Smart Peripheral Architecture for Portable Media Players

• US 20080244426A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amulet Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Amulet Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Klask, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,555,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A new peripheral architecture is provided that allows a UI document to be embedded into a peripheral. The UI document is sent to a portable media player when the peripheral is plugged into the portable media player. The portable media player interprets this UI document to allow a user to interact with the accessory. The peripheral does not interpret this UI document but it does respond to interactions with the portable media player as the portable media player interprets the documents in response to user interactions.

Claims

1. A method for a portable media player, comprising:

connecting to a peripheral device;

receiving from the peripheral device a user interface (UI) document defining layout and functionality of a UI for the peripheral device;

using a UI presentation program executed by a microprocessor of the portable media player to generate the UI based on the UI document; and

displaying the UI for the peripheral device on a display of the portable media player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input originating from the portable media device; and

in response to the input, using the UI presentation program to update the UI in a manner described by the UI document.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to the input, using the UI presentation program to modify an operation of the peripheral device in a manner described by the UI document.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input from the peripheral device; and

in response to the input, using the UI presentation program to update the UI in a manner described by the UI document.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

in response to the input, using the UI presentation program to modify an operation of the portable media player in a manner described by the UI document.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the UI presentation program to receive an input from a user through the UI;

in response to the input, using the UI presentation program (1) to update the UI in a manner described by the UI document and (2) to transmit an output to the peripheral device in a manner described by the UI document.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the UI presentation program to receive an input from a user through the UI;

in response to the input, using the UI presentation program to modify an operation of the portable media player in a manner described by the UI document.

8. A method for a peripheral device, comprising:

connecting to a portable media player; and

transmitting to the portable media player a user interface (UI) document defining layout and functionality of a UI for the peripheral device, wherein a UI presentation program executed by a microprocessor of the portable media player generates and displays an UI based on the UI document.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting an output to the portable media player, wherein the UI presentation program updates the UI with the output.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an input from the UI presentation program on the portable media player; and

modifying an operation of the peripheral device in response to the input.

11. A portable media player, comprising:

a microprocessor for executing a UI presentation program;

a memory storing instructions for the UI presentation program, the instructions comprising steps for;

generating a user interface (UI) based on a UI document received from a peripheral device, the UI document defining layout and functionality of the UI for the peripheral device; and

displaying the UI for the peripheral device on a display of the portable media player.

12. The portable media player of claim 11, wherein the steps of the instructions for the UI presentation program further comprises:

receiving an input originating from the portable media device; and

in response to the input, using the UI presentation program to update the UI in a manner described by the UI document.

13. The portable media player of claim 12, wherein the steps of the instructions for the UI presentation program further comprises:

in response to the input, using the UI presentation program to modify an operation of the peripheral device in a manner described by the UI document.

14. The portable media player of claim 11, wherein the steps of the instructions for the UI presentation program further comprises:

receiving an input from the peripheral device; and

in response to the input, updating the UI in a manner described by the UI document.

15. The portable media player of claim 14, wherein the steps of the instructions for the UI presentation program further comprises:

in response to the input, modifying an operation of the portable media player in a manner described by the UI document.

16. The portable media player of claim 11, wherein the steps of the instructions for the UI presentation program further comprises:

receiving an input from a user through the UI;

in response to the input, (1) updating the UI in a manner described by the UI document and (2) transmitting an output to the peripheral device in a manner described by the UI document.

17. The portable media player of claim 11, wherein the steps of the instructions for the UI presentation program further comprises:

receiving an input from a user through the UI; and

in response to the input, modifying an operation of the portable media player in a manner described by the UI document.

18. A peripheral device, comprising:

a memory storing instructions comprising steps for;

connecting to a portable media player; and

transmitting to the portable media player a user interface (UI) document defining layout and functionality of a UI for the peripheral device, wherein a UI presentation program executed by a microprocessor of the portable media player generates and displays an UI based on the UI document.

19. The peripheral device of claim 18, wherein the steps of the instructions further comprises:

transmitting an output to the portable media player, wherein the UI presentation program updates the UI with the output.

20. The peripheral device of claim 18, wherein the steps of the instructions further comprises:

receiving from the portable media player an input from the user; and

in response to the input, modifying an operation of the peripheral device.