Protective case for adding wireless functionality to a handheld electronic device

• US 9,425,847 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multi-Flex Circuits Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Blackbird Technology Holdings, Inc (Haystack Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norair, John Peter, Burns, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Jain, Ankur
• Application Number:
  US14/590,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20150188594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.8, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/41.2, 379/330, 379/428.01, 379/447
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A protective case for an electronic device may comprise a wireless adaptor for adding wireless capabilities, including support of additional wireless communication protocols, to the electronic device. The system may enable, for example, location based services functions, social networking functions, and messaging functions.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a handheld electronic device that comprises a first radio operable to communicate in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol; and

a protective case mounted to said handheld electronic device, wherein said protective case comprises a second radio that is operable to communicate in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol;

wherein;

the second wireless communication protocol is different than the first wireless communication protocol; and

the second wireless communication protocol is not supported by the handheld electronic device; and

wherein said system is operable to;

in response to a detection that said system is approaching another device, exchange information with said other device via said second radio, wherein;

said information is for establishing a wireless connection between said first radio and said other device;

at least part of said information is exchanged while said other device is out-of-range of said first radio.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first radio is a Bluetooth radio.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is operable to:

determine whether a destination device for which an MMS or SMS message is destined is within range of said second radio;

choose which of said first radio and said second radio to use for transmitting said MMS or SMS message based on said determination; and

transmit said MMS or SMS message via said chosen radio.

4. A method performed by a protective case that comprises a first radio and a first connector, the method comprising:

receiving first data from a handheld electronic device via said first connector;

transmitting said first data via said first radio;

receiving, via said first radio, second data from another device;

communicating said second data to said handheld electronic device via said first connector; and

prior to said transmitting said first data, processing said first data to make it suitable for transmission via said first radio;

wherein;

said first radio transmits and receives in accordance with a wireless communication protocol;

the wireless communication protocol is not supported by the handheld electronic device;

said first data is received from said handheld electronic device in a form of an SMS or MMS message; and

said first radio transmits said first data utilizing a frequency spectrum that is unlicensed in a location in which said first radio performs said transmitting.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising determining a location of said protective case based on said second data.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said second data is received from one or more tags operable to communicate in accordance with ISO-18000-7 protocols.

7. A method performed by a protective case that comprises a first radio and a first connector, the method comprising:

receiving first data from a handheld electronic device via said first connector;

transmitting said first data via said first radio;

receiving, via said first radio, second data from another device; and

communicating said second data to said handheld electronic device via said first connector;

wherein;

said first radio transmits and receives in accordance with a wireless communication protocol;

the wireless communication protocol is not supported by the handheld electronic device;

said first data and said second data comprise information for setting up a connection between a radio of said handheld electronic device and said other device;

said transmitting of said first data is in response to detecting that said case is approaching said other device; and

said transmitting of said first data and receiving of said second data occur while said other device is out-of-range of said radio of said handheld electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising determining a location of said protective case based on said second data.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said second data is received from one or more tags operable to communicate in accordance with ISO-18000-7 protocols.

10. The method of claim 7, comprising, prior to said transmitting said first data, processing said first data to make it suitable for transmission via said first radio.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said radio of said handheld electronic device is a Bluetooth radio.