DOCKABLE HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE WITH GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20100217912A1
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/304
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A handheld computing device includes a handheld memory for storing at least one handheld application. A handheld processing module executes the handheld application. A physical docking interface facilitates co-processing with an extended processing module of an extended computer unit in a physical docked mode, when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit via the physical docking interface. A quasi docking interface facilitates co-processing with the extended processing module in a quasi docked mode when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit via the quasi docking interface. A graphical user interface presents a selectable quasi docking interface graphic for display to a user and responds to a user selection of the selectable quasi docking interface graphic by generating a quasi docking command. The quasi docking interface couples the handheld computing unit to the extended computing unit in response to the quasi docking command.

Claims

1. A handheld computing device comprising:

handheld memory for storing at least one handheld application;

a handheld processing module, coupled to the handheld memory, for executing the at least one handheld application;

a physical docking interface, coupled to the handheld processing module and the handheld memory, to facilitate co-processing with an extended processing module of an extended computer unit in a physical docked mode, when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit via the physical docking interface;

a quasi docking interface, coupled to the handheld processing module and the handheld memory, to facilitate co-processing with the extended processing module in a quasi docked mode when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit via the quasi docking interface; and

a graphical user interface, coupled to the handheld processing module and the quasi docking interface, that presents a selectable quasi docking interface graphic for display to a user and that responds to a user selection of the selectable quasi docking interface graphic by generating a quasi docking command;

wherein the quasi docking interface couples the handheld computing unit to the extended computing unit in response to the quasi docking command.

2. The handheld computing device of claim 1 wherein the quasi docking interface includes a millimeter wave RF transceiver for communicating with the extended computer unit via a millimeter wave RF link.

3. The handheld computing device of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface is further coupled to the physical docking interface and presents the selectable quasi docking interface graphic for display to the user when the physical docking interface is uncoupled from the extended computing unit.

4. The handheld computing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a remote docking interface, coupled to the handheld processing module and the handheld memory, to facilitate communication with the extended processing module in a remote mode when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit via the remote interface;

wherein the graphical user interface, is further coupled to the remote docking interface, that presents a selectable remote docking interface graphic for display to the user and that responds to a user selection of the selectable remote docking interface graphic by generating a remote docking command;

wherein the remote docking interface couples the handheld computing unit to the extended computing unit in response to the remote docking command.

5. The handheld computing device of claim 4 wherein the remote docking interface includes an RF transceiver for communicating with the extended computer unit via at least one wireless communication link and at least one wireline network.

6. The handheld computing device of claim 4 wherein the graphical user interface is further coupled to the physical docking interface and presents the selectable remote docking interface graphic for display to the user when the physical docking interface is uncoupled from the extended computing unit.

7. The handheld computing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one handheld application includes a text message feature, and wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to present for display to the user a selectable text message graphic to initiate the text message feature.

8. The handheld computing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one handheld application includes a media player, and wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to present for display to the user a selectable graphic to initiate the media player.

9. The handheld computing device of claim 1 further comprising;

a digital camera, coupled to the handheld processing module, and wherein the at least one handheld application includes a digital camera application, and wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to present for display to the user a selectable graphic to initiate the digital camera application.

10. The handheld computing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one handheld application includes a entertainment unit control application, and wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to present for display to the user a selectable entertainment control unit graphic to initiate the entertainment unit control application.

11. The handheld computing device of claim 1 further comprising;

a wireless telephony transceiver, coupled to the handheld processing module, and wherein the at least one handheld application includes a wireless telephony application, and wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to present for display to the user a selectable graphic to initiate the wireless telephony application.

12. The handheld computing device of claim 1 further comprising;

a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver, coupled to the handheld processing module, and wherein the at least one handheld application includes a WLAN application, and wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to present for display to the user a selectable graphic to initiate the WLAN application.

13. The handheld computing device of claim 1 further comprising;

a millimeter wave transceiver, coupled to the handheld processing module, and wherein the at least one handheld application includes a millimeter wave application, and wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to present for display to the user a selectable graphic to initiate the millimeter wave application.

14. The handheld computing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one handheld application includes a web browser, and wherein the graphical user interface is further operable to present for display to the user a selectable graphic to initiate the web browser.

15. A method for use in handheld computing device, the method comprising:

storing at least one handheld application in a handheld memory;

executing the at least one handheld application;

facilitating co-processing with an extended processing module of an extended computer unit in a physical docked mode, when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit via a physical docking interface;

presenting a selectable quasi docking interface graphic for display to a user;

responding to a user selection of the selectable quasi docking interface graphic by generating a quasi docking command;

coupling the handheld computing unit to the extended processing module via a quasi docking interface in response to the quasi docking command; and

facilitating co-processing with the extended processing module in a quasi docked mode when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein coupling the handheld computing unit to the extended processing module via the quasi docking interface includes communicating with the extended computer unit via a millimeter wave RF link.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the selectable quasi docking interface graphic is presented for display to the user when the physical docking interface is uncoupled from the extended computing unit.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

presenting a selectable remote docking interface graphic for display to the user;

responding to a user selection of the selectable remote docking interface graphic by generating a remote docking command;

coupling the handheld computing unit to the extended computing unit via a remote interface in response to the remote docking command; and

facilitating communication with the extended processing module in a remote mode when the handheld computing unit is coupled to the extended computer unit.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the selectable remote docking interface graphic is presented for display to the user when the physical docking interface is uncoupled from the extended computing unit.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

presenting for display to the user at least one of;

a selectable text message graphic to initiate a text message feature;

a selectable graphic to initiate a media player;

a selectable graphic to initiate a digital camera application;

a selectable entertainment control unit graphic to initiate an entertainment unit control application;

a selectable graphic to initiate a wireless telephony application;

a selectable graphic to initiate a wireless local area network application;

a selectable graphic to initiate a millimeter wave application; and

a selectable graphic to initiate a web browser.