Method and system for transferring album artwork between a media player and an accessory

• US 20070233295A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lydon, Gregory T., Filson, John B., Novotney, Donald J., Tupman, David, Laefer, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A method, system, and connector interface for transferring album artwork between a media player and an accessory. The method comprises obtaining, by the accessory, artwork information associated with album artwork from the media player; and obtaining, by the accessory, the album artwork from the media player based on the artwork information. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the media player and accessory may utilize a plurality of commands utilized in a variety of environments, such as within a connector interface system environment, to facilitate the transfer of album artwork.

Claims

1. A method for transferring album artwork between a media player and an accessory, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the accessory, artwork information associated with album artwork from the media player; and

obtaining, by the accessory, the album artwork from the media player based on the artwork information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the artwork information obtaining step further comprises retrieving, by the accessory, from the media player a list of artwork formats that the media player supports.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the artwork information obtaining step further comprises retrieving a list of artwork images from the media player.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the album artwork obtaining step further comprises transmitting to the media player one or more of a track selection, format selection, and a timestamp selection.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the album artwork obtaining step further comprises obtaining track information to retrieve album artwork for a given track.

6. A protocol for transferring album artwork between a media player and an accessory, the protocol comprising:

a first plurality of commands for obtaining, by the accessory, artwork information associated with album artwork from the media player; and

a second plurality of commands for obtaining, by the accessory, the album artwork from the media player based on the artwork information.

7. The protocol of claim 6 wherein the first plurality of commands comprises a command for retrieving, by the accessory, from the media player a list of artwork formats that the media player supports.

8. The protocol of claim 6 wherein the first plurality of commands comprises a command for retrieving a list of artwork images from the media player.

9. The protocol of claim 6 wherein the second plurality of commands comprises a command for transmitting to the media player one or more of a track selection, format selection, and a timestamp selection.

10. The protocol of claim 6 wherein the second plurality of commands comprises a command for obtaining track information to retrieve album artwork for a given track.

11. A portable device comprising:

a media player;

an interface coupled to the media player; and

a command set in communication with the interface, wherein the command set enables the media player and an accessory to transfer album artwork therebetween, the command set comprising;

a first plurality of commands for obtaining, by the accessory, artwork information associated with album artwork from the media player; and

a second plurality of commands for obtaining, by the accessory, the album artwork from the media player based on the artwork information.

12. The media player of claim 11 wherein the first plurality of commands comprises a command for retrieving, by the accessory, from the media player, a list of artwork formats that the media player supports.

13. The media player of claim 11 wherein the first plurality of commands comprises a command for retrieving a list of artwork images from the media player.

14. The media player of claim 11 wherein the second plurality of commands comprises a command for transmitting to the media player, one or more of a track selection, format selection, and a timestamp selection.

15. The media player of claim 11 wherein the second plurality of commands comprises a command for obtaining track information to retrieve album artwork for a given track.

16. An accessory comprising:

a device for transferring data;

an interface coupled to the device; and

a command set in communication with the interface, wherein the command set enables a media player and the accessory to transfer album artwork therebetween, the command set comprising;

a first plurality of commands for obtaining, by the accessory, artwork information associated with album artwork from the media player; and

a second plurality of commands for obtaining, by the accessory, the album artwork from the media player based on the artwork information.

17. The accessory of claim 16 wherein the first plurality of commands comprises a command for retrieving, by the accessory, from the media player, a list of artwork formats that the media player supports.

18. The accessory of claim 16 wherein the first plurality of commands comprises a command for retrieving a list of artwork images from the media player.

19. The accessory of claim 16 wherein the second plurality of commands comprises a command for transmitting to the media player one or more of a track selection, format selection, and a timestamp selection.

20. The accessory of claim 16 wherein the second plurality of commands comprises a command for obtaining track information to retrieve album artwork for a given track.

21. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for transferring status information between a media player and an accessory, the program instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to execute a method comprising:

obtaining, by the accessory, artwork information associated with album artwork from the media player; and

obtaining, by the accessory, the album artwork from the media player based on the artwork information.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the artwork information obtaining step further comprises program instructions for retrieving, by the accessory, from the media player a list of artwork formats that the media player supports.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the artwork information obtaining step further comprises program instructions for retrieving a list of artwork images from the media player.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the album artwork obtaining step further comprises program instructions for transmitting to the media player one or more of a track selection, format selection, and a timestamp selection.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the album artwork obtaining step further comprises program instructions for obtaining track information to retrieve album artwork for a given track.