Universal Docking System
First Claim
1. A universal docking system, comprising:
- a plurality of media player docking stations each configured to receive any one media player from a plurality of swappable media players;
a structure having an interior portion in which the docking stations are installed at a plurality of docking station locations, where at least some of the docking stations are locally encoded with media player persona information that depends on the docking stations'"'"' locations; and
wherein the at least some of the docking stations are configured to transfer the persona information to installed media players, where the persona information instructs the installed media players of their functional role at a receiving docking station'"'"'s location.
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Abstract
A docking system is presented for an ecosystem where multiple media players provide functionality according to the location of corresponding docking stations. The docking stations have locally encoded media player persona information that depends on the location where the docking station is installed. Once a media player is docked with the docking station, the media player obtains the persona information and configures itself to provide the functionality required for the location. The media player can restrict content as necessary based on the obtained persona information. Other features also can be incorporated within the docking station and media player assemblies to provide for proper airflow, isolation from vibration, or installation by unskilled individuals. A preferred ecosystem employing the disclosed techniques includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment system.
123 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A universal docking system, comprising:
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a plurality of media player docking stations each configured to receive any one media player from a plurality of swappable media players; a structure having an interior portion in which the docking stations are installed at a plurality of docking station locations, where at least some of the docking stations are locally encoded with media player persona information that depends on the docking stations'"'"' locations; and wherein the at least some of the docking stations are configured to transfer the persona information to installed media players, where the persona information instructs the installed media players of their functional role at a receiving docking station'"'"'s location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A universal docking system, comprising:
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a plurality of media player docking stations each configured to receive any one media player from a plurality of swappable media players; a structure having an interior portion in which the docking stations are installed at a plurality of docking station locations; and wherein at least some of the docking stations comprise a first ducting surface configured to form a plenum with a second ducting surface of the one media player where the plenum provides a passive airflow to cool the one media player when only one surface of the one media player is exposed.
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22. A universal docking system, comprising:
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a plurality of media player docking stations each configured to receive any one media player from a plurality of swappable media players; a structure having an interior portion in which the docking stations are installed at a plurality of docking station locations; and wherein at least some of the docking stations are configured to mate with the one media player via a cable-less connector adapted to float within a constrained region provided by at least one of the one media player and a receiving docking station.
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Specification