METHOD FOR CHANGING DEVICE MODES OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONNECTED TO A DOCKING STATION AND AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONFIGURED FOR SAME

• US 20130162515A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Prociw, Philip James, Rich, David Gerard, Parton, William Ryan David, Tobola, Bogdan James
• Granted Patent: US 9,116,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/20 Details of the management of multiple sources of image data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• 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

The present disclosure provides a docking station for docking one or multiple portable electronic devices, such as a tablet and a mobile telephone or smartphone. The present disclosure provides a method for changing device modes of an electronic device connected to a docking station, as well as an electronic device and a docking station configured for same.

Claims

1. A method for changing device modes of an electronic device connected to a docking station, comprising:

enabling an output mode on a first electronic device when an object is outside a threshold proximity of the first electronic device, when a threshold duration of inactivity on the first electronic device has been exceeded, or both;

enabling an input mode on the first electronic device when an object is within the threshold proximity of the first electronic device or an input is received on the first electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the first electronic device is in the output mode, displaying primary content from the first electronic device on a display of the docking station and displaying secondary content from the first electronic device on a display of the first electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the display of the docking station is operated by the first electronic device as a primary display for displaying the primary content and the display of the first electronic device is operated by the first electronic device as a secondary display for displaying the secondary content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when, in the output mode, displaying primary content from the first electronic device on a display of a second electronic device connected to the docking station and displaying secondary content from the first electronic device on a display of the first electronic device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the display of the second electronic device is operated by the first electronic device as a primary display for displaying the primary content and the display of the first electronic device is operated by the first electronic device as a secondary display for displaying the secondary content.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the primary content is higher priority content and the secondary content is lower priority content.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the primary content displayed on the primary display comprises an active application of the first electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary content depends on the active application displayed on the primary display.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary content comprises a homescreen of the first electronic device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary content comprises an application switcher tool or widget for switching the active application on the primary display.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary content comprises a message list, a notification screen in which notifications are displayed, a widget or a secondary application.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the first electronic device comprises a handheld electronic device and the second electronic device comprises a tablet.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the handheld electronic device comprises a smartphone with the display of the smartphone being a touch-sensitive display.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the first electronic device is in the input mode, controlling a touch-sensitive display of the first electronic device as an input device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, in the input mode, the touch-sensitive display of the first electronic device is operated as a navigational input device which interprets touch inputs received by the touch-sensitive display as navigational inputs for navigating a user interface displayed on a display of the docking station.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein, in the input mode, the touch-sensitive display of the first electronic device is operated as a navigational input device which interprets touch inputs received by the touch-sensitive display as navigational inputs for navigating a user interface displayed on a display of a second electronic device connected to the docking station.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein the primary content displayed on the primary display comprises an active application of the first electronic device.

18. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a proximity sensor coupled to the processor;

at least one input device coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured for;

enabling an output mode on a first electronic device when an object is outside a threshold proximity of the first electronic device, when a threshold duration of inactivity on the first electronic device has been exceeded or both;

enabling an input mode on the first electronic device when an object is within the threshold proximity of the first electronic device or an input is received on the first electronic device.

19. A docking station comprising:

a base defining a nest for at least partially receiving a smartphone, wherein the nest is located towards a front of the docking station;

a support located towards a rear of the docking station for supporting a tablet at an obtuse angle relative to the base;

a communications bus housed within the base;

a keyboard coupled to the communications bus;

a first data port located in the nest and coupled to the communications bus; and

a second data port located towards the rear of the docking station and coupled to the communications bus.

20. The docking station of claim 19, wherein the support is adjustable so as to provide a range of operating positions of the tablet.