ACCESSORY DEVICES FOR MOBILE PHONES

• US 20100144392A1
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: ROBERTS, Brian H., FELT, Michelle, STALLINGS, Heath, RELYEA, Donald H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Implementations described herein relate to accessories for mobile phones. In one implementation, an accessory may include, a display to present information received from a mobile phone to a user of the accessory. The accessory may connect with the mobile phone to form a link to the mobile phone. The accessory may include a clothing attachment component to attach the accessory to the user or to clothing of the user.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a display to present information received from a mobile phone to a user of the device;

a local connection component to form a link to the mobile phone, the information being received over the link; and

a clothing attachment component to attach the device to the user.

2. The device of claim 1, where the local connection component connects with the mobile phone using a local wireless connection or a local cable connection.

3. The device of claim 1, where the clothing attachment component includes a pin, a band or chain that allows the device to be worn as a necklace or bracelet, a keychain ring that allows the device to be used as a keychain attachment, or a belt clip.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker for outputting audio information.

5. The device of claim 1, where the display includes a display based on e-paper technology.

6. The device of claim 1, where the display includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) or light emitting diode (LED) display.

7. The device of claim 1, where the device monitors a status of the link to the mobile phone and performs an action when the link is broken.

8. The device of claim 7, where the action includes turning off the device.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a speaker for outputting audio information, and

where the action includes playing a sound through the speaker to indicate that the link has been broken.

10. The device of claim 1, where the local connection is additionally configured to connect to other devices that are worn by other others in a local vicinity of the device.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a movable part configured to actuate based on the information received from the mobile phone.

12. A method comprising:

detecting, by a first accessory associated with a first user, a presence of a second accessory in a local vicinity of the first accessory;

exchanging information with a second accessory;

presenting, by the first accessory, information relating to a user of the second accessory;

receiving update information from a mobile phone of the first user; and

presenting, by the first accessory, the update information from the mobile phone.

13. The method of claim 12, where the first accessory is attached to an article of clothing worn by the first user.

14. The method of claim 12, where the detection of the presence of the second accessory is performed via a local wireless connection implemented directly between the first and second accessory.

15. The method of claim 12, where the detection of the presence of the second accessory is performed through the mobile phone.

16. The method of claim 12, where presenting the information includes displaying the information or emitting an audible signal based on the information.

17. The method of claim 12, where the presented information includes:

information relating to a location of the user of the second accessory;

information relating to a potential compatibility of the first user and the user of the second accessory;

or

at least one of a name, physical description, or distance to the user of the second accessory.

18. The method of claim 12, where the exchanging information with a second accessory is performed only when the second accessory is determined to be a member of a social group with which the first accessory is a member.

19. A system comprising:

a mobile phone configured to receive information over a cellular network;

an accessory device connected to the mobile phone, the accessory device including;

a local network connection to implement the connection to the mobile phone and receive the information from the mobile phone, and

a display to present the information received by the local network connection.

20. The system of claim 19, where the accessory device further includes a clothing attachment component to attach the accessory device to a user.

21. The system of claim 20, where the clothing attachment component includes a pin, a band or chain that allows the accessory device to be worn as a necklace or bracelet, a keychain ring that allows the accessory device to be used as a keychain attachment, or a belt clip.

22. The system of claim 19, where the local network connection includes a local wireless connection or a local cable connection.

23. The system of claim 19, where the display includes a display based on e-paper technology.