HK1177005B - Accessory device and method therefor - Google Patents

Description

Accessory device and method thereof

Technical Field

The described embodiments relate generally to portable electronic devices. In particular, a method for extending the functionality of a tablet device is disclosed.

Background

Recent developments in portable computing include the introduction of handheld electronic devices and computing platforms, collectively referred to as tablet devices. These devices may be used for any number of tasks including word processing, social media networking, video conferencing, and gaming. Although this type of device allows a wide variety of tasks to be performed, there is still room for improvement in the overall functionality of this type of device. For example, increasing the display area may result in a significant expansion of functionality. Unfortunately, because the display already dominates a large portion of one side of the tablet device, device manufacturers typically choose between making the display, and thus the device itself, larger, thereby reducing portability or making the device and display smaller, thereby resulting in lower functionality of the device.

Neither is desirable; therefore, a way to extend the usability and functionality of a tablet device without any enlargement of the tablet device is desired.

Disclosure of Invention

This specification describes methods, devices, and computer-readable media related to extending the functionality of a tablet device to an accessory device having a flexible display.

An accessory device arranged to communicate with a host device over a communication channel is claimed. The host device includes a host device display arranged to present visual information. The accessory device includes: a flexible flap having a size and shape in accordance with the host device display, wherein at least a portion of the flexible flap is covered by a flap display configured to present visual information; and a connection portion arranged to provide at least a communication channel arranged to transmit information between the host device and the accessory device, wherein at least some of the information is visually presented on the tab display.

A method of transferring information between a flexible accessory device and a host device is claimed. The flexible accessory device has a flexible display configured to present a first set of visual information. The host device has a host device display arranged to present a second set of visual information. The method comprises the following steps: (1) establishing a communication channel between the flexible accessory device and the host device, the communication channel being arranged to provide a bi-directional communication link between the flexible display and the host device; (2) communicating information between the host device and the flexible accessory device over the bi-directional communication link, wherein at least a portion of the communicated information is presented by the flexible display as the first set of visual information; and (3) displaying the first set of visual information via the flexible display.

A consumer electronic product is claimed, comprising: (1) a host device having a sidewall, the host device comprising: a magnetic attachment system comprising a first magnetic attachment component enclosed within the host device near the sidewall; and (2) a flexible accessory device comprising: a hinge portion having a second magnetic attachment means that causes the hinge portion to magnetically attach to a sidewall of a host device; a body portion pivotally attached to the hinge portion, wherein the body portion folds in a closed configuration over a top surface of the host device when the body portion is magnetically attached to the host device, and wherein the body portion unfolds into an open configuration exposing the top surface of the host device when a lifting force is applied to the body portion; and a display portion disposed on one surface of the body portion.

A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer instructions for execution by a processor in a tablet device for controlling a flexible accessory device in communication with the tablet device is claimed. The non-transitory computer-readable medium includes: (1) computer code for establishing a communication channel between the flexible accessory device and the tablet device; (2) computer code for receiving user input on a first user interface built into the tablet device; (3) computer code for interpreting user input by the tablet device processor; (4) computer code for transmitting display data across a communication channel; and (5) computer code for displaying the display data on the flexible accessory device display.

A method for controlling a flexible accessory device in communication with a tablet device is claimed. The method comprises the following steps: establishing a communication channel between the flexible accessory device and the tablet device; receiving user input on a first user interface built into the tablet device; interpreting, by a tablet device processor, the user input; transmitting display data across a communication channel; and displaying the display data on the flexible accessory device display.

An apparatus is claimed which comprises means for performing each of the steps of the above method.

Drawings

The described embodiments and their advantages are best understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the described embodiments by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments.

Fig. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a tablet device having a wired connector implemented between the tablet device and an accessory device (access device) in accordance with the described embodiments.

Fig. 1B and 1C show perspective views of a tablet device with a flexibly attached accessory device according to described embodiments.

Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of a tablet device attached to a folded, segmented cover with an integrated cover display.

Fig. 2B shows a perspective view of the tablet device supported by the segmented cover in an orientation that facilitates viewing of video by the tablet device.

Fig. 3A and 3B show top views of a tablet device attached to a flexible cover with an integrated auxiliary display and ambient power collector.

