Module-Driven Smartwatch

Abstract

The present disclosure provides several embodiments of a module-driven smartwatch. A leading aspect of a module-driven smartwatch is that it automatically reconfigures its user interface and experience based on the modules that are attached to it. In one embodiment, the module-driven smartwatch comprises a frontend processing unit powered by a primary battery and mainly configured for time-keeping and user-interfacing, a backend processing unit mainly configured for providing conventional “smartwatch”-like capabilities, and a module connector. In this embodiment, the backend processing unit's operation is contingent on power provided by a module connected to the module connector. In another embodiment, the module-driven smartwatch is much the same as a conventional smartwatch, except for its user interface and experience being driven by module attachment, operation and removal. In all cases, a module-driven smartwatch enables hardware extensibility and/or substitution without requiring smartwatch replacement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A module-driven smartwatch comprising:
 a watch case;   a display;   an interface for receiving user input;   means for being worn on a human body;   a primary battery;   at least one integrated circuit powered by the primary battery; and   at least one module connector;   wherein:
 the at least one integrated circuit is configured for:
 providing time-keeping capabilities; 
 operating the display; and 
 receiving user input from the interface; 
 
 the at least one module connector is configure for:
 enabling modules to attach to the watch case; and 
 providing electrical connectivity between a module and the at least one integrated circuit; and 
 
 the at least one integrated circuit is configured for:
 interfacing with any module connected to the connector; and 
 reacting to module connection by automatically:
 rearranging the display in a module-specific fashion; and 
 responding to user input in a module-specific way. 
 
 
   
     
     
         2 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 1 , wherein the module-driven smartwatch further comprises at least one additional integrated circuit configured for providing conventional smartwatch-like capabilities. 
     
     
         3 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one additional integrated circuit mediates the interaction between the module and the at least one integrated circuit. 
     
     
         4 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one additional integrated circuit is primarily powered through the module connector. 
     
     
         5 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one integrated circuit is a low-power microcontroller and the at least one additional integrated circuit is a system-on-chip. 
     
     
         6 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one additional integrated circuit is further connected to a secondary power source within the module-driven smartwatch. 
     
     
         7 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one additional integrated circuit is connected to smartwatch-like peripherals. 
     
     
         8 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one integrated circuit is configured for providing conventional smartwatch-like capabilities. 
     
     
         9 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one integrated circuit is configured for:
 operating in a low-power state unless a module containing a battery is connected to the module-driven smartwatch; and   utilizing power from the module containing a battery to exit low-power mode.   
     
     
         10 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 1 , wherein the module-driven smartwatch is attached to a module comprising at least one module integrated circuit for interfacing with the at least one integrated circuit. 
     
     
         11 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 10 , wherein the module further comprises a module battery for powering the at least one module integrated circuit 
     
     
         12 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 11 , the module battery is configured for also supplying power to the MDS through the module connector. 
     
     
         13 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 12 , the module-driven smartwatch further comprises at least one additional integrated circuit wherein:
 the at least one additional integrated circuit is configured for providing conventional smartwatch-like capabilities; and   the at least one additional integrated circuit is primarily powered by the module battery.   
     
     
         14 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one additional integrated circuit mediates the interaction between the module and the at least one integrated circuit. 
     
     
         15 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 14 , the at least one additional integrated circuit is further connected to a secondary power source within the module-driven smartwatch. 
     
     
         16 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 10 , wherein the module further comprises at least one additional integrated circuit primarily powered by the module battery and configured for providing conventional smartwatch-like capabilities. 
     
     
         17 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 16 , the at least one additional integrated circuit mediates the interaction between the at least one module integrated circuit and the at least one integrated circuit 
     
     
         18 ) A module-driven smartwatch comprising:
 a frontend processing block;   a backend processing block;   frontend processing block peripherals; and   an electrical connector;   wherein:
 the frontend processing block is connected to the frontend processing block peripherals; 
 the electrical connector is configured for interfacing with at least one module; 
 the frontend processing block is connected to the backend processing block; 
 the frontend processing block peripherals are configured for interfacing with the user; and 
 the backend processing block is configured for:
 providing conventional smartwatch-like capabilities; 
 operating its user interface through the frontend processing block; and 
 interfacing with modules connected to the module-driven smartwatch through the electrical connector. 
 
   
     
     
         19 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 18 , wherein the backend processing block is configured for instructing the frontend processing block to reconfigure its peripherals in a module-specific way upon module insertion. 
     
     
         20 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 19 , wherein the backend processing block is configured for being primarily powered through the electrical connector. 
     
     
         21 ) The module-driven smartwatch of  claim 20 , wherein the module-driven smart further comprises a backend processing block-specific power source and the backend processing block is also connected to the backend processing block-specific power source. 
     
     
         22 ) A method for extending the hardware capabilities of module-driven smartwatch including at least one integrated circuit and at least one additional integrated circuit by way of using modules, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a connector to enable modules to be connectable to the module-driven smartwatch;   configuring the least one integrated circuit to provide time-keeping and user-interfacing capabilities;   configuring the at least one additional integrated circuit to provide smartwatch-like capabilities;   implementing an interfacing protocol between the at least one integrated circuit and the at least one additional integrated circuit;   implementing an interfacing protocol between the at least one additional integrated circuit and a module attached to the connector;   configuring the at least one additional integrated circuit to detect the connection of a module to the connector; and   configuring the at least one additional integrated circuit to instruct the at least one integrated circuit to provide a module-specific user interface upon insertion of a module.   
     
     
         23 ) The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of configuring the at least one additional integrated circuit to be primarily powered through the connector.