Enhanced interface for mobile phone

• US 8,208,906 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Farris, Jack M., Hao, Jianxiu
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US12/327,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/414.1, 715/863, 715/769, 725/6, 345/520
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/382 using universal interface adapter
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

A docking station may provide an enhanced user interface for mobile communication devices. In one particular implementation, a device may include a base unit configured to provide connections to one or more user interface devices and an interface for connecting to a mobile phone, where the base unit connects the mobile phone to the one or more user interface devices to provide an enhanced interface for the mobile phone.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a base unit to provide one or more connections to one or more user interface devices, where the one or more user interface devices include a display, and where the device is associated with a set-top box coupled to the display; and

a processor to;

communicate with a mobile device,

identify at least one input/output device associated with the mobile device, and

automatically connect the mobile device to the one or more user interfaces devices based on the identified at least one input/output device,

where the processor, when connecting the mobile device to the one or more user interfaces devices, is further to;

enable a user to select, using the at least one input/output device, multimedia content, through the display, by the set-top box,

enable the user to request, using the at least one input/output device, the multimedia content, and

upload, through one or more connections and in response to the request, the multimedia content from the set-top box to the mobile device.

2. The device of claim 1, where the base unit further includes:

a graphics accelerator to provide a video signal to the display.

3. The device of claim 1, where the base unit includes a slot, and

where the base unit is further to:

automatically detect insertion of the mobile device into the slot of the base unit.

4. The device of claim 1, where one or more of the user interface devices are integrated with the base unit.

5. The device of claim 1, where the base unit is further to:

provide, to the mobile device, access to a connection to a wide area network.

6. The device of claim 1, where the base unit is further to:

communicate operational features of the base unit to the mobile device.

7. A method, comprising:

identifying, using a base unit connected to a mobile device, at least one input/output device associated with the mobile device; and

connecting, using the base unit, the mobile device to one or more user interface devices based on the identified at least one input/output device, where the one or more user interface devices include a display, and where the base unit is associated with a set-top box coupled to the display, and

where the connecting the mobile device to the one or more user interfaces devices includes;

enabling a user to select, using the at least one input/output device, multimedia content presented, through the display, by the set-top box,

enabling the user to request, using the at least one input/output device, the multimedia content from the set-top box, and

uploading, in response to the request, the multimedia content from the set-top box to the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, where connecting the mobile device to the one or more user interface devices comprises:

connecting the mobile device to the display.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing a video signal to the display via a graphics accelerator located in the base unit.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

automatically detecting, via the base unit, insertion of the mobile device into a slot in the base unit.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

integrating the one or more of the user interface devices into the base unit.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

connecting, via the base unit, the mobile device to a wide area network.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

communicating, via the base unit, operational features of the base unit to the mobile device.

14. A system, comprising:

a memory to store one or more instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to;

establish communications between a mobile device to a base unit;

identify at least one input/output device associated with the mobile device; and

connect the mobile device to one or more user interface devices based on the identified at least one input/output device,

where the processor, when connecting the mobile device to the one or more user interfaces devices, is further to;

enable a user to select, using the at least one input/output device, multimedia content presented, through a display, by a set-top box,

enable the user to request, using the at least one input/output device, multimedia content from the set-top box, and

upload, through one or more connections and in response to the request, the multimedia content from the set-top box to the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 14, where the processor is further to:

communicate operational features of the mobile device to the base unit.

16. The system of claim 14, where the base unit includes a graphics accelerator to provide a video signal to the display, and

where the processor is further to:

adjust, through the graphics accelerator, the video signal based on an input received through the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 14, where the base unit includes a slot, and

where the processor is further to:

automatically detect insertion of the mobile device into the slot.

18. The system of claim 14, where one or more of the user interface devices are integrated with the base unit.

19. The system of claim 14, where the base unit includes a connection to a wide area network, and

where the processor is further to:

provide the mobile device with access to the connection to a wide area network.