SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING RESOURCES AND INTERFACES AMONGST CONNECTED COMPUTING DEVICES
First Claim
1. A computing device comprising:
- logic provided within a housing of the computing device;
a plurality of user-interface mechanisms provided on or with the housing;
a universal communication port capable of receiving data from a connected device that, based on a primary functionality, is of any device class in a plurality of device classes;
wherein the logic is configured to;
enable an operative state for the plurality of user-interface mechanisms;
detect the connected device that connects to the universal communication port;
determine a set of functionality that the connected device is capable of performing when connected to the universal communication port;
perform operations that are for use with or by the connected device; and
perform at least one of (i) selectively route data to the connected device over the universal communication port, or (ii) selectively disable one or more of the plurality of user-interface mechanisms while performing the operations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computing device is provided that includes a plurality of user-interactive mechanisms. The computing device may also include a universal communication port that is capable of receiving a connection from a device that belongs to any one of a plurality of device classes or types. The device may be equipped or configured with logic. The logic may configure or otherwise enable an operative state of user-interface mechanisms on the device. Additionally, the logic may (i) detect a connected device that connects to the universal communication port, and (ii) determine a set of functionality that the connected device is capable of performing when connected to the universal communication port. The logic may perform, or cause performance, of operations that are for use with or by the connected device. The logic may also perform at least one of (i) selectively route data to the connected device over the universal communication port, or (ii) selectively disable one or more of the plurality of user-interactive mechanisms while performing the operations.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computing device comprising:
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logic provided within a housing of the computing device; a plurality of user-interface mechanisms provided on or with the housing; a universal communication port capable of receiving data from a connected device that, based on a primary functionality, is of any device class in a plurality of device classes; wherein the logic is configured to; enable an operative state for the plurality of user-interface mechanisms; detect the connected device that connects to the universal communication port; determine a set of functionality that the connected device is capable of performing when connected to the universal communication port; perform operations that are for use with or by the connected device; and perform at least one of (i) selectively route data to the connected device over the universal communication port, or (ii) selectively disable one or more of the plurality of user-interface mechanisms while performing the operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computing system comprising:
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a first computing device including a first set of user-interface mechanisms; a second computing device including a second set of user-interface mechanisms; a universal connection channel that connects the first computing device to the second computing device, and wherein the universal connection channel enables each device to connect to a device of any one of a plurality of device classes or types; logic provided with one or both of the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein the logic is configured to; perform operations that are for use by the first computing device and the second computing device when the first and second computing devices are connected using the universal connection channel; automatically make a first selection of user-interface mechanisms from at least one of the first set or from the second set when performing the operations; responsive to one or more designated events, make a second selection of user-interface mechanism from the first set or from the second set when performing a response to the one or more designated events; wherein the second selection is different from the first selection; and wherein the user-interface mechanisms of at least one of the first selection or second selection includes the user-interface mechanisms from the first set and from the second set.
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Specification