Fig. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of a system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4B shows a side view of an embodiment in which the segmented lid and included flap portions are individually rotatable about their respective pivots, wherein the segmented lid has been folded into a support structure.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a tablet device with a keyboard and a touch screen integrated into the flap portion.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a tablet device with a touch screen integrated over a substantial portion of the surface of the flap portion.

Fig. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate embodiments in which a cover display is configured on an exterior surface of a tablet device cover.

Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a tablet device supported by a flexible cover accessory according to an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart describing the entry of instructions into an accessory device for use on a tablet device.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart depicting inputs on an accessory device that affect the operation of a tablet device.

Fig. 11 illustrates a block diagram of a configuration of functional modules utilized by an electronic device.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of an electronic device suitable for use with the described embodiments.

Detailed Description

Representative applications of the methods and apparatus according to the present application are described in this section. These examples are provided merely to add context and aid in the understanding of the described embodiments. Thus, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the described embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the described embodiments. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be considered limiting.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in accordance with the described embodiments. Although these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the described embodiments, it is understood that these examples are not limiting; such that other embodiments may be used and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments.

Accessories for tablet devices have become commonplace. Current typical tablet accessories are passive in nature, most of which are used purely to protect the screen or may support the tablet in some particular orientation. While some devices such as Bluetooth headsets and keyboards do have limited interaction capabilities, most accessories are limited to more basic tasks. These accessories may be improved by including at least one of the following features: (1) a power source; (2) a communication protocol; (3) an input method; and (4) a free-standing storage medium.

An accessory that assumes a more interactive role with the tablet device will also generally require power to drive it. In some embodiments, a battery may be incorporated into the accessory body. Batteries may take many forms. For example, the battery may be distributed in nature, meaning that portions of the battery may be located in discrete locations in the accessory. In another example, the user may replace or otherwise access the battery. The operating time of the built-in battery can be increased by adding an auxiliary power supply, such as a solar panel array, to the accessory. For example, a solar panel array in the form of a cover that extends across the surface of the accessory device may extend the amount of time the cover may be operated between recharges. The battery may also allow the cover to continue to operate nominally after the battery is removed from the tablet device, particularly by including a small amount of storage space. For example, embodiments including an auxiliary display may be utilized to display a simple screen saver. In another embodiment where the cover includes a display portion, the file can be browsed. In yet another embodiment, the user updates or otherwise modifies the document through a user interface such as a keyboard or touchpad, where the interface is built into the cover and is battery powered through the cover.

Active communication between the accessory and the tablet device may be accomplished wirelessly or through a wired data connection. For example, a wireless data connection utilizing the 5GHz 802.11n protocol may provide sufficient data transfer bandwidth to transfer a high quality video stream along an NTSC 1080p 30fps video line. Accessories may alternatively or additionally be enabled by using a device such as DisplayPort^TM、miniDisplayPort^TMDVI and Thunderbolt^TMTo electrically connect to the tablet device. Custom wireless or wired protocols are also certainly possible. While wired solutions may enable simple, high-speed data transfer, wireless protocols have the advantage of allowing communication between two devices in a detached state.

In another embodiment, power may be transferred from the tablet device itself to the accessory over a wireless or wired medium. Wireless charging methods, such as inductive charging, may allow accessories to be charged through the tablet device itself without adding a power connector. Alternatively, the computer can be used by using a computer manufactured by Apple incFor use on-lineThe connector is similar to the connector, and a wired scheme is realized. In one accessory embodiment, the accessory may take the form of a Smart Cover such as manufactured by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, CA^TMIncluding a magnet that precisely aligns the lid with a plate in the form of iPad 2. In one embodiment, the tablet device may include an electrical connector arranged to be held in place by the magnet, thereby eliminating the need for the user to take the necessary steps to provide power to and/or from the tablet device.

