Portable communication devices with accessory functions and related methods
First Claim
1. An accessory module for providing at least one accessory function to a portable communication device, the portable communication device including a processor and an interface connector, the interface connector disposed on a back side of a housing of said portable communication device such that the interface connector is positioned behind a removable back panel when coupled to the housing, said accessory module comprising:
- an accessory module back panel;
a means for providing at least one accessory function;
a module connector configured to mate with the interface connector of the portable communication device; and
a means for coupling said accessory module back panel to the housing in place of the removable back panel of the portable communication device when the removable back panel is uncoupled from the housing, said module connector positioned on said accessory module back panel such that said module connector mates with the interface connector when said accessory module back panel is secured to the housing, and such that said accessory module is coupled to the portable communication device and communicates with the processor of the portable communication device via said module connector to provide said at least one accessory function.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Portable communication devices and related methods for use in supporting voice and/or data communication are provided. One example portable communication device includes a housing, a display device disposed at said housing, a processor disposed at least partially within said housing, the processor coupled to said display device, and an interface connector disposed at said housing and coupled to said processor. The interface connector is configured to couple to a module. The processor is configured to communicate, through said interface connector, via a plurality of communication protocols. The processor is configured to select at least one of the plurality of communication protocols based on the module coupled to the interface connector.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An accessory module for providing at least one accessory function to a portable communication device, the portable communication device including a processor and an interface connector, the interface connector disposed on a back side of a housing of said portable communication device such that the interface connector is positioned behind a removable back panel when coupled to the housing, said accessory module comprising:
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an accessory module back panel; a means for providing at least one accessory function; a module connector configured to mate with the interface connector of the portable communication device; and a means for coupling said accessory module back panel to the housing in place of the removable back panel of the portable communication device when the removable back panel is uncoupled from the housing, said module connector positioned on said accessory module back panel such that said module connector mates with the interface connector when said accessory module back panel is secured to the housing, and such that said accessory module is coupled to the portable communication device and communicates with the processor of the portable communication device via said module connector to provide said at least one accessory function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for providing at least one accessory function to a portable communication device, the portable communication device including a processor and an interface connector, said method comprising:
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uncoupling a back panel from a housing of the portable communication device, wherein the interface connector is disposed on a back side of the housing such that the interface connector is positioned behind the back panel when coupled to the housing; coupling an accessory module back panel of an accessory module to the housing in place of the back panel, wherein a module connector of the accessory module is positioned on the accessory module back panel such that the module connector mates with the interface connector when the accessory module back panel is secured to the portable communication device such that the module connector of the accessory module is communicatively coupled to the interface connector of the portable communication device; and communicating, by the processor through the interface connector, with the accessory module to provide the at least one accessory function. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification