Universal dock for context sensitive computing device

• US 9,870,028 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hassan, Amer A., Gupta, Yatharth, Rao, Ravi T., Anders, Jr., Billy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DALEY, CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US15/399,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20170115696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• 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 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/00 Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion G06K1/00; pattern recognition G06F18/00; arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding G06V10/00; character recognition, recognising digital ink or document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A dock for interacting with a computing device. The computing device configures itself for operations based on its context, which may be determined form the dock by reading a value from a tag on the dock. The computing device may use low power transmissions such that receiving a value from the tag provides an indication of proximity to the dock. The value read provides an indication of a desired operation, and, in response to reading a value of the tag, the computing device may launch an application, pair with devices in the vicinity of the dock, or take other actions that configure the computing device. A universal dock, usable with computing devices of a plurality of form factors, may be implemented by providing an array of tags and, in some cases, a non-contact power supply.

Claims

1. A dock for a computing device, the dock comprising:

a support structure configured to receive the computing device in response to the computing device being placed on a support surface of the dock; and

a plurality of tags configured to wirelessly transmit multiple values to the computing device, wherein the multiple values include tag identifiers that identify individual tags of the plurality of tags and an application identifier that indicates that an application having a corresponding application identity is to be executed by the computing device to automatically configure the computing device for use with the dock in response to a reading of the application identifier by the computing device, and wherein the application is associated with a location of the dock.

2. The dock of claim 1, wherein:

the dock comprises a two-dimensional array of tags disposed across the support surface; and

the plurality of tags comprise at least a portion of the two-dimensional array.

3. The dock of claim 2, wherein:

the application identifier indicates to the computing device that the computing device is to perform a pairing ceremony with at least one wireless computer peripheral.

4. The dock of claim 2, wherein multiple of the plurality of tags are active tags.

5. The dock of claim 2, wherein:

each of the plurality of tags in the two-dimensional array is encoded with the same value.

6. The dock of claim 2, wherein:

each of the plurality of tags in the two-dimensional array is encoded with different values according to an error control code.

7. The dock of claim 5, wherein the plurality of tags comprise passive tags.

8. The dock of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of tags comprises an active tag, the active tag comprising:

a radio;

a controller, coupled to the radio, the controller configured for;

detecting, in a signal received by the radio, an indication of a computing device in a vicinity of the dock; and

in response to detecting the indication, controlling the radio to transmit at least one of the multiple values.

9. A method of operating a dock for a computing device, the method comprising:

supporting the computing device on a support surface of the dock;

receiving radiation from the computing device; and

in response to receiving the radiation, emitting radiation from a plurality of tags, wherein the radiation from the plurality of tags encode multiple values, the multiple values including values identifying individual tags of the plurality of tags, and a value indicating that an application with a corresponding identity is to be executed by the computing device to automatically configure the computing device for use with the dock in response to the computing device receiving the value, wherein the application is associated with a location of the dock.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the emitted radiation has a power between 0.2 milliwatts and 1 milliwatt.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

receiving radiation from the computing device comprises receiving a beacon; and

the emitted radiation also encodes another value indicative of at least one device in the vicinity of the dock for pairing with the computing device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one device includes a plurality of human interface devices.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the received radiation comprises a control packet comprising an information element;

the method further comprises analyzing the information element; and

the emitting radiation comprises emitting radiation in response to the analyzing determining that the information element identifies a service available from a device in the vicinity of the dock.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tags are arranged in a two-dimensional array that substantially covers the support surface of the dock.

15. A dock for a portable computing device, the dock comprising:

a support structure having a surface configured to receive the computing device; and

a plurality of tags, encoded with multiple values, the multiple values including tag identifiers that identify individual tags of the plurality of tags and the multiple values including an application identifier indicating that an application having a corresponding identifier is to be executed by the computing device to automatically configure the computing device for use with the dock in response to a reading of the application identifier by the computing device, the plurality of tags configured to wirelessly transmit the value to the computing device, wherein the application is associated with a location of the dock.

16. The dock of claim 15, wherein the plurality of tags includes at least one of passive or active tags.

17. The dock of claim 15, wherein:

multiple of the plurality of tags in a two-dimensional array and are encoded with different values.

18. The dock of claim 15, wherein:

the support structure comprises a member for holding the computing device against the surface with a screen of the computing device positioned with a predetermined orientation; and

the application identifier identifies a software application that, when executed, formats information for presentation on the screen in the predetermined orientation.

19. The dock of claim 15, wherein:

the support structure is configured for receiving a slate form factor computing device.

20. The dock of claim 19, wherein:

the dock is in combination with at least one wireless computer peripheral; and

the application identifier indicates to the computing device to perform a pairing ceremony with the at least one wireless computer peripheral.