Method for emulating a native device on a host computer system

• US 8,108,201 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ragnunath, Mandayam Thondanur, Narayanaswami, Chandrasekhar
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Kamini S
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEBRESILASSIE, KIBROM K
• Application Number:
  US11/282,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,266 Days
• Field of Search: 703 23- 27, 703/28
• US Class Current: 703/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45537 Provision of facilities of other operating environments, e.g. WINE I/O emulation G06F13/105

Abstract

A native device includes a memory storing a personal computing environment; an interface configured for coupling with a host information processing system; a native function system for performing a native function; and a native function emulator for emulating the native function in the host information processing system. According to another embodiment, a host information processing system includes: an interface for coupling with a native device comprising its user'"'"'s personal computing environment; a processor configured for operating with the native device when the native device is coupled; and logic for emulating functions of the native device when the native device is coupled.

Claims

1. A machine-implemented method comprising:

attaching mobile telephone to a host computer system machine;

wherein the mobile telephone comprises;

a memory;

native function electronics;

an input/output interface;

storage storing a user'"'"'s personal computing environment, wherein the personal computing environment comprises an operating system image, applications programs, data, and a current state of the mobile telephone;

an emulator interface providing an interface familiar to the user; and

a software emulator that is accessed by the host computer system machine to emulate functionality of the mobile telephone on said host Computer system machine;

wherein said software emulator has access to the memory, the native function electronics, the user'"'"'s personal computing environment, and input/output devices of said mobile telephone; and

wherein said software emulator can communicate with programs running on said mobile telephone, including a communication subsystem of said mobile telephone; and

wherein the host computer system machine is a computer to which the mobile telephone is attached;

in response to attaching the mobile telephone to the host computer system machine;

activating and configuring the software emulator and the emulator interface on the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is attached with the host computer system machine;

initiating a booting of the host system from the memory of the mobile telephone, wherein said booting is initiated responsive to the activating;

using the software emulator to present to the user, on the host computer system machine, the emulator interface for controlling mobile telephone;

performing an emulated function of the mobile telephone in the host computer system machine, wherein performing the emulated function comprises;

transitioning functionality of at least some of the native functions from the mobile telephone to the host computer system machine;

routing calls destined for the mobile telephone to said host computer system machine in response to coupling to said host computer system machine;

using the emulator interface to perform the at least some native functions of the mobile telephone on the host computer system machine; and

deactivating the software emulator on the host computer system machine and the emulator interface on the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is decoupled from the host computer system machine, wherein said deactivating transitions functionality from the host computer system machine back to the mobile telephone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the software emulator on the host computer system machine and the emulator interface on the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is coupled to said host computer system machine.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising activating the software emulator on the host computer system machine and the emulator interface on the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is coupled to said host computer system machine.

4. A machine-implemented method comprising:

attaching mobile telephone of a user to a host computer system machine while the host computer system machine is running;

wherein the mobile telephone comprises;

a memory;

native function electronics;

an input/output interface;

storage storing a user'"'"'s personal computing environment,

wherein the personal computing environment comprises an operating system image, applications programs, data, and a current state of the mobile telephone; and

an emulator interface providing an interface familiar to the user; and

wherein the host computer system machine is a computer to which the mobile telephone is attached;

wherein the host computer system machine comprises at least one software emulator to emulate functionality of the mobile telephone on said host computer system machine;

activating and configuring the software emulator on the host computer system machine and the emulator interface on the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is attached with the host computer system machine;

wherein the software emulator has access to the memory, the native function electronics, the user'"'"'s personal computing environment, and input/output devices of the mobile telephone;

using the software emulator to present to the user, on the host computer system machine, the emulator interface for controlling the mobile telephone;

performing an emulated function of the mobile telephone in the host computer system machine, wherein performing the emulated function comprises;

transitioning functionality of at least some of the native functions from the mobile telephone to the host computer system machine;

routing calls destined for the mobile telephone to said host computer system machine in response to coupling to said host computer system machine;

using the emulator interface to perform the at least some native functions of the mobile telephone on the host computer system machine; and

deactivating the software emulator on the host computer system machine and the emulator interface on the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is decoupled from the host computer system machine, wherein said deactivating transitions functionality from the host computer system machine back to the mobile telephone.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising configuring the software emulator on the host computer system machine and the emulator interface on the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is coupled to said host computer system machine.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein using the emulator interface to perform the at least some native functions comprises displaying an image representing functionality of the mobile telephone.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein performing the emulated function of the mobile telephone in the host computer system machine further comprises requesting a telecommunications service provided to redirect calls destined for the mobile telephone to the mobile telephone in response to decoupling the mobile telephone from the host computer system machine.

8. A mobile telephone comprising:

a memory;

storage storing a user'"'"'s personal computing environment,

wherein the personal computing environment comprises an operating system image, applications programs, data, and a current state of the mobile telephone;

an interface for attaching with a host device;

a native function subsystem for performing native function;

logic wherein calls destined for the mobile telephone are routed to the host device in response to coupling to said host device;

a software emulator that is accessed by the host device to emulate the native functions of the mobile telephone on said host device;

wherein the software emulator is activated and configured when the mobile telephone is attached to the host device;

wherein the software emulator has access to the memory, the native function subsystem, the user'"'"'s personal computing environment, and input/output devices of the mobile telephone; and

wherein the software emulator can communicate with programs running on said mobile telephone, including a communication subsystem of said mobile telephone;

wherein the host device is booted from the memory of the mobile telephone, responsive to the activating of the software emulator; and

wherein the software emulator is deactivated on the host device when the mobile telephone is decoupled from said host device; and

an emulator interface presented to the user, on the host device, for controlling the native functions of the mobile telephone.

9. The mobile telephone of claim 8, wherein the at least part of the function from the mobile telephone is a communication subsystem of the mobile telephone.

10. The mobile telephone of claim 8, wherein the at least part of the function of the mobile telephone comprises input controls.

11. The mobile telephone of claim 8 wherein the at least part of the function of the mobile device comprises at least one of audio, graphics, and video player.

12. The mobile telephone of claim 8 wherein the native function emulator and the interface on the mobile telephone are activated and configured, without user support, when the mobile telephone is coupled with the host device.

13. The mobile telephone of claim 8 further comprising logic for requesting a telecommunications service to redirect to the host device calls destined for the mobile telephone, in response to coupling the mobile telephone to the host device.

14. The mobile telephone of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises a personal computing environment.

15. The mobile telephone of claim 8, wherein the emulator interface provides telephone functions to a user by using icons representing a virtual phone.

16. The mobile telephone of claim 8 further comprising a native function emulator.