Method and system for transferring status information between a media player and an accessory

• US 7,305,506 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lydon, Gregory T., Filson, John B., Novotney, Donald J., Dorogusker, Jesse, Tupman, David, Bolton, Lawrence G., Schubert, Emily C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Raymond N
• Application Number:
  US11/476,262
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 710300-315, 710 62- 66, 710 8- 13, 710/72, 710104-105, 455/557, 455/575, 719/312, 719/327, 709/321, 709/220
• US Class Current: 710/105
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/027 Remotely controlled remote control systems in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A method, system, and connector interface for transferring status information between a media player and an accessory. The method includes determining, by the accessory, when a button event occurs; and transmitting, by the accessory, at least one button status command to the media player, where the one or more button status commands comprise a context-specific button status command and at least one command associated with a particular media type. According to the method and system disclosed herein, the media player and accessory may utilize a plurality of commands in a variety of environment such as within a connector interface system environment to facilitate the transfer of status information.

Claims

1. A method for transferring status information between a media player and an accessory, the method comprising:

determining, by the accessory, when a button event occurs; and

transmitting, by the accessory, at least one button status command to the media player, wherein the one or more button status commands comprise a context-specific button status command and at least one command associated with a particular media type,

wherein the button status commands comprise button status bits that are organized such that the most frequently used buttons are assigned low bit positions to reduce the overall button status data transfer size.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, by the media player, at least one acknowledgement status command to the accessory in response to the at least one button status command.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more button status commands support different media types.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the media types include one or more of image, video, or audio.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of buttons including at least play/pause, volume up, volume down, next track, and previous track.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of context-specific buttons including at least next album, previous album, and down arrow.

7. A protocol for transferring status information between a media player and an accessory, the protocol comprising:

at least one command for determining, by the accessory, when a button event occurs; and

a plurality of commands for transmitting, by the accessory, at least one button status command to the media player, wherein the one or more button status commands comprise a context-specific button status command and at least one command associated with a particular media type,

wherein the button status commands comprise button status bits that are organized such that the most frequently used buttons are assigned low bit positions.

8. The protocol of claim 7 wherein the plurality of commands comprises a command for transmitting, by the media player, at least one acknowledgement status command to the accessory in response to the at least one button status command.

9. The protocol of claim 7 wherein the one or more button status commands support different media types.

10. The protocol of claim 7 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of buttons including at least play/pause, volume up, volume down, next track, and previous track.

11. The protocol of claim 7 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of context-specific buttons including at least next album, previous album, and down arrow.

12. The protocol of claim 9 wherein the media types include one or more of image, video, or audio.

13. A portable device comprising:

a media player;

an interface coupled to the media player; and

a command set in communication with the interface, wherein the command set enables the media player and an accessory to transfer status information therebetween, the command set comprising;

at least one command for determining, by the accessory, when a button event occurs; and

a plurality of commands for transmitting, by the accessory, at least one button status command to the media player, wherein the one or more button status commands comprise a context-specific button status command and at least one command associated with a particular media type,

wherein the button status commands comprise button status bits that are organized such that the most frequently used buttons are assigned low bit positions.

14. The media player of claim 13 wherein the plurality of commands comprises a command for transmitting, by the media player, at least one acknowledgement status command to the accessory in response to the at least one button status command.

15. The media player of claim 13 wherein the one or more button status commands support different media types.

16. The media player of claim 13 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of buttons including at least play/pause, volume up, volume down, next track, and previous track.

17. The media player of claim 13 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of context-specific buttons including at least next album, previous album, and down arrow.

18. The media player of claim 15 wherein the media types include one or more of image, video, or audio.

19. An accessory comprising:

a device for transferring data;

an interface coupled to the device; and

a command set in communication with the interface, wherein the command set enables the media player and an accessory to transfer status information therebetween, the command set comprising;

at least one command for determining, by the accessory, when a button event occurs; and

a plurality of commands for transmitting, by the accessory, at least one button status command to the media player, wherein the one or more button status commands comprise a context-specific button status command and at least one command associated with a particular media type,

wherein the button status commands comprise button status bits that are organized such that the most frequently used buttons are assigned low bit positions.

20. The accessory of claim 19 wherein the plurality of commands comprises a command for transmitting, by the media player, at least one acknowledgement status command to the accessory in response to the at least one button status command.

21. The accessory of claim 19 wherein the one or more button status commands support different media types.

22. The accessory of claim 19 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of buttons including at least play/pause, volume up, volume down, next track, and previous track.

23. The accessory of claim 19 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of context-specific buttons including at least next album, previous album, and down arrow.

24. The accessory of claim 21 wherein the media types include one or more of image, video, or audio.

25. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for transferring status information between a media player and an accessory, the program instructions which when executed by a computer system cause the computer system to execute a method comprising:

determining, by the accessory, when a button event occurs; and

transmitting, by the accessory, at least one button status command to the media player, wherein the one or more button status commands comprise a context-specific button status command and at least one command associated with a particular media type,

wherein the button status commands comprise button status bits that are organized such that the most frequently used buttons are assigned low bit positions.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 further comprising program instructions for transmitting, by the media player, at least one acknowledgement status command to the accessory in response to the at least one button status command.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the one or more button status commands support different media types.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the media types include one or more of image, video, or audio.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of buttons including at least play/pause, volume up, volume down, next track, and previous track.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the button status commands support a plurality of context-specific buttons such as next album, previous album, and down arrow.