Docking station for wireless communication device

• US 7,076,270 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Jaggers, Christopher M., McMahan, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Charles
• Application Number:
  US09/796,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20020119800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/346, 455/347, 455/344, 455/554.1, 455/418, 455/90.3, 455/349, 455/412, 455/462, 455/466, 455/556, 455/348, 455/534.1, 455/552.1, 455/3.04, 455/573, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/566, 455/572, 455/574, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/414, 455/569.1, 455/74.1, 455/555, 455/561, 455/424, 455/425, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 395/828, 395/275, 710/1, 710/8, 710/13, 710/104, 710/303, 710/62, 710/65, 710/69, 710/70, 710/71, 710/63, 710/72, 710/18, 361/686, 361/683, 361724-727, 361/679, 364/708.1, 340/825.44, 379/428.04, 379/428.03, 379/420.04, 379/446, 379/455, 379/454, 379/437.04
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications

Abstract

A docking station for a wireless communications device includes a support structure that includes a cradle for the wireless telephone. The docking station includes a switch, sensor or other detection mechanism that detects when the wireless communication device is docked. When the wireless communication device is docked, the detection mechanism sends a signal to the wireless communication device. A set of instructions stored in the processor determines which display and which input to use, depending on whether or not the signal is received from the detection mechanism. Embodiments include a display, USB hub, and modem in the docking station. Another embodiment includes a USB connector in the wireless communication device. Finally, an embodiment includes a docking station with equivalent features for a cellular telephone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

Claims

1. A docking system for a wireless communication device (WCD), having display capabilities, the docking system comprising:

a docking station including a dock display, the docking station further comprising;

a support structure including a first surface on which is disposed a cradle, the support structure further comprising;

a detector mechanism, the detector mechanism detecting if Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) data is sent from an RF transceiver in the WCD to the dock display, or if Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) data is sent from the RE transceiver to the WCD display, the detector mechanism further detecting if;

the WCD is docked;

an I/O interface is connected to the docking station; and

dock display capabilities are greater than or equal to the WCD display capabilities.

2. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the WCD is a cellular telephone.

3. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the WCD is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

4. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the WCD is a personal computer.

5. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises a connector, the connector coupling the docking station to the WCD.

6. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 5, wherein the connector is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, wherein the USB connector electrically couples the docking station to the WCD.

7. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a keyboard, wherein the keyboard is electrically coupled to the docking station.

8. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a video camera, wherein the video camera is electrically coupled to the docking station.

9. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a printer, wherein the printer is electrically coupled to the docking station.

10. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a floppy disk drive, wherein the floppy disk drive is electrically coupled to the docking station.

11. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a data connection to the Internet.

12. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises:

a connector, wherein the connector couples the docking station to a data connection, wherein the data connection provides data to and receives data from the WCD when the WCD is docked.

13. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises a modem.

14. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 13, wherein the modem is coupled to a data connection, wherein the data connection is coupled to the Internet.

15. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises:

a dock I/O interface controller.

16. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises:

a battery.

17. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises:

a charging circuit.

18. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the WCD further comprises:

an I/O interface controller.

19. The docking system for a WCD as recited in claim 1, wherein the WCD further comprises:

a key pad.

20. A method of operating a wireless communications device (WOD) with a docking station, having display capabilities, comprising:

providing a docking station including a dock display, the docking station having a support structure including a cradle;

providing a detector mechanism in the support structure, the detector mechanism detecting if Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) data is sent from an RF transceiver in the WCD to the dock display, or if Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) data is sent from the RE transceiver to the WCD display, the detector mechanism further detecting if;

the WCD is docked;

an I/O interface is connected to the docking station; and

dock display capabilities are greater than or equal to the WCD display capabilities.