Wireless transaction enabled handheld computer system and method

• US 7,096,049 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mai, David, Skinner, Craig S., Vertatschitsch, Edward Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/865,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20020177473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/572, 455/573, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/403, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/422.1, 455/343, 455/552.1, 455/344, 455/347, 455/349, 455/351, 455/517, 455/343.1, 455/500, 320/125, 320/160, 320/107, 320/108, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 709/250, 709/218, 709/217, 709/201, 709/219, 709/227, 709/252
• US Class Current: 455/573
• 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 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• 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: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A handheld computer system is disclosed. The handheld computer system includes a housing, a display supported by the housing, and a processor coupled to the display. The handheld computer system also includes a rechargeable battery configured to power the processor and the display. Further, the handheld computer system includes a recharging connector coupled to the rechargeable battery. Further still, the handheld computer system includes a recharger coupled to the recharging connector. Yet further still, the handheld computer system includes a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the processor and powerable by the battery when the battery has a charge above a predetermined low level, the transceiver configured to send and receive data while the battery charge is below the low level and the charger provides charge to the rechargeable battery and to the transceiver.

Claims

1. A handheld computer system, comprising:

a housing;

a display supported by the housing;

a processor coupled to the display;

a rechargeable battery configured to power the processor and the display;

a recharging connector coupled to the rechargeable battery;

a recharger coupled to the recharging connector; and

a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the processor and powerable by the battery when the battery has a charge above a low level, the transceiver configured to send and receive data while the battery charge is below the low level and the recharger provides charge to the rechargeable battery and to the transceiver, the low level being a level at which the battery is unable to power the transceiver when the charge is below the low level.

2. The handheld computer system of claim 1, wherein the recharger is a recharging cradle.

3. The handheld computer system of claim 1, wherein the recharger includes a recharger connector configured to couple to the recharging connector.

4. The handheld computer system of claim 1, wherein the recharger is also a synchronization cradle.

5. The handheld computer of claim 4, wherein the synchronization cradle includes an electrical connector that is configured to couple to the recharging connector.

6. The handheld computer system of claim 5, wherein the electrical connector is configured to couple to a data connector on the handheld computer.

7. A method of transmitting data over a radio frequency (RF) link from a handheld computer having a low battery charge, comprising:

providing the handheld computer wit a rechargeable battery having a relatively low charge, the relatively low charges being too low to transmit information using a transceiver of the handheld computer;

coupling the handheld computer to a recharger;

providing power from the recharger to the transceiver of the handheld computer and the battery while the handheld computer is coupled to the recharger;

establishing an RF link using the transceiver while the battery has a relatively low charge and the handheld computer is coupled to the recharger.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing power from the rechargeable battery to the transceiver.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

coupling the handheld computer to a synchronization cradle, the synchronization cradle having a charger connector.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing data across the RF link.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

draining the rechargeable battery to a charge level at which the transceiver is unable to establish an RF link.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving an e-mail message.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a cellular telephone call.

14. A handheld computer, comprising:

a housing;

a display supported byte housing;

a processor coupled to the display;

a rechargeable battery configured to power the processor and the display;

a recharging connector coupled to the rechargeable battery; and

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver coupled to the processor and powerable by the battery when the battery has a charge above a low level, the transceiver configured to send and receive data while the bakery charge is below the low level and the recharging connector receives power from a power source and provides power to the rechargeable battery and to the transceiver, the low level being a level at which the battery is unable to power the transceiver when the charge is below the low level.

15. The handheld computer of claim 14, further comprising:

a computer program running on the processor, the computer program configured to request access to the RF transceiver.

16. The handheld computer of claim 15, wherein the computer program is an e-mail program.

17. The handheld computer of claim 15, wherein the computer program is an always-on e-mail program.

18. The handheld computer of claim 14, further comprising:

an expansion connector coupled to the processor, the expansion connector configured to couple to input/output devices.

19. The handheld computer of claim 18, wherein the RF transceiver is coupled to the expansion connector.

20. A handheld computer, comprising:

an expansion module including a rechargeable battery and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, the battery configured to power the transceiver when the battery has a charge above a low level;

a processor

a display; and

a module connector configured to couple to the expansion module,

wherein the RF transceiver is configured to send and receive data while the battery charge is below the low level and the module receives power from a power source and provides power to the rechargeable battery and to the transceiver, the low level being a level at which the battery is unable to power the transceiver when the charge is below the low level.