Abstract:
A docking station for a mobile computing device such as, for example, a Palm PC, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, or any of a variety of other types of handheld computing devices which have their own LCD displays. The docking station provides a variety of functions to the mobile computing device including: telephone, videophone, fax, digital answering machine, printing, keyboard, modem, internet access digital interface ports for connection to a variety of peripherals including scanners, cameras, disk drives and a number of other peripherals in addition to providing the two typical functions of existing docking stations, i.e., providing power charging to the mobile computing device&#39;s rechargeable battery and providing a digital connection between the mobile computing device and a personal computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to docking stations for Palm PCs, personal digital assistants, cellular phones or other types of mobile computing devices (MCD as they are designated hereafter) which have their own displays.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Existing docking stations typically provide only two functions: (1) providing power charging to the mobile computer device&#39;s rechargeable battery, and (2) providing a digital connection between the mobile computing device and a personal computer (PC). Thus, despite their growing popularity, mobile computing devices are typically used only when the user is away from the office or home as the user derives little benefit from the mobile computing device at home or in the office.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The invention addresses the above described issue by converting the mobile computing device into a multi-functional appliance when the mobile computing device is placed in a docking station providing, in addition to the functions provided by existing docking stations, one or more of the following functions: telephone, videophone, fax, digital answering machine, printing, modem and digital interface ports for connection to peripherals, such as scanners, cameras, etc.  
           [0006]    The invention is a docking station for a MCD which converts the MCD into a multifunctional appliance allowing users to derive greater benefit from the MCD in their homes and/or offices. When a MCD is docked into the docking station, the combined devices, i.e., the MCD and the docking station, act as a single integrated appliance providing functions such as, for example, the following: (1) the connection of a variety of peripherals such as scanners, printers, disk drives, keyboards, modems, etc.; (2) printing out of information stored on the MCD or received through the docking station to a printer; (3) internet access allowing browsing of the Internet and the sending and receiving of e-mails using the docking station&#39;s keyboard and/or the MCD&#39;s display and user interface; (4) direct telephone dialing using the MCD&#39;s contact database and user interface to automatically dial the phone number of any person in the database.  
           [0007]    These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    Various embodiments of the invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the docking station;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a docking station according to the invention, illustrating the attachment of the MCD;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of FIG. 2;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 illustrating a MCD in an untilted position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 illustrating a MCD in a tilted position;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a view of the rear panel of an exemplary embodiment of the docking station illustrating a variety of connectors;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a view of a rear panel of the third exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a docking station  100  having a base  120 , a MCD holder  101 , a phone  116 , a phone and/or a fax data modem connector  112 , a modem port  132  and peripheral connectors  103 - 106 . The MCD holder  101 , as illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  4 ,  5  and  7  may be detachable and is pivotal to optimize the viewing angle (FIG. 5). Because there are a number of MCD  109  (FIG. 2) on the market having different shapes and electrical connectors, each MCD  109  may require a different MCD holder  101  to accommodate the shape and the electrical connections for a particular MCD  109 . However, all MCD holders  101 , regardless of the MCD  109  accommodated, are configured to physically and electrically connect to the docking station as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.  
         [0019]    Once the MCD  109  is connected to the MCD holder  101  and the MCD holder  101  is physically and electrically connected to the base  120  of the docking station  100 , the MCD  109  can, through appropriate software, interface with the phone  116 , the modem  102  and any peripherals connected to peripheral connectors  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106 . Peripherals connected may include keyboards, scanners, printers, cameras, etc. Further, connectors  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106  may be USB, infrared or any of the various other connector types available.  
         [0020]    Docking station software must be installed onto the MCD  109  prior to initial use of the invention. Installation of the software may be done by the manufacturer, by the user through a personal computer or by a variety of other means known in the art. When the software is installed via a personal computer, the user installs an executable file on a personal computer from a compact disc. Alternatively, the user may install the executable file, via a PC, from a floppy disk, the Internet, or any of a variety of other means known in the art. The user then runs the software and uploads it to the MCD  109  via a dedicated PC docking station or a variety of other means known in the art. The software may automatically install onto the MCD  109  upon running.  
         [0021]    The docking station software may be customized for the individual user upon initial use of the docking station  100 . If the user has his/her own Internet service provider, then he/she is able to enter this information either during the initial installation of the software via the PC or during use of the software on the MCD  109  via the keyboard or keypad  117  of the docking station  100 , the touch sensitive LCD  110  of the MCD  109  or other user interfaces of the MCD  109  known in the art. If the user does not have his/her own Internet service provider, the docking station software on the MCD  109  can automatically set up an Internet service account for the user based on the geographic location of the user.  
         [0022]    The user can also select custom information channels through the software on the MCD  109  using the keyboard or keypad  117  of the docking station  100  or the touch sensitive LCD  110  of the MCD  109 . The user can provide his/her geographic location in order to access geographic specific information, such as weather, movies, TV guides and traffic information. This and other types of information will automatically be downloaded to the MCD  109  whenever it accesses the Internet through the docking station  100 .  
         [0023]    The docking station software is uniquely configured to take advantage of the features provided by the docking station  100 . The software is automatically activated whenever the MCD  109  is connected to the docking station  100 .  
         [0024]    The software within MCD  109  is able to differentiate between the docking station of the invention and any other docking station as the software causes the MCD  109  to look for a unique identifying signal sent by the docking station  100  whenever a mobile computing device is connected. Thus, the software is launched whenever the MCD  109  is docked in the docking station  100  of the invention.  
         [0025]    When the software is activated, the main page is displayed on the LCD display  110  of the MCD  109 . This main page provides icons for the primary functions of the docking station  100 , i.e., check e-mail, browse the Internet, access content channels, direct phone dial, change personal options, print, scan, etc. When the user presses one of these icons, the corresponding application is activated. When the icons for check e-mail and browse the Internet are pressed, e-mail or Web browsing software on the mobile computing device is activated, respectively. Custom selected channels are also accessed through the Web browsing software. The user can choose to have the MCD  109  automatically dial into the Internet and access e-mails and custom selected channels every time the mobile computing device is inserted into the docking station.  
         [0026]    The docking station  100  includes the phone  116  that is operable regardless of whether the MCD  109  is inserted. The phone  116  is integral to the docking station  100  and may be cordless or with a cord. When the MCD  109  is not docked, the user simply uses the phone buttons  117  on the docking station  100  or those on the phone  116  if wireless. When the MCD  109  is docked, the user may use, in addition to the phone buttons  117  or the buttons on the phone  116 , the touch sensitive buttons provided through an LCD display  110  of the MCD  109 , or through direct dialing where the user may press the name of a specific person on the LCD display  110  of the MCD  109  and the docking station  100  to automatically dial the number of that person.  
         [0027]    The docking station  100  may also have an integrated digital answering machine  114  that is functional regardless of the presence of the MCD  109 . When the MCD  109  is docked, information such as, for example, caller ID, may be displayed on the LCD display  110  of the MCD  109 . In addition, digital voice files may be transferred to the MCD  109  for later access.  
         [0028]    When the MCD  109  is docked in the docking station  100 , the docking station software may direct the contiguous saving of incoming phone messages on the MCD  109  and the integrated digital answering machine  114 . Additionally, the docking station software may direct the MCD  109  to communicate with the integrated digital answering machine  114  and to store all phone messages currently residing on the integrated digital answering machine  114  on the MCD  109  if they are not currently stored on the MCD  109 . If the MCD  109  lacks sufficient memory to store all messages, the docking station software directs the MCD  109  to display an out of memory message on the LCD display  110  and to store only as many complete messages as the memory of the MCD  109  will allow. Naturally, all messages, including those stored on the MCD  109 , continue to reside in the integrated digital answering machine  114  until the user deletes them via the keypad  117 , keyboard  126  or MCD  109 .  
         [0029]    Internet connectivity is enabled by integrating a modem  111  into the docking station  100  and a modem port  112  that connects the modem  111  to a phone outlet. However, integration of the modem is unnecessary as an external modem may provide connectivity to the internet through one of ports  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106  or through the phone and/or fax data modem connector  102 . The digital circuitry and appropriate software drivers within the MCD  109  use the modem  111  to access the Internet. Alternatively, the modem  111  could be a high band width modem or the docking station  100  may connect to a high band width modem through a USB, ethernet or other port (not shown). If the MCD  109  has wireless capability, the docking station  100  can simply use the wireless capability of the MCD  109  to access the Internet.  
         [0030]    When the MCD  109  is connected to the docking station  100 , data stored on or received by the MCD  109  or docking station  100  may be printed on a printer  108  integral with the docking station or connected to the docking station  100  via peripheral connections  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106 . The printer  108  may be of various types including sheet fed and thermal roll types. The printer  108 , if internal to the docking station  100  would be sufficient to print data such as: a daily task list, contact information, movie and TV guides, weather and stock information, etc. However, printers connected via peripherals  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16  may be standard printers.  
         [0031]    A keyboard  126 , in addition to the telephone keypad  117  on the base  120  may be included with the docking station  100  to facilitate the quick and easy entry of information into the MCD  109 . The keyboard  126  is configured as a pull-out keyboard and/or as a wireless keyboard. If a pull-out keyboard  126 , it is preferably hidden beneath the docking station when not in use and pulled out when a keyboard  126  is required. A wireless keyboard requires the docking station to have either an infrared or wireless transceiver and could be stowed in virtually any location. If the keyboard  126  is not included with the docking station  100 , information may be entered into the MCD  109  via the keypad  117  or via the MCD  109  user interface.  
