Mobile computing resource

• US 9,876,669 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICE Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ICE Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Cheng, Shang-Che, Cheng, Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Tongoc
• Application Number:
  US14/708,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20150326659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 713170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A high-performance handheld mobile computing resource need not be provided a display or any peripheral devices to augment the performance of a client device. The mobile computing resource may include a motherboard, a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a basic input/output system (BIOS), and an operating system (OS). A wireless module may be provided to enable wireless services. A power module may be provided to allow the mobile computing resource to serve as a power source. The mobile computing resource may serve as local cloud computation and storage resources to the client device, or as a remote desktop computer.

Claims

1. A mobile computing resource for a client device, comprising:

a computing unit comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory, and a storage unit, the random access memory and the storage unit holding instructions for executing in the CPU an operating system and application programs during run time and for storage, respectively;

a plurality of peripheral interfaces each controlled by the computing unit for interfacing with and operatively controlling peripherals on the client device through a takeover control module in the client device, the takeover control module comprising either a physical internal KVM switch or a virtual KVM service application, the interfaces comprising one or more interfaces selected from the group consisting of a power interface, an input device interface, an output device interface, a mixed input or output device interface, a data interface, a video interface, a data or video alternative interface, a wireless interface, and a control interface; and

a communication interface for engaging the client device, wherein the mobile computing resource has a form factor suitable for being handheld.

2. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises one or more electrical connectors provided for carrying signals of one or more of the peripheral interfaces, the electrical connectors mechanically mating and electrically connecting to matching electrical connectors on the client device.

3. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the communication interface of the mobile computing resource engages the client device over a communication or computer network.

4. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a wireless module carrying signals of one or more of the peripheral interfaces to and from a wireless module on the client device.

5. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the wireless module is capable of communication using one or more protocols selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Radio Frequency, Near Field Communication, and cellular telecommunication network protocols.

6. The mobile computing resource of claim 1 wherein, when the client device is engaged, the takeover control module causes the peripherals on the client device to be controlled by the peripheral interfaces of the mobile computing resource.

7. The mobile computing resource of claim 6 wherein, when the client device is engaged, the computing unit provides output data over the data interface, the video interface, and the wireless interface to corresponding peripheral interfaces in the client device and receives input data over the data interface from a corresponding data interface in the client device.

8. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing resource belongs to one of a plurality of mobile computing resource types and wherein the client device is configured to engage a mobile computing resource belonging to one of the mobile computing resource types.

9. The mobile computing resource of claim 8, wherein the client device is configured to engage two or more mobile computing resources each belonging to one of the mobile computing resource types.

10. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the computing unit has greater CPU performance than the client device.

11. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the computing unit provides computing and mass storage services for the client device.

12. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the communication interface engages the client device using one of:

network peer-to-peer, network client and server, network master and slave remote desktop, direct host/client USB connection or communication models, remote procedure call, Miracast or DLNA, and package protocol or communication.

13. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the client/server, host/client or master/slave roles between the computing unit and the client device is determined by a handshaking negotiation between the computing unit and the client device at the time of engagement.

14. The mobile computing resource of claim 13, wherein the computing unit or client device playing the server, host or slave role opens up its firewall or access control to allow the device playing the client or master role to perform direct or remote access of its resources, content, or services.

15. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the client device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular telephone, a digital personal assistant, a media, streaming or game player, a laptop computer, a pad or tablet computer, a desktop computer with a display, an electronic reader, a smart television or monitor, a mobile computing resource with a display, and an augmented reality device.

16. The mobile computing resource of claim 15, wherein the augmented reality device comprises one or more of:

a head-mounted display device, a sensor, an eyeglass, a head-up display, contact lenses, a virtual retinal display, an EyeTap, a Spatial Augmented Reality device, a projection display, a gesture recognition device or module, and a computing platform.

17. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the computing unit displays content on an electronic visual display of the client device.

18. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing resource further comprises a display device and wherein, when the client device is engaged, content from the client device is displayed on the display device of the mobile computing resource.

19. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, further comprising a power module for providing power to the computing unit.

20. The mobile computing resource of claim 19, wherein the power module comprise one or more of:

a rechargeable battery pack, an AC/DC charger accessible through one of the peripheral interfaces, a DC power source from the client device, and a DC power from another apparatus or device.

21. The mobile computing resource of claim 19, further a comprising a primary coil for inducing a current in a secondary coil in the client device configured for charging the client device, so that the mobile computing resource services as an inductive charger to the client device.

22. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the computing unit charges the client device through a connector when the client device is engaged.

23. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, the mobile computing resource being configured to be accommodated in a housing or structure that is configured to hold both the mobile computing resource and the client device.

24. The mobile computing resource of claim 23, wherein the mobile computing resource is detachably accommodated in a slot in the housing or structure.

25. The mobile computing resource of claim 23, wherein the mobile computing resource is detachably accommodated in a slide-able structure in the housing or structure.

26. The mobile computing resource of claim 23, wherein the mobile computing resource, when accommodated in the housing or structure, is provided access to a power module.

27. The mobile computing resource of claim 23, wherein the mobile computing resource, when accommodated in the housing or structure, is connected to an input device interface.

28. The mobile computing resource of claim 27, wherein the input device interface comprises an interface selected from the group consisting of:

a keyboard, a set of control buttons, a joystick, a touchable structure, and a gesture recognition module.

29. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the computing unit has lesser CPU performance than the client device.

30. The mobile computing resource of claim 1, wherein the computing unit is configured to be accommodated in a housing or structure of the mobile computing resource.

31. The mobile computing resource of claim 13, wherein an authentication process is applied at handshaking which authenticates the computing unit to the client device, and vice versa, using an authenticating entity.

32. The mobile computing resource of claim 31, wherein the authentication process is selected from the group consisting of:

Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP), Media Access Control Address (MAC address), or private identity protocol.