Patent Application
20080228905
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system for managing a plurality of portable devices. More particularly, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system for managing a plurality of portable devices, connectors, protocols, and power sources currently available in the electronics market.
The subject matter disclosed herein is illustrated by way of example and not by limitation in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not to be construed as necessarily preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
In today's world, professionals, executives and engineers among others are increasingly finding themselves in exotic environments filled with various portable devices, various power sources, various communications protocols and various physical connectors. Additionally, the rapid movement of technology assures that a plethora of devices, power sources, communications protocols and physical connectors exist simultaneously during the serviceable lifetime windows for devices. The communication connection problem grows in combinatorially with the power/power connector and communication protocol options, thereby quickly producing an unmanageable set of solutions. One exemplary embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a portable central staging area for holding portable devices so that the portable devices may connect to a more immediately known quantity instead of to a plurality of other different devices and/or power sources, thereby changing the combinatorial problem of combining portable devices into a linear problem with the subject matter disclosed herein as a portable hub of a portable cluster. The subject matter disclosed herein enables those who experience shifts in the technology milieu, such as modern professionals and travelers among others, to use more devices in more places, while also providing vendors of new devices with a larger selection of compatible devices.
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system for managing a plurality of portable devices, connectors, protocols, and power sources currently available in the electronics market. Examples of such portable devices include, but are not limited to, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), cell phones, Personal Communication System (PCS) devices, Global Positioning Systems (GPSs), MP3 players, video players, digital cameras, video cameras, laptop computers, tablet PCs, handheld PCs, special-purpose devices, application-specific devices and satellite equipment.
The subject matter disclosed herein provides a staging device comprising a storage device capable of receiving and storing at least one of a message and data intended to be received by at least one portable device, and a power source capable of supplying power to a portable device intended to receive at least one of the message and data stored in the storage device. The power source comprises at least one of a fuel cell, a gel cell, a battery and a nuclear battery. One exemplary embodiment of the staging device provides that the battery is capable of being charged by one of the fuel cell and the gel cell. One exemplary embodiment of the staging device provides that the power source further comprises a power supply capable of supplying power to at least one portable device. Another exemplary embodiment of the staging device provides that the power source is further capable of receiving energy from an external alternating current power source. One exemplary embodiment of the staging device further comprises a controller coupled to the storage device capable of converting at least one of the message and the data stored in the storage device to a communication format that is appropriate for an intended portable device. One exemplary embodiment of the staging device provides that the storage device is selectively coupled to at least one portable device by at least one of a wired communication link and a wireless communication link. Another exemplary embodiment of the staging device provides that the power source device is selectively coupled to at least one portable device by at least one of a wired power transfer link and a wireless power transfer link. The staging device can be configured as, but is not limited to, one of a bag, a sack, a backpack, a briefcase, a tool case, an equipment case, a ditty bag, and an article of clothing.
One exemplary embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein comprises a staging device that is portable and is typically carried from place-to-place by a user so that the user has access to the functionality of the staging device. One exemplary embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein is configured as a bag, a backpack or a sack that has been enhanced with a number of features, such as one or more custom-sized holding areas, embedded electronics, a communications capability, expanded data storage, power supplies, power supply fuel, and system heating and cooling. Other exemplary configurations of the staging device according to the subject matter disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, a brief case, a tool case, an equipment case, a ditty bag, or an article of clothing, such as a jacket or a pair of pants.
One embodiment of a staging device according to the subject matter disclosed herein comprises connectors and/or ports for providing a communications link and/or a power supply link between a portable electronic device and the staging device. Additionally or alternatively, a staging device comprises wireless communications capability, such as, but not limited to, radio frequency (RF) communications capability and/or infrared communications capability, for providing a communications link and/or a power transfer link between the staging device and one or more portable electronic devices.
A user intending to send a message and/or data between multiple portable devices may send the message and/or the data to the staging device, even though only one portable device at a time available and/or powered on and the other intended devices are unavailable and/or powered off. The staging device stores the message and/or data until the desired destination portable device is available, at which time the staging device forwards the message and/or data.
In one exemplary embodiment, a staging device according to the subject matter disclosed herein provides a single point for connecting all portable devices into a power source. Accordingly, portable devices may be left in the staging device, tethered to the staging device, or left charging in the staging device, during active use of the portable device and/or during quiescent charging cycles.
In one exemplary embodiment, the staging device includes an electrical energy storage device, such as a battery fuel cell, a nuclear power battery and/or a gel-cell power source, that allows the staging device to provide power to several portable devices for a length of time that exceeds the battery life of the individual portable devices. For example, a handheld GPS unit may have significant power requirements, but be physically smaller than commonly available battery formats that would be capable of supplying power for any appreciable length of time. In another exemplary embodiment, the staging device itself is plugged into, for example, a wall receptacle and the GPS device may be left tethered to the staging device via a power cord or via inductive coupling. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the GPS device may contain rechargeable batteries that are recharged when the GPS is coupled to the staging device. It should be understood that other portable devices, not just GPS devices, could be tethered to a staging device.
