Portable computing system and portable computer for use with same

• US 9,010,623 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael Arnouse
• Original Assignee: Michael Arnouse
• Inventors: Arnouse, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEDEKEL, TABITHA F
• Application Number:
  US13/404,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20120192265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/487, 235/492, 726/2, 726/4, 726/9, 726/16, 726/17, 726/21, 726 26- 29, 713/182, 713/185, 713/186
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/02 manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a built-in program, e.g. pocket calculators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44236 Monitoring of piracy processes or activities protecting computer platforms against harmful, malicious or unexpected behaviour or activities using intrusion detection and counter measures G06F21/566; computer virus detection and handling G06F21/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4424 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04

Abstract

A computing system comprising a pocket personal computer and a reader are disclosed. The pocket PC is pocket-sized and comprises flash memory, and optionally a processor and a GPS chip. The reader includes a monitor, a keyboard with docking port and an optional processor and at least one input/output USB connector. A user cannot interact with the pocket PC without the reader. The credit card size and capabilities of the pocket PC allows a user to easily carry virtually their entire computer in a pocket for use anywhere there is a reader. In addition, the pocket PC provides security against unauthorized use, even if lost or stolen. A password or fingerprints are required to access to the device, the circuit board may be coated with a protective coating and the system may include an RFID tag and RFID reader.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a portable smartcard comprising;

at least one processor;

at least one controller hub;

at least one integrated circuit for storing data;

one or more flash memory drive storage components;

one or more multipin connectors adapted for connecting the portable computer to at least one reader that has no user application processing CPU and is configured only to power the portable smartcard and to route input and output signals of the portable smartcard; and

a substantially rigid epoxy coating substantially enclosing the at least one processor, the at least one controller hub, the at least one integrated circuit, the flash memory drive storage components and the one or more multipin connectors,

wherein the at least one reader includes means for direct user interaction with the portable computer.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the portable computer is no larger than 90.00 mm×

60.00 mm and is no thicker than 6 mm thick.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the portable computer is no larger than 82.00 mm×

52.00 mm and is no thicker than 4.3 mm thick.

4. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the portable computer comprises a length L, a width W and a height H, wherein L is in a range between about 50 mm to about 200 mm, W is in a range between about 25 mm to about 100 mm and H is in a range between about 1 mm to about 20 mm.

5. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the storage comprises flash memory and an operating system and the portable computer further comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a CPU device and a GPS device.

6. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the epoxy coating comprises at least one of silicone, epoxy, acrylic, urethane and paraxylene.

7. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising:

security for restricting access to the stored data;

wherein the epoxy coating operates to;

inhibit tampering, as attempts to improperly gain access to the stored data will damage the at least one integrated circuit;

dissipate heat generated by the at least integrated circuit; and

waterproof the at least one integrated circuit.

8. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip configured to encrypt and encode data files and software stored on said portable computer when said reader and said portable computer are connected.

9. A computing system comprising:

at least one portable device, each comprising a smartcard having a substantially rigid epoxy coating substantially enclosing flash memory drive storage, at least one processor, at least one controller hub and at least one printed circuit board; and

at least one reader, each comprising;

an input device;

an output device; and

a multipin connector for connecting to the at least one portable device,

wherein the readers are configured to only operate with a portable device of the system, and

wherein the reader is configured only to power the at least one portable device and to route input and output signals of the at least one portable device to or from one or more of the input device and the output device.

10. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the input device of the reader comprises a keyboard and the connector of the reader is a part of the keyboard.

11. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the portable device is selected from the group consisting of a compact disc, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant and a smartphone.

12. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the at least one connector of the portable device for connecting to at least one reader is selected from the group consisting of a wired or wireless connection.

13. The computing system of claim 9, further comprising an Internet connection.

14. A reader configured to interact with a portable computer having input and output means for interacting directly therewith, the reader comprising:

a housing that is at least one of an input and an output device; and

a connector for connecting to the portable computer, said portable computer comprising a substantially rigid epoxy coating substantially enclosing flash memory drive storage, at least one processor, at least one controller hub and at least one printed circuit board,

wherein said housing is configured to provide direct user interaction with said portable computer when said portable computer and said reader are connected,

wherein said reader is without at least one of a CPU or storage capacity and is configured only to power said portable computer and to route input and output signals of said portable computer,

wherein said reader is configured so that it will only operate with said portable computer.

15. The reader of claim 14, wherein when the reader is connected to the portable computer, communication with the portable computer is made through the input device and through the output device.

16. The reader of claim 14, wherein the output device comprises a visual display monitor and a first major plane.

17. The reader of claim 16, wherein the input device comprises a second major plane, a first portion with a keyboard and a second portion with a portable device receiving area having a connector for connecting to the portable device, wherein the output device is pivotally connected to the input device by a connector such that the output device may be moved relative to the input device between a closed position, in which the first major plane extends substantially in parallel to the second major plane, and an open position, in which the first major plane extends transversely to the second major plane.

18. The reader of claim 14, further comprising a smartphone having an input and an output and a CPU.

19. The reader of claim 18, further comprising:

a connection module having at least one input port, at least one output port, and a portable device receiving port for releasably coupling to the output,

wherein the reader output device is separate and distinct from the connection module and coupled to the at least one output port,

wherein the reader input device is separate and distinct from the connection module and coupled to the at least one input port, and

wherein the reader output device is not coupled to the reader input device except through the connection module.

20. The reader of claim 14, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of:

a keyboard, a keypad, a touch screen, a mouse, a microphone, a remote control, PDA and a video recorder, and the output device is selected from the group consisting of;

a display, a television monitor, a computer monitor, a webcam and speakers.

21. The reader of claim 14, wherein the reader comprises at least one biometric scanner selected from the group consisting of:

a fingerprint reader, retinal scanner, and pulse reader.

22. The reader of claim 14, wherein said reader is configured to retain no personal data or information of a user when said reader is disconnected from said portable computer.

23. The reader of claim 14, wherein said reader is configured to resist infection from a computer virus and to prevent infecting the portable computer when connected thereto by virtue of lacking at least one of the CPU and storage capacity.

24. The reader of claim 14, further comprising an alarm that is triggered when the reader is disconnected from the portable computer.

25. The reader of claim 14, wherein the reader operates as a server when connected to portable computer.