Mobile communication device cover and method for its operation

• US 7,536,199 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ahland, Andreas, Josenhans, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dao; Minh D
• Application Number:
  US10/560,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,168 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/90, 455/558, 455/575, 455/556, 455/419, 455/41.2, 455/575.8, 455/90.3, 455/550, 379/433.04
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A portable radio communication device has an exchangeable cover. Specifically the invention relates to a system of a mobile phone to provide multiple functionality and user interoperability to a mobile terminal device. The present invention provides a mobile communication device cover comprising a keyboard and a cover processor. The keyboard and the cover processor are interconnected. The cover is characterized by a bus interface, for connecting the cover processor to a mobile communication module, wherein the bus interface is adapted to operate with a plurality of mobile communication modules.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device cover comprising:

a keyboard,

a display,

a cover processor connected to said keyboard and display, and

a bus interface, for removable connection of said cover processor to a mobile communication module,

wherein said bus interface is configured to operate with a plurality of mobile communication modules, and

wherein said cover processor is configured to process signals between said display and a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules and signals between said keyboard and a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules such that input from a user received at said cover is converted into standardized signals or messages to be transferred for execution to a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules, wherein said signals are communicated via said bus interface.

2. The mobile communication device cover according to claim 1, wherein said cover further comprises a controller.

3. The mobile communication device cover according to claim 1, wherein said cover further comprises a battery module.

4. The mobile communication device cover according to claim 1, wherein said cover further comprises a slot for receiving a communication module.

5. The mobile communication device cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover processor comprises a separate display processor configured to process signals between said display and a processor of any one of said plurality of mobile communication modules.

6. A mobile communication module comprising a radio interface for connecting to a mobile communication network, and a standardized bus interface, to connect said communication module to a cover having at least a keyboard, a display, and a cover processor, wherein said mobile communication module does not have a display, and wherein said cover processor is configured to process signals between said display and a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules and signals between said keyboard and a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules such that input from a user received at said cover is converted into standardized signals or messages to be transferred for execution to a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules, wherein said signals are communicated via said standardized bus interface.

7. The mobile communication module according to claim 6, wherein said radio interface comprises a cellular telephone interface.

8. The mobile communication module according to claim 7, further comprising a battery and a minimal user interface to provide basic communication functionality.

9. The mobile communication module according to claim 6, wherein said radio interface comprises a cordless telephone interface.

10. The mobile communication module of claim 6, wherein said cover processor of said cover comprises a separate display processor configured to process signals between said display and a processor of any one of said plurality of mobile communication modules.

11. A mobile communication device comprising an intelligent mobile communication cover comprising:

a keyboard,

a display,

a cover processor connected to said keyboard and display, and

a bus interface, for removable connection of said cover processor to a mobile communication module,

wherein said bus interface is configured to operate with a plurality of mobile communication modules, and

wherein said cover processor is configured to process signals between said display and a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules and signals between said keyboard and a processor of any one of said plurality of mobile communication modules such that input from a user received at said cover is converted into standardized signals or messages to be transferred for execution to a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules, wherein said signals are communication via said bus interface; and

a mobile communication module having a radio interface for connecting to a mobile communication network, and a bus interface to connect said communication module to said cover via the bus interface of the cover, wherein said mobile communication module does not have a display.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 11, wherein said cover processor of said intelligent mobile communication cover comprises a separate display processor configured to process signals between said display and a processor of any one of said plurality of mobile communication modules.

13. A method comprising:

receiving input from a user at a mobile communication device cover having a keyboard, a display, and an interconnected cover processor,

converting said input according to a specified protocol into standardized signals or messages,

transferring said converted input via a specified bus to a mobile communication module of a mobile communication device,

processing said transferred input in said mobile communication module and

receiving display information from the mobile communication device and communicating said information to said cover processor for presentation to said display of said cover by a bus interface of said cover.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

generating/receiving data to be output in said communication module,

converting said output according to a specified protocol in said communication module,

transferring said converted output via a specified bus to said communication device cover, and

outputting said received output via a display in said cover.

15. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions to carry out the method of claim 13 when said instructions are run on a computer or network device.

16. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions, said instructions downloadable from a server, said instructions to carry out the method of claim 13 when said instructions are run on a computer or network device.

17. A mobile communication device cover comprising:

means for inputting data,

means for displaying data,

means for processing data connected to said means for inputting data and said means for displaying data, and

means for connecting said means for processing to a mobile communication module,

wherein said means for connecting is adapted to operate with a plurality of mobile communication modules, and

wherein said means for processing data is configured to process signals between said means for displaying and a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules and signals between said means for inputting data and a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules such that input from a user received at said cover is converted into standardized signals or messages to be transferred for execution to a processor of any one of said plurality of said mobile communication modules, wherein said signals are communicated via said means for connecting.

18. The mobile communication device cover according to claim 17, wherein said means for processing comprises a separate means for processing signals between said display and a processor of any one of said plurality of mobile communication modules.