Electronic device and information processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11026271-B2
Application number	US-201916369745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2019
Priority date	Mar 30, 2018
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

An electronic device and an information processing method are provided. The electronic device includes a master device and a slave device. The master device includes a first functional component with a first function. The first function comprises transmitting a first wireless signal and receiving a second wireless signal transmitted by an external electronic device. In response to that the slave device is physically connected to the master device, the slave device performs the first function. In response to that the slave device is separated from the master device, the slave device performs a second function. The second function is different from the first function.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a master device, connected to a wired network and being a wireless router, the master device comprising a plurality of routing antennas and a master processor configured to conduct a first function via the plurality of routing antennas, the first function including transmitting a first wireless signal and receiving a second wireless signal transmitted by an external electronic device;
a slave device comprising,
at least one routing-amplifying antenna;
a slave processor configured to conduct the first function in response to that the slave device is physically connected to the master device, and to conduct a second function in response to that the slave device is detached from the master device, the second function, being different from the first function, including receiving and amplifying the first wireless signal, receiving the second wireless signal, and transmit the received second wireless signal to the master device via the at least one routing-amplifying antenna;
wherein the slave device is detachably attachable to the master device.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the slave device further comprises:
a slave local connector configured to, in response to that the slave device performs the first function, receive a first internal signal that generates the first wireless signal from a second communication module of the master device; or transmit a second internal signal generated according to the second wireless signal to the master device wherein the at least one routing-amplifying antenna is connected to the slave local connector, for transmitting the first wireless signal and receiving the second wireless signal when the slave device performs the first function.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein:
in response to that the slave device is connected to the master device, the slave processor is in a first operational state for which the amplifying circuit is in a non-operational state;
in response to that the slave device is separated from the master device, the slave processor is in a second operational state for which the amplifying circuit is in an operational state.

4. The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein:
after the slave device is connected to the master device, the slave device operates in a first operational mode;
after the slave device is separated from the master device, the slave device operates in a second operational mode;
the slave processor is provided for, in response to that the slave device is connected to the master device, generating a first control signal that controls the slave device to be in the first operational mode and, in response to that the slave device is separated from the master device, generating a second control signal that controls the slave device to be in the second operational mode.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the slave device further includes:
a detection circuit for detecting the communication state information of the slave local connector and the master local connector; or for detecting the slave local connector and the connection state information of the master local connector wherein the slave processor is specifically for, according to the communication state information or the connection state information, generating the first control signal or the second control signal.

6. The electronic device according to claim 2 , wherein:
the slave local connector and a master local connector perform signal interaction through electromagnetic coupling;
the slave local connector is adapted to the master local connector of the master device;
after the slave device is connected to the master device, it is determined that the slave local connector is in physical contact with the second connection module; and
after the slave device is separated from the master device, it is determined that the contact between the slave local connector and the master local connector is disconnected.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the slave device further comprises
an amplifying circuit for amplifying the first wireless signal received from the master device and forming a third internal signal when the slave device performs the second function
wherein the second function further includes transmitting a third wireless signal corresponding to the first wireless signal according to the third internal signal.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7 further comprises a master local connector, wherein:
the slave local connector comprises a first wired interface;
the master local connector comprises a second wired interface and after a first wired interface is in contact with a second wired interface, it is determined that the slave device is connected to the master device, and
after the connection between the first wired interface and the second wired interface is disconnected, it is determined that the slave device is separated from the master device.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein:
both the first wired interface and the second wired interface are a first type interface, wherein the first type interface is a composite interface for power supply and signal transmission.

10. The electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein:
the first wired interface and the second wired interface are a second type interface, wherein the second type interface module is a dedicated interface for signal transmission; and the slave device further includes a power supply for supplying power to the slave device by a power supply device.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one routing-amplifying antenna and plurality of routing antennas have different appearances.

12. An electronic device as a slave device, comprising:
a slave local connector capable of establishing a detachable connection with a wireless router connected with a network via a wired connection, the wireless router includes a plurality of routing antennas;
a slave processor, in response to that the slave device is connected to the wireless router, performing a first function including transmitting a first wireless signal and receiving a second wireless signal transmitted by an external electronic device;
at least one routing-amplifying antenna; and
wherein in response to that the slave device is separate from the wireless router, the slave device performing a second function, which is different from the first function, the second function including receiving and amplifying the first wireless signal, receiving the second wireless signal, and transmit the received second wireless signal to the wireless router via the at least one routing-amplifying antenna, and wherein the slave device is configured to be detachably attachable to the wireless router.

13. An information processing method, comprising:
in response to a slave device being physically connected to a wireless router, the router being connected to an external network via a wired connection, performing a first function of transmitting a first wireless signal and receiving a second wireless signal transmitted by an external electronic device, by using at least one routing-amplifying antenna of the slave device and one of a plurality of routing antennas of the wireless router;
in response to that the slave device is separate from the wireless router, performing a second function of receiving and amplifying the first wireless signal, receiving the second wireless signal, and transmitting the received second wireless signal to the wireless router, and establishing a detachable connec

Assignees

• Lenovo Beijing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yang Yuguang
• Liao Super

Classifications

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title

• H04L67/10

  in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) · CPC title

• H04W76/10 Primary

  Connection setup · CPC title

• H04L43/0811

  by checking connectivity · CPC title

• G06F2213/0042

  Universal serial bus [USB] · CPC title