Method and system of coupling a personal digital assistant to a portable computer

• US 20060236014A1
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Crosswy, W. Caldwell, Doczy, Paul J., Yin, Memphis-Zhihong, Wolff, Stacy L.
• Application Number:
  US11/109,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20060236014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A method and system of coupling a personal digital assistant to a portable computer. Some of the illustrative embodiments may be a system comprising a portable computer comprising a docking receptacle on an outer portion of the portable computer, and a personal digital assistant (PDA) (comprising a display device). The docking receptacle couples the PDA to the portable computer, and the PDA reads data from the portable computer to be displayed on the display device of the PDA.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

portable computer comprising a docking receptacle on an outer portion of the portable computer;

a personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising a display device;

wherein the docking receptacle couples the PDA to the portable computer, and wherein the PDA reads data from the portable computer to be displayed on the display device of the PDA.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the portable computer further comprises a display chassis comprising a display, and wherein the docking receptacle is on an outer portion of the display chassis of the portable computer.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

wherein the PDA comprises an electrical docking connector and a processor, the processor electrically coupled to the electrical docking connector;

wherein the docking receptacle further comprises an electrical docking connector, and wherein when the PDA is docked, the processor of the PDA electrically couples to the processor of the portable computer through the electrical docking connector.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

wherein. the portable computer comprises a local area network (LAN) wireless transceiver;

wherein the PDA comprises a LAN wireless transceiver; and

wherein the PDA reads data from the portable computer using the LAN wireless transceivers.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein PDA reads data from the portable computer using the wireless transceivers when the PDA is mechanically coupled to the portable computer.

6. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein the PDA reads data from the portable computer when the PDA is proximate to the portable computer.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

wherein the PDA further comprises a wide area network (WAN) wireless transceiver, and wherein the PDA, when coupled to the portable computer, couples the portable computer to the WAN.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

wherein the PDA comprises a wireless transceiver; and

wherein the PDA, when coupled to the portable computer, wirelessly couples the portable computer to a network.

9. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein the PDA, when coupled to the portable computer, wirelessly couples the portable computer to a cellular telephone network.

10. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the PDA comprises a user interface that accepts data from a user.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the user interface of the PDA further comprises a keyboard.

12. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the user interface further comprises a digitizer at least partially overlaying the display of the PDA.

13. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the PDA reads data from a memory device of the portable computer when the portable computer is powered-off.

14. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the PDA further comprises a battery, and wherein the portable computer charges the battery of the PDA.

15. A portable computer comprising:

a base chassis comprising a processor;

a display chassis comprising a display hinged to the base chassis; and

a docking receptacle on an outer portion of the display chassis, the docking receptacle mechanically couples a personal digital assistant (PDA) to the portable computer and enables the PDA to read data from the portable computer.

16. The portable computer as defined in claim 15 wherein the docking receptacle further comprises an electrical connector, and wherein when the PDA is mechanically coupled to the portable computer, the electrical connector electrically couples the PDA to the processor.

17. The portable computer as defined in claim 15 wherein the PDA reads data from the portable computer when the portable computer is powered-off.

18. The portable computer as defined in claim 15 further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor, wherein the portable computer supplies data to the PDA by way of the wireless transceiver.

19. A personal digital assistant (PDA) comprising:

a display device;

a user interface; and

a processor electrically coupled to the display device;

wherein the PDA is configured to mechanically couple to an outer portion of a chassis of a portable computer and to read data from the portable computer, and wherein when not mechanically coupled the PDA is configured to be worn by a user.

20. The PDA as defined in claim 19 wherein the PDA couples the user by at least one of the group:

a lanyard; and

a wrist band.

21. The PDA as defined in claim 19 further comprising a wireless transceiver, and wherein the PDA reads data from the portable computer using the wireless transceiver.

22. The PDA as defined in claim 21 wherein the PDA reads data using the wireless transceiver when the PDA is mechanically coupled to the portable computer.

23. The PDA as defined in claim 21 wherein the PDA reads data using the wireless transceiver when the PDA is proximate to the portable computer.

24. The PDA as defined in claim 19 further comprising:

a battery coupled to the processor; and

user interface coupled to the processor.

25. The PDA as defined in claim 24 wherein the battery of the PDA is charged by the portable computer when the PDA is mechanically coupled to the portable computer.

26. The PDA as defined in claim 19 further comprising a wireless transceiver, and wherein the PDA couples the portable computer to a network using the wireless transceiver.