System and method for interfacing between a mobile device and a personal computer

• US 9,069,377 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wilson, Sean E., Yach, David P., Orr, Kevin H., Fyke, Steven H., Bocking, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US12/033,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20090075697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,688 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/420, 455/411, 455/454, 455/466, 455/456, 455/422.1, 455/457, 370/252, 370/402, 370/466, 370/338, 370/310, 370/259, 370/401, 370/328, 709/202, 709/219, 709/225, 709/227, 709/229, 709/217, 709/218, 709/203, 705/3, 705/2, 705/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/04 Transplanting trees; Devices for grasping the root ball, e.g. stump forceps; Wrappings or packages for transporting trees
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/18 Load gripping or retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method are provided for interfacing between a mobile device and a PC. The mobile device utilizes a connection with the PC for taking advantage of the larger display and input devices such as the keyboard on the PC to improve the user interface (UI). This also enables the user to take advantage of the mobile device'"'"'s wireless connectivity at the same time, e.g. where the PC does not have the same connectivity.

Claims

1. A method enabling interactions with a mobile device using an external computing device, said method comprising:

providing a mobile server on said mobile device to resemble an existing entity normally communicated with by an application on said external computing device and normally residing outside of said mobile device, said mobile server configured to enable said application on said external computing device to communicate with said mobile server as if said mobile server was said existing entity;

enabling a communication connection to be established between said mobile device and said external computing device, said mobile device and said external computing device being in proximity of each other;

enabling said application on said external computing device to communicate with said mobile server during said communication connection; and

sending to a user interface (UI) of said application on said external computing device during said communication connection, at least one communication sent or received by a communication application residing on said mobile device to update said UI of said application on said external computing device as if said UI of said application on said external computing device was accessing said existing entity and to enable said application on said external computing device to be used to interact with said communication application residing on said mobile device.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said mobile server provides an email server application and said application on said external computing device is an email client, said email server application being configured to access email messages stored on said mobile device and to provide said email messages to said email client.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said mobile server provides an HTTP server application and said application on said external computing device is a browser, said HTTP server application being configured to convert data on said mobile device to a format compatible with said browser, said data from said communication application residing on said mobile device being provided to said UI through a portal hosted by said HTTP server.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said HTTP server application communicates with said browser over a dial-up-networking (DUN) connection.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said mobile server provides an email server application and provides an HTTP server and said application on said external computing device is a browser or email client or both, said email server application being configured to access email messages stored on said mobile device and to provide said email messages to said email client, said HTTP server application being configured to convert data on said mobile device to a format compatible with said browser, said data from said communication application residing on said mobile device being provided to said UI through a portal hosted by said HTTP server.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said communication application residing on said mobile device includes one or more options for changing settings on said mobile device, and said mobile server is configured to receive updates to said settings from said application on said external computing device and generate a command for updating said settings on said mobile device.

7. A method for interacting with a mobile device using an external computing device, said method comprising:

enabling a communication connection to be established between said external computing device and said mobile device, said external computing device and said mobile device being in proximity of each other;

enabling an application on said external computing device to communicate with a mobile server on said mobile device during said communication connection, said mobile server resembling an existing entity normally communicated with by said application on said external computing device and normally residing outside of said mobile device, said mobile server being configured to enable said application to communicate with said mobile server as if said mobile server was said existing entity;

said external computing device receiving at least one communication sent to or received by a communication application residing on said mobile device, from said mobile server, during said communication connection;

said external computing device updating a user interface (UI) of said application on said external computing device as if said UI of said application on said external computing device was accessing said existing entity to enable said application on said external computing device to be used to interact with said communication application residing on said mobile device.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said mobile server provides an email server application and said application on said external computing device is an email client, said email server application being configured to access email messages stored on said mobile device and to provide said email messages to said email client.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein said mobile server provides an HTTP server application and said application on said external computing device is a browser, said HTTP server application being configured to convert data on said mobile device to a format compatible with said browser, said data from said communication application residing on said mobile device being provided to said UI through a portal hosted by said HTTP server.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said HTTP server communicates with said browser over a dial-up-networking (DUN) connection.

