Universal peripheral connector
AssigneeBlackBerry Limited
InventorsMarcelo Varanda, Thanh Vuong, Luis Estable
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Abstract
A universal connector apparatus for a mobile device and in communication with the mobile device, the apparatus comprising: at least one universal serial bus (USB) connector providing at least one connection; at least one USB host controller configured to control the at least one USB connection; a microprocessor configured to control the at least one USB host controller, the microprocessor having an operating system; a USB device control interface on the mobile device configured to communicate and control the universal connector apparatus; and a USB driver configured to operate within the operating system to enable the mobile device to connect to one or more peripherals via the at least one USB connector.
Claims12
A method of connecting and facilitating control of a universal serial bus (USB) peripheral from a mobile device using a universal connector apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) detecting at the universal connector apparatus a connection or presence of a USB peripheral;
- b) when the connection or presence indicates that the USB peripheral is the mobile device then configuring the mobile device for remote control of the universal connector apparatus;
- and
- c) when the connection or presence indicates that the USB peripheral is not the mobile device. and the mobile device is already connected to the universal connector apparatus,
- i. configuring the mobile device to remote control the universal connector apparatus;
- ii. locating a driver for said USB peripheral that is not the mobile device ;
- and
- iii. driving said USB peripheral that is not the mobile device using said driver to provide a functional feature at the mobile device.
A universal connector apparatus for a mobile device and in communication with the mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one universal serial bus (USB) connector providing at least one connection;
- at least one USB host controller configured to control the at least one USB connector;
- a microprocessor operable to control the at least one USB host controller, the microprocessor being further operable to:
- detect, at the at least one USB connector, the connection or presence of a USB peripheral;
- when the- detected connection or presence indicates that the USB peripheral is the mobile device, configure the mobile device for remote control of the universal connector apparatus;
- and
- when the detected, connection or presence indicates that the USB peripheral is not the mobile device and the mobile device is already connected to the universal connector apparatus,
- configure the mobile device, to remote control the universal connector apparatus;
- locate a driver for the USB peripheral that is not the mobile device;
- and
- drive the USB peripheral that is not the mobile device using the driver to provide a functional feature at the mobile device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.