Emulating a wireless connection using a wired connection

• US 10,257,286 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanchez-Sandoval, Miguel S., Eguiluz, Hernan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dailey, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Lam H
• Application Number:
  US15/080,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20160300505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 709228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/148 Migration or transfer of sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724095 Worn on the wrist, hand or arm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

A dual-device tutorial system can facilitate user learning about a “primary” device by providing explanatory information on a “supporting” device while the user interacts with the primary device. The primary and supporting devices can be devices of different types. From a user perspective, the primary device can operate exactly as it would in normal (non-tutorial) use and can send event messages and/or other signals to the supporting device. Based on the event messages and/or other signals, the supporting device can provide explanatory information responsive to user interactions with the primary device.

Claims

1. A method implemented in an electronic device having a data communication interface that includes a wired communication interface circuit and a wireless communication interface circuit, the method comprising:

executing, at the electronic device, one or more programs to interoperate with a companion device of a companion device type, the programs including program code for communicating with the companion device using the wireless communication interface circuit;

establishing, by the electronic device, a wired connection to a supporting device using the wired communication interface circuit;

detecting, at a daemon software layer of the data communication interface of the electronic device, that the wired connection with the supporting device has been established;

in response to detecting that the wired connection has been established, notifying, by the daemon software layer of the data communication interface, a communication protocol software layer of the data communication interface of the electronic device to emulate a wireless connection between the electronic device and the companion device, wherein the communication protocol software layer manages communication between the one or more programs and the wireless communication interface circuit;

operating the communication protocol software layer in a connected mode in response to the notifying, wherein operating in the connected mode includes facilitating communication between the one or more programs and the wireless communication interface circuit; and

operating the daemon software layer to send communications from the communication protocol software layer to the wired communication interface circuit instead of the wireless communication interface circuit, wherein the sending of the communications is transparent to the communication protocol software layer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the supporting device is a device of a type different from the companion device type.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the wired connection includes:

receiving, via a wired communication interface circuit, a device address of the supporting device; and

in response to receiving the device address, confirming that a pairing has previously been established with the supporting device, wherein the confirming uses a stored pairing data block stored in the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at the daemon software layer, a status message from the wireless communication interface circuit indicating that no wireless connection is established; and

in response to a determination that the wired connection is still present, ignoring, by the daemon software layer, the received status message.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

in response to a determination that the wired connection has been terminated, reporting the status message to the communication protocol software layer, wherein the communication protocol software layer ceases to operate in the connected mode in response to receiving the reported status message from the daemon software layer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inactivating, by the daemon software layer, the wireless communication interface circuit while the wired communication interface circuit is connected to the supporting device.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a wireless communication interface circuit;

a wired communication interface circuit; and

at least one processor coupled to the wireless communication interface circuit and the wired communication interface circuit and configured to;

execute one or more programs to interoperate with a companion device of a companion device type, the programs including program code for communicating with the companion device using the wireless communication interface circuit;

execute data communication software including a communication protocol software layer to manage communication between the one or more programs and the wireless communication interface circuit and a daemon software layer;

establish a wired connection to a supporting device using the wired communication interface circuit;

detect, at the daemon software layer of the electronic device, that the wired connection with the supporting device has been established;

in response to detecting that the wired connection has been established, notify, by the daemon software layer, the communication protocol software layer of the electronic device to emulate a wireless connection between the electronic device and the companion device;

execute the communication protocol software layer in a connected mode in response to the notifying, wherein executing the communication protocol software layer in the connected mode includes facilitating communication between the one or more programs and the wireless communication interface circuit; and

operating the daemon software layer to send communications from the communication protocol software layer to the wired communication interface circuit instead of the wireless communication interface circuit, wherein the sending of the communications is transparent to the communication protocol software layer.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 wherein the supporting device is a device of a type different from the companion device type.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 further comprising a storage subsystem, wherein the at least one processor is further configured such that establishing the wired connection includes:

receiving, via a wired communication interface circuit, a device address of the supporting device; and

in response to receiving the device address, confirming that a pairing has previously been established with the supporting device, wherein the confirming uses a stored pairing data block stored in the storage subsystem.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive, at the daemon software layer, a status message from the wireless communication interface circuit indicating that no wireless connection is established;

determine whether the wired connection to the supporting device is present; and

ignore the received status message in response to determining that the wired connection is present.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to report the status message from the daemon software layer to the communication protocol software layer, in response to determining that the wired connection to the supporting device is not present, wherein the communication protocol software layer ceases to operate in the connected mode in response to receiving the reported status message from the daemon software layer.

12. A system comprising:

a supporting device including;

a wired communication interface;

a local user interface; and

at least one processor coupled to the wired communication interface and the local user interface;

a primary device including;

a wireless communication interface circuit;

a wired communication interface circuit;

a local user interface; and

at least one processor coupled to the wireless communication interface circuit, the wired communication interface circuit, and the local user interface; and

a cable connected between the wired communication interface of the supporting device and the wired communication interface circuit of the primary device,

wherein the at least one processor of the primary device is configured to;

execute one or more programs to interoperate with a companion device of a companion device type, the programs including program code for communicating with the companion device using the wireless communication interface circuit;

execute data communication software including a communication protocol software layer to manage communication between the one or more programs and the wireless communication interface circuit and a daemon software layer;

establish a wired connection to a supporting device using the wired communication interface circuit;

detect, at the daemon software layer, that the wired connection with the supporting device has been established;

in response to detecting that the wired connection has been established, notify, by the daemon software layer, the communication protocol software layer of the primary device to emulate a wireless connection between the primary device and the companion device;

execute the communication protocol software layer in a connected mode in response to the notifying, wherein executing the communication protocol software layer in the connected mode includes facilitating communication between the one or more programs and the wireless communication interface circuit; and

operate the daemon software layer to send communications from the communication protocol software layer to the wired communication interface circuit instead of the wireless communication interface circuit, wherein the sending of the communications is transparent to the communication protocol software layer.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the supporting device and the primary device are each mounted to a common housing such that the local user interface of the supporting device and the local user interface of the primary device are both accessible.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the housing encloses a power supply that provides power to the supporting device and the primary device.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the supporting device further includes a wireless communication interface.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the wireless communication interface of the supporting device is configured to communicate with a network.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the supporting device is of a device type other than the companion device type.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the primary device further includes a storage subsystem and wherein the at least one processor of the primary device is further configured such that establishing the wired connection includes:

receiving, via a wired communication interface circuit, a device address of the supporting device; and

in response to receiving the device address, confirming that a pairing has previously been established with the supporting device, wherein the confirming uses a stored pairing data block stored in the storage subsystem.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one processor of the primary device is further configured to:

receive, at the daemon software layer, a status message from the wireless communication interface circuit indicating that no wireless connection is established;

determine whether the wired connection to the supporting device is present; and

ignore the received status message in response to determining that the wired connection is present.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one processor of the primary device is further configured to report the status message from the daemon software layer to the communication protocol software layer, in response to determining that the wired connection to the supporting device is not present, wherein the communication protocol software layer ceases to operate in the connected mode in response to receiving the reported status message from the daemon software layer.