         [0032]    The electrical interface of the docking station  100  is formed by at least one hinge pin  113 , which, in turn, is connected to the main part of the docking station  100 . This arrangement enables the electrical interface, i.e., the at least one hinge pin  113 , of the docking station  100  to rotate. Thus, when the MCD holder  101  is connected to the electrical interface  113  of the docking station  100 , i.e., the MCD holder  101  is connected to the at least one hinge pin  113 , the MCD holder  101  is able to rotate to enable the user to optimize the viewing angle. The at least one hinge pin  113  provides friction to enable the user to touch the screen of the MCD  109  without moving it and to, with sufficient force, change the tilt angle of the MCD holder  101  when desired. Alternatively, detents, and a number of other methods and devices known in the art, may be used to change and hold tilt angles of the MCD holder  101 .  
         [0033]    The docking station  100  is uniquely designed to accommodate several different MCD  109 . This is accomplished by supporting interchangeable MCD holders  101 , each of which is configured to support the form factor and electrical interface of specific types of MCD  109 . Regardless of the form factor of the MCD  109 , the outer shape of the connector fits snugly into a slot within the main body of the docking station  100 , while the inner shape of the connector is designed to match that of a specific MCD  109 . A latch (not shown) to lock the MCD holder  101  in place on the docking station  100  could be used but is not required. The electrical interface of the MCD holder  101  has an outside portion  123  connecting to the electrical interface , i.e., the at least one hinge pin  113 , of the docking station  100  and an inside portion  129  connecting to the unique electrical interface of the MCD  109 .  
         [0034]    The docking station  100  is capable of indicating whether the electrical connection between the MCD  109  and the docking station  100  is proper. This may be accomplished through the use of first LED  118  on the docking station  100 , a signal via the display of the MCD  109 , a sound, or other means suitable for bringing the condition of the electrical connection to the attention of the user.  
         [0035]    The docking station  100  is capable of charging the battery of the MCD  109  via the electrical connection provided by the MCD holder  101  and the at least one hinge pin  113 . The docking station  100  is also capable of detecting whether the battery of the MCD  109  is charging or fully charged. The docking station  100  may indicate that the battery of the MCD  109  is charging by illuminating the first LED  118  and indicate that it is fully charged by illuminating a second LED  119  of a different color than the first LED  118 .  
         [0036]    The docking station software is automatically activated whenever the MCD  109  is connected to the docking station  100  and enables the MCD  109  to use any peripheral attached to the peripheral connectors  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106 . Possible peripherals include, but are in no way limited to, scanners, cameras, plotters, magnetic disk drives, printers, compact disc drives, DVD drives, and tape drives. Thus, the docking station  100  also provides the MCD  109  with access to a variety of peripherals.  
         [0037]    Drivers for the peripherals must be run from the MCD  109  as each type of MCD  109  tends to have a different operating system. Drivers may be stored on the MCD  109  during a software installation via a PC to reside in the memory of the MCD or provided to the MCD  109  by the docking station  100  via flash cards  130  connected to universal flash card connector ports  131 . Drivers provided via flash cards  130  add flexibility with respect to the number and kinds of peripherals and may be uploaded to the MCD  109  at the time of docking and reside on the MCD  109  only during the time the MCD  109  is docked in the docking station  100 . Such a feature would compensate for the limited memory of some MCD  109 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of the invention in which a detachable MCD holder  201  is attached to a sidewall of the docking station  200 . This embodiment gives the user the advantage of full view and unfettered use of the phone keypad  117  of the docking station  100  without the necessity of tilting the MCD  109  and the MCD holder  201  when the MCD  109  is docked. The MCD holder  201  of this embodiment may be integral to the docking station  100  or detachable.  
         [0039]    While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a third exemplary embodiment having a base  320 , a MCD holder  301 , a phone and/or fax data modem connector  112  for connecting the docking station  300  to a telephone jack, e.g., a wall mounted phone outlet, and a phone connector  333 , as shown in FIG. 9, for connecting the docking station  300  to a telephone inlet, i.e., connecting to a telephone. In this embodiment, the base includes a modem for internet access but does not include a telephone. This embodiment gives the user the advantage of using an existing telephone or a new telephone of his/her own choosing as the telephone is not integral to the docking station  300 . The docking station  300  is simply placed or spliced into the communication line between a wall outlet and a receiver and/or speaker on the telephone, i.e., a handset. The user may then dial a number using the MCD  109 , in which case the docking station  300  dials a number from the database of the MCD  109  then acts as a conduit from the wall outlet to a receiver or speaker, e.g., a handset of the telephone.  
         [0041]    The docking station  300 , when used in conjunction with a telephone provides all the advantages/capabilities of the first and second embodiments excepting an integrated telephone. When the docking station  300  is not used in conjunction with a telephone, it provides the user all the advantages/capabilities of the first and second embodiments excepting telephone features.  
         [0042]    The docking station  300  may include an integrated digital answering machine  314 . However, this embodiment requires the user to choose between using an answering machine provided with the telephone and using integrated digital answering machine  314  as the answering machine of the telephone could interfere with the digital answering machine  314  and vice versa.