Extending device functionality amongst inductively linked devices

A docking station for a mobile computing device, the docking station comprising:

• one or more magnets provided within a housing positioned to magnetically couple to a surface of the mobile computing device that includes magnetically attractive material;
• an inductive signal transfer interface to inductively signal power and data to the mobile computing device, the inductive signal transfer interface including (i) a structure having a center core and an outer structure, (ii) a power coil that encircles the center core and is positioned within the outer structure, and (iii) a data coil that is positioned closer to the housing than the power coil and does not overlap the power coil;
• one or more audio output components;
• and
• a wireless communication port;
• processing resources coupled to the one or more audio components and the wireless communication port, the processing resources to:
• in response to the mobile computing device being placed in contact with the housing of the docking station:
• (i) inductively signal an identifier of the docking station, via the data coil, to the mobile computing device to cause the mobile computing device to configure one or more modes of operations of one or more applications operable on the mobile computing device based on the identifier;
• (ii) inductively receive data from the mobile computing device over the data coil, the data including power information about the mobile computing device;
• and
• use the received data to establish a wireless link with the mobile computing device using the wireless communication port and to control output of power to the mobile computing device via the power coil;
• receive and process a media stream received over the wireless communication port;
• and
• enable the mobile computing device to use the wireless link to signal the one or more audio components to output audio corresponding to the media stream.

A computing system comprising:

• a first computing device including a power supply and an inductive signal transfer provided within a housing of the first computing device, the inductive signal transfer interface including (i) a structure having a center core and an outer structure, (ii) a power coil that encircles the center core and is positioned within the outer structure, and (iii) a data coil that is positioned closer to the housing than the power coil and does not overlap the power coil;
• and
• a second computing device;
• wherein in response to the first computing device and the second computing device being placed in contact with each other:
• (i) the first computing device and the second computing device are configured to inductively communicate with one another;
• (ii) at least the first computing device inductively signals, via the data coil, an identifier of the first computing device to the second computing device;
• (iii) the second computing device configures one or more modes of operations of one or more applications operable on the second computing device based on the identifier of the first computing device;
• and
• (iv) the first computing device (a) inductively receives data from the second computing device, the data including power information about the second computing device (b) uses said data to establish an alternative connection with the second computing device and to control output of power to the second computing device, and (c) enables the second computing device to use the alternative connection to signal an output to the first computing device;
• wherein in response to the first computing device and the second computing device maintaining contact with each other, the first computing device transmits power to the second computing device based on the power information received from second computing device.