Mobile device that docks with multiple types of docks

• US 9,383,770 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Teltz, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Sitta, Grant
• Application Number:
  US13/835,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20130275643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 345/169, 345/1.1, 455/418, 710/15, 710/303, 439/352
• 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 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• 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 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• 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 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/22 Detection of presence or absence of input display information or of connection or disconnection of a corresponding information source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

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 including a dock connector in communication with a multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer receives signals from the device and sends the signals to the dock connector;

docking the device with a first dock by connecting the dock connector with the first dock, wherein the first dock is in communication with a first set of peripheral devices;

upon docking with the first dock, the device receiving a first identifier for the first dock;

based on the received first identifier of the first dock, providing a first configuration for the dock connector of the device while docked, wherein the first configuration includes a first pin out for the dock connector associated with the device, wherein the multiplexer configures the first pin out;

disconnecting the device from the first dock;

subsequent to disconnecting the device from the first dock, docking the device with a second dock by connecting the dock connector with the second dock, wherein the second dock is in communication with a second set of peripheral devices, and wherein the first dock and second dock are separate devices;

upon docking with the second dock, the device receiving a second identifier for the second dock; and

based on the received second identifier of the second dock, providing a second configuration for the device while docked, wherein the first and second configurations are different, wherein the second configuration includes a second pin out for the dock connector associated with the device, and wherein the multiplexer also configures the second pin out.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first dock is connected to a tablet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second dock is a smart dock.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a third dock is connected to a personal computer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein a configuration of the docking is different for the first, second, and third docks.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second dock is identified through a wireless connection.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least part of the information exchanged with the first or second dock is through the wireless connection.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a docked configuration is the same for a dock whether connected through a wireless connection or a wired connection.

9. A device, comprising:

a first screen;

a second screen;

a memory;

a dock connector;

a multiplexer in communication with the dock connector, wherein the multiplexer receives signals from the device and sends the signals to the dock connector;

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

after docking with a first dock by connecting the dock connector with the first dock, receive a first identifier for the first dock;

based on the first identifier, provide a first configuration for the dock connector of the device while docked, wherein the first configuration includes a first pin out for the dock connector associated with the device, wherein the multiplexer configures the first pin out;

receive an indication that the device is disconnected from the first dock;

after docking with a second dock, receive a second identifier for the second dock; and

based on the second identifier, provide a second configuration while docked, wherein the second configuration includes a second pin out for the dock connector associated with the device, and wherein the multiplexer configures the second pin out.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor executes a configurator that changes the configuration of the multiplexer based on the first or second identifiers.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the dock connector is in communication with the multiplexer, which is in communication with the processor, and electrically connected to the first or second dock.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the configurator interfaces with the multiplexer to change the configurations.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the dock connector is operable to receive, at least one pin of the dock connector, a signal to identify the first dock or the second dock.

14. 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 the device, wherein the device includes a dock connector in communication with a multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer receives signals from the device and sends the signals to the dock connector, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

after docking the device with a first dock by connecting the dock connector with the first dock, instructions to receive a first identifier for the first dock on at least two pins of the dock connector;

based on the first identifier, providing a first configuration for the dock connector while the device is docked with the first dock, wherein the first configuration includes a first pin out for the dock connector associated with the device, wherein the multiplexer configures the first pin out;

instructions to undock the device from the first dock;

subsequent to undocking the device from the first dock, instructions to dock the device with a second dock by connecting the dock connector with the second dock;

after docking with the second dock, receiving a second identifier for the second dock on the at least two pins of the dock connector associated with the device; and

based on the second identifier, providing a second configuration for the dock connector while docked with the second dock, wherein the second configuration includes a second pin out for the dock connector associated with the device, and wherein the multiplexer configures the second pin out.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the dock connector is in communication with the multiplexer, which is in communication with the processor, and electrically connected to the first dock or the second dock.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions to execute a configurator that changes the configuration of the multiplexer based on the first or second identifiers.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for the configurator to interface with the multiplexer.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first dock is in communication with a tablet, and wherein the second dock is a smart dock.