Portable processing unit add on for mobile devices

• US 9,674,336 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karim Jean Yaghmour
• Original Assignee: Karim Jean Yaghmour
• Inventors: Yaghmour, Karim Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolourchi, Nader
• Application Number:
  US14/519,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20150111612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 455557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a portable processing unit add-on computing device for mobile devices. In one embodiment, the portable processing unit add-on comprises one or more processors, memory and means for remotely displaying and receiving input for its user interface. The portable processing unit add-on interacts with the mobile device in order to allow the mobile device'"'"'s user to access the portable processing unit'"'"'s functionality. The portable processing unit typically, but not necessarily, includes a desktop-grade processor, such as one based on the Intel™ x86 architecture, and runs a desktop-grade operating system such as Microsoft Windows™ or Ubuntu Linux™.

Claims

1. A portable processing unit add-on for mobile devices comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one hardware memory device; and

at least one storage device;

at least one user interface generated by running, on the at least one processor, operating systems or applications retrievable from the at least one storage device;

wherein the portable processing unit add-on has no means to display the user interface,

wherein the portable processing unit is operable using the at least one hardware memory device, and

wherein the portable processing unit add-on is configured for interacting with a mobile device to remotely display the user interface onto a display of the mobile device and remotely receive input from the mobile device for the user interface,

wherein the portable processing unit add-on interfaces with the mobile device without any operating system or any hardware modification on the mobile device.

2. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 1, wherein the portable processing unit add-on further comprises at least one connector for connecting to an external monitor.

3. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 1, wherein the portable processing unit add-on further comprises means for running a desktop-grade operating system.

4. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 1, wherein the portable processing unit add-on comprises mechanical hooks to physically attach to the mobile device or is packagable with sleeves, cases or housings that are themselves attachable to the mobile device.

5. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 4, wherein input keys are further provided.

6. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 5, wherein the input keys form a keyboard.

7. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 1, wherein the portable processing unit add-on relies on at least one of the mobile device'"'"'s hardware, the mobile device'"'"'s operating system, the mobile device'"'"'s built-in software, a software add-on to the mobile device, or an app runnable on the mobile device to interact with said mobile device.

8. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 1, wherein the portable processing unit add-on'"'"'s power is provided by a battery.

9. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 1, wherein the portable processing unit add-on further comprises networking capabilities.

10. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 9, wherein the portable processing unit add-on is connectable to the mobile device via Bluetooth, Wifi, USB or some other form of networking link.

11. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 9, wherein the portable processing unit add-on is connectable to a laptop or a desktop system.

12. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 11, wherein the portable processing unit add-on can also remotely display its user interface on the laptop or desktop'"'"'s display and remotely receive input from the laptop or desktop for its user interface.

13. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 1, wherein the remote display and remote input protocol used by the portable processing unit add-on to communicate with the mobile device is one of VNC, RDP or a custom protocol.

14. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 1, wherein the portable processing unit add-on further comprises a micro-controller separate from its at least one processor for the purposes of storing, managing and accessing passwords.

15. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 14, wherein the portable processing unit add-on further comprises an LCD to display the passwords as they are entered or retrieved.

16. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 1 wherein the portable processing unit add-on is connectable to a docking station comprising a display and optionally a physical input device such as a keyboard or mouse for use to provide display and input to an operating system running on the portable processing unit add-on.

17. A portable processing unit add-on for mobile devices comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one hardware memory device;

at least one storage device; and

at least one networking hardware;

at least one user interface generated by running, on the at least one processor, operating systems or applications retrievable from the at least one storage device;

wherein the portable processing unit add-on;

comprises means for running a desktop-grade operating system;

has no built-in means to independently display the user interface of operating systems or applications; and

is configured for interacting with a mobile device through the at least one networking hardware to remotely display the user interface onto a display of the mobile device and remotely receive input from the mobile device for the user interface,

wherein the portable processing unit add-on interfaces with the mobile device without any operating system or any hardware modification on the mobile device.

18. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 17, wherein the portable processing unit add-on is powered by battery.

19. The portable processing unit add-on of claim 18, wherein the remote display and remote input protocol used by the portable processing unit add-on to communicate with the mobile device is one of VNC, RDP or a custom protocol.

20. A method for remotely displaying onto a mobile device a user interface of a portable processing unit add-on having no means to display the user interface, and receiving input from the mobile device for the portable processing unit add-on'"'"'s user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

running, on an at least one processor, operating systems or software applications, retrievable from an at least one storage device, to generate the user interface on the portable processing unit add-on;

connecting the portable processing unit add-on to the mobile device;

sending the user interface of the portable processing unit add-on for display on a screen of the mobile device; and

receiving input from the mobile device for the user interface of the portable processing unit add-on,

wherein the portable processing unit add-on interfaces with the mobile device without any operating system or any hardware modification on the mobile device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of providing means for the portable processing unit add-on to run desktop-grade operating systems.