Microsoft has filed a patent called "Smart interface system for mobile communication devices" to turn your smartphone into a "full-fledged" PC with peripherals. The patent application dated January 22, 2009 (originally filed in Dec 2007) describes the Smart Interface as an intelligent cradle that acts as an interface between the mobile device and the peripherals.
The cradle would have its own CPU, memory and an embedded OS that handles communication between the phone and peripherals such as LAN, external HDD, keyboard, mouse, display etc., of your choice. For instance a video stream, downloaded by the smartphone can be translated by the cradle into commands that a display or a projector can handle.
Microsoft includes a virtually unlimited list of peripherals that can be connected to the smart system such as:
- TV
- LED, LCD displays
- Projectors
- Mice and Keyboards
- Gesture input systems
- Touchpads
- Touch screen displays
- Printers
- Cameras
- Audio and Audio Processing systems (speakers, electronic music systems, etc.)
- Image/Video and Image/Video Processing systems (video cameras, digital cameras, scanners, etc.)
- Storage systems (USB drives, IEEE 1394 drives, external drives, flash drives, etc.)
- Wire and Wireless Networks
- Set-top-boxes
- High-Definition systems
- Home Theater Systems
- Security Systems
- Sensor Systems