Wireless interface extension for mobile devices

• US 8,180,399 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Katzer, Robin D., Persson, Carl J., Stone, M. Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): STERNBANE, LAURENCE J
• Application Number:
  US13/095,422
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/2.3, 345/156, 345/173, 345/903, 345/905, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/420, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/575.1, 715/744
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A wireless interface extension for mobile devices is provided. The wireless interface extension includes a user interface, a wireless communication link, and a processor. The processor communicates with a mobile device over the wireless communication link and enables a user to use the user interface to interact with at least one user application on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A wireless interface extension for a mobile device, comprising:

a user interface;

a short-range wireless communication link;

a processor configured to;

communicate with the mobile device over the short-range wireless communication link,

enable output of content of an application executing on the mobile device via the user interface, and

determine whether control of the application is directed from either the mobile device or from the user interface of the wireless interface extension based on a user selecting a displayed option that specifies from where control of the application is directed.

2. The wireless interface extension of claim 1, wherein when the processor determines that control of the application is directed from the user interface of the wireless extension, the processor is further configured to receive selection of an option through the user interface to return control of the application to the mobile device.

3. The wireless interface extension of claim 1, wherein when the processor determines that control of the application is directed from the user interface of the wireless extension, the processor is further configured to convert input received through the user interface of the wireless interface extension into a form recognized by the application of the mobile device.

4. The wireless interface extension of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen configured to output the content of the application and further configured to receive input for control of the application.

5. The wireless interface extension of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a visual output device and an audio output device that are enhanced relative to a visual output device and an audio output device for the mobile device.

6. The wireless interface extension of claim 1, wherein the application executing on the mobile device comprises at least one of camera, ring-tone selection, calendar, games, instant messenger, video, web browser, electronic mail, navigation, music, radio, television, and global positioning.

7. The wireless interface extension of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface extension is not a stand-alone component.

8. The wireless interface extension of claim 1, wherein the content of the application output via the user interface includes additional content of the application than is available for viewing at one time on the mobile device.

18. The wireless interface extension of claim 1, wherein the user selects the option using keys or a microphone.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions of an extension connector application that, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, causes the mobile device to:

establish short-range wireless communications between the mobile device and a wireless interface extension; and

communicate content of an application executing on the mobile device to the wireless interface extension for output on the wireless interface extension;

receive a selection of a displayed option from a user that specifies whether control of the application is directed from the mobile device or from the wireless interface extension.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the extension connector application, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, further causes the mobile device to:

communicate the selection of the option to the wireless interface extension.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the extension connector application, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, further causes the mobile device to:

receive control input of the application from a user interface of the wireless interface extension in response to the selection of the option to direct control of the application from the wireless interface extension.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the extension connector application, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, further causes the mobile device to:

receive a control input from the user interface of the wireless interface extension to return control of the application to the mobile device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the extension connector application, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, further causes the mobile device to:

receive control input of the application from a user interface of the mobile device in response to the selection of the option to direct control of the application from the mobile device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the application executing on the mobile device comprises at least one of camera, ring-tone selection, calendar, games, instant messenger, video, web browser, electronic mail, navigation, music, radio, television, and global positioning.

15. A wireless interface extension for a mobile device, comprising:

a user interface;

a short-range wireless communication link; and

a processor configured to;

communicate with the mobile device over the short-range wireless communication link,

enable output of content of an application executing on the mobile device via the user interface, wherein the content of the application output via the user interface includes additional content of the application than is available for viewing at one time on the mobile device, and

determine whether control of the application is directed from either the mobile device or from the user interface of the wireless interface extension based on a user selecting adisplayed option that specifies from where control of the application is directed.

16. The wireless interface extension of claim 15, wherein the additional content comprises one or more additional menu options than are available for viewing at one time on the mobile device.

17. The wireless interface extension of claim 15, wherein the additional content comprises additional map content on a larger navigational map than is available for viewing at one time on the mobile device.