Apparatus and methods for docking a dockee with a docking host utilizing a wireless charger in a wireless docking environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9647481-B2
Application number	US-201313778057-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2013
Priority date	Dec 4, 2012
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed relating to the use and performance of a wireless charger, such as one that utilizes inductive coupling between a primary coil at the charger and a secondary coil at a mobile device that lands on the charger. In particular, the wireless charger is implemented in a wireless docking environment, where the mobile device docks with a docking host. In one example, the wireless charger is integrated as a unit with the wireless docking host. In another example, the wireless charger is a peripheral in the wireless docking environment managed by the docking host.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method operable at a docking host for docking a dockee with a docking environment managed by the docking host, the method comprising:
transmitting credential information from the docking host to the dockee responsive to a landing of the dockee on a wireless charger;
receiving a request from the dockee to initiate an authentication/association operation with the dockee;
docking the dockee with the docking environment in accordance with the credential information; and
terminating the dock between the dockee and the docking environment responsive to an expiration of an inactivity timer indicating inactivity of a communication interface for communicating with the dockee.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless charging circuitry is configured for near-field communication, and wherein the transmitting credential information comprises utilizing the wireless charging circuitry.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting credential information comprises utilizing at least one of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) communication interface or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication interface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the docking of the dockee with the docking environment comprises utilizing at least one of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) communication interface or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication interface.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless charger is integral to the docking host.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a device other than the dockee on the wireless charger while the dockee remains docked with the docking environment; and
charging the device utilizing the wireless charger without docking with the device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the terminating the dock between the dockee and the docking environment occurs when the dockee leaves the vicinity of the docking host.

8. A method operable at a dockee for docking with a docking environment managed by a docking host, the method comprising:
receiving credential information from the docking host responsive to a landing of the dockee on a wireless charger;
transmitting a request to initiate an authentication/association operation with the docking host;
docking with the docking environment in accordance with the credential information; and
terminating the dock between the dockee and the docking environment responsive to an expiration of an inactivity timer indicating inactivity of a communication interface for communicating with the dockee.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wireless charging interface is configured for near-field communication, and wherein the receiving credential information comprises utilizing the wireless charging interface.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the receiving credential information comprises utilizing at least one of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) communication interface or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication interface.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the docking with the docking environment comprises utilizing at least one of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) communication interface or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication interface.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
maintaining the docking with the docking environment while being removed from the wireless charger.

13. A method operable at a docking host for docking a dockee with a docking environment managed by the docking host, the method comprising:
coupling wireless charging circuitry at the docking host with the dockee upon its landing on the docking host;
transmitting, from the wireless charging circuitry at the docking host, to docking circuitry at the wireless docking host, information indicating a docking intent of the dockee;
docking the dockee with the docking environment in accordance with the docking intent of the dockee; and
terminating the dock between the dockee and the docking environment responsive to an expiration of an inactivity timer indicating inactivity of a communication interface for communicating with the dockee.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the wireless charging circuitry is part of a wireless charger that is integral to the docking host.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving a device other than the dockee on the wireless charger while the dockee remains docked with the docking environment; and
charging the device utilizing the wireless charger without docking with the device.

16. A method operable at a dockee for docking with a docking environment managed by a docking host, the method comprising:
landing on the docking host, wherein the docking host comprises wireless charging circuitry;
docking with the docking environment in accordance with a docking intent of the dockee, wherein the docking intent is signaled to the docking host by the landing on the docking host; and
terminating the dock between the dockee and the docking environment responsive to an expiration of an inactivity timer indicating inactivity of a communication interface for communicating with the dockee.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
maintaining the docking with the docking environment while being removed from the wireless charger.

18. A method operable at a dockee for docking with a docking environment managed by a docking host, the method comprising:
landing on a wireless charger to establish a coupling with the wireless charger utilizing a wireless charging interface at the dockee;
transmitting credential information to the docking host in response to the landing on the wireless charger, over a wireless docking host interface at the dockee;
docking with the docking environment in accordance with the credential information, wherein the docking environment comprises the wireless charger as a peripheral; and
terminating the dock between the dockee and the docking environment responsive to an expiration of an inactivity timer indicating inactivity of a communication interface for communicating with the dockee.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the wireless docking host interface comprises at least one of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) communication interface or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication interface.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
establishing a first docking session with the docking host, prior to the landing on the wireless charger;
storing the credential information at the dockee in accordance with the first docking session; and
terminating the first docking session prior to the landing on the wireless charger.

21. A method operable at a docking host for enabling a peripheral comprising a wireless charger to wirelessly charge a dockee, the method comprising:
establishing a docking session with the dockee utilizing a wireless dockee interface at the docking host;
receiving information from the wireless charger indicating that the dockee landed on the wireless charger;
transmitting an authorization to the wireless charger indicating that a wireless charging function is authorized; and
terminating the docking session with the dockee responsive to an expiration of an inactivity timer indicating inactivity of a communication interface for communicating with the dockee.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the wireless dockee interface is configured for wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication.

23. A method operable at a wireless charger for wirelessly charging a mobile device, the method co

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Huang Xiaolong
• Raveendran Vijayalakshmi R

Classifications

• H02J7/731

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

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• H01M10/44

  Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) · CPC title

• H04M1/04

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title

• G06F1/266

  Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips · CPC title