11. The method according to claim 7 comprising providing a device simulator which acts as a proxy for a display and input mechanism on said mobile device such that as said display is updated, said device simulator receives from said mobile device, buffer data over said communication connection and updates a corresponding screen buffer accordingly.

12. The method according to claim 7 wherein said communication application residing on said mobile device includes one or more options for changing settings on said mobile device, and said UI enables a user to change said settings using said application on said external computing device such that said mobile server can generate a command for updating said settings on said mobile device.

13. A computer readable tangible medium comprising computer executable instructions for enabling interactions with a mobile device using an external computing device comprising instructions for:

providing a mobile server on said mobile device to resemble an existing entity normally communicated with by an application on said external computing device and normally residing outside of said mobile device, said mobile server configured to enable said application on said external computing device to communicate with said mobile server as if said mobile server was said existing entity;

enabling a communication connection to be established between said mobile device and said external computing device, said mobile device and said external computing device being in proximity of each other;

enabling said application on said external computing device to communicate with said mobile server during said communication connection; and

sending to a user interface (UI) of said application on said external computing device during said communication connection, at least one communication sent or received by a communication application residing on said mobile device to update said UI of said application on said external computing device as if said UI of said application on said external computing device was accessing said existing entity and to enable said application on said external computing device to be used to interact with said communication application residing on said mobile device.

14. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 13 wherein said instructions comprise instructions to have said mobile server provide an email server application, said application on said external computing device being an email client, said email server application being configured to access email messages stored on said mobile device and to provide said email messages to said email client.

15. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 13 wherein said instructions comprise instructions to have said mobile server provide an HTTP server application, said application on said external computing device being a browser, said HTTP server application being configured to convert data on said mobile device to a format compatible with said browser, said data from said communication application residing on said mobile device being provided to said UI through a portal hosted by said HTTP server.

16. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 15 wherein said HTTP server application communicates with said browser over a dial-up-networking (DUN) connection.

17. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 13 wherein said instructions comprise instructions to have said mobile server provide an email server application and to provide an HTTP server, said application on said external computing device being a browser or email client or both, said email server application being configured to access email messages stored on said mobile device and to provide said email messages to said email client, said HTTP server application being configured to convert data on said mobile device to a format compatible with said browser, said data from said communication application residing on said mobile device being provided to said UI through a portal hosted by said HTTP server.

18. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 13 wherein said communication application residing on said mobile device includes one or more options for changing settings on said mobile device, and said mobile server is configured to receive updated to said settings from said application on said external computing device and generate a command for updating said settings on said mobile device.

19. A computer readable tangible medium comprising computer executable instructions for interacting with a mobile device using an external computing device comprising instructions for:

enabling a communication connection to be established between said external computing device and said mobile device, said external computing device and said mobile device being in proximity of each other;

enabling an application on said external computing device to communicate with a mobile server on said mobile device during said communication connection, said mobile server resembling an existing entity normally communicated with by said application on said external computing device and normally residing outside of said mobile device, said mobile server being configured to enable said application to communicate with said mobile server as if said mobile server was said existing entity;

said external computing device receiving at least one communication sent to or received by a communication application residing on said mobile device, from said mobile server, during said communication connection;

said external computing device updating a user interface (UI) of said application on said external computing device as if said UI of said application on said external computing device was accessing said existing entity to enable said application on said external computing device to be used to interact with said communication application residing on said mobile device.

20. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 19 wherein said instructions comprise instructions to have said mobile server provide an email server application, said application on said external computing device being an email client, said email server application being configured to access email messages stored on said mobile device and to provide said email messages to said email client.

21. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 19 wherein said instructions comprise instruction to have said mobile server provide an HTTP server application, said application on said external computing device being a browser, said HTTP server application being configured to convert data on said mobile device to a format compatible with said browser, said data from said communication application residing on said mobile device being provided to said UI through a portal hosted by said HTTP server.

22. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 21 wherein said HTTP server communicates with said browser over a dial-up-networking (DUN) connection.

23. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 19 wherein said instructions comprises instructions to provide a device simulator which acts as a proxy for a display and input mechanism on said mobile device such that as said display is updated, said device simulator receives from said mobile device, buffer data over said communication connection and updates a corresponding screen buffer accordingly.

