Method and apparatus for a user to interface with a mobile computing device

• US 7,254,730 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kardach, James, Fleming, Kristoffer, Forand, Richard, Hsu, Pochang, Danneels, Gunner, Gadamsetty, Uma, Kuchibhotla, Venu, Belmont, Brian, Huckins, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen; Rehana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Nitin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/367,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 713/321, 713/323, 713/324, 345/52, 345/156, 345/21, 710/1, 710/8, 710/14, 710/19, 715/700, 715/719, 715/7, 715/748
• US Class Current: 713/323
• 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 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a user to interface with a mobile computing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method, comprises providing information on a user interface connected to a mobile computing device having a primary display, wherein the mobile computing device can be operated in multiple power states, and the user interface does not include the primary display

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing information on a user interface connected to a mobile computing device having a primary display, wherein the mobile computing device can be operated in multiple power states, and wherein the user interface is presented on an output device other than the primary display; and

operating the mobile computing device in a low power state while providing the information to the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is wirelessly connected to the mobile computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving commands from the user interface, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a microphone, a switch, a jog dial, a secondary display, and a headphone.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the information from a wireless network.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

operating the mobile computing device in a lower power state while providing the information to the user interface wirelessly.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving commands from the user interface, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a microphone, a switch, a jog dial, a secondary display, and a headphone.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the user interface is one of a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant.

8. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:

providing information on a user interface connected to a mobile computing device having a primary display, wherein the mobile computing device can be operated in multiple power states, and wherein the user interface is presented on an output device other than the primary display;

further having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a said computer, cause said computer to further perform;

operating the mobile computing device in a low power state while providing the information to the user interface.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the user interface is wirelessly connected to the mobile computing device.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform:

receiving commands from the user interface, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a microphone, a switch, a jog dial, a secondary display, and a headphone.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform:

receiving the information from a wireless network.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform:

operating the mobile computing device in a lower power state while providing the information to the user interface wirelessly.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform:

receiving commands from the user interface, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a microphone, a switch, a jog dial, a secondary display, and a headphone.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the user interface is one of a cellular phone and personal digital assistant.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a CPU (Central Processing Unit);

a memory controller connected to the CPU;

a primary display connected to the memory controller; and

a user interface connected to the memory controller, wherein the CPU, memory controller, and primary display operate in multiple states wherein the user interface receives information while the CPU is operated in a low power state.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user interface is wirelessly connected to the mobile computing device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user interface receives information wirelessly while the CPU is operated in a lower power state.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a microphone, a switch, a jog dial, a secondary display, and a headphone.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user interface receives information from a wireless network.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a microphone, a switch, a jog dial, a secondary display, and a headphone.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user interface is one of a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a back plane connected to the primary display, wherein the secondary display is located on the back plane.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a side plane perpendicularly connected to the primary display, wherein the secondary display is located on the side plane.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the secondary display is one of an LCD (liquid crystal display) and plasma display.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the secondary display is smaller than the primary display.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a wireless transceiver compatible with one or more wireless protocols, wherein the wireless protocols include 802.11 HR, 802.11b, and 802.11a, 802.11g, Bluetooth, HiperLan, HiperLan II, HomeRF, SWAP, and OpenAir.