Communication between an accessory and a media player with multiple lingoes

• US 7,529,870 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Krueger, Scott, Lydon, Gregory T., Filson, John B., Novotney, Donald J., Archibald, John, Tupman, David, Holden, Paul, Leung, Wang Chun, Bolton, Lawrence G., Schubert, Emily C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US11/479,057
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 710313-315, 710300-306, 710 62- 74, 710 72- 73, 710/110, 710 8- 12
• US Class Current: 710/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A connector interface system is disclosed. The connector interface system includes an interface and a protocol in communication with which allows a media player to communicate with external devices over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a plurality of accessory lingoes. The accessory lingoes comprise a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, a RF transmitter lingo and an extended interface lingo.

Claims

1. A method for use in an accessory, the method comprising:

establishing communication with a media player according to a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo and an accessory lingo; and

providing functionality and capability of the accessory to the media player using the accessory lingo.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising authenticating the accessory to the media player using the general lingo.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying the accessory to the media player, wherein the identification includes requesting information indicating a version of a media player accessory protocol from the media player.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the media player accessory protocol includes a plurality of accessory lingoes.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessory comprises any of a car stereo, a home stereo, a remote control, a radio, a voice recorder, a docking station, or a wireless device for communication with other accessories.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the media accessory protocol includes at least one command that allows the accessory to be controlled by or control the media player.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of accessory lingoes comprises one or more of a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an extended interface lingo or an RF transmitter lingo, wherein each of the accessory lingoes includes at least one command which controls a functionality of the accessory or the media player.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the general lingo comprises one or more of the following commands:

a Request Identify command;

an Identify command;

an ACK command;

a a RequestMediaPlayerName command;

a ReturnMediaPlayerName command;

a RequestMediaPlayerSoftwareVersion command;

a ReturnMediaPlayerSoftwareVersion command;

a RequestMediaPlayerSerialNum command;

a ReturnMediaPlayerSerialNumber command;

a RequestMediaPlayerModelNum command;

a RequestLingoProtocolVersion command;

a ReturnLingoProtocolVersion command;

an IdentifyAccessoryLingoes command;

a GetDevAuthenticationInfo command;

a RetDevAuthenticationInfo command;

an AckDevAuthenticationInfo command;

a GetDevAuthenticationSignature command;

a RetDevAuthenticationSignature command;

an AckDevAuthenticationStatus command;

a GetMediaPlayerAuthenticationInfo command;

a RetMediaPlayerAuthenticationInfo command;

an AckMediaPlayerAuthenticationInfo command;

a GetMediaPlayerAuthenticationSignature command;

a RetMediaPlayerAuthenticationSignature command;

an AckMediaPlayerAuthenticationStatus command;

or a NotifyMediaPlayerStateChange command.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the microphone lingo comprises one or more of the following commands:

a BeginRecord command;

an EndRecord command;

a BeginPlayback command;

an EndPlayback command;

an ACK command;

a GetDevAck command;

a MediaPlayerModeChange command;

a GetDevCaps command;

a RetDevCaps command;

a GetDevCtrl command;

a RetDevCtrl command;

or a SetDevCtrl command.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the simple remote lingo comprises:

a ContextButtonStatus command.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the display remote lingo comprises one or more of the following commands:

an ACK command;

a GetCurrentEQProfileIndex command;

a RetCurrentEQProfileIndex command;

a SetCurrentEQProfileIndex command;

a GetNumEQProfiles command;

a RetNumEQProfiles command;

a GetIndexedEQProfileName command;

a RetIndexedEQProfileName command;

a SetRemoteEventNotification command;

a RemoteEventNotification command;

a GetRemoteEventStatus command;

a RetRemoteStatus command;

a GetMediaPlayerStateInfo command;

a RetMediaPlayerStateInfo command;

a SetMediaPlayerStateInfo command;

a GetPlayStatus command;

a RetPlayStatus command;

a SetCurrentPlayingTrack command;

a GetIndexedPlayingTrackInfo command;

a RetIndexedPlayingTrackInfo command;

a GetNumPlayingTracks command;

a RetNumPlayingTracks command;