In yet another embodiment, a custom connector to transfer data and power may allow for a simple connection between two devices. For example, withConnectors similar connectors may be integrated with auxiliary connectors that communicate data and/or video. Fig. 1A shows a configuration 100 according to the described embodiment, the configuration 100 showing a connector 102 for connecting a tablet device 104 and an accessory device 106. The connector 102 may be configured as shown in a close-up view 108 with a large number of individual connectors, allowing power and display transmission lines to traverse individual channels. Such a connector 102 eliminates the need for a wireless data transmitter in the cover and makes the electrical and data connections between the two devices very simple. The wired data connection also avoids security issues associated with wireless communication protocols. Now that electrical and data connection schemes have been discussed, the following representative embodiments will include electrical and data connections between accessory devices and the flat panel device as needed.

Magnetic attraction area 110 may be used to magnetically attach accessory 106 and tablet device 104. In particular embodiments, magnetic attachment region 110 may be magnetically attached to a magnetic element (not shown) within hinge 112. The hinge 112 may be formed ofPivotally connected to the attachment 106. In this manner, accessory 106 may be configured in an open or closed configuration with respect to tablet device 104. Magnetic attraction between the magnetic elements in the magnetic attachment region 110 and the hinge 112 may cause the electronic device 104 and the accessory 106 to attach to each other in a preferred alignment. For example, the preferred alignment may ensure that the connector 102 aligns and mates with a corresponding receptacle (not shown) on the hinge 112. In this manner, a user of tablet device 104 may simply place accessory 106 and tablet device 104 at a proximity distance d relative to each other_amgSuch that magnetic attraction between magnetic elements in magnetic attachment region 110 and hinge 112 causes tablet device 104 and accessory 106 to attach to one another with a high degree of confidence that the proper mechanical and electrical connection can be made.

In one embodiment, attachment may occur between a tablet device and an accessory device, where the tablet device and the accessory device are each electronic devices. Electronic devices may be magnetically attached to each other to form a cooperative electronic system in which the electronic devices may communicate with each other. In one embodiment, the tablet device and the accessory device may be directly attached to each other. In another embodiment, a magnetic attachment unit may be used to magnetically attach the first and second electronic devices together. Communication between the first and second electronic devices may be performed before, during, and after completion of the magnetic attachment.

Fig. 1B shows a perspective view of tablet device 104 with attached accessory device 106 having display 114. In the depicted embodiment, the accessory device 106 may take the form of a cover 106 that may be used to protect the tablet device 104 and provide functional support thereto. Thus, the cover display 114 may be integrated with the cover 106. Thus, when the cover 106 and the tablet device 104 form the cooperative system 100, the cover display 114 may be used in conjunction with or instead of the tablet display 116. It is clear that in order to maintain the flexibility of the cover 106, the cover display 114 must also be flexible. Thus, the cover display 114 may take the form of a flexible display made of a durable, flexible material such as a polyimide substrate. In this manner, the cover display 114 and the cover 106 can flex and flex together, allowing for a thin, robust, and flexible design. It should be noted that touch screen technology may also be integrated into the cover display 114. The integrated touch screen allows the cover display 114 and the flat panel display 116 to have substantially similar functionality. The addition of the cover display 114 may ameliorate the problem of limited screen area and make a number of tasks significantly easier to use as an extended desktop in some cases. For example, it is also very difficult to check two files at best on a conventional flat screen size of about 7-10 inches. Opening two files at a time on a screen of this size can make the files very difficult to read. With the additional display, one of the two files can be moved to the cover display without having to switch back and forth between the two files. In one embodiment, this may be accomplished through a multi-touch gesture, essentially allowing a file to be pushed from the flat panel display onto the cover display.

Fig. 1C shows a perspective view of tablet device 104 attached to lid 106. The cover 106 has a plurality of segments each including a stiffener (stiffener). For example, the reinforcement plates 118, 120, 122, and 124 embedded within respective segments of the lid 106 may provide shape and support to the lid 106. Also, each of the segments may be separated by a foldable area that may provide flexibility in an upward or downward direction. For example, fig. 1C illustrates how the reinforcement panel 118 of the flexible attachment cover 106 can flex about a respective fold region located between the reinforcement panels 118 and 120. In this manner, the flexible cover accessory 106 can be folded into a variety of useful configurations. In some configurations, the flexible cover accessory can be folded in half to occupy less space. In other configurations, it may take the form of a repositionable triangular support structure for supporting the flat panel apparatus in a number of useful orientations.

Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of a tablet device 202 attached to a cover 204 with a cover display 206. In one embodiment, the lid 204 is shown folded into a triangular shape that is available for support, allowing the tablet device 202 to be placed in an orientation that facilitates typing on a virtual keyboard of the tablet device 202. In this embodiment, as shown at 206-1, the cover display 206 may cover at least a first section 208 of the cover 204. As further shown at 206-2, a cover display 206 may also surround the cover 204. The cover display 206 may be automatically activated in this orientation when the sensor 208 embedded in the flexible cover 204 determines that the cover is folded. In another embodiment, after determining that the lid is closed, an accelerometer included in the tablet device 202 may confirm that the orientation of the tablet is within a certain range of values before automatically activating the lid display 206. By using an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) display for the cover display 206, individual pixels can be lit, unlike conventional LCD technology where the entire screen is in an on or off state. Thus, the AMOLED screen can display a small amount of text at extreme power saving levels. By this technique in combination with the orientation determining sensors, only a portion of the cover display 206 on segment 210 may be activated, providing a number of useful characteristics. For example, the small amount of power consumed when only some pixels are active may help preserve battery life. When the cover is disposed in this orientation, the cover display 206 can perform a number of useful functions once activated. In one embodiment, the social media site status of the user may be displayed. In another embodiment, a certain number of words recently entered into a word processing application may be displayed. In yet another embodiment, the display may simply display the name of the tablet user, which may be useful in settings such as a meeting or classroom.

Fig. 2B shows a perspective view of the tablet device 202 supported by the flexible cover 204, the flexible cover 204 being positioned such that the tablet device 202 can be placed in an orientation that facilitates viewing of a video. The flexible cover 204 may include a cover display 206-3 that covers at least the individual segments 212. The cover display 206 may include a user input area with controls that may be used to affect the operation of the tablet device 202. For example, in these cases where video is presented on the tablet device 202, the input area may include a touch sensitive area 214 located near an outer edge of the flexible cover 204, for example. The touch sensitive area 214 may allow for specific user inputs that may enable functions such as display, pause, fast forward, and rewind. Although the touch sensitive area 214 is not visible to a user viewing the video, the size and location of the touch sensitive area may allow the user to easily grasp these locations after a short period of familiarity. This allows the user to control the video display without having to manipulate screen controls (not shown) on the flat panel display, which may interfere with the viewing experience. As shown in fig. 2B, the cover display 206 may also indicate the type of content being viewed. Also, this orientation also facilitates reading or previewing the document carefully, in which case the large touch sensitive area 214 may be configured as an arrow for panning up, down, left, and right across the document, or an arrow for performing any number of other useful functions. This prevents the user's hand or finger from obscuring parts of the document, for example, as the user navigates through it.

Fig. 3A shows a top view of a tablet device 302 attached to a fully extended flexible cover 304 with a cover display 306. The small cover display 306, shown overlaid on the first segment 308, can exhibit all of the advantages of the functionality described above in fig. 2A, while allowing the use of an inexpensive, compact, low-power display, as compared to the case where the entire interior of the cover 304 is overlaid. The smaller cover display 306 also allows for other features to be included within the inner surface of the flexible cover 302. Components such as an ambient energy collector may be included. It should be noted that ambient energy may be considered any form of energy to which the flexible cover 302 is exposed. For example, the ambient energy may take the form of ambient light energy (sunlight, artificial light, etc.), RF energy, and the like. Fig. 3A shows a particular embodiment in which the second, third and fourth segments 310, 312, 314 are integrated with a solar panel 316 that is configured to collect a useful amount of solar energy (or, more simply, ambient light from an artificial source such as a light bulb). The solar panel 316 configured in this manner may supply power to the cover display 306. In another embodiment, the cover display 306 may include touch-sensitive controls. In this configuration, the cover display 306 may display and allow selection from a list of active program icons, thereby enabling convenient switching between active applications. Alternatively, the cover display 306 may display a program toolbar or even a list of bookmarks for PDF files, thereby freeing up screen area while enabling more convenient access to application functionality. In yet another embodiment, both sides of the flexible cover 304 may be covered by solar panels 316. In this embodiment, the electrical connection between the tablet device 302 and the flexible cover 304 may be used to transfer energy from the flexible cover 304 to the tablet device 302.

