ACCESSORY TRANSCEIVER FOR MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20100234051A1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dorogusker, Jesse, Chick, Stephen, Borchers, Robert E., Holden, Paul, Schubert, Emily Clark
• Application Number:
  US12/725,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234051A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A mobile device can connect with a wired or wireless network through an accessory transceiver. In some embodiments, the mobile device can receive user input through the user interface and can connect with a network using the accessory transceiver. The mobile device and the accessory transceiver can be physically coupled together using a cable or other connector (e.g., USB connector), or the mobile device and the accessory transceiver can be wirelessly coupled together using a wireless protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi). Moreover, in to connect with one network and can use an accessory transceiver to connect with a different network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a mobile device having an accessory interface; and

an accessory transceiver communicatively coupled to the mobile device through the accessory interface, the accessory transceiver having circuitry for establishing a network connection between the mobile device and a recipient device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network connection is a telephone network connection.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is either wired or wirelessly coupled to the accessory transceiver.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an operating system, wherein at least a portion of the mobile devices functionality is accessible by the accessory transceiver device through an application programming interface.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the API makes available to the accessory transceiver, data related to touch or gesture input on the touch surface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory transceiver is another mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes circuitry for establishing a call between the mobile device and a recipient device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile device circuitry for establishing a call comprises circuitry for establishing the call through a network different from a network used by the accessory transceiver.

9. A computer-implemented method performed by an accessory transceiver communicatively coupled to a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving signals indicative of an input through a user interface of the mobile device, the input indicative of a call request;

responsive to the signals, initiating connection with a wireless network using circuitry in the accessory transceiver;

receiving data from the wireless network; and

sending the data to the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the signals indicative of an input are received in response to a request made by the accessory transceiver through an Application Programming Interface (API) associated with an operating system running on the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless network comprises a telephone network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data comprises a text message.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving data from the mobile device; and

sending the data to the wireless network.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless network is different than a wireless network associated with the media device.

15. An accessory comprising:

a input/output port configured to couple with a mobile device and receive data and commands from the mobile device;

a transceiver configured to connect with a wireless network; and

a processor coupled with the transceiver and the input/output port, wherein the processor is configured to receive a connection request command from the mobile device through the input/output port, and in response to the connection request command, to establish a connection with a wireless network using the transceiver.

16. The accessory according to claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to send connection related data to the mobile device.

17. The accessory according to claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to send and receive data from the wireless network using the transceiver.

18. The accessory according to claim 15, wherein the wireless network is selected from the group consisting of a mobile telephone network, a WiFi network, a satellite network, and a WiMAX network.

19. An accessory comprising:

an input/output port configured to couple with a mobile device and receive data and commands from the mobile device;

a wireless transceiver configured to connect with a wireless network; and

a processor coupled with the wireless transceiver and the input/output port, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a connection request from a third party device through the wireless transceiver over the wireless network;

notify the mobile device regarding the connection request through the input/output port;

receive an indication from the mobile device through the input/output port to establish communication with the third party device through the wireless network; and

establish communication with the third party device through the wireless network in response to the indication.

20. The accessory according to claim 19, wherein the wireless network is a CDMA network.

21. The accessory according to claim 19, wherein the connection request comprises an incoming telephone call.

22. A method operable at a mobile device, the method comprising:

communicating with a first wireless network; and

communicating with a second wireless network through an accessory device, wherein the second wireless network is different from the first wireless network.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the mobile device communicates with the accessory device using the first wireless network.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the either or both the first wireless network and the second wireless network are selected from the group consisting of a mobile telephone network, a WiFi network, a satellite network, and a WiMAX network.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the first wireless network comprises a first mobile telephone network and the second wireless network comprises a second mobile telephone network.