SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING DOCKING APPLICATIONS FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090049554A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Vuong, Thanh Vinh, Lazaridis, Mihal
• Granted Patent: US 9,092,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

A system and method is provided for managing one or more docking applications running on a wireless device. The method displays to a user at least one docking application while the wireless device is coupled to another device. The method comprising the steps of: executing a docking application control module when the wireless device is first coupled with the other device; retrieving user preferences associated with the docking application control module; executing, based on the retrieved user preferences, at least one docking application for use on the wireless device while the wireless device remains coupled to the other device; and terminating the docking application when the wireless device ceases to be coupled to the other device.

Claims

1. A method for managing one or more docking applications running on a wireless device, the method for displaying to a user at least one docking application while the wireless device is coupled to another device, the method comprising the steps of:

executing a docking application control module when the wireless device is first coupled with the other device;

retrieving user preferences associated with the docking application control module;

executing, based on the retrieved user preferences, at least one docking application for use on the wireless device while the wireless device remains coupled to the other device; and

terminating the docking application when the wireless device ceases to be coupled to the other device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

executing a docking application control graphical user interface (GUI), the docking application control GUI providing with the docking application an interface for the user to control aspects of one or more of the docking applications;

monitoring for and receiving user input provided by the user to the docking application control GUI;

updating the user preferences based on the input provided by the user; and

adjusting the operation of the at least one docking application based on the updated user preferences.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the adjusting of the operation of the at least one docking application includes executing, based on the updated user preferences and if a different docking application has been selected for use, a different docking application for use on the wireless device while the wireless device remains coupled to the other device.

4. The method according to claims 1, further comprising the steps of:

executing a security module, the security module for ensuring that the docking applications do not provide access to secure, confidential, or sensitive data stored on the wireless device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, before the step of executing a docking application:

waiting for a delay period to elapse, the delay period being defined by the retrieved user preferences.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the delay period is defined by a predetermined number of power save cycles that occur on the wireless device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the other device is selected from the group consisting of a charger providing power to the wireless device through a cable, a charger providing power to the wireless device through an inductive coupling, a computing device connected to the wireless device with a serial cable, and a computing device connected to the wireless device with a wireless connection.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the docking applications include one or more of:

an alarm clock application that shows the user the time and date and provides the user with an option to set alarms;

a picture frame application that shows a selection of pictures to the user;

an animated picture viewer that shows the user animated pictures;

a data download portal that provides the user with the ability to download items of interest from a network connection;

a media player application that provides the user with the option to listen to and/or view media files; and

a display notification application that shows email or messaging notifications.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the docking application control GUI provides an interface integrated with the at least one docking application, the interface allowing the user to select another docking application for use on the wireless device or run more than one docking application at the same time on the wireless device.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the docking application control GUI provides an interface integrated with the at least one docking application, the interface allowing the user to configure settings associated with one or more of the docking applications.

11. A wireless device for displaying to a user one or more docking applications while the wireless device is coupled to another device, the wireless device comprising:

a microprocessor for controlling operation of the wireless device;

a first input device coupled to the microprocessor for accepting an input from a user of the wireless device;

a first serial port coupled to the microprocessor for providing the option of establishing a serial connection between the other device and the wireless device;

a display device coupled to the microprocessor for communicating an output to the user;

a communications subsystem coupled to the microprocessor for communicating with a communications network; and

a memory coupled to the microprocessor;

the wireless device including a docking application control module resident in the memory for execution by the microprocessor, the docking application control module being configured to;

execute when the wireless device is first coupled with the other device;

retrieve user preferences associated with the docking application control module;

execute, based on the retrieved user preferences, at least one docking application for use on the wireless device while the wireless device remains coupled to the other device; and

terminate the docking application when the wireless device ceases to be coupled to the other device.

12. The wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the docking application control module is further configured to:

execute a docking application control graphical user interface (GUI), the docking application control GUI providing with the docking application an interface for the user to control aspects of one or more of the docking applications;

monitor for and receive user input provided by the user to the docking application control GUI;

update the user preferences based on the input provided by the user; and

adjust operation of the at least one docking application based on the updated user preferences.

13. The wireless device according to claim 12, wherein the adjusting of the operation of the at least one docking application includes executing, based on the updated user preferences and if a different docking application has been selected for use, a different docking application for use on the wireless device while the wireless device remains coupled to the other device.

14. The wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the docking application control module is further configured to:

execute a security module, the security module for ensuring that the docking applications do not provide access to secure, confidential, or sensitive data stored on the wireless device.

15. The wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the docking application control module is further configured to, before executing the at least one docking application:

wait for a delay period to elapse, the delay period being defined by the retrieved user preferences.

16. The wireless device according to claim 15, wherein the delay period is defined by a predetermined number of power save cycles that occur on the wireless device.

17. The wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the other device is selected from the group consisting of a charger providing power to the wireless device through a cable, a charger providing power to the wireless device through an inductive coupling, a computing device connected to the wireless device serial port with a serial cable, and a computing device connected to the wireless device communication subsystem with a wireless connection.

18. The wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the docking applications include one or more of:

an alarm clock application that shows the user the time and date and provides the user with an option to set alarms;

a picture frame application that shows a selection of pictures to the user;

an animated picture viewer that shows the user animated pictures;

a data download portal that provides the user with the ability to download items of interest from a network connection;

a media player application that provides the user with an option to listen to and/or view media files; and

a display notification application that shows email or messaging notifications.

19. The wireless device according to claim 12, wherein the docking application control GUI provides an interface integrated with the at least one docking application, the interface allowing the user to select another docking application for use on the wireless device or run more than one docking application at the same time.

20. The wireless device according to claim 12, wherein the docking application control GUI provides an interface integrated with the at least one docking application, the interface allowing the user to configure settings associated with one or more of the docking applications.