Unified desktop: laptop dock, hardware configuration

• US 9,164,544 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Sirpal, Sanjiv
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US13/834,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20130208417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2358/00 Arrangements for display data security
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0241 using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 : with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 : including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 : including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A multi-display device can interface with two or more different types of docking stations. The device can determine the type of dock and change the pin outs for a connector to interface with that dock. Once docked, the device can determine a charge status for the device and the dock to present the status to the user. Further, the dock can enter one of several modes, including a call receipt mode and an entertainment mode. The modes allow for expanded functionality for the device while docked. Two particular docks, the laptop dock and the smart dock, provide special functionality with the device.

Claims

1. A laptop docking station, comprising:

an armature physically attached to a laptop and extendable from a portion of the laptop;

a connector physically attached to the armature and electrically connected to the laptop, the connector configured to receive a mobile device when the armature is extended;

a first set of pins of the connector operable to provide a dock identifier to the mobile device when the mobile device is docked with the laptop, wherein the mobile device is operable to use the dock identifier to determine a configuration of signals required to synchronize with the laptop docking station; and

a second set of pins of the connector operable to receive the synchronization signals from the mobile device to electrically connect the laptop to the mobile device.

2. The laptop docking station of claim 1, wherein the armature extends from a side of the laptop.

3. The laptop docking station of claim 1, wherein the dock identifier indicates a type of the laptop docking station to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is operable to retrieve configuration information in a dock configuration database upon receiving the dock identifier, wherein the configuration information describes which signals to send to the second set of pins, and wherein the mobile device is operable to configure a dock connector of the mobile device to send the signals required to synchronize with the laptop docking station.

4. The laptop docking station of claim 1, wherein the armature includes a button that, when activated, causes the armature to extend from the laptop.

5. The laptop docking station of claim 1, wherein the armature holds the mobile device in a dual landscape orientation with a first display and a second display of the mobile device visible when the mobile device is docked with the laptop.

6. The laptop docking station of claim 5, wherein the armature forms a slide tray.

7. The laptop docking station of claim 6, further comprising:

an extending arm physically attached to the slide tray and to the interior of the laptop; and

a motor physically attached to the extending arm, wherein the motor applies a force to the extending arm to move the slide tray.

8. The laptop docking station of claim 7, further comprising a ribbon cable in electrical connection to the connector and a pin out of the laptop.

9. The laptop docking station of claim 8, wherein the ribbon cable transmits signals between the mobile device and the laptop.

10. The laptop docking station of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is docked with the laptop when connected to the connector.

11. A docking system, comprising:

a laptop, the laptop comprising;

an armature physically attached to the laptop and extendable from a portion of the laptop, the armature forming a slide tray that can hold a device;

a connector physically attached to the armature and electrically connected to the laptop, the connector configured to receive the device when the armature is extended;

a first set of pins of the connector, the first set of pins operable to provide a dock identifier to the device when the device is docked with the laptop; and

a second set of pins of the connector, the second set of pins operable to receive synchronization signals from the device to electrically connect the laptop to the device; and

the device, the device comprising;

a first display;

a second display;

a memory;

a processor; and

a dock connector configured to electrically connect the device with the connector of the laptop when the device is placed in the armature, wherein the device is operable to use the dock identifier to determine a configuration of the synchronization signals to send to the second set of pins of the laptop.

12. The docking system of claim 11, wherein the dock identifier indicates a type of the connector to the device, wherein the device is operable to retrieve configuration information in a dock configuration database upon receiving the dock identifier, wherein the configuration information describes which signals to send to the second set of pins, and wherein the device is operable to configure the dock connector of the device to send the synchronization signals to the second set of pins.

13. The docking system of claim 11, wherein the armature extends from a side of the laptop, wherein the armature holds the device in a dual landscape orientation with the first and second displays of the device visible when the device is docked with the laptop, and wherein armature includes a button that, when activated, causes the armature to extend from the laptop.

14. The docking system of claim 13, wherein the laptop further comprises:

an extending arm physically attached to the slide tray and to the interior of the laptop; and

a motor physically attached to the extending arm, wherein the motor applies a force to the extending arm to move the slide tray.

15. The docking system of claim 14, wherein the laptop further comprises a cable in electrical connection to the connector and a pin out of the laptop, wherein the cable transmits signals between the device and the laptop.

16. A method for docking a mobile device with a laptop, the method comprising:

extending an armature from a laptop, wherein the armature includes a connector electrically connected to the laptop, the connector configured to receive a mobile device when the armature is extended;

placing the mobile device in the armature;

receiving, by the mobile device, a dock identifier from a first set of pins of the connector;

determining, by the mobile device and using the dock identifier, a configuration of signals to synchronize the mobile device with the laptop; and

sending, by the mobile device, the synchronization signals to a second set of pins of the connector to electrically connect the mobile device with the laptop.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the armature extends from a side of the laptop.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the armature includes a button that, when activated, causes the armature to extend from the laptop.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the laptop further comprises:

an extending arm physically attached to a slide tray formed by the armature and to the interior of the laptop; and

a motor physically attached to the extending arm, wherein the motor applies a force to the extending arm to move the slide tray.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the laptop further comprises a cable in electrical connection to the connector and a pin out of the laptop, wherein the cable transmits signals between the mobile device and the laptop.