Abstract:
Described is a mobile computing arrangement which includes a body including a communication dock; a first data link port situated in the dock; a memory storing data that includes at least one telephone number; and a detachable voice communication device including a wireless transducer, a memory and a second data link port. When the device is situated in the dock, the arrangement is capable of transmitting the data to the device via the first and second ports and/or (ii) wirelessly communicating utilizing the transducer.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0001]     Since the introduction of the Palm Pilot in 1996, the personal data assistant (“PDA”) has become a widely used consumer device. PDAs generally comprise a portable handheld computing device that allow users to store addresses, phone numbers, and appointments. PDAs are often designed to complement a desktop or laptop computer and therefore may allow for the synchronization of data between the two.  
         [0002]     Even more prevalent than PDAs, cellular phones allow for mobile communication between users almost anywhere in the world. A cellular phone generally includes a radio-like device capable of receiving and transmitting data via a network of antennas situated in cells (e.g., ten square mile areas). The cells may be located anywhere around the world. Similar to PDAs, many cellular phones are capable of storing information such as phone numbers, addresses, and appointments.  
         [0003]     Transporting both a PDA and a cellular phone may be cumbersome, and the devices often contain redundant information. Some attempts have been made to combine the functionality of a PDA with a cellular phone. However, such devices tend to be undesirably small for a PDA and undesirably large for a cellular phone.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     The present relates to a mobile computing arrangement which includes a body including a communication dock; a first data link port situated in the dock; a memory storing data that includes at least one telephone number; and a detachable voice communication device including a wireless transducer, a memory and a second data link port. When the device is situated in the dock, the arrangement is capable of transmitting the data to the device via the first and second ports and/or (ii) wirelessly communicating utilizing the transducer. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a mobile device and detachable communication device according to the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of a detachable communication device according to the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3A  shows a side view of the mobile device and detachable communication device in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3B  shows a back view of the mobile device and detachable communication device in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4A  shows a front view of another exemplary embodiment of a mobile device and detachable communication device according to the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4B  shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment of a mobile device and detachable communication device shown in  FIG. 4A ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  shows another exemplary embodiment of a detachable communication device according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The present invention is directed to a mobile device or personal data assistant (“PDA”) including a compact, detachable mobile communication device.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a mobile device  100  according to the present invention. The mobile device  100  (e.g., mobile computing arrangement) is preferably sufficiently small for ease of portability. However, some embodiments of the mobile device  100  may be larger, e.g., a laptop computer mobile device. The mobile device  100  includes a device body  102  (e.g., body) to enclose the components of the mobile device  100 . For example, the device body  102  may enclose a power source (not shown) and a memory (not shown). The power source may include one or more batteries (e.g., alkaline and/or rechargeable), or any other power source known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the power source of the mobile device  100  includes a fuel cell (e.g., a hydrogen micro-fuel cell). The memory of the mobile device  100  may include, for example, any known forms of read-only memory (“ROM”) and random access memory (“RAM”). The memory may also include removable memory (e.g., a Compact Flash (“CF”) memory card or Secure Digital (“SD”) memory card).  
         [0014]     The mobile device  100  according to the present invention is capable of storing information in the memory. For example, the memory may include addresses, phone numbers, tasks, emails, and appointments. The mobile device  100  may also store computer or document files, e.g., Microsoft Excel or Word files. The mobile device  100  includes a conventional processor (not shown) for processing the information. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand, the information and files may be accessed, modified, and stored on the mobile device  100  via the processor and an operating system (e.g., Palm OS available from 3Com Corporation or PocketPC available from Microsoft Corporation).  
         [0015]     The mobile device  100  may include a synchronization port  115 . The synchronization port  115  may be, for example, a USB connection, a Firewire connection, a 4- or 6-pin data connection, or any other data connection known to those of skill in the art. In some embodiments, the synchronization port  115  is a wireless connection (e.g., bluetooth and/or wireless LAN connection). The mobile device  100  may send and receive data via the synchronization port  115  with, for example, a personal computer or a peripheral (e.g., a keyboard, a barcode scanner, etc.). The mobile device  100  may also receive power via the synchronization port  115 . For example, an embodiment of the mobile device  100  including a rechargeable power source may be charged via a power supply in communication with the synchronization port  115 .  
         [0016]     Some embodiments of the mobile device  100  include wireless network capability. For example, the mobile device  100  may include embedded wireless capability and/or a wireless network card (e.g., a 802.11b wireless PDA network card) to send and receive data (e.g., information and/or files) via a wireless communication network.  
         [0017]     Shown in  FIG. 1 , the mobile device  100  may include a display  104  allowing a user to view information. The display  104  may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”). In addition to being an output device, the display  104  may also be an input device. For example, the display  104  may be a touch screen capable of receiving input via touch selection or handwriting recognition. Thus, as one of ordinary skill in the art will understand, a user of the mobile device  100  may view, modify, and input information via the display  104 .  
         [0018]     The mobile device  100  may, alternatively or in combination, include a keyboard  106  (e.g., a Sholes keyboard). The keyboard  106  allows for the input and modification of information in the mobile device  100 . The keyboard  106  may be a physical keyboard as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a touch screen virtual keyboard within the display  104 . The keyboard  106  may also be detachable and communicate wirelessly with the mobile device  100  or via a wired connection to the synchronization port  115 . Some embodiments of the mobile device  100  may include a voice recognition system to further receive user input.  
