Abstract:
An external support system and method for a mobile device are disclosed. The external support system can include, but is not limited to, processing support for computational intensive tasks such as graphics processing, additional memory for data storage and communications support (e.g., 4G LTE) to augment the mobile device capabilities.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/584,922, entitled “Electronic Device Case with Touch Sensitive Input” and filed on Aug. 14, 2012. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments relate generally to mobile computing devices, and more particularly, to external support system for mobile devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Some conventional mobile devices such as wireless phones, ebook readers, media players, tablet computers, wearable computers (e.g., glasses and watches) and neural gaming devices may have a display device that can be used for games and the like. However, the processors in some of these mobile devices may not have sufficient processing throughput to render complex graphics (e.g., 3-D first person-style graphics). Also, many mobile devices have touch sensitive displays, but these displays may not be ideal for playing games in which a user may want to have maximum visibility of the screen area. 
         [0004]    Also, some mobile devices may not have expandable memories and may have limited communication interfaces that are not able to connect with more advanced protocols (e.g., 4G LTE) that may be required or helpful when playing an online game that may require transmitting large amounts of data (graphics) via the Internet. 
         [0005]    Further, conventional electronic device cases may be passive coverings for protecting an electronic device held within a case. Many portable electronic devices, such as wireless phones tablets, media players, electronic book players and the like have touch sensitive screens. A limitation of these conventional devices may be the amount of surface area available for use as a touch device. Also, another limitation may be that a user may at least partially obstruct the screen of a device when interacting with a touch sensitive display. 
         [0006]    Embodiments were conceived in light of the above-mentioned limitations, among other things. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Some implementations can include a method. The method can include coupling an external support system to a mobile device and receiving, at the mobile device, external support system configuration information. The method can also include storing, in a data storage unit of the mobile device, the external support system configuration information and receiving a request for device capabilities from an application program executing on the mobile device. The method can further include responding to the request by providing information corresponding to internal capabilities and external capabilities and performing a processing task by dividing the processing task between an internal processor and an external processor located in the external support system. The method can also include receiving a first processing result from the internal processor and a second processing result from the external processor and combining the first processing result and the second processing result to produce a combined result. The method can further include generating output from the mobile device based on the combined result. 
         [0008]    The processing task can include a graphics processing task and the external processor provides graphics processing support to the internal processor. Generating the output from the mobile device can include causing a graphical image to be displayed on a display of the mobile device. The graphical image can include an image based on the combined processing result. 
         [0009]    The method can further include storing data received from the mobile device in a data storage section of the external support system and retrieving the stored data from the data storage section of the mobile device and transferring the retrieved data to the mobile device. The method can also include providing an additional communication protocol device and decoding and encoding communications messages for the mobile device with the additional communication protocol device. 
         [0010]    Some implementations can include an external support system for a mobile device. The system can include a body portion adapted to receive and releasably attach to a mobile device and one or more user input devices disposed on an external surface of the body portion. The system can also include a support processor disposed within the body portion and configured to provide graphics processing support to a processor disposed within the mobile device, the one or more user input devices being coupled to the support processor. The system can further include a data storage device coupled to the support processor and configured to provide additional data storage for the mobile device, and an additional communication protocol section that, when enabled, is configured to provide additional communications protocol support for the mobile device. 
         [0011]    The one or more user input devices can include one or more joystick input devices and one or more thumb control input devices. The additional communication protocol can include a 4G LTE SIM card slot. The system can further include an external port configured to couple the system to the mobile device, the external port being coupled to the support processor, an external mini-USB port coupled to the support processor, an external mini-HDMI port coupled to the support processor, and an external memory device interface port coupled to the support processor. 
         [0012]    Some implementations can include a case having a body portion configured to receive an electronic device (e.g. a mobile device) and provide a removable cover for the electronic device. The case can include at least one touch sensitive input device disposed on an exterior surface of the body portion. 
         [0013]    The case can also include an interface configured to transmit a signal from the at least one touch sensitive input device to the electronic device. The interface can include one or more of a universal serial bus interface, a wireless universal serial bus interface, a Bluetooth interface, a serial data interface and a parallel data interface. 
         [0014]    The at least one touch sensitive input device can include two (or more) touch sensitive input devices. The at least one touch sensitive input device can be disposed on a back exterior surface of the case opposite from a front of the case where a screen of the electronic device is viewable. The at least one touch sensitive input device can include one or more of a resistive device, a surface acoustic wave device, a capacitive device, an infrared device, an optical imaging device, a dispersive signal device and an acoustic pulse recognition device. The capacitive device can include one or more of a surface capacitive device, a projected capacitive device, a mutual capacitance and a self-capacitance device. 