Computer 101 is coupled to memory 102 in a well-known manner. Memory 102 is capable of storing messages and/or data that is intended for communications between portable devices. Additionally, when computer 101 is configured to execute machine-executable instructions, memory 102 is further capable of storing the machine-executable instructions and other operating state conditions for computer 101. In one exemplary embodiment, memory 102 comprises random-access memory (RAM). In another exemplary embodiment, memory 102 comprises read-only memory (ROM). In yet another exemplary embodiment, memory 102 comprises a mass storage capability, in which case mass storage device 103 could still be used. In still another exemplary embodiment, memory 102 comprises a storage capability that is removable from staging device 100, such as, but not limited to, a ZIP drive, a CD-ROM, a flash drive, a memory module and/or a floppy disk. Computer 101 is coupled to mass storage device 103 in a well-known manner. Mass storage device 103 is capable of storing messages and/or data that is intended for communications between portable devices. In one exemplary embodiment, mass storage device 103 comprises a hard disk drive and/or an optical storage device. In another exemplary embodiment, mass storage device 103 comprises a mass storage capability that is removable from staging device 100, such as, but not limited to, a ZIP drive, a CD-ROM, a flash drive, a memory module and/or a floppy disk. Mass storage device 103 is depicted as being external to computer 101, but alternatively be internal to computer 101.
Computer 101 is coupled to router 104 in a well-known manner. Router 104 provides communications routing functionality in a well-known manner. In one exemplary embodiment, router 104 is a separate component from computer 101. In another exemplary embodiment, computer 104 provides router functionality.
User interface device 105 is coupled to processor/controller 101 in a well-known manner and provides capability for processor/controller 101 for receiving input commands and/or data from a user for controlling operation of staging device 100. In one exemplary embodiment user interface device 105 comprises a keypad or a keyboard. In another exemplary embodiment, user interface device 105 comprises a display capability (not shown in
Power source 106 comprises at least one energy source 106a-106n, such as one or more batteries, gel-cell devices, fuel-cell devices, and/or nuclear-type batteries. Alternatively, power source 106 comprises a line cord that plugs into a wall receptacle. Power source 106 provides energy to power supply 107, which conditions the energy provided by power source 106 in a well-known manner to provide selected AC and/or DC voltages and currents for powering different portable devices and/or charging the batteries of the different portable devices. That is, power supply 107, which is depicted in
Connectors 109a-109n are adapted to receive different portable devices (not shown in
While
One exemplary embodiment of staging device 100 comprises at least one I/O port 115 that can be coupled to, for example, an external communications network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), the Internet and/or a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). In particular,
One exemplary embodiment of staging device 100 provides a notification to a user of the existence of a message and/or data for a particular device on another device. In one alternative embodiment, in addition to coordinating messages and/or data between devices directly serviced by the staging device, the staging device coordinates messages and/or data between servers and devices. For example, if all devices are deactivated and stowed in proximity to the staging device, the staging device may accept messages and/or data for one or more of the devices, and then forward the messages and/or data at an appropriate time, such as when the device is activated. One exemplary embodiment of a staging device communicates in a well-known manner with another staging device for purposes of caching messages and/or data for served devices. In another exemplary embodiment, synchronization is supported in a well-known manner so that the same or similar data may be maintained on a number of devices, including the devices supported by the staging device.
One exemplary embodiment of staging device 100 supports conversion between protocols in order to facilitate communication between portable devices. For example, the staging device may provide, but is not limited to, Bluetooth-based communication functionality, infrared-based communication functionality, IEEE-802.11-based communication functionality, USB-based communication functionality, Ethernet-based communication functionality, WiFi communication functionality, Firewire communication functionality and/or IEEE-1588-based communication functionality. In another exemplary embodiment, staging device 100 converts cellular telephone and broadcast standards, such as, but not limited to, GSM, TDMA and CDMA, to other communication protocols in a well-known manner, such as the communication standards that are used in other countries. In another exemplary embodiment, protocol conversions are provided for a number of message and/or data types including, but not limited to, email, audio, raw data, images, video, and text. In still another exemplary embodiment, protocol conversion is provided between all protocol types on all protocol layers, such as described by the IEEE-802-based standards, USB-based standards, Ethernet-based standards, WiFi communication functionality, Firewire communication functionality and/or IEEE-1588-based communication functionality. In yet another exemplary embodiment, staging device 100 is communicatively coupled to an entity that is external to staging device 100, such as, but not limited to a wireless hub, a personal computer or an appliance, and converts messages and/or data between different protocols for the external entity. For this exemplary embodiment, the external entity could communicate using a communication protocol that is different from the communication protocols of portable devices associated with staging device 100.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of staging device 100 provides firewall functionality for portable devices associated with staging device 100. Additionally or alternatively, staging device 100 can monitor and provide analysis information relating to communication events occurring between different portable devices and/or between selected portable devices and other external entities, and/or powering events for different portable devices.
In addition to message, data coordination and/or protocol conversion, another exemplary embodiment of staging device 100 provides compatibility for various physical connectors, such as connectors 109, 112 and/or connectors 115 depicted in
In an exemplary embodiment that uses fuel-cell technology, a staging device according to the subject matter disclosed herein comprises a storage container for safely holding liquid fuel.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, a staging device according to the subject matter disclosed herein comprises a nuclear battery. The radioactive source of the nuclear battery inundates a cathode and anode pair in a well-known manner to produce electrical current. A bladder or compartment surrounding around the radioactive battery protects a user from radiation exposure.
It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.
