Method And System For A Mobile Device Docking Station

• US 20120054401A1
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JC Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: JC Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Cheng, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US13/014,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20120054401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/304
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

Various aspects of a method and system for a mobile device docking station are provided. A docking device may comprise a screen, controls, and a receptacle for holding a mobile device. A mobile device may generate and display information for on its screen while concurrently generating and outputting information to the docking device for display on the screen of the docking device. A user may be enabled to interact, via the controls of the docking device and/or the controls of the mobile device, with the information displayed on the screen of the mobile device and/or with the information displayed on the screen of the docking device. The information displayed on the screen of the docking device may comprise a window of a first application. The information displayed on the screen of the mobile device may comprise a window of a second application.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a docking device comprising a screen, controls, and a receptacle for holding a mobile device, wherein said docking device enables;

displaying information output by a mobile device on said screen while displaying information output by said mobile device on a screen of said mobile device;

interacting, via said controls of said docking device and controls of said mobile device, with at least one of;

(1) an image displayed on said screen of said docking device, and (2) an image displayed on said screen of said mobile device.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein, while said mobile device is connected to said docking device, said docking device is operable to perform processing operations that are performed by said mobile device when said mobile device is not connected to said docking device.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said processing operations comprise audio processing operations and/or video processing operations.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein a processor of said docking device functions as a coprocessor performing processing operations allocated to it by said mobile device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said docking device comprises an antenna, and said docking device is operable to:

process wireless signals received via said antenna; and

convey said processed wireless signals to said mobile device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking device comprises an antenna, and the docking device is operable to:

process signals received from said mobile device; and

transmit said processed signals via said antenna.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said docking device:

comprises a microphone and at least one speaker;

is operable to convey input data from said microphone to said mobile device; and

is operable to convey output data from said mobile device to said at least one speaker.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information displayed on said screen of said docking device comprises a window of a first application running on said mobile device and said information displayed on said screen of said mobile device comprises a window of a second application running on said mobile device.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information displayed on said screen of said docking device comprises a window of an application running on said mobile device and said information displayed on said screen of said mobile device comprises a home screen of said mobile device.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information displayed on said screen of said docking device comprises a window of an application running on said mobile device and said information displayed on said screen of said mobile device comprises one or more controls that are specific to said application.

11. A non-transitory storage having stored thereon a computer program having at least one code section executable by a mobile device for enabling the mobile device to:

generate and display information on a screen of said mobile device while concurrently generating and outputting information to a docking device for display on a screen of said docking device; and

manipulate, based on input from controls of said mobile device and on input from controls of said docking device, at least one of;

(1) said information generated and displayed on said screen of said mobile device, and (2) said information generated and output for display on said screen of said docking device.

12. The non-transitory storage according to claim 11, wherein said at least one code section is executable by said mobile device for causing said mobile device to:

perform a particular one or more processing operations when not connected to said docking device; and

offload said particular one or more processing operations to said docking device while connected to said docking device.

13. The non-transitory storage according to claim 12, wherein said processing operations comprise audio processing operations and/or video processing operation.

14. The non-transitory storage according to claim 11, wherein said at least one code section is executable by said mobile device for causing said mobile device to allocate processing operations to a processor of said docking device.

15. The non-transitory storage according to claim 11, wherein said at least one code section is executable by said mobile device for causing said mobile device to transmit and receive wireless signals via said docking device rather than via an antenna of said mobile device.

16. The non-transitory storage according to claim 11, wherein said at least one code section is executable by said mobile device for causing said mobile device to receive input data from a microphone of said docking device and output data to at least one speaker of said docking device.

17. The non-transitory storage according to claim 11, wherein said information generated and displayed on said screen of said docking device comprises a window of a first application running on said mobile device and said information generated and displayed on said screen of said mobile device comprises a window of a second application running on said mobile device.

18. The non-transitory storage according to claim 11 wherein said information generated and displayed on said screen of said docking device comprises a window of an application running on said mobile device and said information generated and displayed on said screen of said mobile device comprises a home screen of said mobile device.

19. The non-transitory storage according to claim 11 wherein said information generated and displayed on said screen of said docking device comprises a window of an application running on said mobile device and said information generated and displayed on said screen of said mobile device comprises one or more controls that are specific to said application.

20. The non-transitory storage according to claim 11, wherein said at least at least one code section is executable by said mobile device for causing said mobile device to:

run a first operating system while said mobile device is connected to said docking device; and

run a second operating system while said mobile device is not connected to said docking device.