Customized hardware selection for a mobile phone

• US 9,531,864 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US14/816,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

circuitry for receiving from a user-input device electronic information indicative of a selection of a handheld electronic device shell, the selected handheld electronic device shell having a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;

circuitry for searching a non-transitory machine-readable media for a first set of interchangeable hardware modules having a first functionality and a compatibility with a first hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers of the selected handheld electronic device shell; and

circuitry for transmitting to the user-input device the first set of interchangeable hardware modules and auxiliary information respectively related to each interchangeable hardware module of the first set of interchangeable hardware modules,

wherein the auxillary information includes a rating information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected handheld electronic device shell is selected from a set of handheld electronic device shells.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for receiving is further configured to receive from the user-input device electronic information indicative of a selection of the first functionality.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each hardware module receiver is configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from a plurality of interchangeable hardware modules.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each handheld electronic device shell of the set of handheld electronic device shells includes 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.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary information related to each interchangeable hardware module of the plurality of interchangeable hardware modules is updated in response to additional information received.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry for transmitting to the user-input device an offer to sell at least one interchangeable hardware module of the first set of interchangeable hardware modules.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving a purchase order for the offered to sell at least one interchangeable hardware module of the first set of interchangeable hardware modules.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

circuitry for initiating a fulfillment the purchase order.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the rating information includes a popularity, user opinion, or objective test results.

11. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium bearing;

one or more instructions for electronically receiving from a user-input device electronic information indicative of a selection of a handheld electronic device shell, the selected handheld electronic device shell having a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;

one or more instructions for searching a non-transitory machine-readable media for a first set of interchangeable hardware modules having a first functionality and a compatibility with a first hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers of the selected handheld electronic device shell; and

one or more instructions for outputting to the user-input device electronic information related the first set of interchangeable hardware modules and auxiliary information respectively related to each interchangeable hardware module of the first set of interchangeable hardware modules;

wherein the auxillary information includes a rating information.

12. A system in the form of a machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter comprising:

a receiver module configured to electronically receive from a user-input device electronic information indicative of a selection of a handheld electronic device shell, the selected handheld electronic device shell having a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;

a search module configured to search a non-transitory machine-readable media for a first set of interchangeable hardware modules having a first functionality and a compatibility with a first hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers of the selected handheld electronic device shell; and

an output module configured to transmit to the user-input device electronic information the first set of interchangeable hardware modules and auxiliary information respectively related to each interchangeable hardware module of the first set of interchangeable hardware modules;

wherein the auxillary information includes a rating information.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving electronic information indicative of a selection of a handheld electronic device shell, the selected handheld electronic device shell having a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped by a user and including a plurality of hardware module receivers;

searching a non-transitory machine-readable media for a first set of interchangeable hardware modules having a first functionality and a compatibility with a first hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers of the selected handheld electronic device shell; and

electronically outputting to the user-input device the first set of interchangeable hardware modules and auxiliary information respectively related to each interchangeable hardware module of the first set of interchangeable hardware modules,

wherein the auxillary information includes a rating information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving includes receiving from a user-input device electronic information indicative of a selection of a handheld electronic device shell.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the selected handheld electronic device shell is selected from a set of handheld electronic device shells.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving electronic information further includes receiving electronic information indicative of a selection of the first functionality.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the compatibility includes the first set of interchangeable hardware modules configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a first hardware module receiver of the at least two hardware module receivers.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein each hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers is configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from a plurality of interchangeable hardware modules.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein each handheld electronic device shell of the set of handheld electronic device shells includes 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.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary information further includes a size, weight, cost, or delivery time information.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein rating information further includes a popularity, user opinion, or objective test results.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary information further includes a prior use information.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary information further includes a performance information.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary information further includes information responsive to a usage pattern of the user submitting the selection of the handheld electronic device shell.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the non-machine-readable media includes a non-transitory machine-readable media storing data indicative of (i) a set of handheld electronic device shells, (ii) a plurality of interchangeable hardware modules each configured to implement a respective functionality, (iii) auxiliary information related to each interchangeable hardware module of the plurality of interchangeable hardware modules, and (iv) a compatibility between each interchangeable hardware module and each handheld electronic device shell.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the auxiliary information is updated in response to additional information received.

27. The method of claim 13, wherein the first hardware module receiver has a first size value.

28. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting an offer to sell at least one interchangeable hardware module of the first set of interchangeable hardware modules.

29. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a purchase order for at least one interchangeable hardware module of the first set of interchangeable hardware modules.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the receiving includes receiving from the user-input device a purchase order for at least one interchangeable hardware module of the first set of interchangeable hardware modules.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

initiating a fulfillment of the purchase order.

32. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

searching the non-transitory machine-readable media for a second set of interchangeable hardware modules having a second functionality and a compatibility with a second hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers; and

electronically outputting the second set of interchangeable hardware modules and auxiliary information respectively related to each interchangeable hardware module of the second set of interchangeable hardware modules.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second hardware module receiver has a second size value.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the second hardware module receiver has a second size value that is different from a first size value of the first hardware module receiver.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the searching includes searching the non-transitory machine-readable media for a second set of interchangeable hardware modules having a second functionality and a compatibility with a second hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers but not having a compatibility with the first hardware module receiver of the plurality of hardware module receivers.