Abstract:
An electronic communications and user interface kit, including a display device; a plurality of separate electronic devices capable of directly utilizing the display device; and a portable container with an interconnection system integrated into the container and connected to the display device and the plurality of electronic devices for transferring display information from the plurality of electronic devices to the display device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to portable electronic devices and more particularly to electronic devices having user interface displays. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Portable electronic devices are used for many applications. Examples include telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, global position systems, digital cameras, and the like. These devices typically include separate batteries, re-chargers, displays, and touch screens where necessary. For users with multiple devices, the need to carry more than one device means that redundant battery, display, and user interfaces are carried as well. These redundant components of electronic devices are costly, bulky, heavy, and a nuisance to carry and organize. 
   Portable organizational containers, such as notebooks or 3-ring binders with attractive covers are commonly used. Such containers incorporate papers, pads, writing instruments, calculators and the like but are not well adapted to carry electronic devices. Larger containers such as briefcases are designed for carrying a wide variety of electronic devices but do not provide a means to reduce the redundancy of components. It is also known to provide items of clothing designed to carry electronic devices. Some of these items include network connectors. Such collections of devices still do not address the problem of redundant components and power supplies. 
   There is a need therefore for an improved container incorporating a variety of mobile electronic devices that is convenient and does not require redundant components. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The need is met according to the present invention by providing an electronic communications and user interface kit that includes a display device; a plurality of separate electronic devices capable of directly utilizing the display device; and a portable container with an interconnection system integrated into the container and connected to the display device and the plurality of electronic devices for transferring display information from the plurality of electronic devices to the display device. The expression directly utilizing as used herein means that the electronic devices communicate directly with the display device without the need for a separate central processor. 
   ADVANTAGES 
   The present invention has the advantage that it can provide a single high quality display for a plurality of electronic devices thereby reducing the cost of providing a separate display for each device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an electronic communications and user interface kit according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a display device having a touch screen that is useful in the kit of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of an electronic communications and user interface kit according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of an electronics communications and user interface kit according to the present invention, contained in an article of clothing. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Portable electronic devices are used for many applications. Examples include telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, global position systems, digital cameras, and the like. These devices typically include separate batteries, re-chargers, displays, and touch screens where necessary. For users with multiple devices, the need to carry more than one device means that redundant battery, display, and user interfaces are carried as well. These redundant components of electronic devices are costly, bulky, heavy, and a nuisance to carry and organize. 
   The present invention addresses these problems by providing a kit including a portable container incorporating a system interconnecting a variety of electronic devices to a single display device. The electronic devices can include a battery and the connection system can include a power distribution network, thus providing a common power source for all of the electronic devices. The separate display device can include an optional touch screen. The display device acts as a common visual interface to all of the electronic devices. Each electronic device utilizes the display device for the visual user interface requirements of that device and communicates to the display device through the interconnection network. Various software tools are available to support the use of a shared display and user input devices, as is well known in the art. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an electronic communications and user interface kit according to the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the kit  10  incorporates a display device  12 , an interconnection network  14 , and separate electronic devices  16  physically placed within a container  11 . The interconnection network  14  includes a power distribution network  18  and a communications network  19  supplying power and communication connections to each electronic device  16  and the display device  12 . The communications network  19  may be a wired connection, or may provide a wireless connection to one or more of the electronic devices  16  and the display device  12 . The electronic devices  16  and the display device  12  are each provided with a network and power interface connection  44 . The power distribution network  18  is connected to a power supply  17  sufficient to supply the power needs of the electronic devices  16  and display device  12 . The power supply can be a battery (preferably rechargeable) or a fuel cell. An external connector  13  can be provided for connecting to a charger  15  for recharging the power supply  17 . Alternatively, the charger  15  can be included in the container  11  as part of the kit. The communications network  19  can be any standard communication connection such as Ethernet or Universal Serial Bus (USB) using any compatible existing standard communication protocols, such as TCP/IP, etc. as is well known and widely available. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the display device  12  includes a display screen  20  and may optionally include a touch screen  22  mounted with the display screen  20 . Preferably, the display screen is between 5×8 cm and 12×20 cm and has a resolution of between 40 and 100 display elements. The display device  12  also includes a network interface and controller  24  (hereafter also referred to as “display interface”) to operate the display screen  20  and touch screen  22  and to communicate with the electronic devices  16 . The display screen  20  can be a liquid crystal display or, preferably, an organic light emitting diode display. The interface and controller  24  for the display screen  20  is conventional and known in the art. The touch screen  22  can employ 4- or 5-wire resistive touch screen technology or other touch-sensitive technology as is also known in the art. 
