Docking station connectivity monitor/controller

• US 9,319,109 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Jurgovan, Jon Matthew, Pham, Duc-Ngon Thi, Stewart, Alan Kirk, Guichard, Sarah Marie, Johnson, Derek Nathaniel, Burrell, Douglas James Arthur, Fyke, Steven Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US14/796,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20150318898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/566, 455/130, 455/573, 455/41.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

A connectivity monitor/controller. A wireless connection is established between a mobile device and a docking station that also communicates with external device(s) each configured to selectably communicate with the mobile device via a connectivity through the docking station or through a direct connection with the mobile device. The docking station receives a connectivity assignment specifying external device(s) and a respective connectivity between the mobile device and the specified external device. Each specified connectivity is established based on the connectivity assignment. A display indicating a connectivity configuration including an indication of each specified external device and an indication of each external device'"'"'s respective connectivity is generated, where the indication of the respective connectivity indicates either a connectivity through the docking station or a direct connectivity, or both.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between a mobile device and a docking station to support wireless communication, the docking station being in communications with at least one external device, each of the at least one external device configured to selectably communicate with the mobile device through a connectivity through the docking station and through a direct connectivity with the mobile device;

receiving a connectivity assignment by the docking station,

the connectivity assignment comprising a specification of;

at least one specified external device, and

a respective connectivity for each of the at least one specified external device,

the respective connectivity specifying either of one connectivity selected from;

a connectivity through the docking station, and

a direct connectivity between the mobile device and the specified external device;

establishing the respective connectivity between the mobile device and specified external devices based on the connectivity assignment; and

generating a display indicating a connectivity configuration, the connectivity configuration comprising;

an indication of each of the at least one specified external device; and

an indication of the respective connectivity for each of the at least one specified external device, the indication of the respective connectivity able to indicate either a connectivity through the docking station or a direct connectivity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the connectivity assignment is received from one of the mobile device or at least one external device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an additional connectivity assignment from the docking station to the mobile device, the additional connectivity assignment specifying additional wireless connectivity between the mobile device and the one or more external devices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting the additional connectivity assignment is based on a user input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display indicates the one or more external devices connected to the docking station and the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the display indicates a respective connectivity type for each respective connectivity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the display indicates a respective signal strength for each respective connectivity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the display indicates a connection status of each respective connectivity.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, based on an input received in association with the display, an indication to change the connectivity for a selected external device; and

modifying the connectivity between the mobile device and the selected external device based on the indication of the change in connection status.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the docking station receives the indication of a change to the connection status via the one or more external devices.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the mobile device is within a second range of the docking station and outside of a first range of the docking station, the second range being outside of and farther from the docking station than the first range, and

wherein establishing the wireless connection comprises establishing, based on determining the mobile device is within the second range and outside of the first range, a long range docking station connection.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

modifying based on determining the mobile device is within the second range and outside of the first range, the each respective connectivity.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a plurality of profiles, each profile in the plurality of profiles corresponding to a respective mobile device, each profile in the plurality of profiles comprising the connectivity assignment, and processing assignment information for the respective mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising separately encrypting each profile in the plurality of profiles.

15. A docking station comprising:

a processor;

a memory, coupled to the processor, configured to store code and data;

a communication component, coupled to the processor, configured to establish wireless communications to a mobile device and communications with at least one external device, each of the at least one external device configured to selectably communicate with the mobile device through a connectivity through the docking station and through a direct connectivity with the mobile device;

a connectivity unit, coupled to the processor, configured to manage communications, through the communications component, between the mobile device and the at least one external device based upon a connectivity assignment, the connectivity assignment comprising a specification of;

at least one specified external device, and

a respective connectivity for each of the at least one specified external device,

the respective connectivity specifying either of one connectivity selected from;

a connectivity through the docking station, and

a direct connectivity between the mobile device and the specified external device; and

a display unit coupled to the processor,

the processor and memory configured to;

receive the connectivity assignment;

provide the connectivity assignment to the connectivity unit;

configure, based on the connectivity assignment, the connectivity unit to establish the respective connectivity between the mobile device and specified external devices;

generate a display indicating a connectivity configuration, the connectivity configuration comprising;

an indication of each of the at least one specified external device; and

an indication of the respective connectivity for each of the at least one specified external device, the indication of the respective connectivity able to indicate either a connectivity through the docking station or a direct connectivity; and

provide the display on the display.

16. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the processor and memory are further configured to:

receive, based on an input received in association with the display, an indication to change the connectivity for a selected external device, and

modify the connectivity between the mobile device and the selected external device based on the change in connection status.

17. The docking station of claim 15, further comprising a proximity detector configured to detect an absence of the mobile device from within a second range of the docking station,

and wherein the processor and memory are configured to:

receive, from the proximity detector, an indication of the absence; and

modify the one or more wired or wireless connections based on the detecting of the absence of the mobile device within the second range.

18. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the processor and memory are configured to store a plurality of profiles, each profile in the plurality of profiles corresponding to a respective mobile device, each profile in the plurality of profiles comprising the connectivity assignment, and processing assignment information for the respective mobile device.

19. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the display indicates at least one of:

The at least one external device connected to the docking station and the mobile device;

a respective connectivity type for each respective connectivity;

a respective signal strength for each respective connectivity; and

a connection status of each respective connectivity.

20. A computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising instructions for:

establishing a wireless connection between a mobile device and a docking station to support wireless communication, the docking station being in communications with at least one external device, each of the at least one external device configured to selectably communicate with the mobile device through a connectivity through the docking station and through a direct connectivity with the mobile device;

receiving a connectivity assignment by the docking station,

the connectivity assignment comprising a specification of;

at least one specified external device, and

a respective connectivity for each of the at least one specified external device,

the respective connectivity specifying either of one connectivity selected from;

a connectivity through the docking station, and

a direct connectivity between the mobile device and the specified external device;

establishing the respective connectivity between the mobile device and specified external devices based on the connectivity assignment; and

generating a display indicating a connectivity configuration, the connectivity configuration comprising;

an indication of each of the at least one specified external device; and

an indication of the respective connectivity for each of the at least one specified external device, the indication of the respective connectivity indicating either a connectivity through the docking station or a direct connectivity.