Fig. 3B shows an embodiment similar to the representation shown in fig. 3A. In this figure, the flexible cover display 302 has an RF energy harvesting antenna 318 integrated into the second, third and fourth segments 310, 312 and 314. The RF energy harvester can be used to collect ambient RF energy from a particular frequency band, or even radio waves, broadcast by a large number of nearby transmitters, such as Wi-Fi antennas, cellular phone towers, and the like. Although the harvested RF energy generally produces modest energy without a dedicated transmitter, this energy can be used to slowly charge a microbattery or ultracapacitor included within the flexible cover 304. This energy may then be applied to handle low energy tasks, such as querying tablet device 302 for the presence of any notification updates, or even powering low power sensors such as thermometers. One advantage of this configuration over the solar panel of fig. 3A is that the RF antenna 318 can collect energy through the flexible cover 304 in either the open or closed state. A combination of solar panel 316 and RF antenna 318 may also be incorporated in one embodiment of the flexible cover.

Fig. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of a system 400 according to an embodiment. System 400 may include a tablet device 402 magnetically attached to a lid assembly 404 by a magnetic hinge assembly 406. Lid assembly 404 can include a segmented lid 408 pivotally attached to hinge assembly 404 at pivot 410. Hinge assembly 406 may be magnetically attached to tablet device 402 by magnetic element 412 in hinge assembly 406 and magnetic attachment component 414 in tablet device 402. The intervening layer 416 may be used to prevent direct metallic contact between the hinge assembly 406 and the housing 418 of the flat panel device 402.

The lid assembly 404 can also include a separate flap portion 420 pivotally attached to the hinge assembly 406 at a pivot 422. In this manner, the segmented cover 408 and flap portions 420 can be rotated about their respective pivots as shown in fig. 4B, in which the segmented cover 408 has been folded into the support structure 424. The support structure 424 may be triangular in shape and used to position the tablet device 402 such that the flat panel display 426 assumes an angle of about 75 °. The support structure 424 may also include the cover display 206 described in the description accompanying fig. 2B. In addition to the embodiment depicted in fig. 2B, the cover display 206 may work independently or with any additional controls or displays included on the flap portion 402. In this manner, the user can easily switch from using the controls on the flap portion 420 to manipulating the video controls. This may be desirable when viewing e-mail. After completing the writing of the email through the controls built into the flap portion 420, the user may receive the email through a link to the internet video, in which case the user may follow the link and then quickly control the playback of the internet video through the touch screen controls disposed on the cover display 206.

The flap portion 420 may be formed of a flexible material such as a fabric. In one embodiment, the flap portion 420 can include a variety of input devices. For example, as shown in fig. 5, the flap portion 420 can include a keypad 502. The keyboard 502 may communicate with the tablet device 402 using, for example, a wired connection. In another embodiment, the keyboard 502 may communicate wirelessly with the tablet device 402. Thus, information may be entered into the tablet device 402 by pressing various input keys on the textile keyboard 502 that may give positive tactile feedback. Attaching a separate keyboard to the tablet device 402 while the tablet device 402 is at a convenient viewing angle has a number of advantages. First, this configuration gives the user an experience that is very close to the user of a laptop. Second, tasks such as word processing and email are made more efficient by allowing the user to easily view the screen and by providing a surface that facilitates typing. Third, since most laptops do not include a rear facing touch control for video or file manipulation, they experience some better than laptop experiences. Finally, the addition of the flap portion 420 does not add significant weight or bulk to the tablet device and makes this configuration a replacement for a real laptop. By configuring flap portion 420 with flap screen 504 above (as shown in fig. 5) or below keyboard 502, more functionality can be added to flap portion 420. When configured above the keyboard 502, the tab screen 504 may allow for the addition of custom virtual keys specific to each application or may be used as a way to display additional application data. The tab screen 504 may also be configured with an application toolbar, or even with a list of active applications for easily switching between active applications. When the tab screen 504 is configured below the keyboard 502, it can be used as a replacement for a touch pad, thereby bringing an experience closer to that of a conventional laptop configuration. With this configuration, the cursor can be implemented even in an application, where useful.

