Alternative transport in data communication for mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11201958-B2
Application number	US-202016747387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2020
Priority date	Jan 20, 2020
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, an apparatus and methods for providing alternative communications are provided. The apparatus may include a housing arranged to hold a personal communication device. The apparatus may provide an additional communication path for the personal communication device which was previously not there. In some embodiments, an additional communication mechanism may be provided for a newer telecommunication standard or form of communication. In another embodiment, an added close proximity data communication device may be provided, which enables a personal communication device to perform in close proximity standards that it otherwise may not be able to.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
at an apparatus including a housing arranged to hold a personal communication device, the apparatus includes a controller, non-transitory memory, multiple remote communication devices, and a local communication device at least partially supported by the housing:
receiving a request from the personal communication device via the local communication device to initiate a type of communication with a remote source;
selecting a remote communication device from the multiple remote communication devices and enabling the remote communication device in response to receiving the request, wherein the remote communication device is capable of the type of communication between the remote source and the personal communication device;
initiating the type of communication with the remote source using the remote communication device;
processing communication data from the remote communication device to create output data; and
sending, using the local communication device, to the personal communication device the output data.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting that the personal communication device is not capable of performing the type of communication; and
initiating the type of communication from the remote communication device when the personal communication device is not capable of performing the type of communication.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting that the personal communication device is not capable of performing the type of communication; and
disabling one or more communication devices of the personal communication device in order to restrict communication capabilities of the one or more communication devices of the personal communication device when the personal communication device is not capable of performing the type of communication.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising generating a message to be presented to a user on a display of the personal communication with the option of disabling the one or more communication devices of the personal communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, directing, by the controller, to activate the remote communication device in response to detecting a security breach on the personal communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
initiating the type of communication with the remote source using the remote communication device includes establishing, using the remote communication device, a first tunnel with a virtual private network (VPN) endpoint; and
processing the communication data from the remote communication device to create the output data includes transiting the communication data through the first tunnel, including restricting access to the communication data from the remote source.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
establishing a second tunnel between the personal communication device and the remote source by generating encrypted communication data based on the communication data; and
transiting the encrypted communication data between the personal communication device and the remote source through the first tunnel and the second tunnel.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the controller manages the the first tunnel and the second tunnel between the apparatus and the personal communication device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote communication device is included in the apparatus or is included in a third device attached to the housing of the apparatus.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the remote communication device from the multiple remote communication devices includes selecting the remote communication device from the multiple remote communication devices based on the type of communication.

11. An apparatus comprising:
a housing arranged to hold a personal communication device;
a local communication device, at least partially supported by the housing and connectable to the personal communication device, operable to receive a request from the personal communication device for a type of communication with a remote source;
multiple remote communication devices that are at least partially supported by the housing; and
a controller, coupled to the local communication device and the multiple remote communication devices, operable to
select a remote communication device from the multiple remote communication devices and enable the remote communication device in response to receiving the request, wherein the remote communication device is capable of the type of communication between the remote source and the personal communication device and,
initiate the type of communication to the remote source using the remote communication device,
process communication data from the remote communication device in order to create output data, and
instruct the local communication device to send the output data to the personal communication device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a peripheral interface at least partially supported by the housing, wherein the peripheral interface is connectable to a supplemental functional device that includes the remote communication device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
determine that the personal communication device is not capable of performing the type of communication; and
initiate of the type of communication from the remote communication device when the personal communication device is not capable of performing the type of communication.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the remote communication device is the same type as a communication device on the personal communication device, and the communication device on the personal communication device is disabled.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further operable to obtain an input from a user disabling the communication device on the personal communication device.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the output data includes one or more of audio or video data to be presented on the personal communication device.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further operable to activate the remote communication device in response to detecting a security breach on the personal communication device.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the local communication device forms part of a secure communication channel between the apparatus and the personal communication device to restrict access to authorized users.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further operable to manage the secure communication channel between the apparatus and the personal communication device.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the remote communication device comprises one or more of a Bluetooth Low Energy-capable circuit, a WiFi-capable circuit, a Satcom-capable circuit, or a Lifi-capable circuit.

Assignees

• Ppip Llc

Inventors

• Fong Michael
• Fong Neric Hsin-Wu
• Foustok Mohamad Ahmad

Classifications

• H04W12/033 Primary

  of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic · CPC title

• H04M1/724092

  Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities · CPC title

• H04M1/72412

  using two-way short-range wireless interfaces · CPC title

• H04M1/72409 Primary

  by interfacing with external accessories (hands-free H04M1/60) · CPC title