Remote control of a mobile computing device with an auxiliary device

Abstract

An auxiliary device that remotely controls a mobile computing device is described herein. The auxiliary device can be wirelessly coupled with the mobile computing device. The auxiliary device can detect a user input at the auxiliary device. An operation executed by the mobile computing device can be performed responsive to the user input. Further, an identity of the operation can be a function of a context of the mobile computing device and the user input. Responsive to detection of the user input, the auxiliary device can transmit data indicative of the user input from the auxiliary device to the mobile computing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an auxiliary device, the auxiliary device being wirelessly coupled with a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
 detecting a user input at the auxiliary device, an operation of a personal assistant component executed by the mobile computing device being performed responsive to the user input, an identity of the operation being a function of a context of the mobile computing device and the user input; and   responsive to detection of the user input, transmitting data indicative of the user input from the auxiliary device to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining contextual data indicative of a context of the auxiliary device, the identity of the operation further being a function of the context of the auxiliary device; and   transmitting the contextual data from the auxiliary device to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , the contextual data specifies that the auxiliary device is mechanically attached to a disparate device and a type of the disparate device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , the contextual data specifies at least one of a position of the auxiliary device or an orientation of the auxiliary device, the identity of the operation further being a function of at least one of the position of the auxiliary device relative to a position of the mobile computing device or a change in the orientation of the auxiliary device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , potential operations performable by the personal assistant component during a period of time comprise the operation, identities of the potential operations being tailored as a function of the context of the mobile computing device and a context of the auxiliary device during the period of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the user input being a touch of a touch sensor of the auxiliary device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving speech input at the auxiliary device, the speech input received by a microphone of the auxiliary device; and   responsive to receipt of the speech input, transmitting the speech input from the auxiliary device to the mobile computing device, the identity of the operation further being a function of the speech input.   
     
     
         8 . An auxiliary device, the auxiliary device being wirelessly coupled with a mobile computing device, the auxiliary device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that comprises components that are executable by the processor, the components comprising:
 an interface component that detects a user input at the auxiliary device, an operation executed by the mobile computing device being performed responsive to the user input, an identity of the operation being a function of:
 a context of the mobile computing device; 
 the user input; 
 whether the auxiliary device is mechanically attached to a disparate device, wherein the auxiliary device is removably attachable to the disparate device; and 
 a type of the disparate device, if the auxiliary device is mechanically attached to the disparate device; and 
 
 an transceiver component that transmits data indicative of the user input from the auxiliary device to the mobile computing device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The auxiliary device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the memory further comprises a connection detection component, the connection detection component:
 detects whether the auxiliary device is mechanically attached to the disparate device and, if mechanically attached, the type of the disparate device; and 
 generates mechanical attachment data indicative of:
 whether the auxiliary device is mechanically attached to the disparate device; and 
 the type of the disparate device, if the auxiliary device is mechanically attached to the disparate device; 
 
   the transceiver component further transmits the mechanical attachment data from the auxiliary device to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         10 . The auxiliary device of  claim 8 , the auxiliary device being interchangeably attachable to a plurality of types of disparate devices. 
     
     
         11 . The auxiliary device of  claim 8 , the disparate device being an automobile jacket, the automobile jacket being mechanically attachable to an automobile steering wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The auxiliary device of  claim 8 , the disparate device being the mobile computing device, the auxiliary device being mechanically attachable to the mobile computing device in a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, the auxiliary device being a kickstand in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The auxiliary device of  claim 8 , the disparate device being a sleeve, the sleeve being mechanically attachable to the mobile computing device, the auxiliary device being mechanically attachable to the sleeve in a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, the auxiliary device being a kickstand in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The auxiliary device of  claim 8 , the operation being performed by a personal assistant component executed by the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The auxiliary device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the memory further comprises a position detection component that detects a position of the auxiliary device;   the transceiver component transmits, from the auxiliary device to the mobile computing device, data indicative of the position of the auxiliary device; and   the identity of the operation executed by the mobile computing device further being a function of the position of the auxiliary device.   
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a mobile computing device, comprising:
 a first processor; and 
 a first memory that comprises components that are executable by the first processor, the components executable by the first processor comprising:
 a personal assistant component; 
 a context identification component that detects contextual data indicative of a context of the mobile computing device; and 
 a first transceiver component; and 
 
   an auxiliary device that is wirelessly coupled with the mobile computing device, the auxiliary device comprising:
 a touch sensor; 
 a second processor; and 
 a second memory that comprises components that are executable by the second processor, the components executable by the second processor comprising:
 an interface component that detects a touch of the touch sensor, an identity of an operation controlled responsive to detection of the touch of the touch sensor being a function of the context of the mobile computing device; and 
 a second transceiver component that transmits data indicative of the detection of the touch of the touch sensor from the auxiliary device to the mobile computing device; 
 
   wherein the first transceiver component of the mobile computing device receives the data indicative of the detection of the touch of the touch sensor from the auxiliary device; and   wherein the personal assistant component performs the operation responsive to receipt of the data indicative of the detection of the touch of the touch sensor.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , the auxiliary device being removably attachable to the mobile computing device, the auxiliary device being mechanically attachable to the mobile computing device in a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, the auxiliary device being a kickstand in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , the identity of the operation controlled responsive to the detection of the touch of the touch sensor further being a function of whether the auxiliary device is mechanically attached to the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the mobile computing device is removably attachable to a dock; and   when the mobile computing device is mechanically attached to the dock:
 the contextual data detected by the context identification component specifies that the mobile computing device is mechanically attached to the dock and a type of the dock; and 
 the identity of the operation controlled responsive to the detection of the touch of the touch sensor further being a function of mechanical attachment of the mobile computing device to the dock and the type of the dock. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an automobile dock, the automobile dock comprising:
 an audio output jack; 
 a magnetic clasp, the mobile computing device being removably attachable to the automobile dock via the magnetic clasp; and 
 a wireless charging source, the wireless charging source charges the mobile computing device when mechanically attached.