   The display device  12  may be physically connected to the connection network with wires or, alternatively, incorporate a transciever  26  and antenna  28  to communicate with a transciever  46  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) located in the container  11  and connected to the communications network  19 . Any suitable wireless communication technique may be used (e.g. RF or infrared). RF standards such as the Bluetooth standard or an 802.11a or b, or 802.15 compliant mechanism are preferred. 
   If a wireless connection is implemented, the display device  12  includes a power supply of its own  30 . The power supply  30  can be a battery (preferably rechargeable), a capacitor, or a fuel cell. This power supply  30  may be relatively small compared to the power supply  17 , and can be recharged from the larger power supply  17  in the container  11  (when connected to the connection system) and may only need to operate for a few minutes or as is necessary to interact with an electronic device  16 . The display device  12  is provided with a connector  44  that can be readily disconnected from the power distribution and communications network  14 . Preferrably, the controller  24  automatically switches the display device  12  from a connected mode (obtaining power and recharging power supply  30  through the power distribution network  18  and communicating through the communications network  19 ) to a disconnected mode using the local power supply  30  and the transceiver  26  for communication with the electronic devices  16 . 
   The electronic devices  16  are independent and can be individually removed from the network  14  without affecting the other electronic devices. The electronic devices utilize a software layer providing discovery and communication services such as UPNP (universal plug and play) as is also known in the art and commercially available. 
   The user display device  12  may also incorporate other interaction modalities, such as microphones  32  or speakers  34 , as necessary to support the available electronic devices  16  and may be integrated or external (for example, a headset). Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the microphone  32  and speaker  34  may be included as an independently powered headset with a wireless connection to a transceiver/network interface  46  connected to communications and power network  14 . Alternatively, the headset can be connected directly to the communications and power network  14  through a network interface (not shown). 
   In operation, the devices communicate through the network  19  and to the user interface device  12 . Their power is obtained through the power distribution network  18 , thus enabling very small, lightweight, and inexpensive devices to use a common power supply and user interface. Any of a wide variety of electronic devices may be incorporated into the kit, including a cell phone  52 , a pager  54 , a PDA  56 , a portable video or audio player  58 , a digital camera (not shown), a television receiver, or a GPS device (not shown), and the like. A compact keyboard  60  provided with a network interface  44  connected to the network  14  can be provided. The compact keyboard  60  can be a folding keyboard such as the Stowaway™ folding keyboard sold by ThinkOutside Inc. The keyboard may also be provided with a separate power supply and wireless connection as described above with respect to the display device  12 . 
   The electronic devices  16  may include wireless connections to external devices and communication networks such as cellular communication networks, global positioning satellites and local computer network access points, thus providing access to the Internet or to other computer systems. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the container  11  can be implemented as a notebook with covers  40  as is commonly done with notebooks incorporating pads of paper, writing instruments, flat calculators, and the like. Preferably, the notebook has edge enclosures that can be zippered shut for security of the electronic devices inside. On each cover  40  are device storage locations  42  such as pockets, bands or similar device restraints where the electronic devices  16  can be secured. The container may also be used to carry conventional notebook materials such as pens and papers. At each device storage location, a connection  44  to the power distribution and communications network is provided. The interconnection system  14  can be integrated into the covers and spine of the notebook as can any antennae  64  utilized by the electronic devices and display device. A wide variety of arrangements can be created to implement the storage and connection mechanisms for the devices. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the container may also be implemented as an article of clothing, such as a vest  66 , with pockets  68  in the vest for receiving the electronic devices and the display, and the interconnection system being integrated into the vest. A headset  48  can be connected to the communications interconnection  14  as shown. 
   The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   PARTS LIST  
   
       
         10  kit 
         11  container 
         12  display device 
         13  external connector 
         14  interconnection network 
         15  charger 
         16  electronic device 
         17  power supply 
         18  power distribution network 
         19  communications network 
         20  display screen 
         22  touch screen 
         24  controller 
         26  transceiver 
         28  antenna 
         30  power supply 
         32  microphone 
         34  speaker 
         40  covers 
         42  device storage locations 
         44  interface connection 
         46  transceiver/network interface 
         48  headset 
         52  cell phone 
         54  pager 
         56  PDA 
         58  audio/video player 
         60  compact keyboard 
         64  antenna 
         66  vest 
         68  pocket