Wireless transaction enabled handheld computer system and method

• US 7,383,065 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• 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, Vertatschitsch, Edward Joseph, Skinner, Craig S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson; Keith
• Application Number:
  US11/476,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20070099676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 455/573, 455/572, 455/343.1, 455/343.2, 455/343.3, 455/343.4, 455/343.5, 455/343.6, 455/550.1, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/557, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/344, 455/347, 455/349, 455/351, 455/500, 455/517, 320/125, 320/160, 320/107, 320/108, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 709/250, 709/218, 709/217, 709/219
• 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 mobile computing device, 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 wireless transceiver coupled to the processor; and

a recharging connector coupled to the rechargeable battery and the wireless transceiver;

wherein the transceiver is powerable by the battery when the battery has a charge above a predetermined low level, and the transceiver is configured to send and receive data while the battery charge is below the low level and the rechargeable battery and the transceiver receive power via the recharging connector, the low level being a level below which the battery is unable to power the transceiver.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is a handheld computer.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to support an electronic calendar application.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to support a spreadsheet application.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the data includes at least one of an email communication and a wireless telephone communication.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the recharging connector is configured to couple to and receive power from a recharger for the mobile computing device.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 6, wherein the recharger is a synchronization cradle.

8. An expansion module comprising:

a rechargeable battery;

a wireless transceiver powerable by the battery; and

a recharging connection;

wherein the recharging connection supplies power to the battery and the transceiver from a power source such that the transceiver is configured to send and receive data when the power level of the battery is at a level too low to enable the transceiver.

9. The expansion module of claim 8, wherein the wireless transceiver is an RF transceiver.

10. The expansion module of claim 9, wherein the expansion module is an expansion module for a handheld computer.

11. The expansion module of claim 8, wherein the recharging connection receives power via the handheld computer.

12. The expansion module of claim 11, wherein the expansion module is an expansion module for a cellular phone.

13. The expansion module of claim 8, wherein the recharging connection receives power via the cellular phone.

14. The expansion module of claim 8, wherein the expansion module is a wireless networking module.

15. The expansion module of claim 8, wherein the recharging connection provides power to the transceiver via the battery of the expansion module.

16. The expansion module of claim 8, wherein the recharging connection provides power directly to the transceiver.

17. A method of transmitting a wireless communication from an expansion device having a low battery charge, comprising:

providing an expansion device with a rechargeable battery having a low charge, the low charge being too low to transmit information using a wireless transceiver of the expansion device;

coupling the expansion device to a power source; and

establishing a wireless link using the transceiver while providing power to the transceiver and the battery from the power source and while the battery has the low charge.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the expansion device is configured to be coupled to a handheld computer.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless communication includes an e-mail message.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless communication includes a cellular telephone call.