         [0019]     The mobile device  100  according to the present invention includes a detachable communication device  200  (e.g., a mobile phone). The detachable communication device  200  is a two-way (e.g., a full-duplex) communication device (e.g., a voice communication device). The detachable communication device  200  may be adaptable for communication on any cellular or mobile (e.g., digital) network known to those of skill in the art. For example, the detachable communication device  200  may communicate via a personal communications services (“PCS”) network, a global system for mobile communications (“GSM”) network, a wireless LAN (“WLAN”) based voice over IP network or any other wireless wide area network.  
         [0020]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the detachable communication device  200  includes a device body  202 . The device body  202  may be manufactured of any sufficiently durable and lightweight material known to those in the art. The device body  202  may house, for example, a power source (not shown). The power source may include, e.g., one or more batteries (e.g., alkaline and/or rechargeable), a fuel cell (e.g., a hydrogen micro-fuel cell), or any other power source known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The detachable communication device  200  may also include a transmission processor (e.g., wireless transducer) including, for example, a digital signal processor and/or a microprocessor (not shown). In some embodiments, the transmission processor includes a digital-to-analog convertor and/or an analog-to-digital convertor.  
         [0021]     The detachable communication device  200  may also include a speaker  204  and a microphone  206 . As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand, the speaker  204  may transmit audio information received from the communication network to the user. The microphone  206  receives audio information from the user and transmits to the communication network via the transmission processor in the detachable communication device  200 .  
         [0022]     Some embodiments of the detachable communication device  200  according to the present invention include a caller display  208 . The caller display  208  may display information to the user, e.g., an incoming caller&#39;s phone number. However, other embodiments do not include a caller display  208 . In some other embodiments of the present invention, an incoming caller&#39;s phone number may be displayed on the display  104  of the mobile device  100 .  
         [0023]     The detachable communication device  200  may include a keypad  210 . The keypad  210  is used to input a phone number and initiate communication (e.g., a phone call) via the communication network. Some embodiments of the detachable communication device  200  do not include a keypad  210  and a phone number may be received via the display  104  or keyboard  106  of the mobile device  100 . Discussed in more detail below, the phone number may then be transmitted to the detachable communication device  200  wirelessly or via a data connection (e.g., a data link). In some other embodiments, a phone number may be communicated to the detachable communication device  200  by a voice recognition system.  
         [0024]     The detachable communication device  200  according to the present invention includes a phone data link  225  (e.g., second data link port) to transfer and receive information via the mobile device  100 . The phone data link  225  may be, for example, a USB connection, a Firewire connection, a 4- or 6-pin data connection, or any other data connection known to those of skill in the art. Some embodiments include a Bluetooth™ chip to wirelessly transfer and receive information via any other Bluetooth™ enabled device (e.g., the mobile device  100 ). The detachable communication device  200  includes a memory (not shown) to store (e.g., temporarily or permanently) information, for example, received from the mobile device  100  or the keypad  210 .  
         [0025]     The mobile device  100  includes a dock  108  to support (e.g., contain) the detachable communication device  200 , including a device data link  120  (e.g., first data link port). The device data link  120  may include a data connection (e.g., USB, Firewire) compatible with the phone data link  225  of the detachable communication device  200 . The detachable communication device  200 , when stored within the dock  108 , may exchange information with the mobile device  100  via the phone data link  225  and the device data link  120 . For example, a phone number may be communicated to the mobile device  100  (e.g., via the display  104  or the keyboard  106 ) and transmitted to the detachable communication device  200  via the communication port  120 . A user may then remove the detachable communication device  200  from the dock  108  to initiate the phone call. The detachable communication device  200  and the mobile device  100  may also share power via the data links  225 / 120 . For example, the power source of the mobile device may provide energy to charge a rechargeable battery in the detachable communication device  200 .  
         [0026]     The dock  108  may include a slot in the mobile device  100  as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The slot is sized to receive a substantial portion of the detachable communication device  200  within the device body  102 . As shown in another embodiment in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a dock  308  may alternatively include a cradle on the exterior of a device body  302 . The dock  108 / 308  may include a retention device (not shown) to secure the detachable communication device  200 / 400  in the dock  108 / 308 . The retention device may be any releaseable locking mechanism known to those in the art.  
         [0027]     The exemplary embodiment of the mobile device  300  shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  similarly includes a device body  302 , a display  304  and optionally, a keyboard  306 . The mobile device  300  includes a synchronization port  315  and a device data link  320  compatible with a phone data link  425  on a detachable communication device  400 .  
         [0028]     Shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , the detachable communication device  400  may be of any shape and size compatible with the dock  308  of the mobile device  300 . In the exemplary embodiment, the detachable communication device  400  includes a device body  402 , speaker  404 , a microphone  406 , a power source (not shown), and memory (not shown). The detachable communication device  400  may optionally include a keypad  410 .  
         [0029]     The exemplary embodiment of the detachable communication device  400  may be used to communicate via a communication network (e.g., a cellular network or wireless LAN based network). For example, a phone number may be received in the detachable communication device  400  from the mobile device  300  via connectivity between the device data link  320  in the mobile device  300  and a phone data link  425  in the detachable communication device  400 . The phone number may be stored in a memory of the detachable communication device  400  and the detachable communication device  400  removed from the dock  308  to initiate the call. Alternatively, the user may initiate a call with the detachable communication device  400  remaining in the dock  308 . For example, an auxiliary speaker (not shown), e.g., an earpiece or headset, may be used. In other embodiments, the detachable communication device  400  may be operated while in the dock  308 , e.g., in a speaker phone configuration.  
         [0030]     Those skilled in the art will understand that the detachable communication device  400  may serve as a wireless transducer for the mobile device  300 . For example, when the detachable communication device  400  is connected to the mobile device  300 , the mobile device  300  obtains access to the Internet, email, etc.  
         [0031]     While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is realized that numerous modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.