It should be noted that flap portion 420 may be configured to include any suitable type of input device. For example, in one embodiment shown in fig. 6, flap portion 420 can include a flap screen 602 spanning a majority of a surface of flap portion 520. This configuration allows for the display of a configurable keyboard or a fully customized control scheme, which may be desirable for mixed music or video editing. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the second touch screen can be used for a number of functional enhancements such that it effectively doubles the available display area of the tablet.

Fig. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate embodiments in which a cover display is configured on an exterior surface of a tablet device cover. These embodiments may allow a tablet device with an overlay screen to display alerts in response to some event without the assistance of a flat panel display. In fig. 7A, the flexible cover 702 is shown with a small cover display 704 for showing notifications such as recent emails, instant messages, or upcoming calendar events. The cover display 704 may be fabricated by AMOLED technology. As described above, AMOLED screens can light a discrete large number of pixels, which allows a small amount of text to be displayed at very high power-saving levels. AMOLED technology has also been implemented in extremely thin configurations, and the cover display 704 does not add significant depth to the flexible cover 702.

Fig. 7B illustrates a flexible cover 706, which in this particular embodiment, the flexible cover 706 is shown with a display that extends across each of the three panels of the flexible cover 706. In this embodiment, a display extending across the first, second, and third sections 708, 710, 712 can be made by e-paper technology, similar to the display technology used by a standalone e-reader device. In this embodiment, the flexible e-paper display is no longer needed because it overlaps on top of the following rigid portions of the flexible cover 706: a segment 708; a segment 710; and a segment 712. These electronic paper displays require substantially no additional power to continuously maintain the image on the display; this therefore allows information to be displayed on the external cover without the need for a continuous current. This allows for example the display of a calendar reminder message as shown in the first segment 708 or a reminder list as shown in the segment 710 or even a sloppy reminder as shown in the segment 712. The cover may even have a user-configurable color by mounting a color e-paper display. The e-paper technology also allows the flexible cover 706, which may rely solely on an external power source, to continue to retain any information being displayed after the external power source is disconnected.

FIG. 7C shows yet another possible embodiment where an e-paper display is used to cover all four segments 708-714 of the flexible cover 706 in a customized pattern or design. Although a pattern of wave points (polka dotted) is shown in fig. 7C, stripes, stars, or any number of other user-generated or commercially produced patterns are of course possible.

Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a tablet device 802 supported by a flexible cover 804 according to an alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, flexible cover 804 does not have any reinforcing plates present in the previous embodiments. Rather, flexible cover 804 may be made of a material that is sufficiently rigid in nature but is also deformable. This allows flexible cover 804 to be manipulated into a number of different shapes and then retain the shape until further manipulation is desired. Fig. 8 shows flexible cover 804 manipulated into a shape in which flexible cover 804 has a stiffness sufficient to support the weight of tablet device 802, wherein an edge of flexible cover 804 contacts a flat surface with an edge of tablet device 802. It is important to note that: the connecting portion 806 must also have sufficient rigidity to maintain the tablet device 802 and the flexible cover 804 at a constant relative angle with respect to one another. This is accomplished by adding a locking mechanism to the connection portion 806 so that the hinge portion of the connection portion 806 can swing freely during normal operation, but is also locked in place when it is desired to support the tablet device 802 in the freestanding configuration shown. Flexible cover 804 may also include a cover display 808. The cover sub-display 808 may include a user interface embodied by touch-sensitive input such that the cover sub-display 808 has functionality comparable to a tablet device (not shown). This enables a large number of useful applications. In one embodiment, the cover display 808 may be used as a presentation platform for small audiences. The speakers may reside behind a tablet device 802, the tablet device 802 having the ability to manipulate controls and view speaker commentary (not shown) on the tablet device while the viewer views the presentation on the cover display 808 (as shown). In another embodiment, where one user manipulates each display, two users may use the tablet device simultaneously. This would enable a robust two-player gaming application. By having two players on one device, the lag created by network latency can be avoided. For example, real-time action games and first-person shooter games may unfairly penalize users playing on slow networks. These types of latencies can be substantially eliminated through direct connections or close range communication links. In another embodiment, two users may effectively collaborate on more business center applications. For example, given an appropriate software implementation, a single file or spreadsheet may be efficiently edited simultaneously, as each user may have an independent field of view and a set of controls.

