Docking station for portable entertainment devices

• US 20060127034A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: KSC Industries Inc.
• Inventors: Wei, Jim, Brooking, Eric, Rodriguez, Yadir, McCarty, William A., King, Jeff Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/231
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A docking station is configured to receive media in the form of audio and/or video from a portable entertainment device. The docking station transmits the received media to a remote playing device via a wired, wireless, or powerline connection. The media may include a control signal associated with the audio and/or video to control the remote playing device. In certain embodiments, the remote playing device transmits control signals to the docking station to control the portable entertainment device. In certain embodiments, the docking station electrically charges the portable entertainment device.

Claims

1. A docking station system for a media source device, the system comprising:

a housing comprising,

an input connector configured to mate with a media output connector on a media source device, and

a first transmitter located proximate to the media source device when mated with said input connector and configured to transmit a received signal to a unit located remote from the housing.

2. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a power supply configured to power the first transmitter and recharge the media source device while the housing is receiving the signal.

3. The docking station system of claim 2, wherein the power supply comprises the first transmitter.

4. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter is further configured to transmit a control code to the unit, said control code being associated with the signal transmitted.

5. The docking station system of claim 4, wherein the control code and the signal are transmitted using the same communication protocol.

6. The docking station system of claim 4, wherein the control code and the signal are transmitted using different communication protocols.

7. The docking station system of claim 4, wherein the control code is input to the housing.

8. The docking station system of claim 4, wherein the control code is input to the housing using a wireless protocol via a handheld remote control.

9. The docking station system of claim 4, wherein the control code is input to the media source device.

10. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the unit comprises a second transmitter configured to transmit a control code, and wherein the housing further comprises a receiver configured to receive the transmitted control code from the second transmitter.

11. The docking station system of claim 10, wherein the control code is input via the unit.

12. The docking station system of claim 10, wherein the receiver is configured to wirelessly receive the control code from a handheld remote control.

13. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein said input connector is accessible through the housing and provides mechanical support to the media source device.

14. The docking station system of claim 13, wherein the connector has a plurality of pins, at least a first pin and a second pin being configured for attaching to the media source device, wherein the first pin is further configured to provide an electronic connection to receive the signal from the media source unit, and the second pin is further configured to provide an electronic connection to charge the media source device.

15. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an analog/digital converter configured to convert the signal to either an analog signal or a digital signal for transmission to the unit.

16. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the received signal is transmitted via a wired network.

17. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the received signal is transmitted via a powerline network.

18. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is wireless.

19. The docking station system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter is RF.

20. The docking station system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter is IR.

21. The docking station system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter is Ehernet.

27. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the connection between the transmitter and the receiver is IR.

28. The entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the connection between the transmitter and the receiver is Ethernet.

22. An entertainment system comprising:

a housing comprising,

an analog input configured to receive an analog signal from a media source device,

a digital input configured to receive a digital signal from the media source device,

a transmitter located proximate to the media source device and configured to transmit the received signal;

a unit located remote from the housing and comprising,

a receiver module configured to receive the transmitted signal, and

a power supply configured to power the unit; and

a remote playing device configured to receive the signal transmitted by the unit and broadcast the received signal.

23. The entertainment system of claim 22, wherein the connection between the transmitter and the receiver is wired.

24. The entertainment system of claim 23, wherein the connection between the transmitter and the receiver is powerline.

25. The entertainment system of claim 22, wherein the connection between the transmitter and the receiver is wireless.

26. The entertainment system of claim 25, wherein the connection between the transmitter and the receiver is RF.

29. A method for distributing audio signals from a hand held device, the method comprising:

receiving a media signal from a media source device via a connector;

transmitting the media signal from a docking station and over a first network;

receiving the transmitted media signal at a location remote from the docking station; and

providing the received media signal to a remote playing device via a second network.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising simultaneously charging the media source device via the connector.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the media signal comprises an audio signal.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the media signal comprises a video signal.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the media signal comprises an audio signal and a control signal associated with the audio signal.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving a control signal at the remote location;

transmitting the control signal to the docking station over a third network; and

modifying the media signal to be transmitted based at least in part on the received control signal.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the first network is a wired network.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first network is a powerline network.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the first network is a wireless network.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the first network is an RF network.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the first network is an IR network.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the first network is an Ethernet network.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein the first and third networks are both wireless networks and the second network is a wired network.

42. The method of claim 29, wherein the media signal includes an audio signal and a control signal.