DOCKING STATION FOR PORTABLE DEVICES PROVIDING AUTHORIZED POWER TRANSFER AND FACILITY ACCESS

1 . A docking system, comprising:

a docking station, the docking station comprising:

a first holding system to support a first portable device;

an interface system operable to interface with the first portable device, the interface system operable to provide one or more of data and power to the first portable device without a physical electrical connection;

a memory; and

a processor in communication with the memory and the interface system, the processor programmed to:

perceive a presence of the first portable device on the first holding system;

energize a first inductive coil of the docking station to create a first magnetic field, the first magnetic field inducing a current and a second field in an inductive coil of the first portable device;

determine a strength of the second field originating in the inductive coil of the first portable device;

determine, based on the strength of the second field, if an alignment of the first portable device with the docking station is correct

when the alignment of the first portable device is not correct, provide alignment directions to a user of the first portable device to correct the alignment of the first portable device with the docking station;

after determining the alignment of the first portable device is correct, exchange first authorization credentials between the first portable device and the docking station;

determine if the first portable device is authorized;

if the first portable device is authorized, determine a level of access to provide to the first portable device, wherein the processor accesses information associated with the first portable device stored in the memory; and

provide the first portable device at least one of access to one or more systems connected to the docking station and access to data accessible by the docking station.

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 first 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 first 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 first portable device.

5 . The docking system of claim 4 , wherein the docking station comprises visual indicia indicating a correct alignment for the first portable device in the docking system.

6 . The docking system of claim 5 , docking station is configured to interface with a second portable device.

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 first portable device.

9 . The docking system of claim 1 , further comprising: a second portable device operable to receive power wirelessly from the docking station.

10 . The docking system of claim 9 , wherein the first 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, by an interface system of a docking station, a presence of a device on or near a first holding system of one or more holding systems associated with the docking station;

receiving, by the docking station, a first strength of a first magnetic field originating in a first inductive coil of the docking station from the first device, the first strength determined by the first device;

determining, by the interface system, if an alignment of the device with the docking station is correct based on the received first strength;

when the alignment of the device is not correct, providing, by the interface system, instructions to a user of the device to correct the alignment of the device with the docking station:

after determining the alignment of the device is correct, exchanging authorization credentials between the device and the docking station;

determining if the device is authorized;

after determining that the device is authorized, determining, by the interface system, a level of access to provide to the device, wherein the interface system accesses information associated with the device stored in the docking station; and

providing the device at least one of access to one or more systems connected to the docking; station and access to data accessible by the docking station.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein if the device is authorized or not authorized, providing power wirelessly to the device.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the authorization credentials include a security key sent from the device to the docking station.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the docking station compares the received security key to a security key stored at the docking station.

15 . The device method 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 non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor of a docking station to execute a method for docking a first portable device to the docking station, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

instructions to perceive a first presence of a first portable device on a first holding system of the docking station, wherein the docking station includes one or more holding systems;

instructions to energize a first inductive coil of the docking station to create a first magnetic field, the first magnetic field inducing a current and a second field in an inductive coil of the first portable device;

instructions to determine, by the processor, a strength of the second field originating in the inductive coil of the first portable device;

instructions to determine, based on the strength of the second field, if an alignment of the first portable device with the docking station is correct;

when the alignment of the first portable device is not correct, instructions to provide alignment directions to a user of the first portable device to correct the alignment of the first portable device with the docking station;

instructions to exchange, after determining the alignment of the first portable device is correct, authorization credentials between the first portable device and the docking station;

instructions to determine if the first portable device is authorized;

instructions to determine a level of access provide to the first portable device to one or more systems connected to the docking station if the first portable device is authorized, wherein the processor accesses information associated with the first portable device stored in the docking station; and

instructions to prevent access by the first portable device to one or more systems connected to the docking station if the first portable device is not authorized.

17 . The computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions to determine if the first portable device is aligned correctly on the docking station.

18 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions to energize a first inductive coil that creates a magnetic field if the first portable device is aligned correctly on the docking station, 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 , further comprising instructions to provide instructions to a user to correct the alignment if the first portable device is not aligned correctly on the docking station.

20 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising instructions to display visual indicia on a display of the first portable device, the visual indicia indicating in which direction and by how much to move the first portable device on the docking station.