Systems and apparatus for enhanced mobile computing platforms

• US 20070006146A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Thakkar, Shreekant, Kwong, Wah, Ghosh, Prosenjit, Trethewey, Jim, Jacobs, Robert, Veeramoney, Murali, Phan, Truong, Nguyen, Tim, Mills, Katie, Sadiq, Asim
• Application Number:
  US11/165,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20070006146A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems and apparatus for enhanced mobile computing platforms are provided. For example, an apparatus or system may comprise a universal computational package, comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a plurality of instructions stored in the memory directed to at least one specific use of the universal computational package, and a plurality of interface controllers coupled to the processor, wherein each of the plurality of interface controllers is operable to cause the processor to execute the plurality of stored instructions in accordance with the presence of a use-specific user interface cover associated with the at least one specific use of the universal computational package.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a universal computational package, comprising;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a plurality of instructions stored in the memory directed to at least one specific use of the universal computational package; and

a plurality of interface controllers coupled to the processor, wherein each of the plurality of interface controllers is operable to cause the processor to execute the plurality of stored instructions in accordance with the presence of a use-specific user interface cover associated with the at least one specific use of the universal computational package.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the use-specific user interface cover, wherein the use-specific user interface cover is coupled to at least partially enclose the computational package, and wherein the use-specific user interface cover comprises one or more use-specific user interface devices coupled to provide an indication to the plurality of interface controllers of the computational package, wherein the indication is directed to the at least one specific use of the universal computational package.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the use-specific user interface cover is selected from a plurality of use-specific user interface covers directed to causing the universal computational package to execute the plurality of stored instructions in accordance with one of a plurality of specific uses of the universal computational package.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a position of the one or more use-specific user interface devices on the use-specific user interface cover determines which of the one or more of the plurality of interface controllers is provided with the indication.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one use associated with the use-specific interface cover comprises a gaming use.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more use-specific user interface devices of the use-specific user interface cover comprise a touch screen comprising a touch screen surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the touch screen surface extends substantially to the extents of the touch screen.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the touch screen surface comprises substantially an entire surface of the use-specific user interface cover and wherein the use-specific user interface cover comprises substantially an entire side of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the touch screen comprises one or more dedicated touch button areas on the touch screen surface, and wherein at least one portion of the touch screen comprises a diaphragm of a speaker.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the universal computational package further comprises:

a software controller to receive indications from the touch screen surface and to determine if an indication is associated with the one or more dedicated touch button areas.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the software controller is operable to execute the plurality of stored instructions in response to receiving an indication from the touch screen surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the software controller is further to deactivate portions of the touch screen adjacent to the one or more dedicated touch screen button areas.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a retractable camera device coupled to provide image information to the universal computational package.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the retractable camera device comprises a universal serial bus camera powered by the universal computational package.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a retractable stand.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a detachable universal serial bus module, comprising;

an interface controller coupled at least to provide information to the universal computational package and to receive power from the universal computational package;

a latching component to couple the detachable universal serial bus module to at least one of the universal computational package or the use-specific user interface cover, wherein the latching component facilitates the receipt of power and the providing of information; and

a switch to provide an indication in the case that the detachable universal serial bus module is coupled to the at least one of the universal computational package or the use-specific user interface cover.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the detachable universal serial bus device further comprises:

a low-profile vibration isolation device.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the detachable universal serial bus module comprises at least one of a digital video disk device, a television tuning device, a wireless device, a global positioning system device, a power device, or a mass storage device.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless input device comprising a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the wireless input device further comprises a single Bluetooth module and a controller operable to utilize the single Bluetooth module to send and receive signals associated with both the wireless keyboard and the wireless mouse.

21. A system, comprising:

a universal computational package, comprising;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a plurality of instructions stored in the memory directed to at least one specific use of the universal computational package; and

a plurality of interface controllers coupled to the processor, wherein each of the plurality of interface controllers is operable to cause the processor to execute the plurality of stored instructions in accordance with the presence of a use-specific user interface cover associated with the at least one specific use of the universal computational package; and

a battery coupled to provide power to the universal computational package.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

the use-specific user interface cover, wherein the use-specific user interface cover is coupled to at least partially enclose the computational package, and wherein the use-specific user interface cover comprises one or more use-specific user interface devices coupled to provide an indication to the plurality of interface controllers of the computational package, wherein the indication is directed to the at least one specific use of the universal computational package.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the use-specific user interface cover is selected from a plurality of use-specific user interface covers directed to causing the universal computational package to execute the plurality of stored instructions in accordance with one of a plurality of specific uses of the universal computational package.

24. A method, comprising:

storing instructions in a memory of a universal computational package, wherein the instructions are operable to cause a processor of the universal computational package to perform in accordance with a specific use;

coupling an interface controller to the processor of the universal computational package, wherein the interface controller is operable to send a first signal to cause the processor to execute the stored instructions; and

coupling a use-specific user interface cover to the interface controller of the universal computational package, such that a second signal sent from the use-specific user interface cover is operable to cause the interface controller to send the first signal to the processor.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the coupling of the use-specific user interface cover to the interface controller is based at least in part on a location of an input device of the use-specific interface cover.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the stored instructions comprise a plurality of stored instructions directed to a plurality of specific uses of the universal computational package, and wherein the use-specific user interface cover is selected from a plurality of use-specific user interface covers directed to causing the processor of the universal computational package to execute one or more of the plurality of stored instructions in accordance with one of a plurality of specific uses of the universal computational package.