         [0015]    The case can include a power source (e.g., battery, capacitor, power connector, or the like) configured to power the at least one touch sensitive input device and the interface. The at least one touch sensitive input device can include an edge portion configured to provide tactile feedback to a user in locating the at least one touch sensitive input device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a diagram of an example device case with a touch sensitive input device in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a diagram of an example device case with a plurality of touch sensitive input devices in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a diagram of an example external support system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a top-front perspective view of an example external support system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a side plan view of an example external support system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a chart of an example external support system method in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an example device case with an optical touch pad input device in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a side view diagram of the optical touch pad of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0024]      FIGS. 9A-9C  are side view diagrams of the optical touchpad of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart of an example method for optical touch pad control in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an electronic device case  100  can include a body portion  102  at least partially covering the electronic device. The case can include a touch sensitive input device  104  that can have an edge portion  106  that is configured (e.g., raised) to provide a user with tactile guidance as to the location of the touch sensitive input device  104 . 
         [0027]    The electronic device (or mobile device) can include a wireless phone (iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, Palm OS device or the like), a tablet device (iPad or the like), a media player (iPod or the like), an electronic book reader (Kindle, Nook or the like), laptop computer, notebook computer or the like. The device can also include a wearable computer (e.g., glasses, watches and the like), a neural-gaming device or the like. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows an example case system  200  having a body portion  202 , a first touch sensitive input device  204 , a second touch sensitive input device  206 . Each touch sensitive input device can have an edge (e.g.,  208 ) that provides tactile feedback to a user as to the location of the respective touch sensitive input devices. 
         [0029]    An embodiment can include an interface (e.g., Bluetooth, USB, wireless USB, wired or wireless connection) for transmitting a signal from the touch sensitive input device(s) to the electronic device. The case can also include a processor and/or a power source. The processor can be used to collect signals from the touch sensitive input device(s) and transmit the signals to the electronic device via the interface. The power source can be used to power the touch sensitive input device(s), processor and/or interface. 
         [0030]    The touch sensitive input device can include one or more of a resistive device, surface acoustic wave device, capacitive device (e.g., surface capacitive, projected capacitive, mutual capacitance, self-capacitance, or the like), infrared device, optical imaging device, dispersive signal device, acoustic pulse recognition device or the like. 
         [0031]    An embodiment can also include a system having one or more touch sensitive input devices on an exterior of a case and a software program stored on a nontransitory computer readable medium and configured to be executed (or run) on the electronic device. The software program can be configured to provide an image on a display of the device of a location (or locations) of a user fingers on the touch sensitive input devices. The image or images can be partially transparent so as to permit the user to see both a location of the fingers on the touch sensitive input device(s) and to see the screen image simultaneously. 
         [0032]    While the examples above show one and two touch sensitive input devices, it will be appreciated that an embodiment can include more than two separate touch sensitive input devices (e.g., one device for each finger of each hand). The separate touch sensitive input devices can be assigned the same or different functions (e.g., keyboard keys, game controller inputs or the like). Also, in addition to being disposed on a back exterior surface of the case, one or more touch sensitive input devices can be placed on other exterior surfaces of the case. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows a diagram of an example external support system  300  in accordance with at least one embodiment. The system  300  includes a processor  302  (e.g., a CPU, GPU or both), mobile device interface  304 , communications protocol interface port  306 , optional BIOS  308 , RAM  310 , external memory card port  312 , and one or more external interfaces  314 . 
         [0034]    The external support system  300  is configured to be coupled (via wired interface, wireless interface, or both) to a mobile device  316 . The external interfaces  314  can include one or more of a mini-USB, mini-HDMI, Ethernet (wired or wireless), WiFi, Bluetooth or the like. 
         [0035]    In addition to the above mentioned components, the external support system  300  can include one or more of user interface controls, a flash memory, ROM memory, operating system (stored in a memory device), operating system interface unit (e.g., for communicating between the operating system of the mobile device, e.g., iOS, and the operating system of the external support system, e.g., Android, which can be different), cooling system (active, passive or both), battery and associated charging circuit, accelerometer (or “G” sensor), vibration unit to provide tactile feedback, speaker(s), and network adapters. 
         [0036]    The processor  302  of the system  300  can perform some or all of the processing needed by an application executing on the mobile device. Also, the external support system  300  can be used to download, store and playback bulk media data (e.g., video, audio, images and the like). 
         [0037]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show an example external support system in accordance with at least one embodiment. The external support system is configured to receive a mobile device (e.g., a wireless phone) and to connect to the mobile device via one or more interfaces such as physical interface port (e.g.,  2 . 2 . 2 ) and wireless interface (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth or the like). The system includes one or more joystick game input devices ( 2 . 1 . 1 ) and one or more thumb input devices ( 2 . 1 . 2 ). 
