Mobile device customizer

• US 8,063,880 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2010
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aplix IP Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zeemote Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Marcus, Beth, Chen, Elaine, Wheeler, Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): OSORIO, RICARDO
• Application Number:
  US12/693,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A method and system for customizing a mobile host device is disclosed. An accessory device for interfacing with and customizing a mobile host device includes a communication channel designed to establish a bi-directional communication link between the accessory device and the host device. The accessory device also includes a processor communicatively coupled to the communication channel. The processor is designed to execute a plurality of applications. In addition, the accessory device includes an input assembly communicatively coupled to the processor. The input assembly is designed to minimize a total number of input elements included in the input assembly. Further, at least a first input element being selectively mapped to one or more input functions of the host device based on a user selection.

Claims

1. An accessory device for interfacing with a mobile host device, the accessory device comprising:

a communication channel operable to establish a bi-directional communication link between the accessory device and the host device; and

an input assembly operable to interact with an input mapping application, the input mapping application being operable to utilize user input to customize a mapping between one or more input elements of the input assembly and one or more functions of a host device software application.

2. The accessory device of claim 1 further comprising a processor operable to execute the input mapping application.

3. The accessory device of claim 1 wherein the input mapping application is executable on the host device.

4. The accessory device of claim 2 wherein the input mapping application is operable to receive user input provided by user actuation of input elements of the input assembly of the accessory device.

5. The accessory device of claim 3 wherein the input mapping application is operable to receive user input provided by user actuation of input elements of the host device.

6. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the input assembly is arranged to optimize a biomechanical effect of a human user'"'"'s opposing thumb and fingers.

7. The accessory device of claim 6 wherein the input assembly comprises at least one input assembly on a first surface of the accessory device and at least one input assembly on a second surface of the accessory device.

8. The accessory device of claim 1 wherein the input mapping application is operable to customize a mapping between input elements of the input assembly and functions common to a group of host device applications.

9. A method of interfacing with a mobile host device, the method comprising:

providing a communication channel for establishing a bidirectional communication link between an accessory device and the mobile host device;

utilizing user input to customize a mapping between one or more input elements of an input assembly of the accessory device and one or more functions of a host device software application.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein utilizing user input to customize the mapping is performed by an input mapping application executed on the accessory device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein utilizing user input to customize the mapping is performed by an input mapping application executed on the host device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the input mapping application receives user input provided by user actuation of input elements of the input assembly of the accessory device.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the input mapping application receives user input provided by user actuation of input elements of the host device.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the input assembly is arranged to optimize a biomechanical effect of a human user'"'"'s opposing thumb and fingers.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the input assembly comprises at least one input assembly on a first surface of the accessory device and at least one input assembly on a second surface of the accessory device.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein user input is utilized to customize a mapping between input elements of the input assembly and functions common to a group of host device applications.