Method and apparatus for control of personal digital media devices using a vehicle audio system
First Claim
1. A control system, comprising:
- a vehicle media system, the vehicle media system including a control system for interacting with peripheral media equipment;
a personal digital media device; and
an interface unit coupled between the vehicle media system and the personal digital device, wherein the interface unit receives control signals comprising at least one of command signals and database query signals from the vehicle media system and forwards said control signals to the personal digital media device in a form interpretable by the personal digital media device, and further wherein the interface unit responds to predetermined vehicle media system control signals by forwarding control signals to the personal digital media device to command the personal digital media device to return user-defined selections of media content for playback to the vehicle media system.
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Abstract
A system and method for controlling a personal digital media device is provided, the system and method using the controls of a vehicle audio system. An interface unit receives and translates vehicle audio system control signals and forwards the translated signals in a form interpretable by the personal digital media device for execution. The interface unit may also receive responses from the personal digital media device and forward translated responses to the vehicle audio system for, for example, display in the vehicle audio system'"'"'s display device. In response to predetermined control signals from the vehicle audio system, the interface unit may command the personal digital media device to playback user-defined playlists named in accordance with a playlist naming convention. The vehicle operator is thus provided an intuitive way to control the personal digital media device remotely via the vehicle audio system'"'"'s controls, including via steering wheel-mounted audio system controls.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control system, comprising:
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a vehicle media system, the vehicle media system including a control system for interacting with peripheral media equipment;
a personal digital media device; and
an interface unit coupled between the vehicle media system and the personal digital device, wherein the interface unit receives control signals comprising at least one of command signals and database query signals from the vehicle media system and forwards said control signals to the personal digital media device in a form interpretable by the personal digital media device, and further wherein the interface unit responds to predetermined vehicle media system control signals by forwarding control signals to the personal digital media device to command the personal digital media device to return user-defined selections of media content for playback to the vehicle media system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An interface unit for interfacing a personal digital media device with a vehicle media system to permit remote control of the personal digital media device by the vehicle media system, comprising:
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an interface unit bus connection between the vehicle media system and an interface bus communications circuit; and
an interface unit device connection between the personal digital media device and an interface protocol translation circuit, wherein the interface bus communications circuit and the interface protocol translation circuit are electronically coupled, wherein the interface protocol translation circuit translates control signals comprising command signals and data query signals received through the interface bus communications circuit from the vehicle media system to a form interpretable by the personal digital media device, and further wherein the interface unit responds to predetermined vehicle media system control signals by forwarding control signals to the personal digital media device to command the personal digital media device to return user-defined selections of media content for playback to the vehicle media system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling a personal digital media device, comprising the acts of:
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connecting a personal digital media device to a vehicle media system with an interface unit;
receiving with the interface unit a control signal comprising at least one of a command signal and a database query signal from the vehicle media system;
forwarding the received control signal from the interface unit to the personal digital media device in a form interpretable by the personal digital media device; and
commanding, in response to receipt of predetermined vehicle media system control signals by the interface unit, the personal digital media device to return user-defined selections of media content for playback to the vehicle media system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification