Rechargeable wireless adapters

• US 20070032098A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Staccato Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Bowles, Mark, Tou, Jarvis
• Granted Patent: US 7,579,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Charging a battery is disclosed. An electrical connection is formed between a wireless adapter having a battery and a host. The wireless adapter is configured to be able to be removably coupled to a device to provide a wireless channel between the device and the host. The battery of the wireless adapter is charged using the host.

Claims

1. A method of charging including:

forming an electrical connection between a wireless adapter having a battery and a host, wherein the wireless adapter is configured to be able to be removably coupled to a device to provide a wireless channel between the device and the host; and

charging the battery of the wireless adapter using the host.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless channel is associated with Ultra Wideband (UWB).

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless channel is associated with a WiMedia specification.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein charging the battery includes using Universal Serial Bus (USB).

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein charging the battery includes using ExpressCard.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless adapter includes a universal wireless adapter.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless adapter includes a memory.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising indicating that charging the battery has completed.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein forming the electrical connection includes removably coupling the wireless adapter to the host.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein forming the electrical connection includes removably coupling the wireless adapter to an intermediate entity between wireless adapter and the host.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the wireless adapter is a first wireless adapter;

forming the electrical connection includes removably coupling the first wireless adapter to a second wireless adapter between first wireless adapter and the host; and

the method further comprises obtaining an encryption key while the first wireless adapter and the second wireless adapter are removably coupled.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein charging the battery includes using a connector associated with removably coupling the wireless adapter to the device.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining whether the wireless adapter is in a charging mode, wherein charging occurs in the event the wireless adapter is in a charging mode.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

breaking the electrical connection between the wireless adapter and the host;

removably coupling the wireless adapter to the device; and

wirelessly exchanging data between the device and the host using the wireless adapter.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the wireless adapter is a first wireless adapter; and

the method further comprises;

breaking the electrical connection between the first wireless adapter and the host;

removably coupling the first wireless adapter to the device;

removably coupling a second wireless adapter to the host; and

wirelessly exchanging data between the device and the host using the first wireless adapter and the second wireless adapter.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

breaking the electrical connection between the wireless adapter and the host;

removably coupling the wireless adapter to the device; and

wirelessly exchanging data between the device and the host using the wireless adapter, wherein the wireless adapter is in a power save mode for a non-zero period of time when not wirelessly exchanging data.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the wireless adapter is a first wireless adapter;

the first wireless adapter is configured to be able to couple to a second wireless adapter; and

while the first wireless adapter is coupled to the second wireless adapter, the first wireless adapter is in a lower power state.

18. A system for charging including:

a connector configured to form an electrical connection between a wireless adapter having a battery and a host, wherein the wireless adapter is configured to be able to be removably coupled to a device to provide a wireless channel between the device and the host; and

a battery charger configured to charge the battery of the wireless adapter using the host.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the battery charger is configured to charge the battery using Universal Serial Bus (USB).

20. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the battery charger is configured to charge the battery includes using ExpressCard.

21. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein:

the wireless adapter is a first wireless adapter;

the connector is configured to form the electrical connection by removably coupling the first wireless adapter to a second wireless adapter between first wireless adapter and the host; and

the system further comprises a processor configured to obtain an encryption key while the first wireless adapter and the second wireless adapter are removably coupled.

22. A computer program product for charging, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

forming an electrical connection between a wireless adapter having a battery and a host, wherein the wireless adapter is configured to be able to be removably coupled to a device to provide a wireless channel between the device and the host; and

charging the battery of the wireless adapter using the host.

23. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the computer instructions for charging the battery include computer instructions for using Universal Serial Bus (USB).

24. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the computer instructions for charging the battery include computer instructions for using ExpressCard.

25. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein:

the wireless adapter is a first wireless adapter;

the computer instructions for forming the electrical connection include computer instructions for removably coupling the first wireless adapter to a second wireless adapter between first wireless adapter and the host; and

the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for obtaining an encryption key while the first wireless adapter and the second wireless adapter are removably coupled.

26. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, the computer program product further comprising computer instructions for:

breaking the electrical connection between the wireless adapter and the host;

removably coupling the wireless adapter to the device; and

wirelessly exchanging data between the device and the host using the wireless adapter.