Smart dock charging

• US 9,246,353 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Teltz, Richard, Selim, Mohammed
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/834,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107
• 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 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

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 method, comprising:

providing a device, the device having a first display and a second display;

providing a dock;

docking the device into the dock by electrically connecting the device to the dock;

determining a first configuration for the device;

determining a second configuration for the dock;

determining a first charge status for the device;

determining a second charge status for the dock;

presenting the first charge status for the device on one or more of the first display and second display of the device; and

presenting the second charge status for the dock on one or more of the first display and second display of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first charge status indicates whether a battery associated with the device is being charged.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first charge status indicates whether the dock is charging the battery.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the dock includes an extender battery.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second charge status indicates whether the extender battery is providing power to the device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second charge status indicates whether the extender battery is charging.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the device provides one or more of the first charge status and second charge status in one or more user interfaces on one or more of the first display and second display.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more user interfaces include at least two portions that describe the one or more of the first charge status and second charge status.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least two portions include one or more of:

a first portion that indicates the device is docked and not alternate current (AC) charging;

a second portion that indicates the device is docked and AC charging;

a third portion that indicates the device is docked, is not AC charging, and is receiving power from a charged extender battery;

a fourth portion that indicates the device is docked, is AC charging, and is connected to the charged extender battery; and

a fifth portion that indicates the device is docked, is not AC charging, and is not receiving power from a discharged extender battery.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first configuration includes an indication of whether the device is docked.

11. A device, comprising:

a first display;

a second display;

a memory;

a processor in communication with the memory, the first display, and the second display, the processor programmed to;

determine a first configuration for the device;

determine a second configuration for a dock to which the device is docked;

determine a first charge status for the device;

determine a second charge status for the dock;

present the first charge status for the device on one or more of the first display and second display of the device; and

present the second charge status for the dock on one or more of the first display and second display of the device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first charge status indicates whether a battery associated with the device is being charged and whether the dock is charging the battery.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the dock includes an extender battery.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the second charge status indicates whether the extender battery is providing power to the device or whether the extender battery is charging.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the first configuration includes an indication of whether the device is docked.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor of a device to execute a method for managing the docking of a device, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

upon docking the device with a dock, instructions to determine a first configuration for the device;

instructions to determine a second configuration for a dock to which the device is docked;

instructions to determine a first charge status for the device;

instructions to determine a second charge status for the dock;

instructions to present the first charge status for the device a display of the device; and

instructions to present the second charge status for the dock on the display of the device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first charge status indicates whether a battery associated with the device is being charged and whether the dock is charging the battery.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the dock includes an extender battery.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second charge status indicates whether the extender battery is providing power to the device or whether the extender battery is charging.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions to present the first and second charge statuses comprises:

instructions to provide one or more of the first charge status and second charge status in one or more user interfaces on one or more of the first display and second display; and

wherein the one or more user interfaces include;

a first portion that indicates the device is docked and not alternate current (AC) charging;

a second portion that indicates the device is docked and AC charging;

a third portion that indicates the device is docked, is not AC charging, and is receiving power from a charged extender battery;

a fourth portion that indicates the device is docked, is AC charging, and is connected to the charged extender battery; and

a fifth portion that indicates the device is docked, is not AC charging, and is not receiving power from a discharged extender battery.