The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 16, 2005
Filed:
Sep. 11, 2001
Bryan Lester Striemer, Zumbrota, MN (US);
Bryan Lester Striemer, Zumbrota, MN (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A companion device provides non-native function to a different electronic device. In the preferred embodiments, the electronic device and the companion device both include a local wireless interface that allows communicating between the two, such as a Bluetooth interface. When the electronic device comes within range of the companion device, it detects the presence of the companion device, and thus knows what enhanced function the companion device provides. In a first embodiment, the electronic device transmits information to the companion device, which processes the information and transmits the processed information to the electronic device. In a second embodiment, the companion device receives information from a source other than the electronic device, processes the information, and transmits the information to the electronic device. In both embodiments, the companion device provides non-native functions to the electronic device. Examples of non-native functions include text-to-voice conversion, voice-to-text conversion, processing of audio files, processing of video files, performing complex mathematical computations, and digital signal processing.