Managing device functions based on physical interaction with device modules

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for managing operation of an electronic device based on the connection(s) of hardware module(s) to the electronic drive via a support housing. According to certain aspects, the electronic device may detect when a hardware module connects to the support housing. The electronic device may identify a function associated with the hardware module, where the function may be a built-in function of the hardware module itself or of the electronic device. The electronic device may accordingly activate the identified function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising:
 a support housing;   a hardware module configured to connect to the support housing via one or more of a set of connector components;   a memory storing a set of applications and a set of computer-executable instructions; and   a processor interfacing with the memory, and configured to execute the set of computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
 detect the hardware module connect to the support housing via the one or more connector components of the set of connector components, and 
 in response to detecting the hardware module connect to the support housing:
 determine that the hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with an application input to an application of the set of applications, and 
 initiate the application with the application input incorporated therein. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein to initiate the application with the application input incorporated therein, the processor is configured to:
 initiate the application, and   cause a function associated with the application to be unlocked.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein to initiate the application with the application input incorporated therein, the processor is configured to:
 initiate the application, and cause a function associated with the electronic device to be unlocked.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the set of computer-executable instructions to further cause the processor to:
 detect an additional hardware module connect to the support housing.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein to determine that the hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with the application input, the processor is configured to:
 determine that the hardware module connecting to the support housing in sequence with the additional hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with the application input to the application.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the memory further stores a predetermined sequence of module movements, and wherein to determine that the hardware module connecting to the support housing in sequence with the additional hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with the application input to the application, the processor is configured to:
 determine that the hardware module connecting to the support housing in sequence with the additional hardware module connecting to the support housing matches the predetermined sequence of module movements.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, and wherein to initiate the application with the application input incorporated therein, the processor is configured to:
 initiate the application, and   cause the user interface to display content associated with the application.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the application is a game, and wherein to initiate the application with the application input incorporated therein, the processor is configured to:
 initiate the application in which a goal of the game is scored.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the hardware module further connects to the support housing from a movement direction. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein to determine that the hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with the application input, the processor is configured to:
 determine that the hardware module connecting to the support housing from the movement direction is associated with the application input to the application.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method of managing operation of an electronic device comprising a support housing and a hardware module configured to connect to the support housing via one or more of a set of connector components, and a processor configured to execute a set of applications, the method comprising:
 detecting, by the processor, the hardware module connect to the support housing via the one or more connector components of the set of connector components; and   in response to detecting the hardware module connect to the support housing:
 determining that the hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with an application input to an application of the set of applications, and 
 initiating the application with the application input incorporated therein. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein initiating the application with the application input incorporated therein comprises:
 initiating the application, and   causing a function associated with the application to be unlocked.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein initiating the application with the application input incorporated therein comprises:
 initiating the application, and   causing a function associated with the electronic device to be unlocked.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting an additional hardware module connect to the support housing.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein determining that the hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with the application input comprises:
 determining that the hardware module connecting to the support housing in sequence with the additional hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with the application input to the application.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein determining that the hardware module connecting to the support housing in sequence with the additional hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with the application input to the application comprises:
 determining that the hardware module connecting to the support housing in sequence with the additional hardware module connecting to the support housing matches a stored predetermined sequence of module movements.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein initiating the application with the application input incorporated therein comprises:
 initiating the application, and   displaying, in a user interface, content associated with the application.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein the application is a game, and wherein initiating the application with the application input incorporated therein comprises:
 initiating the application in which a goal of the game is scored.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein detecting the hardware module connect to the support housing comprises:
 detecting the hardware module connect to the support housing from a movement direction.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein determining that the hardware module connecting to the support housing is associated with the application input comprises:
 determining that the hardware module connecting to the support housing from the movement direction is associated with the application input to the application.