Customized hardware selection for a mobile phone

• US 9,602,650 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• 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:
  US14/810,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 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 a designation of an operating theme for a handheld mobile phone device selected from at least two different operating themes;

circuitry for searching a machine-readable media for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme, the machine-readable media storing data indicative of a plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices each configured to implement a respective operating theme; and

circuitry for outputting electronic information indicative of a found preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an operating theme includes a user-selected primary use of a handheld mobile phone device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each preconfigured handheld mobile phone device of the plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices includes;

(a) a platform comprising;

(i) a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped or held by a human user,

(ii) at least two hardware module receivers, each hardware module receiver configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from a plurality of interchangeable hardware modules; and

(iii) 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; and

(b) an identification of at least two interchangeable hardware modules compatible with the at least two hardware module receivers of the platform and configured to at least partially implement a respective operating theme.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least two hardware module receivers include at least two hardware module receivers each having a different size value.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry for transmitting an offer to sell the found preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving from a user input device a purchase order for the found preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

circuitry for initiating a fulfillment the purchase order.

8. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium bearing;

one or more instructions for electronically receiving from a user input device a designation of an operating theme selected from at least two different operating themes for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device receiving;

one or more instructions for searching a machine-readable media for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme, the machine-readable media storing data indicative of a plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices each configured to implement a respective operating theme; and

one or more instructions for outputting electronic information indicative of a found preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme.

9. 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 a designation of an operating theme selected from at least two different operating themes for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device;

a search module configured to search a machine-readable media for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme, the machine-readable media storing data indicative of a plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices each configured to implement a respective operating theme; and

an output module configured to transmit electronic information indicative of a found preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme of the at least two different operating themes.

10. A computer implemented method comprising:

electronically receiving from a user input device a designation of an operating theme for a handheld mobile phone device;

searching a machine-readable media for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme, the machine-readable media storing data indicative of a plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices each configured to implement a respective operating theme; and

transmitting electronic information indicative of a found preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein an operating theme includes a user-selected primary use of a handheld mobile phone device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein an operating theme includes a usage focus of a handheld mobile phone device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein an operating theme includes a user-intended purpose of a handheld mobile phone device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving includes receiving from a user input device an electronic description of an operating theme for a handheld mobile phone device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving includes receiving from a user input device an electronic designation of an operating theme selected from at least two different operating themes for a handheld mobile phone device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein each preconfigured handheld mobile phone device of the plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices is configured to implement a different operating theme.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein a particular operating theme may be implementable by two or more of the preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices of the plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein each preconfigured handheld mobile phone device of the plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices includes:

(a) a platform or shell comprising;

(i) a generally rigid structure or housing configured to be grasped or held by a human user,

(ii) at least two hardware module receivers, each hardware module receiver configured to removably receive and electrically couple with a respective interchangeable hardware module selected from a plurality of interchangeable hardware modules; and

(iii) 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; and

(b) a first identified interchangeable hardware module compatible with a first hardware module receiver of the at least two hardware module receivers of the platform and configured to at least partially implement an operating theme.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each preconfigured handheld mobile phone device of the plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices includes a second identified interchangeable hardware module compatible with a second hardware module receiver of the at least two hardware module receivers of the platform and configured to at least partially implement the operating theme.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first hardware module receiver and the second hardware module receiver each having a different size value.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first identified interchangeable hardware module includes at least two identified interchangeable hardware modules compatible with the at least two hardware module receivers of the platform or shell and configured to at least partially implement an operating theme.

22. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices includes a plurality of preconfigured mobile phone devices.

23. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices includes a plurality of preconfigured mobile computing devices each having a network communication capability.

24. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating theme includes a health care operating theme.

25. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating theme includes healthy living operating theme.

26. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating theme includes a point-of-sale operating theme.

27. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating theme includes an event recording operating theme.

28. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating theme includes an extended power life operating theme.

29. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating theme includes a gaming operating theme.

30. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating theme includes a music recording or music sharing operating theme.

31. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating theme includes a security operating theme.

32. The method of claim 10, wherein the searching includes searching the machine-readable media for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme and a cost preference designation.

33. The method of claim 10, wherein the searching includes searching the machine-readable media for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme and an availability designation.

34. The method of claim 10, wherein the searching includes searching the machine-readable media for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme and a time to delivery designation.

35. The method of claim 10, wherein the searching includes searching the machine-readable media for a ready to ship preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme.

36. The method of claim 10, wherein the searching includes searching the machine-readable media for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme and a rating information.

37. The method of claim 10, wherein the searching includes searching the machine-readable media for a preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme and decoration information.

38. The method of claim 10, wherein the outputting includes outputting electronic information indicative of at least two found preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices each configured to implement the designated operating theme.

39. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting an offer to sell the found preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme.

40. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving from a user input device a purchase order for the found preconfigured handheld mobile phone device configured to implement the designated operating theme.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

initiating a fulfillment of the purchase order.

42. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

selecting a combination of at least two interchangeable hardware modules implementing a respective operating theme for each preconfigured handheld mobile phone device of the plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone modular devices.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

storing in the machine-readable media the selected combination of at least two interchangeable hardware modules implementing an operating theme for each preconfigured handheld mobile phone device of the plurality of preconfigured handheld mobile phone devices.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

developing the respective different operational themes of the plurality of handheld mobile phone devices.