         [0038]    The joystick game input devices ( 2 . 1 . 1 ) can include touchpad sensor or mechanical joystick-type buttons disposed on a front surface and/or a back surface of the external support system. The joystick game input devices ( 2 . 1 . 1 ) can be located on each side of the device to accommodate playing left-handed, right-handed or with both hands. Also, the joystick game input devices ( 2 . 1 . 1 ) can be located on the external support system at locations where the index and/or middle fingers would naturally be placed. The joystick game input devices ( 2 . 1 . 1 ) can include one or more input switches or sensors (e.g., one each for left, right, up, down and center). 
         [0039]    The thumb input devices ( 2 . 1 . 2 ) can be corrugated or textured to permit better gripping force between the thumbs and the thumb input devices ( 2 . 1 . 2 ). The thumb input devices ( 2 . 1 . 2 ) may have an axis of movement (or rotation about a point) in a single plane (e.g., the x-axis plane) and an additional input signal from pressing the thumb input devices ( 2 . 1 . 2 ) as a button. 
         [0040]    The user interface buttons can be programmed (or mapped) to perform specific functions. In addition to being used as game control input devices, the input devices can be mapped to perform function such as navigation in a web browser or the like. 
         [0041]    The external support system can also include one or more external interface connectors such as an external memory card slot ( 2 . 2 . 1 ), a mini-USB port ( 2 . 2 . 3 ) and a mini-HDMI port ( 2 . 2 . 4 ). 
         [0042]    In addition to input controls and external interface ports, the external support system can include a slot for a communications interface device (e.g., a SIM chip) for providing an enhanced communications capability (e.g., 4G LTE) to the mobile device. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a chart of an example external support system method in accordance with at least one embodiment. Processing begins at  602 , where an external support system (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 ) is coupled (either wired or wirelessly) to a mobile device (e.g., iPhone, iPad, Android phone, ebook reader, media player or the like). Processing continues to  604 . 
         [0044]    At  604 , external support system configuration information is sent from the external support system and received at the mobile device. Processing continues to  606 . 
         [0045]    At  606 , external support system configuration information is stored in the mobile device. Processing continues to  608 . 
         [0046]    At  608 , the mobile device receives a request for capabilities (e.g., from a software application that is executing on the mobile device). Processing continues to  610 . 
         [0047]    At  610 , the mobile device responds to the request with information about internal and external capabilities (including information based on the external support system configuration information received in step  604 ). Processing continues to  612 . 
         [0048]    At  612 , a processing task is divided between the internal processor of the mobile device and the external support processor of the external support system. The processing task can be divided using known or later developed multi-processor techniques. Processing continues to  614 . 
         [0049]    At  614 , results are received from the internal processor and the external processor. Processing continues to  616 . 
         [0050]    At  616 , the results from the internal processor and the external support processor are combined into a combined result. Processing continues to  618 . 
         [0051]    At  618 , the mobile device processor outputs a result based on the combined result (e.g., updates the display according to graphics images in the combined result). 
         [0052]    It will be appreciated that  602 - 618  can be repeated in whole or in part in order to accomplish a contemplated processing task using an external support system. 
         [0053]    In addition to processing, the external support system can provide data storage/retrieval and/or communications support. 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an example device case with an optical touch pad input device in accordance with at least one embodiment. A device case (e.g.,  200 ) can include one or more optical touch pad transceivers  702 .  FIG. 8  is a side view diagram of the optical touch pad of  FIG. 7 , and shows the optical transmit signal and return signal. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 9A-9C  are side view diagrams of the optical touchpad of  FIG. 7 . In particular, an optical touchpad transceiver can include a plurality of component zones. As shown in  FIG. 9A , the can be a first zone  1 , a second zone  2 , a third zone  3  and a fourth zone  4 . Zones  1  and  4  can be a source of light (e.g., infrared light, LED or other illuminator). Zones  2  and  3  can be receivers or transducers. The illuminator is on in the diagram shown in  FIG. 9B . 
         [0056]    In  9 C, the receiver (e.g.,  2 ) is receiving a trace finger movement. 
         [0057]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart of an example method for optical touch pad control in accordance with at least one embodiment. Processing begins at  1002 , where one or more illuminators is turned on. Processing continues to  1004 . 
         [0058]    At  1004 , finger movement indications are received from the receivers (e.g.,  2  and/or  3 ). Processing continues to  1006 . 
         [0059]    At  1006 , the system can superimpose finger contour image on main screen image. Processing continues to  1008 . 
         [0060]    At  1008 , the superimposed image is displayed. Processing continues to  1010 . 
         [0061]    At  1010 , the user chooses which fingers will control program. Processing continues to  1012 . 
         [0062]    At  1012 , other finger traces are ignored and/or removed from the display. 
         [0063]    In addition to the example devices described above, the mobile device can include augmented reality systems (e.g., Google Glass or the like), furniture or wall mounted displays or the like. 
         [0064]    It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided, in accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, an external support system configured to augment the capabilities of a mobile device. 
         [0065]    While the disclosed subject matter has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, Applicant intends to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter.