SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DOCKING PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES
First Claim
1. A slave device for supportively engaging a master device, the slave device comprising:
- a retention mechanism operable to retain a master device in a docked position with respect to the slave device, wherein when in the docked position at least a portion of the master device is contained within the envelope of the slave device;
one or more hardware components integrally provided with the slave device; and
a connector disposed relative to the retention mechanism, the connector being operable to establish a communication interface between the master device and the one or more hardware components for communication between the master device and the one or more hardware components when the master device is in the docked position;
wherein the master device is operable to control the one or more hardware components of the slave device when the master device is in the docked position, and wherein the one or more hardware components require communication with the master device to realize full functionality.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for docking portable electronic devices. A master device may be docked to a slave device to control the operation of the slave device. The slave device may have a form factor different than that of the master device. For example, the slave device may be a tablet and the master device may be a handheld device such as a smart phone. The slave device may include a retention mechanism to retain the master device in a docked position with respect to the slave device. When in the docked position, the master device may be in operative communication with one or more hardware components of the slave device to control the operation thereof. The slave device may lack the ability to exploit the full functionality of the one or more hardware components of the slave device without communication with the master device.
65 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A slave device for supportively engaging a master device, the slave device comprising:
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a retention mechanism operable to retain a master device in a docked position with respect to the slave device, wherein when in the docked position at least a portion of the master device is contained within the envelope of the slave device; one or more hardware components integrally provided with the slave device; and a connector disposed relative to the retention mechanism, the connector being operable to establish a communication interface between the master device and the one or more hardware components for communication between the master device and the one or more hardware components when the master device is in the docked position; wherein the master device is operable to control the one or more hardware components of the slave device when the master device is in the docked position, and wherein the one or more hardware components require communication with the master device to realize full functionality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for docking portable electronic devices, the system comprising:
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a master device including a processor, the master device having a communication port in operative communication with the processor; and a slave device including; a retention mechanism operable to retain the master device in a docked position with respect to the slave device, wherein when in the docked position at least a portion of the master device is contained within the envelope of the slave device, one or more hardware components integrally provided with the slave device, and a connector disposed relative to the retention mechanism and in operative communication with the one or more hardware components of the slave device, wherein the connector is operable to establish a communication interface with the communication port of the master device for communication between the processor and the one or more hardware components when the master device is in the docked position; wherein the processor is operable to control the one or more hardware components when the master device is in the docked position, and wherein the one or more hardware components require communication with the processor to realize full functionality. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for docking portable electronic devices, the method comprising:
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positioning a master device in a docked position with respect to a slave device; retaining, using a retention mechanism, the master device with respect to the slave device; connecting, upon the positioning, a communication port of the master device with a connector of the slave device disposed with respect to the retention mechanism; communicating data between the slave device and the master device; and controlling with the master device, one or more hardware components of the slave device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification