Accessory devices configured to display supplemental content

• US 8,434,685 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewbel, Hannah Rebecca, Bowen, James Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/881,617
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 362/154, 248/229.2, 359/296
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/14 Electronic books and readers

Abstract

Described herein are accessory devices that are configured to both perform accessory functions for electronic devices, as well as output content that is supplemental or complementary to content being output by the electronic devices. The accessory functionality of the accessory devices may be far-ranging and may include reading lights, covers, projectors, universal serial bus (USB) drives, cameras, page-turn buttons, audio jacks, expansion headers, Bluetooth devices, biometric sensors, ambient light sensors, and more. These accessory devices may complement the operation of any number of electronic devices. For instance, an accessory device may both comprise a reading light to illuminate a display of an electronic book (eBook) reader device, as well as a display to display content that has been deemed supplemental to the content being displayed by the eBook reader device.

Claims

1. An accessory device configured to couple to an electronic book reader device, the accessory device comprising:

a reading light to illuminate a display of the electronic book reader device when the accessory device couples to the electronic book reader device and when the reading light is powered on;

a display to render supplementary content that has been designated as supplementary to content rendered on the display of the electronic book reader device; and

a supplementary-content module, stored in a memory and executable on one or more processors to identify the supplementary content based at least in part on a communication with the electronic book reader device and to cause display of the supplementary content on the display of the accessory device.

2. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the display of the electronic book reader device comprises a bi-stable, reflective, un-backlit display.

3. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the supplementary-content module is further executable on the one or more processors to identify the supplementary content by referencing the content being rendered on the display of the electronic book reader device.

4. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the supplementary-content module is further executable on the one or more processors to identify the supplementary content by referencing a user preference of a user operating or associated with the electronic book reader device.

5. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the supplementary-content module is further executable on the one or more processors to identify the supplementary content by receiving an identification of the supplementary content from a user operating the electronic book reader device.

6. The accessory device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless communication interface for communicating with the electronic book reader device; and

wherein the coupling of the accessory device to the electronic book reader device is free from a physical-electrical connection, and the supplementary-content module is further executable on the one or more processors to identify the supplementary content by referencing the content being rendered on the display of the electronic book reader device via the wireless communication interface.

7. The accessory device of claim 1, further comprising:

a physical communication interface for communicating with the electronic book reader device; and

wherein the coupling of the accessory device to the electronic book reader device includes a physical-electrical connection, and the supplementary-content module is further executable on the one or more processors to identify the supplementary content by referencing the content being rendered on the display of the electronic book reader device via the physical communication interface.

8. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the accessory device is integral with or detachable from the electronic book reader device.

9. An accessory device configured to detachably couple to an electronic device, the accessory device comprising:

one or more processors;

memory;

accessory functionality configured to complement operation of the electronic device;

a supplementary-content module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors to determine content output by the electronic device, identify supplementary content that has been designated as supplementary to the content output by the electronic device, and cause output of the supplementary content.

10. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, wherein the accessory functionality of the accessory device complements the operation of the electronic device in a manner other than outputting content.

11. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises a display to output the content, and wherein the accessory functionality comprises a reading light configured to illuminate the display of the electronic device when the accessory device couples to the electronic device and when the reading light is powered on.

12. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises a display to output the content, and wherein the accessory functionality comprises a cover that is configured to cover and protect the display of the electronic device.

13. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, wherein the accessory functionality comprises:

a projector to project content onto the electronic device;

a universal serial bus (USB) drive to receive a USB card;

a camera to receive images of an environment proximate to the electronic device;

a microphone to receive audio from the environment proximate to the electronic device;

an ambient light sensor to detect an amount of ambient light in the environment proximate to the electronic device;

an audio jack to receive a headphone or microphone connection;

a speaker to output audio;

a page-turn button to navigate the content output by the electronic device;

or

a biometric sensor to facilitate access to the electronic device via biometric credentials.

14. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a display on which to output the supplementary content.

15. An accessory device as recited in claim 14, wherein the display of the accessory device comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, or an electrophoretic display.

16. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a projector with which to output the supplementary content.

17. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, wherein the supplementary-content module causes display of the supplementary content on:

(1) a portion of the accessory device, or (2) a portion of the electronic device other than a powered display of the electronic device.

18. An accessory device as recited in claim 17, wherein the supplementary-content module causes display of the supplementary content on the portion of the electronic device other than a powered display of the electronic device, and wherein the portion of the electronic device comprises a bezel, side, or back of the electronic device.

19. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, wherein the supplementary content comprises audio content, and further comprising a speaker to output the audio content.

20. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a mount to facilitate coupling of the accessory device to the electronic device.

21. An accessory device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a wireless communication interface to communicate with the electronic device and to facilitate the identification, by the supplementary-content module, of the supplementary content.

22. A method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with specific executable instructions,

identifying, by an accessory device, based at least in part on an electronic communication, content that supplements content being output by an electronic device, the accessory device being configured to detachably mount to the electronic device to perform a complementary function for the electronic device; and

outputting the supplemental content by the accessory device to enhance consumption of the content being output by the electronic device.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein:

the electronic device comprises a display for outputting the content;

the accessory device comprises a reading light and the complementary function comprise illuminating the display of the electronic device; and

the accessory device comprises;

(1) a display or projector to display the supplemental content, or (2) a speaker to output the supplemental content.

24. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

identifying, by the accessory device, the content being output by the electronic device prior to the identifying of the supplemental content; and

wherein the identifying of the supplemental content comprises referencing the identified content being output by the electronic device.

25. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

determining, by the accessory device, a user preference of a user operating or associated with the electronic device prior to the identifying of the supplemental content; and

wherein the identifying of the supplemental content comprises referencing the determined user preference.

26. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

receiving, by the accessory device, an identification of the supplemental content from a user operating the electronic device; and

wherein the identifying of the supplemental content comprises referencing the identification received from the user.

27. One or more computer-readable media storing the specific executable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more computing systems to perform a method as recited in claim 22.