Systems and methods for providing additional functionality to a device for increased usability

• US 8,412,269 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Celio Technology Corp.
• Original Assignee: Celio Technology Corp.
• Inventors: Cook, Colin N. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Batista, Marcos
• Assistant Examiner(s): DONADO, FRANK E
• Application Number:
  US12/055,167
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1462 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the remote displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/06 Consumer Electronics Control, i.e. control of another device by a display or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/399 using two or more bit-mapped memories, the operations of which are switched in time, e.g. ping-pong buffers

Abstract

A system for providing additional functionality to a mobile device is described. The system includes a mobile enhancing device that is capable of being in electronic communication with the mobile device, the enhancing device comprising a keyboard functionality, display screen functionality, and pointing device functionality. The system may be designed such that the mobile device is a smartphone, mobile phone or a USB flash drive that includes an operating system.

Claims

1. An enhancing device for providing enhanced functionality to a smart phone, the enhancing device comprising:

a display screen;

a communication interface for communication with the smart phone; and

at least one user operable input device selected from a keyboard, a touchpad and a mouse;

wherein, when the enhancing device is in communication with the smart phone, the enhancing device is capable of displaying on the display screen, output generated by the smart phone at a higher resolution than the smart phone, the enhancing device comprising a first display buffer and a second display buffer, the smart phone comprising a third display buffer and a fourth display buffer, the first display buffer being configured to be synchronized with the third display buffer of the smart phone, wherein if source image data is in the fourth display buffer of the smart phone, the enhancing device is configured to determine whether the source image data is in the second buffer of the enhancing device, and if the source image data is in the second buffer, the enhancing device is configured to copy the source image data from the second buffer to the first buffer of the enhancing device rather than receiving the source image data from the smart phone.

2. The enhancing device of claim 1, wherein the display screen of the enhancing device is larger than a screen of the smart phone.

3. The enhancing device of claim 1, wherein the enhancing device comprises a first set of types of communication interfaces and the smart phone includes a second set of types of communication interfaces, wherein the first set includes at least one type of communication interface not included in the second set.

4. The enhancing device of claim 1, wherein the enhancing device is capable of displaying documents stored on the smart phone.

5. The enhancing device of claim 1, wherein the enhancing device is capable of displaying visual representations of applications residing on the smart phone.

6. The enhancing device of claim 1, wherein the enhancing device comprises the keyboard, the keyboard being more complete than a keyboard of the smart phone.

7. The enhancing device of claim 1, further comprising the smart phone.

8. The smart phone of claim 7, wherein, when the enhancing device is in communication with the smart phone, software on the smart phone is capable of receiving and processing signals generated in response to input to the at least one user operable input device of the enhancing device.