Customized hardware selection for a mobile phone

• US 9,270,808 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2015
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Eckhoff, Philip A., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Tuckerman, David B., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US14/730,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A computerized method of customizing hardware for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving shell selection information from a user input device, identifying a set of hardware components, the set of hardware components generated based on a compatibility between the hardware components and the shell selection information, and outputting the identified set of compatible hardware components.

Claims

1. A handheld-device platform comprising:

a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a human user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;

the plurality of hardware module receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from at least two interchangeable hardware modules, at least two hardware module receivers of the plurality of hardware module receivers each have a different size value; and

processing electronics configured to communicate with each respective interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers,

wherein a first hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers includes a first dimensional configuration allowing it to removably receive and electrically couple with one of a first group of the at least two interchangeable hardware modules but not with a second group of the at least two interchangeable hardware modules having a second dimensional configuration.

2. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the processing electronics are integrated with the generally rigid structure or housing.

3. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the first hardware module receiver is a member of a first group of at least two first hardware module receivers each having a substantially same dimensional configuration.

4. The handheld-device platform of claim 3, wherein the first hardware module receiver is a member of a first group of at least two hardware module receivers each having a substantially same first receiver footprint size dimensions.

5. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the removably receive includes physically inserted, installed, or snapped in.

6. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the removably receive includes physically supported.

7. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hardware module receivers each include a socket configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module.

8. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hardware module receivers include a plurality of standardized hardware module receivers.

9. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hardware module receivers each include at least two electrical contacts configured to communicate with corresponding electrical contacts of an interchangeable hardware module.

10. The handheld-device platform of claim 9, wherein the respective at least two electrical contacts of each of the plurality of hardware module receivers include a standardized number and arrangement of at least two electrical contacts.

11. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the processing electronics are configured to communicatively couple each hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers with the processing electronics using a standardized protocol.

12. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the processing electronics includes a communication bus or network.

13. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the handheld-device platform includes a mobile cellular telephone platform.

14. The handheld-device platform of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hardware module receivers and the processing electronics have a bus modular architecture allowing the number and locations of interchangeable hardware modules electronically coupled with the at least two hardware module receivers to vary.

28. The mobile handheld-device platform of claim 1, where in a size value includes at least one of length, width, area, thickness, or shape.

15. An interchangeable hardware module for a mobile communication device, the hardware module comprising:

a housing configured to be grasped by a human user, and configured to removably engage and electrically couple with a hardware module receiver of a mobile device;

an electrical circuit having a selected functionality; and

electronics configured to communicatively couple with a processing electronics of the mobile communication device,

wherein the mobile device, the electrical circuit, and the electronics of the hardware module all comply with a hardware module interchangeability standard, and

wherein the hardware interchangeability standard governs (i) a dimensional configuration providing the removable engagement with the hardware module receiver, (ii) a configuration of electrical contacts providing the electrical coupling with a hardware module receiver, and (iii) a protocol for communicating between the processing electronics of the hardware module and the processing electronics of the mobile communication device.

16. The hardware module of claim 15, wherein the interchangeability standard governing the dimensional configuration includes (a) a first dimensional configuration providing a first removable engagement with a first hardware module receiver of the mobile communication device and (b) a second dimensional configuration providing a second removable engagement with a second hardware module receiver of the mobile communication device, the second dimensional configuration different from the first dimensional configuration.

17. The hardware module of claim 15, wherein the interchangeability standard governing the configuration of electrical contacts providing the electrical coupling with a hardware module receiver includes a standardized number and arrangement of electrical contacts.

18. The hardware module of claim 15, wherein the interchangeable hardware module includes a computer code.

19. The hardware module of claim 18, wherein the electronics of the hardware module is configured to communicate with the processing electronics of the mobile communication device.

29. The hardware module of claim 15, wherein the housing has a dimensional configuration that includes at least one of length, width, area, thickness, or shape.

