METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING POWER PROVIDED TO AN ACCESSORY

• US 20090249101A1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Krueger, Scott, Lydon, Gregory T., Filson, John B., Novotney, Donald J., Tupman, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices

Abstract

A method for a portable media player to control power provided an accessory is disclosed. The method includes requesting information about the power capabilities of the accessory by the portable media player. The method further includes providing information about the power capabilities of the accessory by the accessory to the portable media player, and utilizing the information to set the power of the accessory. A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides a system that allows a portable media player to obtain information from an accessory concerning its power requirements. A portable media player can then utilize the power requirements information to allow for the powering of the accessory when connected to the portable media player.

Claims

1. A portable media player comprising:

a storage medium to store media assets;

a processor configured to retrieve and play stored media assets from the storage medium; and

an interface in communication with the processor and adapted to communicate with an accessory by exchanging a plurality of commands with the accessory, the plurality of commands comprising;

a first command for requesting a current power state of the accessory, the first command being sendable by the media player;

a second command for communicating information about the current power state of the accessory, the second command being receivable by the media player;

a third command for instructing the accessory to set a new power state of the accessory, the third command being sendable by the media player; and

a fourth command for communicating acceptance of the new power setting by the accessory, the second command being receivable by the media player.

2. The portable media player of claim 1 further comprising a power source housed within the portable media player and wherein the interface is further configured to provide power from the power source to the accessory.

3. The portable media player of claim 1 wherein power is provided to the accessory from a power source external to the portable media player.

4. The portable media player of claim 1 wherein the interface includes a connector having a plurality of signal contacts, wherein at least some of the signal contacts are utilized to communicate the plurality of commands.

5. The portable media player of claim 4 wherein the connector comprises:

a keying arrangement, wherein one set of keys are separated by one length and another set of keys are separated by another length, and

wherein the plurality of signal contacts includes;

a ground contact and a power contact, wherein the ground contact makes contact with a mating connection before the power contact;

a USB signal contact;

a USB power contact;

an accessory identify signal contact;

a video contact;

an accessory power contact;

an accessory protocol contact; and

an accessory detect signal contact,

wherein at least one of the contacts is active when an accessory is coupled to the connector.

6. A computer readable medium encoded with program instructions which when executed by a portable media player cause the portable media player to execute a method for controlling power settings of an accessory, the method comprising:

sending a first command to the accessory to request information about a current power state of the accessory;

receiving a second command from the accessory, the second command including the requested information about the current power state of the accessory; and

sending a third command to the accessory, the third command instructing the accessory to set a new power state.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein the commands are sent and received using serial communication pins of a connector of the portable media player.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein the method further comprises:

sending a fourth command to the accessory, the fourth command requesting information indicating power capabilities of the accessory; and

receiving a fifth command from the accessory, the fifth command providing the requested information indicating the power capabilities of the accessory.

9. A method for operating a media player coupled to an accessory, the method comprising, by the media player:

sending to the accessory a request for information indicating power capabilities of the accessory;

receiving the requested information from the accessory;

determining a new power state for the accessory based at least in part on the received information; and

sending a power setting command to the accessory, the power setting command instructing the accessory to set a power state of the accessory to the new power state.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement command from the accessory, the acknowledgement command indicating acceptance of the new power state by the accessory.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising, by the media player:

sending to the accessory a power state command, the power state command instructing the accessory to indicate the current power state; and

in response to the power state command, receiving information from the accessory indicating the current power state.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the new power state for the accessory is determined based in part on the current power state.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the information indicating the power capabilities of the accessory includes information identifying a plurality of power states supported by the accessory.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of power states supported by the accessory includes:

a high power state associated with active usage of the accessory; and

a low power state associated with inactivity of the accessory.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing power to the accessory from a power supply located within the media player.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the accessory receives power from a power supply external to the media player.

17. A portable media player comprising:

an interface adapted to be coupled with an accessory and configured to support an accessory protocol for exchanging with the accessory commands and information related to power management; and

a control module coupled to the interface, the control module being configured to;

send to the accessory via the interface a request for information indicating power capabilities of the accessory;

receive the requested information from the accessory via the interface; and

send a power setting command to the accessory via the interface, the power setting command instructing the accessory to set a power state of the accessory to a new power state determined by the media player, wherein the accessory sets the power state of the accessory to the new power state in response to the power setting command.

18. The portable media player of claim 17 wherein the control module is further configured to send to the accessory a power state command, the power state command instructing the accessory to provide the current power state, and in response to the power state command, to receive from the accessory information indicating the current power state.

19. The portable media player of claim 18 wherein the accessory is configured to support a plurality of power states, the plurality of power states including:

a high power state associated with active usage of the accessory; and

a low power state associated with inactivity of the accessory.

20. The portable media player of claim 17 wherein the interface includes a power pin adapted to provide power to the accessory.

21. The portable media player of claim 17 wherein the interface includes a plurality of pins compatible with a USB interface.

22. The portable media player of claim 21 wherein the plurality of pins compatible with the USB interface includes at least two signal pins.

23. The portable media player of claim 17 further comprising:

a dongle having a first end adapted to connect to the interface and a second end adapted to connect to an accessory,

the dongle comprising a plurality of signal paths adapted to pass electrical signals between the interface and the accessory.

24. The portable media player of claim 23 wherein the dongle further comprises a power supply adapted to deliver power to the accessory.