A Docking Station for Portable Devices Providing Authorized Power Transfer and Facility Access
A docking station for docking portable electronic devices is disclosed. The docking station is configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device for non-contact charging and data transfer. The docking station can provide security features for providing and/or restricting access to computational facilities such as printers, databases, installed programs, etc. Such security features can include installing applications on such portable devices that limit access.
1 . A docking system, comprising:
a docking station, the docking station comprising:
an interface system operable to interface with a portable device, wherein the interface system is operable to provide both data and power to the portable device without a physical electrical connection.
2 . The docking system of claim 1 , wherein the interface system comprises a data transfer mechanism operable to receive or transmit wirelessly data from or to the portable device.
3 . The docking system of claim 2 , wherein the interface system comprises a power transfer mechanism operable to provide wirelessly power to the portable device.
4 . The docking system of claim 3 , wherein the power transfer mechanism includes an inductive coil to create a magnetic field, the magnetic field inducing a current in a second inductive coil in the portable device.
5 . The docking system of claim 4 , wherein the docking station comprises visual indicia indicating a correct alignment for the portable device in the docking system.
6 . The docking system of claim 5 , docking station is configured to interface with two or more portable devices.
7 . The docking system of claim 5 , wherein the docking station further comprises one or more other connections to one or more other systems, devices, peripherals, or data storage.
8 . The docking system of claim 3 , wherein the power transfer mechanism is further operable to provide data wirelessly to the portable device.
9 . The docking system of claim 1 , further comprising: a portable device operable to receive power wirelessly from the docking station.
10 . The docking system of claim 9 , wherein the portable device includes a second inductive coil, wherein a current is induced in the second inductive coil by a magnetic field generated in a first inductive coil associated with the docking station.
11 . A method, comprising:
perceiving a presence of a device on or near a docking station;
exchanging authorization credentials between the device and the docking station;
determining if the device is authorized;
if the device is authorized, the docking station providing access to the device to one or more systems connected to the docking station; and
if the device is not authorized, the docking station not providing access to the device to one or more systems connected to the docking station.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein if the device is authorized or not authorized, providing power wirelessly to the device.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the authorization credentials include a security key sent from the device to the docking station.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the docking station compares the received security key to a security key stored at the docking station.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein providing power wirelessly to the device includes energizing a first inductive coil that creates a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field induces a current in a second inductive coil associated with the device.
16 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor to execute a method for docking a portable device in a docking system, the computer-executable instructions comprising:
instructions to perceive a presence of a portable device on or near a docking station;
instructions to exchange authorization credentials between the portable device and the docking station;
instructions to determine if the portable device is authorized;
if the portable device is authorized, instructions to provide access to the portable device to one or more systems connected to the docking station; and
if the portable device is not authorized, instructions to not provide access to the portable device to one or more systems connected to the docking station.
17 . The computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions to determine if the portable device is aligned correctly on the docking station.
18 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein if the portable device is aligned correctly on the docking station, instructions to energize a first inductive coil that creates a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field induces a current in a second inductive coil associated with the device.
19 . The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein if the portable device is not aligned correctly on the docking station, instructions to provide instructions to a user to correct the alignment.
20 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions include visual indicia indicating in which direction and by how much to move the portable device on the docking station.