Apparatus and Method for Integrating Computing Devices

• US 20130342638A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S-Square Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arun Sobti & Associates, LLC
• Inventors: Sobti, Arun, Panchal, Rajendra A., Panchal, Darshana R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,258,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for physically and/or logically combining two or more smart devices to enhance user experience and help efficiently design, create, implement, or execute desired applications. According to one embodiment, system of the present disclosure provides a smart device apparatus having one or more processors, a communication interface device, and one or more internal data storage devices that are operatively coupled to the one or more processors. The smart device or a sleeve thereof further includes a housing, also interchangeably referred to as a slot or a docking basin, where the housing is configured to physically receive a second smart device and couple the smart device with the second smart device.

Claims

1. A smart device sleeve configured to at least partially cover a first smart device, wherein said sleeve has a housing configured therein to position a second smart device within said housing and electrically couple said first smart device with said second smart device.

2. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises a solar panel configured to charge one or more of said first smart device apparatus and said second smart device.

3. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said housing positions said second smart device either completely or partially.

4. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a means for allowing change in dimensions of said housing such that any second smart device is configurable within said housing.

5. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said housing is positioned on exterior surface of said sleeve, further wherein said first smart device electrically couples with said second smart device through said housing.

6. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises of one or more of communication interfaces and ports on exterior surface of said sleeve for operatively coupling a third electronic device to one or more of said first smart device and said second smart device.

7. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is configured to position a supplementary battery.

8. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve places said first smart device by one or more of a zipper, clasps, elastic material, Velcro, or soft-lips.

9. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein said first smart device and said second smart device is selected from one or more of a smart-phone, mobile device, a tablet PC, hand-held pads, interactive display boards, smart cameras, and surface computers.

10. A video conferencing apparatus comprising:

a base configured to position at least one speaker and one microphone;

one or more docking bays configured on said base, wherein at least one docking bay is configured to position a smart device; and

a control means configured to control use of one or more of said speaker, said microphone, and camera of said smart device based on user speaking and/or attending video conferencing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said base comprises a rotatable plate configured in said base, wherein said one or more docking bays are configured on said plate, and wherein said control means rotates said plate based on said user;

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said apparatus comprises a first docking bay configured to position a first smart device and a second docking bay configured to position a second smart device, wherein said first smart device and said second smart device are positioned such that view of their respective cameras is unobstructed.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first smart device and said second smart device are positioned with their rear surfaces facing each other, and wherein their respective docking bays are positioned outward from each other.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first smart device and said second smart device are operatively coupled to allow one or more of charging, data transfer, transfer of sessions, and transfer of settings.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said one or more docking bays are positioned parallel to each other, and wherein said one or more docking bays are shifted outward from each other to allow unobstructed view and creation of three dimensional images using front and rear cameras of said smart devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said apparatus comprises of an elevated platform configured on said base, wherein said speakers and/or microphones are located on peripheral sides of said base and/or said elevated platform.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said control means detects energy from each microphone and controls activation of a first microphone sending strongest energy signal, wherein said control means controls direction of said docking bay based on said activation of said microphone.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said apparatus comprises one or more indicators corresponding to each microphone, wherein each indicator is configured to indicate whether respective microphone is on or off

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said base comprises one or more communication interface devices and ports, and wherein said communication interface devices and ports are configured to connect with one or more of projector, display devices, computing devices, and hardware devices, wherein said communication interface devices and ports are selected from one or more of HDMI, RJ-45, and USB interfaces.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said control means controls audio outputs from said at least one speaker based on one or more of rotation of said docking bays, activation of said at least one microphone, and direction of said one or more docking bays.

21. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein display and camera of said smart device are configured to enable one or more of viewing of participants of conference, change in control settings, change in direction of docking bays, and change in manner in which conference is conducted.