Remote controller utilized with charging dock for controlling mobile device

• US 9,954,987 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. (Beijing Shanhai Capital Management Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. (Beijing Shanhai Capital Management Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yang, Kewei, Bouwer, Andr, Su, Marvin, Mohanty, Soumendra
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, TED M
• Application Number:
  US14/624,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20160165026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

Provided is a console unit for controlling a mobile device. The console unit includes a remote control unit and a tower section. The tower section includes a receptacle adapted for receiving the remote control unit at least partially therein. The tower section further includes a housing and an interface configured for coupling to the mobile device. The interface is configured for selectively receiving high definition media data and USB protocol data from the mobile device and for charging the mobile device. The tower section includes at least one media port for providing the high definition media data to a media player device and a power port for receiving power. The remote control unit includes a communications transceiver configured to communicate with the mobile device. The remote control unit includes a touchpad for receiving input from a user, including gestures, while the mobile device is coupled to the tower section.

Claims

1. A console unit for controlling a mobile device, the console unit comprising:

a remote control unit having a top surface and a bottom surface, the remote control unit including a communications transceiver configured to communicate with the mobile device; and

a tower-shaped section having a top portion, a bottom portion, and four sides, the top and the bottom portions being secured to the four sides, wherein the entirety of the top portion is a single receptacle adapted for physically receiving the entirety of the top surface or the bottom surface of the remote control unit,

the remote control unit communicating with the mobile device that is physically coupled to an interface of the tower-shaped section, and in response to an input received from a user, the remote control unit initiating performance of an action on the mobile device that is physically coupled to the interface of the tower-shaped section,

the tower-shaped section further including;

the interface configured for coupling to the mobile device, the interface being configured for selectively receiving at least high definition media data from the mobile device;

at least one media port for providing the at least high definition media data to at least one media player device; and

a power port for coupling to a power source for receiving power.

2. The console unit of claim 1, wherein:

the remote control unit includes a touchpad for receiving the input from the user while the mobile device is coupled to the tower-shaped section,

the mobile device being configured to perform the action associated with the input received at the touchpad.

3. The console unit of claim 2, wherein the remote control unit includes one or more buttons for receiving the input from the user while the mobile device is coupled to the tower-shaped section.

4. The console unit of claim 3, wherein each of the one or more buttons is associated with at least one standard Android button.

5. The console unit of claim 2, wherein the touchpad includes sensitive areas, each sensitive area being associated with one standard Android button.

6. The console unit of claim 2, wherein the input comprises a gesture received by pushing the touchpad by a finger and moving the finger across the touchpad while keeping the touchpad depressed.

7. The console unit of claim 2, wherein the action associated with the input received at the touchpad of the remote control unit includes one or more of the following:

swiping at least one screen associated with a user interface of the mobile device;

scrolling a portion of the at least one screen associated with the user interface of the mobile device; and

typing letters on a virtual keyboard provided by the user interface of the mobile device.

8. The console unit of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a cable having one end coupled to the tower-shaped section, the cable having a second end including a USB protocol connector for coupling to the mobile device.

9. The console unit of claim 1, wherein the interface is further configured for selectively receiving USB protocol data and the at least high definition media data from the mobile device;

the tower-shaped section further including a USB data port configured for coupling to one or more USB compatible devices, the one or more USB compatible devices including at least one of a keyboard and a pointing device; and

the USB data port being for communicating the USB protocol data between the mobile device and the one or more USB compatible devices.

10. The console unit of claim 1, wherein the tower-shaped section includes two media ports, the two media ports being selected from:

one or more HDMI ports configured for coupling to a respective HDMI compatible device; and

one or more USB ports for coupling to a respective USB compatible device.

11. The console unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the power port, the at least one media port, and the interface comprises at least one of a USB connector, an HDMI connector, and a DisplayPort connector.

12. The console unit of claim 1, wherein the interface is further configured for charging the mobile device.

13. The console unit of claim 1, wherein the tower-shaped section is configured to charge the remote control unit located in the single receptacle.

14. The console unit of claim 13, wherein the remote control unit is charged wirelessly.

15. The console unit of claim 1, wherein the remote control unit is configured to communicate with the mobile device via one of Bluetooth and WiFi wireless protocols.

16. The console unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one media player device is configured to provide a video of a screen of the mobile device while the mobile device is coupled to the tower-shaped section.

17. A method for controlling a mobile device using a console unit, the console unit comprising:

a remote control unit including a communications transceiver configured to communicate with the mobile device; and

a tower-shaped section having a top portion, a bottom portion, and four sides, the top and the bottom portions being secured to the four sides, wherein the entirety of the top portion is a single receptacle adapted for physically receiving the remote control unit at least partially therein, the remote control unit communicating with the mobile device that is physically coupled to an interface of the tower-shaped section, and in response to an input received from a user, the remote control unit initiating performance of an action on the mobile device that is physically coupled to the interface of the tower-shaped section,

the tower-shaped section further including;

the interface configured for coupling to the mobile device, the interface being configured for selectively receiving high definition media data and USB protocol data from the mobile device, the interface being further configured for charging the mobile device;

at least one media port for providing the high definition media data to at least one media player device; and

a power port for coupling to a power source for receiving power;

the method comprising;

receiving, via the remote control unit, the input from the user while the mobile device is connected to the tower-shaped section;

recognizing the action associated with the input;

causing, at least in part, performance of the action on the mobile device; and

causing, at least in part, display of a result of the action via the at least one media player device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote control unit includes a touchpad for receiving the input from the user.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the input is a gesture received from the user that comprises:

depressing the touchpad by a finger and then moving the finger across the touchpad while keeping the touchpad depressed.

20. The method of claim 17, the remote control unit initiating performance of the action on the mobile device, wherein the action includes one or more of the following:

swiping screens associated with a user interface of the mobile device;

scrolling a portion of the screen associated with the user interface of the mobile device; and

typing a letter of a virtual keyboard provided by the user interface of the mobile device.

21. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having embodied thereon a program being executable by at least one processor to perform a method for controlling a mobile device using a console unit, the console unit comprising:

a remote control unit having a top surface and a bottom surface, the remote control unit including a communications transceiver configured to communicate with a mobile device; and

a tower-shaped section having a top section, a bottom section, and four sides, the top and the bottom sections being secured to the four sides, wherein the entirety of the top section is a single receptacle for physically receiving the entirety of the top surface or the bottom surface of the remote control unit, the remote control unit communicating with the mobile device that is physically coupled to an interface of the tower-shaped section, and in response to an input received from a user, the remote control unit initiating performance of an action on the mobile device that is physically coupled to the interface of the tower-shaped section,

the tower-shaped section further including;

the interface configured for coupling to the mobile device, the interface configured for selectively receiving high definition media data and USB protocol data from the mobile device, the interface being further configured for charging the mobile device;

at least one media port for providing the high definition media data to at least one media player device; and

a power port for coupling to a power source for receiving power;

the method comprising;

receiving, via the remote control unit, the input from the user while the mobile device is connected to the tower-shaped section;

recognizing the action associated with the input;

causing, at least partially, performing of the action on the mobile device; and

causing, at least partially, displaying of results of the action via the at least one media player device.