Patent ID: 8244235

Claim:
A system for extending mobile device functionality comprising: a mobile device; a portable mobile device extender coupled to the mobile device via a first communication link; and a piece of measuring equipment coupled to the portable mobile device extender over a second communication link, wherein the portable mobile device extender is configured to, receive a command from the mobile device over the first communication link, wherein the command has a first format, convert the command into a second format, wherein the second format corresponds to the piece of measuring equipment, provide the command to the piece of measuring equipment in the second format over the second communication link, receive, over the second communication link, a raw stream of data from the piece of measuring equipment that is responsive to said command, and provide measurement-related data to the mobile device, wherein the measurement-related data is based on said raw stream of data, wherein further the mobile device is configured to, import a native computer-aided design (CAD) file, compare at least a portion of said measurement-related data received from the portable mobile device extender to a nominal set of data from said CAD file, and generate a report that includes results of said comparing.