Accessory module for handheld devices

• US 8,049,727 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, William Robert, Wong, Yoon Kean
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Nitin
• Application Number:
  US11/582,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/1.3, 345/2.1, 345/2.2, 345/2.3, 345156-184, 345/901, 345/903, 345/905, 36167901-67961
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/903 Modular display

Abstract

An accessory module or accessory display device for a handheld computer is disclosed. The device includes an interface configured to be coupled to a handheld computer through an interface slot. The module may be flexibly hinged to the interconnect interface, permitting the coupling of the module to a variety of host devices. The module includes memory configured to store information customized to the user.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a display;

a processor coupled to the display;

an interface configured to communicate with a computing device, such that the interface is configured to facilitate a data transfer with the computing device; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory being configured to store a set of custom user preferences, wherein the custom user preferences are transmitted to the computing device to configure custom user preferences on the computing device;

wherein the interface is configured to exchange data with the computing device through wired electrical interconnects.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to receive an input from a user.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a housing for the display.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply coupled to the processor.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises non-volatile memory.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to exchange data with the computing device through an optical data link.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the custom user preferences comprise user identification information.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to receive power from the computing device.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 1, wherein the custom user preferences are transmitted by the mobile computing device based on a request from the computing device.

10. A method of transferring data from a mobile computing device, comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link between the mobile computing device and a second computing device;

retrieving a set of data stored in a memory of the mobile computing device; and

transferring the set of data to the second computing device, the set of data including data customized to preferences of a user to configure custom user preferences on the second computing device;

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to receive power from the second computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a request from the second computing device to transfer the set of data from the mobile computing device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the set of data further includes user identification information.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an input from a user via a user interface of the mobile computing device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the memory includes non-volatile memory.

15. A method of configuring a primary computing device based on a set of data received from a mobile computing device, comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link between the primary computing device and the mobile computing device;

transmitting a request to the mobile computing device to transfer the data from the mobile computing device, the data being stored in a memory of the mobile computing device;

receiving the data from the mobile computing device, the set of data being provided to configure custom user preferences on the primary computing device; and

configuring custom user preferences on the primary computing device using the set of data;

wherein the primary computing device is configured to provide power to the mobile computing device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data further includes user identification information.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the data further includes data customized to preferences of a user.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving an input from a user via a user interface of the mobile computing device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the memory includes non-volatile memory.