# US 2018/0324292 A1 · Protective case for adding wireless functionality to a handheld electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0324292 A1 - Document ID: US20180324292A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/037,739 - Filed: 2018-07-17 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-15 - Assignees: Blackbird Technology Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: Blackbird Technology Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: John Peter Norair; Patrick Burns - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324292A1 ## CPC - H04M 1/7246: by connection of exchangeable housing parts - H04B 1/3888: Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers - H04L 67/02: based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] - H04L 67/306: User profiles - H04M 1/0254: {comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules} - H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces - H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements - H04W 4/14: Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD] - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - G06F 2200/1633: Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer - H04M 2250/02: including a Bluetooth® interface - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A protective case for an electronic device may comprise a wireless adaptor for adding wireless capabilities, including support of additional wireless communication protocols, to the electronic device. The system may enable, for example, location based services functions, social networking functions, and messaging functions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protective case, the protective case comprising a first connector via which said protective case can connect to a corresponding connector of a handheld electronic device, and a first radio operable to communicate in accordance with a wireless communication protocol. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1 comprising a second connector via which said protective case can connect to a third device while said protective case is connected to said handheld electronic device via said first connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1, wherein said first radio is operable to broadcast user profile information associated with a user of said handheld electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The protective case of claim 3, wherein said user profile information comprises one or more of: affiliations of a user of said handheld electronic device; items currently being worn and/or used by said user of said handheld electronic device is; products recommended by said user of said handheld electronic device; a URL of an online profile of said user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1 comprising comprises flash memory that is operable to function as a USB mass storage device. ### Claim 6 The protective case of claim comprising circuitry operable to determine a location of said system based on communications between said first radio and one or more tags. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The protective case of claim 1 wherein said system comprises a rubber or plastic body with an antenna and circuitry embedded therein. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: a handheld electronic device that comprises a first radio operable to communicate in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol; a protective case mounted to said handheld electronic device, wherein said protective case comprises a second radio that is operable to communicate in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein said system is operable to: in response to a detection that said system is approaching another device, exchange information with said other device via said second radio, wherein: said information is for establishing a wireless connection between said first radio and said other device; at least part of said information is exchanged while said other device is out-of-range of said first radio. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein said first radio is a Bluetooth radio. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system claim 8, wherein said system is operable to: determine whether a destination device for which said MMS or SMS message is destined is within range of said second radio; choose which of said first radio and said second radio to use for transmitting said MMS or SMS based on said determination; and transmit said MMS or SMS message via said chosen radio. ### Claim 12 A method performed by a protective case that comprises a first radio and a first connector, the method comprising: receiving first data from said handheld electronic device via said first connector; transmitting said first data via said first radio; receiving, via said first radio, second data from another device; and communicating said second data to said handheld electronic device via said first connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising determining a location of said protective case based on said second data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said second data is received from one or more tags operable to communicate in accordance with ISO-18000-7 protocols. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising, prior to said transmitting said first data, processing said first data to make it suitable for transmission via said first radio. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein: said first data is received from said handheld electronic device in the form of an SMS or MMS message; and said first radio transmits said first data utilizing frequency spectrum that is unlicensed in the location in which said first radio performs said transmitting. ### Claim 17 The method of 12, wherein: said first data and said second data comprise information for setting up a connection between a radio of said handheld electronic device and said other device; said transmitting of said first data is in response to detecting that said case is approaching said other device; said transmitting of said first data and receiving of said second data occur while said other device is out-of-range of said radio of said handheld electronic device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said radio of said handheld electronic device is a Bluetooth radio.