Passive interface and software configuration for portable devices

• US 8,165,633 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Eric, Dehghan, David, Sun, Stanley, Liew, Weihun, Wong, Kong-Kat, Yang, Yongzhi, Cao, James, Wang, Zhifeng, Sundling, Rebecca
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIEH, PING Y
• Application Number:
  US11/968,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20090023395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/90.3, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 710/305, 709/203
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881

Abstract

A universal passive interface for connecting external systems to smart devices such as cell phones and PDAs. The passive system includes a cradle for receiving a compatible smart device that connects the functionality of the smart device to a wide variety of external systems (e.g., printers, large display, input devices, etc.). The passive interface includes a USB hub, network port, and other common connector ports for peripherals and other systems. The smart device can connect to the passive system via the cradle slot, a tether, and/or wirelessly. The external systems to which the passive system serves at the interface to the smart device include, but are not limited to, large displays (e.g., television), external monitors, input devices such as mice and keyboards, external storage devices, and networks (wired and/or wireless). A wizard allows the user to configure the external systems to work with the smart device.

Claims

1. An interface system comprising:

an external interface component comprising a network interface and a USB hub configured to interface peripheral devices and a network to a smart device, the network interface being configured to facilitate IP data traffic between the smart device and an IP network entity;

a cradle interface configured to mechanically receive the smart device and electrically interface the smart device to the peripheral devices and the network via the external interface component;

a communications component configured to communicate data and signals between the smart device and the interface system via wire and wireless communications protocols;

a power component configured to charge the smart device;

a security component configured to perform authorization of the smart device and;

provide access to the peripheral devices based on the authorization;

in an instance when the smart device is authorized, allow the smart device to charge via the power component; and

in an instance when the smart device is not authorized, prevent the smart device from charging via the power component.

2. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the smart device is a cell phone, the cell phone interfacing to the interface system via the cradle interface or via a tether to the external interface component.

3. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the smart device includes a configuration component configured to automatically change behavior of the smart device based on the smart device interfacing to the interface system.

4. The interface system of claim 3, wherein the cradle interface senses the smart device and sends a cradle signal to the configuration component, in response to which the configuration component queries the smart device for functionality suitable for driving a connected peripheral device and invokes the functionality for driving the connected peripheral device.

5. The interface system of claim 4, wherein the configuration component includes a wizard that automatically launches and walks through a setup procedure for configuration of the connected peripheral device, which is a TV.

6. The interface system of claim 3, wherein the configuration component automatically configures the smart device to operate with an individual peripheral device according to a predetermined configuration.

7. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the smart device is a cell phone, or a personal digital assistant device with mobile communications functionality.

8. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the network interface facilitates ad hoc peer-to-peer digital communications between the smart device and a computing system.

9. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the security component is further configured to provide encrypted communications between the interface system and the smart device.

10. The interface system of claim 1, further comprising a presentation component configured to present one or more of text, audio, images and video based on capabilities of the smart device and the peripheral devices.

11. An interface system comprising:

an external interface component comprising a network interface and a USB hub configured to interface peripheral devices and a network to a smart device, the network interface being configured to facilitate IP data traffic between the smart device and an IP network entity;

a cradle interface configured to mechanically receive the smart device and electrically interface the smart device to the peripheral devices and the network via the external interface component;

a communications component configured to communicate data and signals between the smart device and the interface system via wire or wireless communications protocols; and

a security component configured to;

perform authorization of the smart device and provide access to the peripheral devices based on the authorization; and

in an instance when the smart device is unauthorized, provide access to a website that instructs a user though a process for authorizing the smart device to obtain full access.

12. The interface system according to claim 11, wherein the security component comprises a subscriber identity module (SIM) card configured to allow a user of the smart device to remotely access the interface system.

13. The interface system according to claim 11, wherein the security component has an assigned IP address.

14. The interface system according to claim 11, the smart device being a cell phone.

15. The interface system according to claim 11, the peripheral devices comprising an auxiliary display.

16. The interface system of claim 11, wherein the interface system is configured to sense the smart device and send a signal to the smart device that invokes functionality which is compatible with driving an individual peripheral device.

17. The interface system of claim 16, wherein the functionality is invoked via a wizard that automatically launches and walks through a setup procedure for configuration of the individual peripheral device.

18. The interface system of claim 16, wherein the functionality is invoked via a device profile or a user profile stored in the smart device.

19. The interface system of claim 11, wherein the smart device automatically receives updates related to driving the peripheral devices.

20. An interface system comprising:

an external interface component comprising a network interface and a USB hub configured to interface peripheral devices and a network to a smart device, the network interface being configured to facilitate IP data traffic between the smart device and an IP network entity, the peripheral devices including a printer;

a cradle interface configured to mechanically receive the smart device and electrically interface the smart device to the peripheral devices and the network via the external interface component;

a communications component configured to communicate data and signals between the smart device and the interface system via wire or wireless communications protocols; and

a security component configured to;

perform authorization of the smart device and provide access to the peripheral devices based on the authorization; and

in an instance when the smart device is unauthorized, provide access to the printer to print instructions for authorizing the smart device.