Fig. 9 shows a flow chart 900 describing the interaction between a flexible accessory device and a host device. In step 902, a communication link is established between the flexible accessory device and the host device. The communication link may be established through a physical connection between the two devices or through a wireless protocol, and may be established in one or both directions for fully cooperative interaction between the devices. In step 904, information is communicated between the two devices. The information may include video streams, picture slides, game data, message data, or any number of other types of information. Finally, in step 906, at least some of the information communicated between the two devices is displayed by the flexible accessory device.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart 1000 describing inputs on an accessory device that affect the operation of a tablet device. In step 1002, a communication link is established between the flexible accessory device and the host device. The communication link may be established through a physical connection between the two devices or through a wireless protocol, and may be established in one or both directions for fully cooperative interaction between the devices. In step 1004, a user interface is presented by the flexible accessory device. The user interface may be a keyboard (virtual or physical), a custom control layout with virtual knobs and buttons specific to a certain application, or any other custom control scheme that can be used to manipulate a host device or a flexible accessory device. In step 1006, user input is received on the user interface. In step 1008, a control signal is communicated from the flexible accessory device to the host device. The control signals are operable to store items to the host device, manipulate the host device display, or implement any other desired change in the state of the host device.

In the foregoing embodiments, the accessory device is primarily used as an additional control method for influencing the tablet device. In some embodiments, a tablet device may be used to control functions on the accessory device. For example, in embodiments that include wireless communication between devices, an auxiliary device with a screen may be configured to display a photograph, while a tablet device may be used to adjust the display speed or changes in the slides.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a configuration 1100 of functional modules utilized by an electronic device. The electronic device may be, for example, tablet device 1100. Configuration 1100 may be, for example, a tablet device 1100. Configuration 1100 includes an electronic device 1102 that is capable of outputting media for a user of the portable media device and that also performs storage and retrieval of data with respect to a data store 1104. Configuration 1100 also includes a Graphical User Interface (GUI) manager 1106. The GUI manager 1106 operates to control the information provided to and displayed on the display device. Configuration 1100 also includes a communication module 1108 that facilitates communication between the portable media device and the accessory device. Still further, configuration 1100 also includes an accessory manager 1110 that operates to authenticate accessory devices that may be coupled with the portable media device and to retrieve data from the accessory devices.

Fig. 12 is a block diagram of an electronic device 1200 suitable for use with the described embodiments. Electronic device 1200 illustrates circuitry of a representative computing device. The electronic device 1200 includes a processor 1202 for controlling overall operation of the electronic device 1200 and which is a microprocessor or controller. The electronic device 1200 stores media data pertaining to media items in a file system 1204 and a cache 1206. The file system 1204 is typically a storage disk or a plurality of disks. The file system 1204 typically provides high capacity storage capability for the electronic device 1200. However, since the access time to the file system 1204 is relatively slow, the electronic device 1200 may also include a cache 1206. The cache 1206 is Random Access Memory (RAM), such as that provided by semiconductor memory. The relative access time to the cache 1206 is significantly shorter than the access time to the file system 1204. However, the cache 1206 does not have the large storage capacity of the file system 1204. In addition, the file system 1204, when active, consumes more power than does the cache 1206. Power consumption is often an issue when the electronic device 1200 is a portable media device that is powered by a battery 1208. The electronic device 1200 may also include RAM 1210 and Read Only Memory (ROM) 1212. The ROM 1212 may store programs, tools, or processes that execute in a non-volatile manner. The RAM 1210 provides volatile data storage, such as for the cache 1206.

The electronic device 1200 also includes a user input device 1214 that allows a user of the electronic device 1200 to interact with the electronic device 1200. For example, user input device 1214 may take various forms, such as buttons, a keyboard, a dial, a touch screen, an audio input interface, a visual/image capture input interface, input in the form of sensor data, and so forth. Also, the electronic device 1200 includes a display 1216 (screen display) that is controllable by the processor 1202 to display information to the user. The data bus 1218 can facilitate transfer of data between at least the file system 1204, the cache 1206, the processor 1202, and the CODEC 1220.

