, wherein the non-tethered peer-to-peer communication protocol comprises a Bluetooth protocol.

4. The peripheral device station of claim 1, wherein the communication intermediary comprises a low-frequency communication protocol.

5. The peripheral device station of claim 4, wherein the low-frequency communication protocol operates in a frequency range of substantially 27 MHz.

6. The peripheral device station of claim 1, wherein the communication intermediary is further configured to provide a virtual wire connection between a peripheral device and the peripheral device station.

7. The peripheral device station of claim 1, wherein the host interface comprises one from a group consisting of a Universal Serial Bus interface, an IEEE 1394 interface, a parallel interface, and a non-tethered peer-to-peer interface.

8. The peripheral device station of claim 7, wherein the non-tethered peer-to-peer interface comprises a Bluetooth interface.

9. The peripheral device station of claim 1, wherein a peripheral device interface of the plurality of peripheral device interfaces comprises a personal digital assistant interface.

10. A centralized station for a use with a plurality of peripheral devices, comprising:

a plurality of stowage areas configured to stow the plurality of peripheral devices;

a plurality of peripheral device interfaces, each configured to couple at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices, at least one of the peripheral device interfaces comprising,

a recharge circuit connection configured to provide an electrical charge for charging a power source in a peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral devices; and

a communication circuit connection configured to provide a communication link with a communication circuit in the peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral devices.

11. The centralized station of claim 10, further comprising a connect circuit configured to create a virtual wire with a peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral devices.

12. The centralized station of claim 11, wherein the connect circuit couples with a keypad for selecting the peripheral device and the peripheral device interface for the virtual wire.

13. The centralized station of claim 10, wherein the communication circuit is configured to provide a tethered connection.

14. The centralized station of claim 13, wherein the tethered connection comprises at least one from a group consisting of a Universal Serial Bus connection, an IEEE 1394 connection, a parallel port connection, and an RS-232 connection.

15. The centralized station of claim 10, wherein the communication circuit is configured to provide a non-tethered connection.

16. The centralized station of claim 15, wherein the non-tethered connection includes at least one from a group consisting of a low-frequency range, a wireless peer-to-peer connection, and a wireless local area network connection.