PASSIVE INTERFACE AND SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION FOR PORTABLE DEVICES

• US 20090023395A1
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cao, James, Wang, Zhifeng, Yang, Yongzhi, Liew, Weihun, Chang, Eric, Wong, Kong-Kat, Dehghan, David, Sun, Stanley, Sundling, Rebecca
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/74.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881

Abstract

A universal passive interface for connecting external systems to smart devices such as cell phones and PDAs. The passive system includes a cradle for receiving a compatible smart device that connects the functionality of the smart device to a wide variety of external systems (e.g., printers, large display, input devices, etc.). The passive interface includes a USB hub, network port, and other common connector ports for peripherals and other systems. The smart device can connect to the passive system via the cradle slot, a tether, and/or wirelessly. The external systems to which the passive system serves at the interface to the smart device include, but are not limited to, large displays (e.g., television), external monitors, input devices such as mice and keyboards, external storage devices, and networks (wired and/or wireless). A wizard allows the user to configure the external systems to work with the smart device.

Claims

1. A passive interface system for interfacing a smart device to external systems, comprising:

an external interface component comprising a network interface and a USB hub for interfacing peripheral devices and a network to the smart device, the network interface facilitating IP data traffic between the smart device and an IP network entity;

a cradle interface for mechanically receiving the smart device and electrically interfacing the smart device to the peripheral devices and the network via the external interface component; and

a communications component for communicating data and signals between the smart device and passive interface system via wire and wireless communications protocols.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart device is a cell phone, the cell phone interfacing to the passive interface system via the cradle interface or via a tether to the external interface component.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart device includes a configuration component for automatically changing behavior of the smart device based on the smart device interfacing to the passive interface system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the cradle interface senses the smart device and sends a cradle signal to the configuration component, in response to which the configuration component queries the smart device for functionality suitable for driving a connected peripheral device and invokes the functionality for driving the peripheral device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the configuration component includes a wizard that automatically launches and walks through a setup procedure for configuration of the peripheral device, which is a TV.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the configuration component automatically configures the smart device to operate with a peripheral device according to a predetermined configuration.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart device is a cell phone, or a personal digital assistant device with mobile communications functionality.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface facilitates ad hoc peer-to-peer communications digital communications between the smart device and a computing system.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a security component for providing encrypted communications between the passive interface system and the smart device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a presentation component for presenting one or more of text, audio, images and video based on capabilities of the smart device and the peripheral devices.

11. A passive interface system for interfacing a smart device to external systems, comprising:

an external interface component comprising a network interface and a USB hub for interfacing peripheral devices and a network to the smart device;

a cradle interface for receiving the smart device and electrically interfacing the smart device to the peripheral devices and the network via the external interface component;

a security component for providing encrypted communications between the smart device and the passive interface system;

a communications component for communicating encrypted data and signals between the smart device and the passive interface system; and

a presentation component for presenting information related to state of an interface between the smart device and the peripheral devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the passive interface system senses the smart device and sends a signal to the smart device that invokes functionality which is compatible with driving the peripheral device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the functionality is invoked via a wizard that automatically launches and walks through a setup procedure for configuration of the peripheral device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the functionality is invoked via a device profile or a user profile stored in the smart device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the smart device automatically receives updates related to driving the peripheral devices.

16. A method of providing connectivity between a smart device and peripheral devices, comprising:

providing a passive device having multiple interface types for interfacing peripheral devices to a smart device;

interfacing the peripheral devices and the smart device to the passive device;

sensing capabilities of the smart device for driving a larger external display; and

driving the larger external display from the smart device based on a configuration process.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising recognizing the larger external display and automatically configuring operation between the smart device and the larger display based on a privacy setting that routes content based on the smart device operating in a device mode or TV mode.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising automatically presenting mobile communications information on the larger external display based on mobile communications operations occurring on the smart device.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing setup and configuration information for the external display on the smart device as a profile and automatically invoking the profile when detecting the larger external display.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising automatically detecting optimum settings for the larger external display related to screen size, resolution, output signal, and content based on the capabilities of the smart device.