In one embodiment, the electronic device 1200 is used to store a plurality of media items (e.g., songs, podcasts, etc.) in the file system 1204. When the user wishes to have the electronic device play a particular media item, a list of available media items is displayed on the display 1216. The user may then select one of the available media items using the user input device 1214. The processor 1202, upon receiving a selection of a particular media item, supplies media data (e.g., an audio file) for the particular media item to a coder/decoder (CODEC) 1220. The CODEC 1220 then generates analog output signals to a speaker 1222. The speaker 1222 may be a speaker internal to the electronic device 1200 or external to the electronic device 1200. For example, a headset or earphone connected with the electronic device 1200 may be considered an external speaker.

Electronic device 1200 also includes a network/bus interface 1224 coupled to data link 1226. Data link 1226 allows electronic device 1200 to communicate with a host computer or an accessory device. The data link 1226 may be provided via a wired connection or a wireless connection. In the case of a wireless connection, the network/bus interface 1224 may include a wireless transceiver. Media items (media assets) can belong to one or more different types of media content. In one embodiment, the media items are audio tracks (e.g., songs, audio books, and podcasts). In another embodiment, the media item is an image (e.g., a photograph). However, in other embodiments, the media items may be any combination of audio, graphical or visual content. The sensor 1228 may take the form of a circuit for detecting any number of stimuli. For example, the sensors 1228 may include hall effect sensors responsive to external magnetic fields, audio sensors, and light sensors such as photometers, among others.

The various aspects, embodiments, implementations, or features of the described embodiments may be used alone or in any combination. Aspects of the described embodiments may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The desired embodiments may also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling manufacturing operations or computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling a manufacturing line. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tape, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

Claims (10)

1. An accessory device arranged to communicate with a host device over a communication channel, the host device comprising a host device display arranged to present visual information, the accessory device comprising:

a single flexible flap having a size and shape in accordance with the host device display, the single flexible flap having at least two segments, wherein the at least two segments of the flexible flap are covered by a single flexible flap display configured to present visual information; and

a connection portion configured to provide at least a communication channel configured to transmit information between the host device and the accessory device, wherein at least some of the information is visually presented on the tab display.

2. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the flexible flap display is a flexible flap display configured to flex and bend in accordance with the flexing and bending movements of the flexible flap.

3. The accessory device of claim 2, wherein the connection portion further comprises:

a hinge extension pivotally connected to the flexible flap, the hinge extension including a first magnetic attachment feature for magnetically attaching the accessory device to the host device.

4. The accessory device of claim 3, wherein the flexible flap display further comprises:

a user interface in the form of a touch sensitive sensor overlaying the flexible flap display.

5. The accessory device of claim 4, wherein the connection portion further comprises:

a power connector disposed on a surface of the hinge extension and facilitating power transfer between the host device and the accessory device, wherein the power connector is packaged with a corresponding power receiver included in the host device to enable power to be transferred between the host device and the accessory device when the host device and the accessory device are magnetically attached to each other.

6. The accessory device of claim 5, wherein the power connector further comprises a data connector configured to communicate data information between the accessory device and the host device.

7. The accessory device of claim 6, wherein the communication channel is a wireless communication channel.

8. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the flexible flap further comprises:

a plurality of segments, wherein at least one segment comprises a bag;

a rigid insert added to each bag, the rigid insert providing support for the associated segment; and

a fold region between each of the segments, the fold region being configured to allow the plurality of segments to be folded relative to each other.

9. The accessory device of claim 8, wherein the flexible flap further comprises:

another tab display distributed over at least one of the rigid inserts of the flexible tab and separate and distinct from the flexible tab display, wherein the another tab display is an electronic paper display that does not substantially require power to maintain a current display state.

10. The accessory device of claim 8, wherein the accessory device further comprises:

a further flap separate and distinct from the flexible flap, the further flap being independently attached to a connection portion disposed between the flexible flap and the host device display, wherein the further flap participates in a communication channel and includes a user interface distinct from a user interface on the flexible flap.