Motorized Horizontal Docking Station Having Integrated Locking Mechanism

• US 20150186630A1
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uinta Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Henge Docks LLC (Uinta Products, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vroom, Matthew Leigh, Maskell, Benjamin Edwards
• Granted Patent: US 9,725,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/065 using screw-thread elements F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2035/106 Monitoring of overload
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 35/10 Arrangements or devices for absorbing overload or preventing damage by overload for screw mechanisms F16H25/2021
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0024 Peripheral component interconnect [PCI]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18808 with rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2066 Friction

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for preventing unauthorized removal of an electronic device from a docking station including a first plug positioned to slidably interface with a first port of the electronic device, a second plug opposite the first plug and positioned to slidably interface with a second port of the electronic device, a mechanical locking mechanism operable to restrict removal of the first and second plugs from the electronic device, and a software application for communicating with the docking station, the software application including a messaging component for sending messages to, and receiving messages from, the docking station, and an authorization component for authorizing unlocking of the locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A system for preventing unauthorized removal of an electronic device from a docking station, the system comprising:

the docking station, the docking station comprising;

a first plug positioned to slidably interface with a first port of the electronic device;

a second plug opposite the first plug and positioned to slidably interface with a second port of the electronic device;

a mechanical locking mechanism operable to restrict removal of the first and second plugs from the electronic device;

a software application for communicating with the docking station, the software application comprising;

a messaging component for sending messages to, and receiving messages from, the docking station; and

an authorization component for authorizing unlocking of the locking mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the software application further comprises:

an undocking component for dismounting data storage devices connected to the docking station.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the software application further comprises

a remote management component for receiving an undock command from a remote computer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the authorization component is configured to detect the presence of a nearby wireless device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the authorization component is configured to receive a password.

6. A method for removing an electronic device from a docking station, the method comprising:

receiving an undock message;

displaying a confirmation message on the electronic device;

dismounting a data storage device attached to the electronic device; and

removing a first plug of the docking station from a first port of the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the undock message is received from the docking station and generated in response to pressing a button on the docking station.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the undock message is received from a remote computer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the undock message comprises a password.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising sending an unlock message to the docking station.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the unlock message comprises a password.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the storage device is connected to the electronic device through the docking station.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the removing is performed by a motor.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein the displaying comprises requesting a password.

15. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

removing a second plug of the docking station from an second port of the electronic device;

wherein the first port is disposed on a first side of the electronic device; and

wherein the second port is disposed on a second side of the electronic device; and

wherein the first side is on an opposite side of the electronic device as the second side.

16. A system for attaching a plurality of external connectors to an electronic device, the system comprising:

a docking station;

a first plug on the docking station positioned to interface with a first port on the electronic device;

a second plug on the docking station positioned to interface with a second port on the electronic device;

a first audio device in the docking station;

a second audio device in the docking station; and

a selector to selectively enable one of the first audio device and second audio device.

17. The docking station of claim 16 wherein the first audio device is connected via a universal serial bus interface and the second audio device is connected via PCI interface.

18. The docking station of claim 16 wherein a first audio output signal of the first audio device is connected to a 3.5 mm headphone port on the docking station and wherein a second audio output signal of the second audio device is connected to a mini DisplayPort style port of the docking station.

19. The docking station of claim 16 wherein the selector is a software application on the electronic device.

20. The docking station of claim 16 further comprising

a third audio device in the electronic device;

and

wherein the selector can further selectively enable the third audio device.