MEDIA PLAYER SYSTEM

• US 20080123285A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Filson, John Benjamin, Fadell, Anthony M., Zadesky, Stephen Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/686
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

A media player system is disclosed. One aspect of the media player system pertains to a docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a wireless media player system that includes a hand held media player capable of transmitting information over a wireless connection and one or more media devices capable of receiving information over the wireless connection. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of wirelessly connecting the hand held media player to another device. The method includes selecting a media item on the hand held media player; selecting one or more remote recipients on the hand held media player; and transmitting the media item locally to the hand held media player, and wirelessly to the selected remote recipients. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a hand held music player that includes a transmitter for transmitting information over a wireless connection. The transmitter is configured to at least transmit a continuous music feed to one or more personal tuning devices that each include a receiver capable of receiving information from the transmitter over the wireless connection. Yet another aspect of the media player system pertains to a connector that includes a housing and a plurality of spatially separated contacts mounted within the housing. A first set of contacts are directed at a first functionality and a second set of contacts are directed at a second functionality that is different than the first functionality.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices, the media player having a media connector, the docking station comprising:

a housing;

a media bay disposed inside the housing, the media bay being capable of receiving the media player, the media bay including a media bay opening and a media bay connector, the media bay opening providing access to the media bay connector, the media bay connector being configured for removable engagement with the media connector of the media player, the media and media bay connectors providing a connection interface that allows data and power transmissions therethrough, the connection interface including a plurality of different interfaces, the different interfaces including at least two data interfaces; and

one or more output connectors that are operatively coupled to the media bay connector, at least one of the output connectors being configured to allow data transmission therethrough for communication with the other media devices.

27. The docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the different interfaces are selected from PS/2, serial, parallel, network, USB, and Firewire interfaces.

28. The docking station as recited in claim 27 wherein the different interfaces are further selected from remote, dedicated audio, dedicated video, dedicated charging or dedicated powering interfaces.

29. The docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the two data interfaces are USB and Firewire interfaces.

30. The docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the media bay is configured to receive the entire back side of the media player.

31. The docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the media bay is configured to receive the entire bottom end of the media player.

32. The docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the media bay is configured to receive the entire media player.

33. The docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the media bay is configured to receive a portion of the media player.

34. The docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the media player is an MP3 music player, the MP3 music player having a hard drive for storing data associated with songs, the hard drive being operatively coupled to the media connector, and wherein the connector interface is configured to upload or download data associated with songs between the MP3 music player and the other media devices when the media connector of the MP3 music player is operatively coupled to the media bay connector of the docking station and when the output connector of the docking station is operatively coupled to the other media devices.

35. The docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the docking station is a stand alone device.

36. The docking station as recited in claim 26 wherein the docking station is integrated within a media device.

37. The docking station as recited in claim 36 wherein the media device is a notebook computer and wherein the docking station is integrated within the notebook computer.

38. The docking station as recited in claim 36 wherein the media device is a general purpose computer and wherein the docking station is integrated within the general purpose computer.

39. The docking station as recited in claim 36 wherein the media device is a sound system and wherein the docking station is integrated within the sound system.

40. The docking station as recited in claim 36 wherein the media device is a photo display and wherein the docking station is integrated within the photo display.

41. The docking station as recited in claim 36 wherein the media device is a mobile radio and wherein the docking station is integrated within the mobile radio.