NOTEBOOK COMPUTER AND CELL PHONE ASSEMBLY

• US 20100062805A1
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.), David Sun
• Original Assignee: Modu Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sherman, Itay, Ron, Uri, Bychkov, Eyal, Moran, Dov
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A computer and cell phone assembly, including a communicator including a modem for communicating over a wireless network, and a notebook computer, including a pouch for physically attaching the communicator to the notebook computer, and a connection indicator for indicating arrival of an incoming phone call from the wireless network when the communicator is attached to the notebook computer, wherein the communicator is operative to receive the incoming phone call whether it remains attached to the notebook computer or whether it is subsequently detached from the notebook computer. A method is also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A computer and cell phone assembly, comprising:

a communicator comprising a modem to communicate over a wireless network; and

a notebook computer, comprising;

a pouch for physically to attach said communicator to the notebook computer; and

a connection indicator to indicate arrival of an incoming phone call from the wireless network when said communicator is attached to the notebook computer,

wherein said communicator is operative to receive the incoming phone call whether it remains attached to the notebook computer or whether it is subsequently detached from the notebook computer.

2. The computer and cell phone assembly of claim 1 wherein said notebook computer further comprises an LED display, and wherein said connection indicator indicates arrival of the incoming phone call by causing said LED display to blink.

3. The computer and cell phone assembly of claim 1 wherein said notebook computer further comprises a speaker, and wherein said connection indicator indicates arrival of the incoming phone call by causing said speaker to ring.

4. The computer and cell phone assembly of claim 1 wherein said connection indicator is operative whether the notebook computer is turned on or turned off.

5. The computer and cell phone assembly of claim 1 wherein said connection indicator is operative whether the notebook computer is in normal mode or in power saving mode.

6. A method for communication, comprising:

indicating, by a notebook computer having a communicator attached thereto, arrival of an incoming phone call from a mobile network; and

receiving, by communicator, the incoming call whether the communicator remains attached to the notebook computer or whether the communicator is subsequently detached from the notebook computer.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said indicating is performed whether the notebook computer is turned on or turned off.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said indicating is performed whether the notebook computer is in normal mode or in power saving mode.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said indicating comprises causing an LED display to blink in response to said receiving.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said indicating comprises causing a speaker to ring in response to said receiving.

11. A communication system comprising,

a computer comprising:

a controller operable to transition between a plurality of power modes, including a normal power mode and at least one power saving mode;

an amplifier that may be enabled or disabled by said controller, to receive audio data from said controller; and

a battery to supply power to said controller and to said amplifier; and

a communicator coupled to said computer, comprising;

a modem to communicate over a wireless network, to enable said amplifier, and to transmit audio data to said amplifier; and

a power supply to supply power to said modem.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein said computer battery supplies power to said amplifier whenever said amplifier is enabled.

13. The communication system of claim 11 wherein said communicator is attachable to and detachable from said computer, and wherein said modem automatically enables said amplifier when said communicator is attached to said computer.

14. The communication system of claim 13 wherein said communicator power supply supplies power to said amplifier when said communicator is attached to said computer and said controller is in a power saving mode.

15. The communication system of claim 13 wherein said communicator power supply supplies power to said amplifier whenever said communicator is attached to said computer.

16. The communication system of claim 11 wherein said computer further comprises an LED indicator, wherein said controller enables and disables said LED indicator, wherein said computer battery supplies power to said LED indicator, and wherein said modem enables said LED indicator.

17. The communication system of claim 16 wherein said computer battery supplies power to said LED indicator whenever said LED indicator is enabled.

18. The communication system of claim 16 wherein said communicator is attachable to and detachable from said computer, and wherein said modem automatically enables said LED indicator when said communicator is attached to said computer.

19. The communication system of claim 18 wherein said communicator power supply supplies power to said LED indicator when said communicator is attached to said computer and said controller is in a power saving mode.

20. The communication system of claim 18 wherein said communicator power supply supplies power to said LED indicator whenever said communicator is attached to said computer.

21. A method for enabling and powering an amplifier of a computer when a communicator is attached to the computer, comprising:

if the computer is operating in a normal power mode, then enabling, by the computer, the amplifier;

if the computer is operating in a power saving mode, then enabling, by the communicator, the amplifier; and

supplying power from a battery of the computer to the amplifier.

22. A method for enabling and powering an amplifier of a computer when a communicator is attached to the computer, comprising:

if the computer is operating in a normal power mode, then;

enabling, by the computer, the amplifier; and

supplying power from a battery of the computer to the amplifier; and

if the computer is operating in a power saving mode, then;

enabling, by the communicator, the amplifier; and

supplying power from a power supply of the communicator to the amplifier.

23. A method for enabling and powering an amplifier of a computer when a communicator is attached to the computer, comprising:

if the computer is operating in a normal power mode, then enabling, by the computer, the amplifier;

if the computer is operating in a power saving mode, then enabling, by the communicator, the amplifier; and

supplying power from a power supply of the communicator to the amplifier.