20. A mobile phone, comprising:

a shell having a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a user, and including;

at least two first receiver portions each configured to removably couple with a respective first interchangeable hardware module having a first size value, each respective first interchangeable hardware module selectable from at least two first interchangeable hardware modules having the first size value and having different functions; and

at least two second receiver portions each configured to removably couple with a respective second interchangeable hardware module having a second size value, each respective second interchangeable hardware module selectable from at least two second interchangeable hardware modules having the second size value and having different functions; and

processing electronics including a processor and a memory configured to communicate with each first interchangeable hardware module respectively removably coupled with the at least two first receiver portions and with each second interchangeable hardware module respectively removably coupled with the at least two second receiver portions.

21. The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein the at least two first receiver portions are each configured to physically receive and removably couple with a respective first interchangeable hardware module.

22. The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein the first size includes a first receiver footprint size dimensions.

23. The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein the at least two first receiver portions are configured such that another first interchangeable hardware module selected from the at least two first interchangeable modules may be interchanged with a first interchangeable hardware module removable coupled with a first receiver portion.

24. The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein the second size value is different than the first size value.

25. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the second size value includes a second receiver footprint size dimension.

26. The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein the at least two second receiver portions are configured such that another second interchangeable hardware module selected from the at least two second interchangeable modules may be interchanged with a second interchangeable hardware module removable coupled with a second receiver portion.

27. The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein the at least two first receiver portions, the at least two second receiver portions, and the processing electronics have a bus modular architecture allowing the number and locations of the interchangeable hardware modules electronically coupled with the at least two first hardware module receivers and the at least two second hardware module receivers to vary.

30. The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein a size value includes at least one of length, width, area, thickness, or shape.

31. A handheld-device platform comprising:

a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a human user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;

the plurality of hardware module receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from at least two interchangeable hardware modules, at least two hardware module receivers of the plurality of hardware module receivers each have a different size value; and

processing electronics configured to communicate with each respective interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers,

wherein the generally rigid structure or housing has a first side and a second side, the first side including a hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware receivers configured to accept an interchangeable display module and the second side including another hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers.

32. A handheld-device platform comprising:

a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a human user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;

the plurality of hardware module receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from at least two interchangeable hardware modules, at least two hardware module receivers of the plurality of hardware module receivers each have a different size value; and

processing electronics configured to communicate with each respective interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers,

wherein the generally rigid structure or housing, the plurality of hardware module receivers, and the processing electronics all comply with a hardware module interchangeability standard, and

wherein the hardware module interchangeability standard specifies (i) a dimensional configuration providing the removable receiving between a hardware module receiver and an interchangeable hardware module, (ii) a configuration of electrical contacts providing the electrical coupling between a hardware module receiver and an interchangeable hardware module, and (iii) a protocol for communication between the processing electronics and an interchangeable hardware module.

33. A handheld-device platform comprising:

a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a human user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;

the plurality of hardware module receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from at least two interchangeable hardware modules, at least two hardware module receivers of the plurality of hardware module receivers each have a different size value; and

processing electronics configured to communicate with each respective interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers,

wherein a second hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers includes a second dimensional configuration allowing it to removably receive and electrically couple with one of a second group of interchangeable hardware modules but not with a first group of interchangeable hardware modules.

34. The handheld-device platform of claim 33, wherein the second group of the at least two interchangeable hardware modules have a substantially same dimensional configuration.

35. A handheld-device platform comprising:

a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a human user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;

the plurality of hardware module receivers each configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from at least two interchangeable hardware modules, at least two hardware module receivers of the plurality of hardware module receivers each have a different size value; and

processing electronics configured to communicate with each respective interchangeable hardware module removably received and electrically coupled with a hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers,

wherein the generally rigid structure or housing forms a generally rectangular box with at least two hardware module receivers of the plurality of hardware module receivers located on an exterior surface of a major side of the rectangular box, and

wherein another at least two hardware module receivers of the plurality of hardware module receivers are located on an exterior surface of another major side of the rectangular box.