Method for changing device modes of an electronic device connected to a docking station and an electronic device configured for same

• US 9,116,663 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Prociw, Philip James, Parton, William Ryan David, Tobola, Bogdan James, Rich, David Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRITTINGHAM, NATHANIEL P
• Application Number:
  US13/334,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/20 Details of the management of multiple sources of image data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a docking station for docking one or multiple portable electronic devices, such as a tablet and a mobile telephone or smartphone. The present disclosure provides a method for changing device modes of an electronic device connected to a docking station, as well as an electronic device and a docking station configured for same.

Claims

1. A method for changing device modes of a first electronic device detachably connected to a second electronic device, the first electronic device including a first display and the second electronic device including a second display, the method comprising:

when the first electronic device is operating in an input mode, detecting whether an object is within a threshold proximity of the first electronic device, and whether a threshold duration of inactivity on the first electronic device has been exceeded, and changing operation of the first electronic device to an output mode when no object is detected within the threshold proximity and the threshold duration of inactivity has been exceeded; and

when the first electronic device is operating in the output mode, detecting whether an object is within the threshold proximity of the first electronic device or whether an input is received on the first electronic device, and changing operation of the first electronic device to the input mode when an object is detected within the threshold proximity or when an input is received;

wherein primary content is displayed on the second display;

wherein, in the output mode, the first electronic device displays, on the first display, secondary content unrelated to navigation of the primary content; and

wherein, in the input mode, the secondary content displayed by the first electronic device is entirely replaced by a display of one or more interface elements for navigating the primary content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device is a docking station and the second display is a display of the docking station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the primary content is generated by the first electronic device, and wherein the display of the docking station is operated by the first electronic device as a primary display for displaying the primary content and the first display is operated by the first electronic device as a secondary display for displaying the secondary content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is connected to the second electronic device via a docking station.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the primary content is generated by the first electronic device, and wherein the second display is operated by the first electronic device as a primary display for displaying the primary content and the first display is operated by the first electronic device as a secondary display for displaying the secondary content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary content is higher priority content and the secondary content is lower priority content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary content comprises an active application of the first electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary content depends on the active application.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary content comprises a home screen of the first electronic device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary content comprises an application switcher tool or widget for switching the active application.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary content comprises a message list or a notification screen in which notifications are displayed.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the first electronic device comprises a handheld electronic device and the second electronic device comprises a tablet.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the handheld electronic device comprises a smartphone with the display of the smartphone being a touch-sensitive display.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display is a touch-sensitive display of the first electronic device, the method further comprising, when the first electronic device is in the input mode, controlling the touch-sensitive display of the first electronic device as an input device for navigating the primary content.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, in the input mode, the touch-sensitive display of the first electronic device is operated as a navigational input device which interprets touch inputs received by the touch-sensitive display as navigational inputs for navigating a user interface displayed on the second display.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein, in the input mode, the touch-sensitive display of the first electronic device is operated as a navigational input device which interprets touch inputs received by the touch-sensitive display as navigational inputs for navigating a user interface displayed on the second display, the second electronic device being connected to the first electronic device via a docking station.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the output mode, the secondary content displayed by the first display is independent of the primary content displayed on the second display and, in the input mode, the one or more interface elements displayed by the first display is dependent on the primary content.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein, in the output mode, the secondary content displayed by the first display comprises a second application independent of the active application and, in the input mode, the one or more interface elements displayed by the first display are for navigation of the active application.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, in the output mode, the second application displayed by the first display comprises personal information manager (PIM) application, the display of the second application including a display of a consolidation of a plurality of communications managed by the PIM application.

17. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a proximity sensor coupled to the processor;

at least one input device coupled to the processor; and

a first display;

wherein the processor is configured for, when the portable electronic device is detachably connected to a second electronic device, the second electronic device including a second display;

when the first electronic device is operating in an input mode, when detecting whether an object is within a threshold proximity of the portable electronic device, and whether a threshold duration of inactivity on the portable electronic device has been exceeded, and changing operation of the first electronic device to an output mode when no object is detected within the threshold proximity and the threshold duration of inactivity has been exceeded; and

when the first electronic device is operating in the output mode, detecting whether an object is within the threshold proximity of the portable electronic device or whether an input is received on the portable electronic device, and changing operation of the first electronic device to the input mode when an object is detected within the threshold proximity or when an input is received;

wherein primary content is displayed on the second display;

wherein, in the output mode, the first electronic device displays secondary content unrelated to navigation of the primary content; and

wherein, in the input mode, the secondary content displayed by the first electronic device is entirely replaced by one or more interface elements for navigating the primary content.