System and method for the automatic identification of accessories coupled to a wireless communication device

• US 6,725,061 B1
• Filed: 01/12/1999
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Hanchi, Den Beste, Steven C., Hutchison, James A. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/229,131
• Time in Patent Office: 1,925 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/575, 455/557, 455/569, 455/420, 455/68, 455/99, 455/100, 455/558, 455/559, 455/556, 455/67.4, 455/88, 374/42, 710/8, 710/9, 710/11, 710/15, 710/16, 710/18
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075

Abstract

A wireless communication device having an accessory port and a processor to detect when an external accessory is coupled to the accessory port, and then identify the type of external accessory. A data line connects the external accessory to the wireless communication device, the data line being a portion of a pulse code modulation (PCM) port in the accessory port. The processor senses activity on this data line, including a signal transmitted by the external accessory indicative of when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device. The processor further senses identification data associated with the external accessory, with the identification data including an identification code of the external accessory. The processor generates a clock signal, and the external accessory transmits the identification data to the wireless communication device over the data line in response to the clock signal. In this fashion, the processor repeatedly senses the transmitted identification data. An input line in the accessory port carries a voltage indicative of whether the external accessory supplies external power to the wireless communication device. The identification code transmitted by the external accessory is compared to stored codes corresponding to a plurality of external accessories to identify the external accessory coupled to the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a housing;

a wireless communication device contained within the housing, the wireless communication device including a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data and audio communications between the wireless communication device and a remote location;

an accessory port mounted on the housing and accessible to an external accessory to allow the external accessory to be coupled to the wireless communication device, the accessory port including at least one data line;

a processor included in the wireless communication device and communicatively coupled to the accessory port to sense activity on the data line when the external accessory is coupled to the accessory port, the processor further sensing identification data associated with the external accessory and using the identification data to identify the external accessory; and

a storage area associated with the wireless communication device to store codes corresponding to a plurality of external accessories, the processor comparing the sensed identification data with the stored codes to identify the external accessory when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data line is a portion of a pulse code modulation (PCM) port.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor generates a clock signal coupled to the accessory port, the external accessory transmitting identification data to the wireless communication device over the data line in response to the clock signal when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the accessory port further includes an input line to transmit a voltage from the external accessory when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device, the voltage indicative of whether the external accessory provides external power to the wireless communication device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the external accessory is one of a carkit for use in an automobile having an audio system, a headset, or a computer interface, the external accessory transmitting an identification code as part of the identification data when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the external accessory is a charger to supply power to the wireless communication device when the charger is coupled to the wireless communication device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the activity on the data line includes a signal transmitted from the external accessory to indicate when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device.

8. The system of claim 3, further comprising a clock line coupled to the accessory port and to the external accessory, the wireless communication device transmitting the clock signal to the external accessory over the clock line.

9. A wireless communication device coupleable to an external accessory, comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data and audio communications between the wireless communication device and a remote location;

an accessory port to receive a data line attached to the external accessory to allow the external accessory to be coupled to the wireless communication device;

a processor to sense activity on the data line when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device, the processor further sensing identification data associated with the external accessory and using the identification data to identify the external accessory;

an output driver to generate output signals, the output signals being coupled to the external accessory via the accessory port when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device; and

a storage location coupled to the processor the storage location storing data associated with a plurality of external accessories the stored data including an identification code corresponding to any one of the plurality of external accessories and the processor comparing the transmitted identification data with the stored data to identify the external accessory when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the activity includes a signal transmitted by the external accessory when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device and the identification data includes an identification code of the external accessory.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the data line is a portion of a pulse code modulation (PCM) port, and the PCM port is coupleable to the accessory port.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the accessory port further includes an input line for transmitting a voltage indicative of whether the external accessory supplies external power to the wireless communication device when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the processor generates a clock signal, the processor reading the identification data transmitted by the external accessory during a period of time defined by the clock signal.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein the identification code is a binary number.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein the external accessory is one of a carkit for use in an automobile having an audio system, a headset, or a computer interface, the external accessory transmitting the identification data on the data line when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein the external accessory is a charger to supply power to the wireless communication device when the charger is coupled to the wireless communication device.

17. A method of determining when an external accessory is coupled to an accessory port of a wireless communication device and identifying the external accessory, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a data line for activity indicative of when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device;

reading identification data transmitted by the external accessory on the data line when the external accessory is coupled to the wireless communication device; and

comparing the transmitted identification data with stored information associated with a plurality of external accessories to identify the external accessory,

wherein the wireless communication device includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data and audio communications between the wireless communication device and a remote location.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of monitoring includes checking an input line for a voltage indicative of whether the external accessory supplies external power to the wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of generating a clock signal, the monitoring and reading steps occurring in response to a period of time defined by the clock signal.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of sending the clock signal to the external accessory, the external accessory transmitting the identification data in response to the clock signal.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising, repeating the reading and comparing steps to obtain a consistent identification of the identification data.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising, repeating the monitoring step to detect when the external accessory is coupled or uncoupled from the wireless communication device.