Device configuration including a master communications device with a slave device extension

• US 9,026,603 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nahidipour, Aram
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, JONATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/173,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20130007178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 709/208, 709/209, 709/210
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

A master communications device/slave device configuration is disclosed where a master communications device discovers a slave device when the master communications device does not have the necessary features and resources to perform a service requested by an operator. The master communications device utilizes the slave device to provide additional features and resources to the master communications device in performing the service requested by the operator. The master communications device and the slave device interact as a single device provided by the master communications device/slave device configuration. The slave device serves as an extension to the master communications device providing a larger interface to the operator.

Claims

1. A master slave communications system, comprising:

a master communications device including a first display device and a controller, the controller being configured to;

compare a capability of the first display device with a requirement for displaying information, the first display device being configured to display a first portion of the information; and

a slave device configured to;

receive an instruction from the master communications device to enter a mode to allow the master communications device to select the slave device to assist with displaying the information when the requirement necessitates engaging the slave device;

assist the master communications device with displaying the information when the requirement necessitates engaging the slave device, and

serve as an extension to the master communications device by providing a second display device to the master communications device, and

receive a second portion of the information from the master communications device when the requirement necessitates engaging the slave device, the second display device being configured to display the second portion of the information.

2. The master slave communications system of claim 1, wherein the master communications device is further configured to detect the slave device as being configured to operate as a secondary device with the master communications device to display the second portion of the information.

3. The master slave communications system of claim 2, wherein the slave device is further configured to advertise a capability of the slave device to operate as the secondary device.

4. The master slave communications system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the second display device is available from the slave device to display the second portion of the information.

5. The master slave communications system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to route the second portion of the information to the slave device when the slave device is detected as being configured to operate as a secondary device to display the second portion of the information.

6. The master slave communications system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to query the slave device for availability of the second display device.

7. The master slave communications system of claim 1, wherein the slave device is configured to serve as the extension of the master communications device so that the slave device and the master communications device act as a single integrated system for displaying the information.

8. The master slave communications system of claim 1, wherein the master communications device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the slave device.

9. The master slave communications system of claim 1, wherein the master communications device is further configured to determine whether the first display device is sufficient to display the information.

10. The master slave communications system of claim 9, wherein the master communications device is further configured to transmit the second portion of the information to the slave device when the first display device is insufficient to display the information.

11. A master slave communications system, comprising:

a master communications device including a first display device; and

a slave device configured to assist the master communications device with displaying information of the master communications device and to serve as an extension to the master communications device by providing a second display device to the master communications device,

wherein the first and the second display devices are configured to display a first portion and a second portion, respectively, of the information, and

wherein the slave device is configured to mechanically unfold from the master slave communications system when requested to serve as the extension of the master communications device.

12. A method for seamlessly displaying information among a plurality of devices, comprising:

comparing, by the master communications device, a capability of the master communications device with a requirement for displaying the information;

transmitting, by the master communications device, an instruction to a slave device from among the plurality of devices to enter a mode to allow the master communications device to select the slave device to assist with displaying the information when the requirement necessitates engaging the slave device;

engaging, by the master communications device, the slave device to determine whether a first display device is available to aid the master communications device in displaying the information;

displaying, by the master communications device, a first portion of the information using a second display device; and

sending a second portion of the information, by the master communications device, to be used by the first display device to display the second portion of the information.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the engaging the slave device comprises:

sending, by the master communications device, a request to search for the slave device; and

receiving, by the master communications device, a response to the request indicating that the slave device is available to aid the master communications device in displaying the information.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the engaging the slave device comprises:

receiving, by the master communications device, an advertisement indicating that the slave device is available to aid the master communications device in displaying the information.

13. A method for seamlessly displaying information among a plurality of devices, comprising:

determining, by the master communications device, whether a first display device of the master communications device is sufficient to display the information;

transmitting, by the master communications device, an instruction to a slave device from among the plurality of devices to enter a mode to allow the master communications device to select the slave device to assist with displaying the information;

engaging, by the master communications device, the slave device to determine whether a second display device is available to aid the master communications device in displaying the information;

displaying, by the master communications device, a first portion of the information using the first display device; and

sending a second portion of the information, by the master communications device, to be used by the second display device to display the second portion of the information; and

wherein the engaging the slave device, the displaying the first portion of the information, and the sending the second portion of the information are performed only when the first display device is insufficient to display the information.

16. A method for seamlessly displaying information among a plurality of devices, comprising:

receiving, by a slave device from among the plurality of devices, an instruction from a master communications device from among the plurality of devices to enter a mode to allow the master communications device to select the slave device to aid with displaying the information;

mechanically unfolding the slave device from the master communications device when the slave device is to aid with displaying the information;

engaging, by the slave device, the master communications device to provide a display device to aid the master communications device in displaying the information; and

receiving a portion of the information, by the slave device, to be used by the display device to display the portion of the information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the engaging the master communications device comprises:

receiving, by the slave device, a request from the master communications device to aid in displaying the information; and

sending, by the slave device, a response to the request indicating availability of the slave device to aid the master communications device in displaying the information.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving the portion of the information comprises:

sending, by the slave device, an advertisement indicating that the slave device is available to aid the master communications device in displaying the information.

19. A master communications device, comprising:

a first display device; and

a controller configured to;

compare a capability of the first display device with a requirement for displaying information,

transmit a first portion of the information to the first display device when the requirement necessitates engaging a second display device of a slave device,

transmit an instruction to the slave device to enter a mode to allow the master communications device to select the slave device to assist with displaying the information when the requirement necessitates engaging the slave device, and

transmit a second portion of the information to the second display device when the requirement necessitates engaging the slave device,

wherein the first display device is configured to display the information when the requirement does not necessitate engaging the slave device or to display the first portion of the information when the requirement necessitates engaging the slave device.

20. The master communications device of claim 19, wherein the second display device is configured to display the second portion of the information when the requirement necessitates engaging the slave device.

21. The master communications device of claim 19, wherein the slave device is from among a plurality of slave devices,

wherein the controller is further configured to:

transmit a third portion of the information to a third display device of a second slave device from among the plurality of slave devices when the requirement necessitates engaging the second slave device, and

wherein the third display device is configured to display the third portion of the information when the requirement necessitates engaging the second slave device.

22. The master communications device of claim 19, further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect the slave device when the slave device is within a detection range of the sensor.