Hand-held, portable electronic device with retainer port for receiving retainable accessory for use wirelessly therewith

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a hand-held, portable electronic device is provided for use with a retainable accessory including a conductive male member which extends longitudinally from an end of the retainable accessory. The hand-held, portable electronic device may comprise a cavity in an exterior periphery of the hand-held, portable electronic device. The cavity may be configured to receive the conductive male member of the retainable accessory for storing the retainable accessory by inserting the conductive male member of the retainable accessory within the cavity. The retainable accessory may be adapted to communicate with the hand-held, portable electronic device wirelessly via an electronic signal such that the conductive male member of the retainable accessory to enable flow of charge such that the retainable accessory can function by electronically communicating with the hand-held, portable electronic device when physically not connected thereto. The retainable accessory is stored for reuse within the cavity by physically connecting to the hand-held, portable electronic device.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A hand-held, portable electronic device for use with a retainable accessory including a conductive member, the hand-held, portable electronic device comprising:
 a device body;   a device housing that encloses the device body, the device housing having an exterior periphery; and   a retainer port that defines an accessory retaining structure formed in the exterior periphery of the device housing, the accessory retaining structure is configured to receive the conductive member of the retainable accessory for storing the retainable accessory,   wherein the retainable accessory is adapted to communicate with the hand-held, portable electronic device wirelessly via an electronic signal, wherein the accessory retaining structure including:
 a cavity for retaining the retainable accessory at the hand-held, portable electronic device by inserting the conductive member of the retainable accessory within the cavity, wherein the conductive member of the retainable accessory to enable flow of charge such that the retainable accessory can function by electronically communicating with the hand-held, portable electronic device when physically not connected thereto, wherein the retainable accessory is stored for reuse when physically connected to the hand-held, portable electronic device, 
   wherein the accessory retaining structure is configured to accept a male member which extends longitudinally from an end of the retainable accessory.   
     
     
         2 . The hand-held, portable electronic device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hand-held portable electronic device includes a first transceiver and the retainable accessory includes a second transceiver such that the second transceiver is adapted to communicate with the first transceiver of the hand-held, portable electronic device using a Bluetooth protocol for a short-range wireless communication, the hand-held, portable electronic device is at least one of a processor-based Bluetooth-enabled hand-held wireless computing device or a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. 
     
     
         3 . The hand-held, portable electronic device, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a device battery; and   a charge circuitry for charging the device battery and wherein the retainable accessory having a component capable of receiving charge to operate the retainable accessory.   
     
     
         4 . The hand-held, portable electronic device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the accessory retaining structure is configured to mate with the retainable accessory such that frictional forces developed by their contact are sufficient to maintain the conductive member in place after detachably latching the retainable accessory. 
     
     
         5 . The hand-held, portable electronic device, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the retainable accessory includes a handsfree audiophone including at least one of a speaker and a microphone and the hand-held, portable electronic device is a cell phone that includes at least one of a digital music player, a personal digital assistant, a global positioning satellite receiver, a video player, and a pocket personal computer. 
     
     
         6 . A method of retaining at a hand-held, portable electronic device a retainable accessory including a conductive member, the method comprising:
 providing a device body of the hand-held, portable electronic device;   providing a device housing that encloses the device body, the device housing having an exterior periphery; and   providing a retainer port that defines an accessory retaining structure formed in the exterior periphery of the device housing, the accessory retaining structure is configured to receive the conductive member of the retainable accessory for storing the retainable accessory,   wherein the retainable accessory is adapted to communicate with the hand-held, portable electronic device wirelessly via an electronic signal, wherein the accessory retaining structure including:
 a cavity for retaining the retainable accessory at the hand-held, portable electronic device by inserting the conductive member of the retainable accessory within the cavity, wherein the conductive member of the retainable accessory to enable flow of charge such that the retainable accessory can function by electronically communicating with the hand-held, portable electronic device when physically not connected thereto, wherein the retainable accessory is stored for reuse when physically connected to the hand-held, portable electronic device, 
   wherein the accessory retaining structure is configured to accept a male member which extends longitudinally from an end of the retainable accessory.   
     
     
         7 . The method, as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the hand-held portable electronic device includes a first transceiver and the retainable accessory includes a second transceiver such that the second transceiver is adapted to communicate with the first transceiver of the hand-held, portable electronic device using a Bluetooth protocol for a short-range wireless communication, the hand-held, portable electronic device is at least one of a processor-based Bluetooth-enabled hand-held wireless computing device or a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. 
     
     
         8 . The method, as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the hand-held, portable electronic device further comprising:
 a device battery; and   a charge circuitry for charging the device battery and wherein the retainable accessory having a component capable of receiving charge to operate the retainable accessory.   
     
     
         9 . The method, as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the accessory retaining structure is configured to mate with the retainable accessory such that frictional forces developed by their contact are sufficient to maintain the conductive member in place after detachably latching the retainable accessory. 
     
     
         10 . The method, as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the retainable accessory includes a handsfree audiophone including at least one of a speaker and a microphone and the hand-held, portable electronic device is a cell phone that includes at least one of a digital music player, a personal digital assistant, a global positioning satellite receiver, a video player, and a pocket personal computer. 
     
     
         11 . A hand-held, portable electronic device for use with a retainable accessory including a conductive male member which extends longitudinally from an end of the retainable accessory, the hand-held, portable electronic device comprising:
 a cavity in an exterior periphery of the hand-held, portable electronic device,   wherein the cavity is configured to receive the conductive male member of the retainable accessory for storing the retainable accessory by inserting the conductive male member of the retainable accessory within said cavity,   wherein said retainable accessory is adapted to communicate with said hand-held, portable electronic device wirelessly via an electronic signal such that conductive male member of said retainable accessory to enable flow of charge such that the retainable accessory can function by electronically communicating with the hand-held, portable electronic device when physically not connected thereto, and   wherein the retainable accessory is stored for reuse within the cavity by physically connecting to the hand-held, portable electronic device.   
     
     
         12 . The hand-held, portable electronic device, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the hand-held portable electronic device includes a first transceiver and the retainable accessory includes a second transceiver such that the second transceiver is adapted to communicate with the first transceiver of the hand-held, portable electronic device using a Bluetooth protocol for a short-range wireless communication, the hand-held, portable electronic device is at least one of a processor-based Bluetooth-enabled hand-held wireless computing device or a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. 
     
     
         13 . The hand-held, portable electronic device, as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a device battery: and   a charge circuitry for charging the device battery and wherein the retainable accessory having a component capable of receiving charge to operate the retainable accessory.   
     
     
         14 . The hand-held, portable electronic device, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the cavity is configured to mate with the retainable accessory such that frictional forces developed by their contact are sufficient to maintain the conductive male member in place after detachably latching the retainable accessory, 
     
     
         15 . The hand-held, portable electronic device, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the retainable accessory includes a handsfree audiophone including at least one of a speaker and a microphone and the hand-held, portable electronic device is a cell phone that includes at least one of a digital music player, a personal digital assistant, a global positioning satellite receiver, a video player, and a pocket personal computer.