24. The computer readable tangible medium according to claim 19 wherein said communication application residing on said mobile device includes one or more options for changing settings on said mobile device, and said UI enables a user to change said settings using said existing application on said external computing device such that said mobile server can generate a command for updating said settings on said mobile device.

25. A mobile device comprising a processor and memory, said memory comprising computer executable instructions for enabling interactions with said mobile device using an external computing device, said computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

providing a mobile server on said mobile device to resemble an existing entity normally communicated with by an application on said external computing device and normally residing outside of said mobile device, said mobile server configured to enable said application on said external computing device to communicate with said mobile server as if said mobile server was said existing entity;

enabling a communication connection to be established between said mobile device and said external computing device, said mobile device and said external computing device being in proximity of each other;

enabling said application on said external computing device to communicate with said mobile server during said communication connection; and

sending to a user interface (UI) of said application on said external computing device during said communication connection, at least one communication sent or received by a communication application residing on said mobile device to update said UI of said application on said external computing device as if said UI of said application on said external computing device was accessing said existing entity and to enable said application on said external computing device to be used to interact with said communication application residing on said mobile device.

26. The mobile device according to claim 25 wherein said mobile server provides an email server application and said application on said external computing device is an email client, said email server application being configured to access email messages stored on said mobile device and to provide said email messages to said email client.

27. The mobile device according to claim 25 wherein said mobile server provides an HTTP server application and said application on said external computing device is a browser, said HTTP server application being configured to convert data on said mobile device to a format compatible with said browser, said data from said communication application residing on said mobile device being provided to said UI through a portal hosted by said HTTP server.

28. The mobile device according to claim 27 wherein said HTTP server application communicates with said browser over a dial-up-networking (DUN) connection.

29. The mobile device according to claim 25 wherein said mobile server provides an email server application and provides an HTTP server and said application on said external computing device is a browser or email client or both, said email server application being configured to access email messages stored on said mobile device and to provide said email messages to said email client, said HTTP server application being configured to convert data on said mobile device to a format compatible with said browser, said data from said communication application residing on said mobile device being provided to said UI through a portal hosted by said HTTP server.

30. The mobile device according to claim 25 wherein said communication application residing on said mobile device includes one or more options for changing settings on said mobile device, and said mobile server is configured to receive updates to said settings from said application on said external computing device and generate a command for updating said settings on said mobile device.

31. An external computing device comprising a processor and memory, said memory comprising computer executable instructions for interacting with a mobile device using said external computing device, said computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

enabling a communication connection to be established between said external computing device and said mobile device, said external computing device and said mobile device being in proximity of each other;

enabling an application on said external computing device to communicate with a mobile server on said mobile device during said communication connection, said mobile server resembling an existing entity normally communicated with by said application on said external computing device and normally residing outside of said mobile device, said mobile server being configured to enable said application to communicate with said mobile server as if said mobile server was said existing entity;

said external computing device receiving at least one communication sent to or received by a communication application residing on said mobile device, from said mobile server, during said communication connection;

said external computing device updating a user interface (UI) of said application on said external computing device as if said UI of said application on said external computing device was accessing said existing entity to enable said application on said external computing device to be used to interact with said communication application residing on said mobile device.

32. The external computing device according to claim 31 wherein said mobile server provides an email server application and said application on said external computing device is an email client, said email server application being configured to access email messages stored on said mobile device and to provide said email messages to said email client.

33. The external computing device according to claim 31 wherein said mobile server provides an HTTP server application and said application on said external computing device is a browser, said HTTP server application being configured to convert data on said mobile device to a format compatible with said browser, said data from said communication application residing on said mobile device being provided to said UI through a portal hosted by said HTTP server.

34. The external computing device according to claim 33 wherein said HTTP server communicates with said browser over a dial-up-networking (DUN) connection.

35. The external computing device according to claim 31 comprising a device simulator which acts as a proxy for a display and input mechanism on said mobile device such that as said display is updated, said device simulator receives from said mobile device, buffer data over said communication connection and updates a corresponding screen buffer accordingly.

36. The external computing device according to claim 31 wherein said communication application residing on said mobile device includes one or more options for changing settings on said mobile device, and said UI enables a user to change said settings using said application on said external computing device such that said mobile server can generate a command for updating said settings on said mobile device.