Universal dock for context sensitive computing device

Abstract

A dock for interacting with a computing device. The computing device configures itself for operations based on its context, which may be determined form the dock by reading a value from a tag on the dock. The computing device may use low power transmissions such that receiving a value from the tag provides an indication of proximity to the dock. The value read provides an indication of a desired operation, and, in response to reading a value of the tag, the computing device may launch an application, pair with devices in the vicinity of the dock, or take other actions that configure the computing device. A universal dock, usable with computing devices of a plurality of form factors, may be implemented by providing an array of tags and, in some cases, a non-contact power supply.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dock ( 230 ) for a portable computing device ( 30 ), the dock comprising:
 a support structure having a surface ( 222 ) configured to receive the computing device; and   a tag ( 232 A), encoded with a value ( 310 ), adjacent the surface, the tag configured to emit radiation representing the value.   
     
     
         2 . The dock of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dock comprises a two-dimensional array ( 232 A . . .  232 J) of tags disposed across the surface ( 522 ); and   the tag comprises a portion of the array.   
     
     
         3 . The dock of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the two-dimensional array substantially covers the surface.   
     
     
         4 . The dock of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a non-contact power-supply ( 550 ) adjacent the surface.   
     
     
         5 . The dock of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of a plurality of tags in the two-dimensional array is encoded with the same value.   
     
     
         6 . The dock of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the a plurality of tags in the two-dimensional array is encoded with different values according to an error control code   
     
     
         7 . The dock of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of tags comprise passive tags. 
     
     
         8 . The dock of  claim 1 , wherein the tag comprises an active tag, the active tag comprising:
 a radio;   a controller, coupled to the radio, the controller configured for:
 detecting, in a signal received by the radio, an indication of a computing device in the vicinity of the dock; and 
 in response to detecting the indication, controlling the radio to transmit the value. 
   
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a dock ( 632 ) for a computing device ( 630 ), the method comprising:
 receiving radiation ( 710 ) from a computing device in proximity to the dock; and   in response to receiving the radiation, emitting ( 720 ) radiation encoding a value identifying an operation for execution on the computing device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the emitted radiation has a power between 0.2 milliwatts and 1 milliwatt.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 receiving radiation from the computing device comprises receiving a beacon; and   the value identifying the operation comprises a value identifying at least one device in the vicinity of the dock for pairing with the computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the value identifies a plurality of human interface devices for pairing with the computing device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the received radiation comprises a control packet comprising an information element;   the method further comprises analyzing the information element; and   the emitting radiation comprises emitting radiation in response to the analyzing determining that the information element identifies a service available from a device in the vicinity of the dock.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 radiating power from a power-supply within the dock; and   charging a battery of a computing device placed on the dock from the power radiated from the power-supply.   
     
     
         15 . A dock for a portable computing device, the dock comprising:
 a support structure having a surface configured to receive the computing device; and   a tag, encoded with a value, adjacent the surface, the tag configured to emit radiation representing the value; and   a non-contact power supply.   
     
     
         16 . The dock of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the non-contact power supply is configured for inductively coupling power to a computing device placed on the surface.   
     
     
         17 . The dock of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the non-contact power supply is configured for capacitively coupling power to a computing device placed on the surface.   
     
     
         18 . The dock of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the support structure comprises a member for holding the computing device against the surface with a screen of the computing device positioned with a predetermined orientation; and   the value identifies a software application that, when executed, formats information for presentation on the screen in the orientation.   
     
     
         19 . The dock of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the support structure is configured for receiving a computing device with a slate form factor.   
     
     
         20 . The dock of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the dock is in combination with at least one wireless computer peripheral; and   the value indicates to the computing device to perform a pairing ceremony with the at least one wireless computer peripheral.