Mobile Electronic Device, Cradle, Method for Operating a Mobile Electronic Device, and Communication System

• US 20110098068A1
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Wakabayashi, Taichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/507
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/544 Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

A method for operating a mobile electronic device is disclosed. The mobile electronic device communicates through a power-line carrier communication network, if the mobile electronic device is charging at a charging cradle. The mobile electronic device communicates through a base station, if the mobile electronic device is not charging at the charging cradle.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a first communication module operable to communicate with a base station when not being supplied with power from an external power source;

a second communication module operable to communicate with a power-line carrier communication network when being supplied with power from the external power source;

a battery;

a charging circuit operable to supply power from the external power source to the battery and to the second communication module; and

a control module operable to control charging of the battery and the second communication module.

2. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second communication module communicates with the power-line carrier communication network through short-distance communication.

3. The mobile electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the second communication module comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

an RFID function, and an IrDA function.

4. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second communication module communicates with the power-line carrier communication network, if a packet communication test result indicates that information communication is possible through the second communication module.

5. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication module communicates with the base station if a packet communication test result indicates that information communication is not possible through the second communication module.

6. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

communication is performed through the first communication module; and

communication is also performed through the second communication module, if a remaining level of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

7. A mobile electronic device comprising:

a first communication module operable to communicate information signals with a base station;

a second communication module operable to transmit and receive the information signals via modulation over a current supplied from an external power source;

a battery operable to be charged by the current; and

a control module operable to transmit and receive the information signals through the second communication module when the battery is charged by the current, and communicate through the first communication module when the battery is not charged by the current.

8. The mobile electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the second communication module communicates with a power-line carrier communication network through short-distance communication.

9. The mobile electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the second communication module comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

an RFID function, and an IrDA function.

10. The mobile electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the control module communicates through the second communication module, if information communication is determined to be possible through the second communication module based on a packet communication test.

11. The mobile electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the control module communicates through the first communication module if communication is determined to be not possible through the second communication module based on a packet communication test.

12. The mobile electronic device according to claim 7, wherein:

communication is performed through the first communication module; and

communication is performed through the second communication module, if a remaining level of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

13. A cradle for a mobile electronic device, comprising:

a supporting module operable to support the mobile electronic device;

a cradle charging circuit operable to supply power from an external power source to a battery of the mobile electronic device;

a cradle communication module operable to communicate with the mobile electronic device; and

a plug operable to couple with an outlet terminal and a power-line carrier communication main unit coupled to the outlet terminal.

14. The cradle for a mobile electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the cradle comprises a power-line carrier communication sub unit operable to communicate with the power-line carrier communication main unit through the outlet terminal.

15. The cradle for a mobile electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the cradle communication module comprises a short-distance communication module.

16. A method for operating a mobile electronic device, comprising:

communicating through a power-line carrier communication network, if the mobile electronic device is charging at a charging cradle; and

communicating through a base station, if the mobile electronic device is not charging at the charging cradle.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the mobile electronic device communicates with the power-line carrier communication network using a short-distance wireless communication, if the mobile electronic device is charging at a charging cradle.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising communicating with the power-line carrier communication network, if a packet communication test result indicates that information communication is determined to be possible.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising communicating with the base station, if a packet communication test result indicates that information communication is not possible.

20. A communication system, comprising:

a mobile electronic device; and

a cradle, comprising;

wherein the cradle comprises a supporting module operable to support the mobile electronic device, a cradle charging circuit operable to supply power from an external power source to the mobile electronic device, a cradle communication module operable to communicate with the mobile electronic device, and a plug operable to couple with an power-line carrier communication main unit through an outlet terminal;

wherein the mobile electronic device comprises a first communication module operable to communicate with a base station when not being supplied with power from the external power source through the cradle, a second communication module operable to communicate with the power-line carrier communication network through the cradle communication module when being supplied with power from the external power source through the cradle, a battery, a charging circuit operable to supply power from the external power source through the cradle to the battery and to the second communication module, and a control module operable to control charging of the battery and the second communication module.

21. A communication system, comprising:

a mobile electronic device;

a cradle for the mobile electronic device, comprising; and

a power-line carrier communication main unit;

wherein the cradle comprises a supporting module operable to support the mobile electronic device, a cradle charging circuit operable to supply power from an external power source to the mobile electronic device, a cradle communication module operable to communicate with the mobile electronic device, and a plug operable to couple with the power-line carrier communication main unit through an outlet terminal;

wherein the mobile electronic device comprises a first communication module operable to communicate with a base station when not being supplied with power from the external power source through the cradle, a second communication module operable to communicate with the power-line carrier communication network through the cradle communication module when being supplied with power from the external power source through the cradle, a battery, a charging circuit operable to supply power from the external power source through the cradle to the battery and to the second communication module, and a control module operable to control charging of the battery and the second communication module.