Application of modulated vibrations in docking scenarios

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10122184-B2
Application number	US-201615266336-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2016
Priority date	Sep 15, 2016
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A docking station for electronic devices is disclosed. The docking station includes: a housing defining a docking area for receiving an electronic device; a vibrator for generating vibrations, the vibrator being positioned in the docking station such that vibrations generated by the vibrator are transmitted to at least a part of the electronic device when the electronic device is docked in the docking area; and a controller coupled to the vibrator, the controller being configured to: detect that the electronic device is docked in the docking area; and in response to detecting that the electronic device is docked in the docking area, cause the vibrator to generate vibrations corresponding to a signal representing an identifier of the docking station.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A docking station for electronic devices, comprising:
a housing defining a docking area for receiving an electronic device and a docking surface for supporting the electronic device in the docking area;
a vibrator for generating vibrations, the vibrator being positioned in the docking station and coupled to the docking surface such that vibrations generated by the vibrator are transmitted to at least a part of the electronic device when the electronic device is docked in the docking area; and
a controller coupled to the vibrator, the controller being configured to:
detect that the electronic device is docked in the docking area;
determine that the docked electronic device is compatible for use with the docking station; and
in response to detecting that the electronic device is docked in the docking area and that the docked electronic device is compatible for use with the docking station, cause the vibrator to generate modulated vibrations encoding an identifier of the docking station.

2. The docking station of claim 1 , further comprising a connector interface for operatively engaging a port of the electronic device.

3. The docking station of claim 2 , wherein the vibrator comprises the connector interface.

4. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises a bit stream message.

5. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the vibrator makes direct physical contact with the electronic device when the electronic device is docked in the docking area.

6. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a wall for supporting the electronic device in a generally upright position when the electronic device is docked in the docking area and wherein the vibrator is configured to cause the wall to vibrate.

7. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the vibrator comprises a vibration motor connected to a power supply and wherein the controller is configured to control the vibration motor.

8. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is a media access control (MAC) address of the docking station.

9. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the signal represents a hash value of an identifier of the docking station.

10. The docking station of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication subsystem coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive, from the electronic device, a message confirming that an identity of the docking station has been recognized by the electronic device; and
in response to receiving the message, cause the vibrator to cease generating vibrations.

11. The docking station of claim 1 , further comprising a memory, wherein the identifier is stored in the memory.

12. The docking station of claim 1 , wherein the controller causes the vibrator to generate the vibrations at predetermined time intervals.

13. A processor-implemented method of operating a docking station for electronic devices, the docking station including a housing defining a docking surface for supporting a docked electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting that an electronic device is docked to the docking station;
determine that the docked electronic device is compatible for use with the docking station; and
in response to detecting that the electronic device is docked to the docking station and that the docked electronic device is compatible for use with the docking station, causing a vibrator of the docking station to generate modulated vibrations encoding an identifier of the docking station,
wherein the vibrator is coupled to the docking surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the signal comprises a bit stream message.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the identifier is a media access control (MAC) address of the docking station.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the signal represents a hash value of an identifier of the docking station.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving, from the electronic device, a message confirming that an identity of the docking station has been recognized by the electronic device; and
in response to receiving the message, causing the vibrator to cease generating vibrations.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the vibrator is caused to generate the vibrations at predetermined time intervals.

Assignees

• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Smadi Mohammed Nawaf
• Clemmer Jeffrey Ronald

Classifications

• H02J7/47

  Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/751 Primary

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title