Smartphone databoost

• US 9,420,072 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Jouin, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Wesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/841,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20130210489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/7, 353/10, 353/122
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

A multi-display device can interface with two or more different types of docking stations. The device can determine the type of dock and change the pin outs for a connector to interface with that dock. Once docked, the device can determine a charge status for the device and the dock to present the status to the user. Further, the dock can enter one of several modes, including a call receipt mode and an entertainment mode. The modes allow for expanded functionality for the device while docked. Two particular docks, the laptop dock and the smart dock, provide special functionality with the device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a device with a first transceiver, a first screen, a second screen, a docking rule set, a docking configuration database and a dock connector in communication with a plurality of docking pins, wherein the plurality of docking pins are in communication with a multiplexer;

providing a dock, the dock comprising a second transceiver configured to operate at a higher speed than the first transceiver and further comprising an identifier signal identifying a dock type;

docking the device to the dock by connecting the dock connector with the dock;

establishing, through the plurality of docking pins, a communication between the device and the dock;

receiving the identifier signal from the dock;

mapping signal output types for the plurality of docking pins based on the identifier signal and the docking configuration database;

configuring the multiplexer to output the mapped signal output types to respective plurality of docking pins;

determining if the second transceiver is both operating and is available;

accessing the docking rule set;

if the determining step is positive, bypassing the first transceiver and sending data over the second transceiver associated with the dock;

if the determining step is not positive, sending data over the first transceiver; and

according to the docking rule set, providing a status of the determining step to at least one of the first screen and the second screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second transceiver are cellular communications transceivers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second transceiver provides both higher speed and higher quality cellular communications than the first transceiver.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the dock type is a type of docking station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dock type is a type of docking station.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second transceiver is not available if the second transceiver is not connected or if the second transceiver has failed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the dock is mobile and includes a battery to power the higher speed transceiver.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data is voice data.

9. A device, comprising:

a first screen;

a second screen;

a memory;

a first transceiver;

a dock connector in communication with a plurality of docking pins, wherein the plurality of docking pins are in communication with a multiplexer;

a docking rule set;

a docking configuration database;

a processor in communication with the memory, the first screen, the second screen, the dock connector, the docking rule set, and the first transceiver, the processor operable to;

establish, through the plurality of docking pins, a communication between the device and a data boost dock, wherein the data boost dock includes a second transceiver that operates at a higher speed than the first transceiver;

receive an identifier from the data boost dock, the identifier identifying a data boost dock type;

map signal output types for the plurality of docking pins based on the identifier and the docking configuration database;

configure the multiplexer to output the mapped signal output types to respective plurality of pins;

determine if the second transceiver is both operating and is available;

if the second transceiver is both operating and is available, send data over the second transceiver instead of the first transceiver;

if the second transceiver is not both operating and is available, send data over the first transceiver;

provide a status of the determining step to the device according to the docking rule set.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the data boost dock type is a type of docking station.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the second transceiver provides both higher speed communications and higher quality communications than the first transceiver.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first and second transceivers are cellular communications transceivers.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the first screen and the second screen are configured to present a single continuous image across both screens.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the second transceiver is not available if the second transceiver is not connected or if the second transceiver has failed.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor of a device to execute a method for managing the docking of the device, the device having a first screen, a second screen, and a docking configuration database, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

instructions to establish a connection between the device comprising a first transceiver and a data boost dock comprising a second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is configured to operate at a higher speed than the first transceiver, wherein the data boost dock is in communication with a plurality of docking pins, wherein the plurality of docking pins are in communication with a multiplexer;

instructions to receive an identifier signal from the dock, the identifier signal identifying a data boost dock type;

instructions to map signal output types for the plurality of docking pins based on the identifier signal and the docking configuration database;

instructions to configure the multiplexer to output the mapped signal output types to respective plurality of docking pins;

instructions to determine if the second transceiver is both operating and is available;

if the determining step is positive, instructions to bypass the first transceiver and send data over the second transceiver associated with the data boost dock instead of the first transceiver;

if the determining step is not positive, instructions to send data over the first transceiver.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the data boost dock type is a type of docking station.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the second transceiver provides both higher speed communications and higher quality communications than the first transceiver.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first and second transceivers are cellular communications transceivers.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first screen and the second screen are configured to present a single continuous image across both screens.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the second transceiver is not available if the second transceiver is not connected or if the second transceiver has failed.