Mobile device peripheral

• US 9,374,788 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sandisk Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Singamsetti, Satya, Reddy, Gautham
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, JULIO R
• Application Number:
  US14/134,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20150181413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/557, 455/575.8, 361/600, 711/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/185 Improving the rigidity of the casing or resistance to shocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile device peripheral is provided comprising a wireless memory sub-system configured for carrying out wireless data communications with a mobile device. The mobile device peripheral also has a battery configured to provide power to the wireless memory sub-system and a housing configured to hold the wireless memory sub-system and battery. The housing is further configured to physically attach the mobile device peripheral to the mobile device so that the mobile device peripheral and mobile device are carryable together as a single unit. The mobile device peripheral can take the form of a mobile device case or cover, for example. In another embodiment, the mobile device peripheral has a power splitter configured to split power received from a power connector to charge both the battery of the mobile device peripheral and the battery of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile device peripheral comprising:

a wireless memory sub-system configured for carrying out wireless data communications with a mobile device;

a battery configured to provide power to the wireless memory sub-system; and

a housing configured to hold the wireless memory sub-system and battery, and further configured to physically attach the mobile device peripheral to the mobile device so that the mobile device peripheral and mobile device are carryable together as a single unit;

wherein the mobile device contains its own battery, and wherein the mobile device peripheral further comprises;

an input configured to receive a power connector;

an output configured to connect to a power connector input on the mobile device; and

a splitter configured to split power received from the power connector to both the battery of the mobile device peripheral and the output, wherein power received from the power connector charges both the battery of the mobile device peripheral and the battery of the mobile device.

2. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the storage module is embedded in the mobile device peripheral.

3. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the storage module is removable from the mobile device peripheral via a memory card slot.

4. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the wireless memory sub-system comprises a storage module having its own internal wireless transceiver.

5. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the wireless data communications with the mobile device are provided to and from an application running on the mobile device.

6. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the wireless memory sub-system is configured to operate in a plurality of power modes.

7. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the mobile device peripheral is embodied in a mobile device case or cover.

8. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to contact at least part of each of the surfaces of the mobile device.

9. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to contact only one surface of the mobile device.

10. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the battery is also configured to provide power to the mobile device.

11. The mobile device peripheral of claim 1, wherein the wireless memory sub-system further comprises a wireless transceiver and a storage module.

12. A method for communicating data between a mobile device peripheral and a mobile device, the method comprising:

performing the following in a mobile device peripheral comprising a wireless memory sub-system, a battery powering the wireless memory sub-system, and a housing physically attached to a mobile device so that the mobile device peripheral and mobile device are carryable together as a single unit;

receiving a request to carry out wireless data communications with a mobile device;

if the request is a read request, wirelessly sending data stored in the wireless memory sub-system to the mobile device; and

if the request is a write request, wirelessly receiving data from mobile device and storing the data in the wireless memory sub-system;

wherein the mobile device contains its own battery, and wherein the mobile device peripheral further comprises;

an input configured to receive a power connector;

an output configured to connect to a power connector input on the mobile device; and

a splitter configured to split power received from the power connector to both the battery of the mobile device peripheral and the output, wherein power received from the power connector charges both the battery of the mobile device peripheral and the battery of the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless memory sub-system comprises a storage module having its own internal wireless transceiver.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless memory sub-system is configured to operate in a plurality of power modes.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile device peripheral is embodied in a mobile device case or cover.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing is configured to contact at least part of each of the surfaces of the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing is configured to contact only one surface of the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the battery is also configured to provide power to the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless memory sub-system comprises a wireless transceiver and a storage module.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the memory is embedded in the mobile device peripheral.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the memory is removable from the mobile device peripheral via a memory card slot.