Mobile communication device and accessory therefor

• US 7,398,105 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kalogeropoulos, Sarandis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost; Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Huy D
• Application Number:
  US11/220,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20070077958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/575.2, 455/567, 455/419, 455/569.1, 455/410, 455/411, 455/550.1, 455/572, 455/573
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A system includes a mobile communication device and an accessory device that is connectable to the communication device. The communication device is configured to identify whether the accessory device is a certified device when the accessory device is connected to the communication device. The communication device is configured to enable operation of at least one application therein in response to the accessory device being connected to the communication device and the accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a mobile communication device; and

an accessory device that is connectable to the mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device comprises means for identifying whether the accessory device is a certified device when the accessory device is connected to the mobile communication device, and the mobile communication device is configured to enable operation of at least one previously non-enabled application that is unrelated to operation of the accessory device in response to the accessory device being connected to the mobile communication device and the accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory device comprises an interface that is configured to be physically connected to the communication device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the interface of the accessory device comprises at least one data line that is configured to communicate data with the communication device.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the interface comprises at least one power supply line that is configured to supply power to the communication device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the accessory device is configured to charge a battery connected to the communication device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is configured to communicate with the communication device via a wireless communication link.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the accessory device comprises at least one of a BLUETOOTH communication module and a WLAN communication module.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication device comprises a mobile phone and the accessory device comprises a head set.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile phone is configured to enable a hands-free mode in response to the head set being identified as a certified accessory device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile phone is configured to enable one or more multimedia applications that are unrelated to operation of the accessory device in response to the accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a mobile phone.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication device is configured to enable generation of at least one ringtone in response to the accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device, and wherein generation of the at least one ringtone is unrelated to operation of the accessory device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication device is configured to enable display of at least one picture in response to the accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device, and wherein displaying the at least one picture is unrelated to operation of the accessory device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication device is configured to enable at least one game in response to the accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device, and wherein operation of the at least one game is unrelated to operation of the accessory device.

15. A mobile communication device which is connectable to at least one accessory device, the mobile communication device comprising:

means for identifying whether an accessory device connected to the mobile communication device is a certified device; and

at least one previously non-enabled application that is unrelated to operation of the accessory device, wherein the mobile communication device is configured to enable operation of the at least one application that is unrelated to operation of the accessory device in response to a connected accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 15, further comprising means for physically connecting the communication device to an accessory device.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 15, further comprising means for establishing a wireless communication link to an accessory device.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 17, wherein the means for establishing a wireless communication link comprises at least one of a Bluetooth™

communication module and a WLAN communication module.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 15, wherein the communication device is configured as a mobile phone.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 19, wherein the communication device is configured to enable at least one multimedia application that is unrelated to operation of the accessory device in response to a connected accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 20, wherein the communication device is configured to enable generation of at least one ringtone in response to the connected accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device, and wherein generation of the at least one ringtone is unrelated to operation of the accessory device.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 20, the communication device is configured to enable display of at least one picture in response to the connected accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device, and wherein displaying the at least one picture is unrelated to operation of the accessory device.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 20, the communication device is configured to enable at least one game in response to the connected accessory device being identified as a certified accessory device, and wherein operation of the at least one game is unrelated to operation of the accessory device.