PUSHING A USER INTERFACE TO A REMOTE DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a portable media device using an accessory, the method comprising, by the accessory:
- providing configuration information to a portable media device, the configuration information including information selecting one or more functionalities from a plurality of functionalities of the portable media device as active functionalities;
receiving from the portable media device a first image signal, wherein at least a portion of the first image signal communicates a first graphical user interface image, the first graphical user interface image including a selectable item corresponding to each of the active functionalities;
displaying an image including the first graphical user interface image on a display device of the accessory based on the first image signal;
detecting user operation of an input control of the accessory;
sending to the portable media device an input signal indicating that the input control was operated;
receiving from the portable media device a second image signal, wherein at least a portion of the second image signal specifies a second graphical user interface image, the second graphical user interface image reflecting the operation of the input control; and
displaying an image including the second graphical user interface image on the display device of the accessory.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical user interface (“GUI”) can be presented on a remote control accessory device that has user input and display devices. The GUI can be defined and managed by a portable media device that is controlled using the GUI. The portable media device can provide the accessory with a GUI image to be displayed. The accessory can send information to the portable media device indicative of a user operation of an input device in response to the displayed image. The portable media device can process this input to identify the action requested by the user and take the appropriate action, which can include updating the GUI image provided to the accessory.
169 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a portable media device using an accessory, the method comprising, by the accessory:
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providing configuration information to a portable media device, the configuration information including information selecting one or more functionalities from a plurality of functionalities of the portable media device as active functionalities; receiving from the portable media device a first image signal, wherein at least a portion of the first image signal communicates a first graphical user interface image, the first graphical user interface image including a selectable item corresponding to each of the active functionalities; displaying an image including the first graphical user interface image on a display device of the accessory based on the first image signal; detecting user operation of an input control of the accessory; sending to the portable media device an input signal indicating that the input control was operated; receiving from the portable media device a second image signal, wherein at least a portion of the second image signal specifies a second graphical user interface image, the second graphical user interface image reflecting the operation of the input control; and displaying an image including the second graphical user interface image on the display device of the accessory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions, which when executed by a controller in an accessory cause the controller to execute a method of controlling a portable media device, the method comprising:
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establishing a connection to a portable media device; receiving a video signal from the portable media device, the video signal including a portion that represents a remote graphical user interface image generated by the portable media device; displaying an image on a display screen of the accessory based on the received video signal; while receiving the video signal and displaying the image, detecting user operation of an input control of the accessory; and reporting the user operation of the input control to the portable media device, wherein the portable media device modifies the remote graphical user interface image based on the reported user operation of the input control. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An accessory comprising:
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a display device; a user input control; an interface configured to communicate with a portable media device; and a controller coupled to the display device, the user input control, and the interface, the controller being configured to; receive a video signal from the portable media device via the interface, the video signal encoding a graphical user interface image; control the display device to display an image based on the received video signal, the displayed image including the graphical user interface image; detect operation of the fuser input control; and send a signal to the portable media device via the interface to indicate the operation of the user input control. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a portable media device, the method comprising, by the portable media device:
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establishing a connection to an accessory having a display device and a user input control; receiving configuration information from the accessory; generating a remote graphical user interface image based at least in part on the configuration information; sending a video signal to the accessory, the video signal representing the remote graphical user interface image; while sending the video signal, receiving a command from the accessory, the command reporting an operation of the user input control of the accessory; and modifying the remote graphical user interface image based on the reported operation of the user input control, wherein the modified remote graphical user interface image is subsequently represented in the video signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A portable media device comprising:
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an accessory interface configured to communicate with an accessory; and a processor coupled to the accessory interface and configured to provide a plurality of functionalities invokable by a user, the processor being further configured to; receive input commands via the accessory interface, the input commands indicating operation of a user input control of the accessory; generate remote graphical user interface images based at least in part on the received input commands; and send a video signal via the accessory interface, at least a portion of the video signal corresponding to a most recently generated remote graphical user interface image. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification