Extension device of handheld computing device

• US 7,911,445 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gettemy, Shawn R., Fraser, Sherridythe A., Wong, Yoon Kean, Hanson, William R., Lee, Kevin, Oliver, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia; Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US11/530,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 345/179, 345/8, 345/7, 455/566, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 455/412.1, 455/466, 455/349, 455/440, 455/412, 715/531, 715/541, 701/29, 709/206
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3026 Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules video wall control systems G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

A display system for a handheld computing device is disclosed. The display system includes a processing unit having a first communication port, and a visual display unit separable from the processing unit. The visual display unit further includes a visual display, and a second communication port. The display unit can be expanded from an initial or storage state to present a larger visual display size. Further, the first communication port providing communication with the second communication port.

Claims

1. A peripheral device for operation in conjunction with a wireless communication device, the peripheral device comprising:

a user interface configured to receive user input data;

a communication interface coupled to the user interface, configured to receive information associated with a current display image, said current display image including an actionable item, along with information associated with the actionable item from the wireless communication device, wherein the information associated with the current display image and the information associated with the actionable item is received through a wireless connection, and wherein the information associated with the actionable item is received during a time period while the wireless connection is otherwise idle;

a processor configured to generate the current display image based on the information associated with the current display image received from the wireless communication device; and

a screen coupled to the communication interface, configured to display the current display image,

wherein responsive to receiving, by the user interface, a user input selecting the actionable item in the current display image, the processor is configured to generates a subsequent display image based on the information associated with the actionable item received from the wireless communication device, and the display is configured to displays the subsequent display image.

2. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a handheld computing device.

3. The peripheral device of claim 2, wherein the screen is larger than a screen on the handheld computing device.

4. The peripheral device of claim 2, wherein the screen comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of:

a touch screen, a track ball, and a scrolling roller switch.

5. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the actionable item comprises a hypertext link, and the information associated with the actionable item comprises data referenced by the hypertext link.

6. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the actionable item comprises a thumbnail image in the current display image, and the information associated with the actionable item comprises a full sized image represented by the thumbnail image.

7. A method for operating a peripheral device in conjunction with a wireless communication device, comprising:

receiving, by the peripheral device, information associated with a current display image, said current display image including an actionable item, along with information associated with the actionable item from the wireless communication device, wherein the information associated with the current display image and the information associated with the actionable item is received through a wireless connection, and wherein the information associated with the actionable item is received during a time period while the wireless connection is otherwise idle;

generating, by the peripheral device, the current display image based on the information associated with the current display image received from the wireless communication device;

displaying, by the peripheral device, the current display image;

receiving, by the peripheral device, a user input selecting the actionable item in the current display image;

generating, by the peripheral device and in response to receiving the user input, a subsequent display image based on the information associated with the actionable item received from the wireless communication device; and

displaying the subsequent display image.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a handheld computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a screen of the peripheral device is larger than a screen on the handheld computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the screen of the peripheral device comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of:

a touch screen, a track ball, and a scrolling roller switch.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the actionable item comprises a hypertext link, and the information associated with the actionable item comprises data referenced by the hypertext link.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the actionable item comprises a thumbnail image in the current display image, and the information associated with the actionable item comprises a full sized image represented by the thumbnail image.