IP Library Granted Patent US 8,208,906
Granted Patent B2
US 8,208,906 · App. 12/327,374 · Granted Jun 26, 2012

Enhanced interface for mobile phone

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,208,906
App. No.
12/327,374
Granted
Jun 26, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A docking station may provide an enhanced user interface for mobile communication devices. In one particular implementation, a device may include a base unit configured to provide connections to one or more user interface devices and an interface for connecting to a mobile phone, where the base unit connects the mobile phone to the one or more user interface devices to provide an enhanced interface for the mobile phone.

Claims (61)

1. A device comprising:

a base unit to provide one or more connections to one or more user interface devices, where the one or more user interface devices include a display, and where the device is associated with a set-top box coupled to the display; and

a processor to:

communicate with a mobile device,

identify at least one input/output device associated with the mobile device, and

automatically connect the mobile device to the one or more user interfaces devices based on the identified at least one input/output device,

where the processor, when connecting the mobile device to the one or more user interfaces devices, is further to:

enable a user to select, using the at least one input/output device, multimedia content, through the display, by the set-top box,

enable the user to request, using the at least one input/output device, the multimedia content, and

upload, through one or more connections and in response to the request, the multimedia content from the set-top box to the mobile device.

2. The device of claim 1 , where the base unit further includes:

a graphics accelerator to provide a video signal to the display.

3. The device of claim 1 , where the base unit includes a slot, and

where the base unit is further to:

automatically detect insertion of the mobile device into the slot of the base unit.

4. The device of claim 1 , where one or more of the user interface devices are integrated with the base unit.

5. The device of claim 1 , where the base unit is further to:

provide, to the mobile device, access to a connection to a wide area network.

6. The device of claim 1 , where the base unit is further to:

communicate operational features of the base unit to the mobile device.

7. A method, comprising:

identifying, using a base unit connected to a mobile device, at least one input/output device associated with the mobile device; and

connecting, using the base unit, the mobile device to one or more user interface devices based on the identified at least one input/output device, where the one or more user interface devices include a display, and where the base unit is associated with a set-top box coupled to the display, and

where the connecting the mobile device to the one or more user interfaces devices includes:

enabling a user to select, using the at least one input/output device, multimedia content presented, through the display, by the set-top box,

enabling the user to request, using the at least one input/output device, the multimedia content from the set-top box, and

uploading, in response to the request, the multimedia content from the set-top box to the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7 , where connecting the mobile device to the one or more user interface devices comprises:

connecting the mobile device to the display.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

providing a video signal to the display via a graphics accelerator located in the base unit.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

automatically detecting, via the base unit, insertion of the mobile device into a slot in the base unit.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

integrating the one or more of the user interface devices into the base unit.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

connecting, via the base unit, the mobile device to a wide area network.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

communicating, via the base unit, operational features of the base unit to the mobile device.

14. A system, comprising:

a memory to store one or more instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to:

establish communications between a mobile device to a base unit;

identify at least one input/output device associated with the mobile device; and

connect the mobile device to one or more user interface devices based on the identified at least one input/output device,

where the processor, when connecting the mobile device to the one or more user interfaces devices, is further to:

enable a user to select, using the at least one input/output device, multimedia content presented, through a display, by a set-top box,

enable the user to request, using the at least one input/output device, multimedia content from the set-top box, and

upload, through one or more connections and in response to the request, the multimedia content from the set-top box to the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 14 , where the processor is further to:

communicate operational features of the mobile device to the base unit.

16. The system of claim 14 , where the base unit includes a graphics accelerator to provide a video signal to the display, and

where the processor is further to:

adjust, through the graphics accelerator, the video signal based on an input received through the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 14 , where the base unit includes a slot, and

where the processor is further to:

automatically detect insertion of the mobile device into the slot.

18. The system of claim 14 , where one or more of the user interface devices are integrated with the base unit.

19. The system of claim 14 , where the base unit includes a connection to a wide area network, and

where the processor is further to:

provide the mobile device with access to the connection to a wide area network.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2009
From: VERIZON CORPORATE RESOURCES GROUP LLC
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 023193/0159 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2009
From: VERIZON DATA SERVICES LLC
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 023112/0047 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2008
From: FARRIS, JACK M.
To: VERIZON CORPORATE RESOURCES GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 021921/0834 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2008
From: HAO, JIANXIU
To: VERIZON DATA SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 021923/0800 →