Patent ID: 8682999

Claim:
A portable computing device configured to switch between a plurality of modes that includes a wired zero client mode and a wireless zero client mode, the device comprising: one or more local control processors configured to: execute a controller and gateway on the portable computer device to operate the portable computer device in a local mode that operates independent of a host computer remote from the portable computer device, wherein the one or more local control processors receive input from an input device during the local mode; receive an indication to switch from the local mode to a zero client mode that relies upon the host computer for operation; responsive to the indication to switch from the local mode to the zero client mode comprising an indication to switch from the local mode to the wired zero client mode, discontinue the local mode and the controller and gateway based on the received indication to switch from the local mode to the wired zero client mode; and one or more zero client processors configured to: receive, from the one or more local control processors, at least partial control of the portable computing device when the local mode has been discontinued and based on the indication to switch from the local mode to the zero client mode, wherein the one or more zero client processors receive input from the input device during the zero client mode; execute a zero client communication protocol with the host computer, wherein the zero client communication protocol facilitates the host computer communicating to the one or more zero client processors only display information based on a process executing at the host computer; and responsive to the indication to switch from the local mode to the zero client mode comprising an indication to switch from the local mode to the wired zero client mode, establish a wired communication channel with the host computer remote from the portable computing device independent of the controller and gateway during the wired zero client mode.