a GetPowerBatteryState command;

a RetPowerBatteryState command;

a GetSoundCheckState command;

a RetSoundCheckState command;

or a SetSoundCheckState command.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the extended interface lingo comprises one or more of the following commands:

an Acknowledge command;

a GetCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterInfo command;

a ReturnCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterInfo command;

a SetCurrentPlaying-TrackChapter command;

a GetCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterPlayStatus command;

a ReturnCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterPlayStatus command;

a GetCurrentPlayingTrackChapterName command;

a ReturnCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterName command;

a GetAudiobookSpeed command;

a ReturnAudiobookSpeed command;

a SetAudiobookSpeed command;

a GetIndexedPlaying-TrackInfo command;

a ReturnIndexedPlaying-TrackInfo command;

a RequestProtocolVersion command;

a ReturnProtocolVersion command;

a RequestMediaPlayerName command;

a ReturnMediaPlayerName command;

a ResetDBSelection command;

a SelectDBRecord command;

a GetNumberCategorized-DBRecords command;

a ReturnNumber-CategorizedDBRecords command;

a RetrieveCategorized-DatabaseRecords command;

a ReturnCategorized-DatabaseRecord command;

a GetPlayStatus command;

a ReturnPlayStatus command;

a GetCurrentPlaying-TrackIndex command;

a ReturnCurrentPlaying-TrackIndex command;

a GetIndexedPlaying-TrackTitle command;

a GetIndexedPlaying-TrackArtistName command;

a ReturnIndexedPlaying-TrackArtistName command;

a GetIndexedPlaying-TrackAlbumName command;

a ReturnIndexedPlaying-TrackAlbumName command;

a SetPlayStatusChange-Notification command;

a PlayStatusChange-Notification command;

a PlayCurrentSelection command;

a PlayControl command;

a GetShuffle command;

a ReturnShuffle command;

a SetShuffle command;

a GetRepeat command;

a ReturnRepeat command;

a SetRepeat command;

a SetDisplayImage command;

a GetMonoDisplay-ImageLimits command;

a ReturnMonoDisplay-ImageLimits command;

a GetNumPlayingTracks command;

a ReturnNumPlayingTracks command;

a SetCurrentPlayingTrack command;

a SelectSortDBRecord command;

a GetColorDisplay-ImageLimits command;

or a ReturnColorDisplay-ImageLimits command.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the RF transmitter lingo comprises one or more of the following commands:

a BeginTransmission command;

or an EndTransmission command.

14. An accessory comprising:

a component having a functionality; and

a connector interface system in communication with the component;

the connector interface system being capable of communicating with a media player that utilizes a protocol comprising at least one lingo, wherein the accessory is capable of utilizing the protocol to provide the functionality of the component to the media player.

15. The accessory of claim 14 wherein the accessory is capable of being authenticated by the media player with the protocol.

16. The accessory of claim 14 wherein the accessory is capable of being identified by requesting a version of the protocol from the media player.

17. The accessory of claim 14 wherein the protocol includes at least one command that allows the accessory to be controlled by or control the media player.

18. The accessory of claim 14 wherein the at least one lingo comprises a plurality of lingoes, wherein the plurality of lingoes comprises a general lingo and at least one accessory lingo.

19. The accessory of claim 14 wherein the accessory comprises any of a car stereo, a home stereo, a remote control, a radio, a voice recorder, a docking station, or a wireless device for communication to other accessories.

20. The accessory of claim 18 wherein the at least one accessory lingo is utilized by the accessory to provide the functionality of the component.

21. The accessory of claim 20 wherein the at least one accessory lingo comprises any one or more of a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an extended interface lingo, or an RF transmitter lingo.

22. The accessory of claim 21 wherein the plurality of general lingo commands comprise one or more of:

a Request Identify command;

an Identify command;

an ACK command;

a RequestMediaPlayerName command;

a ReturnMediaPlayerName command;

a RequestMediaPlayerSoftwareVersion command;

a ReturnMediaPlayerSoftwareVersion command;

a RequestMediaPlayerSerialNum command;

a ReturnMediaPlayerSerialNumber command;

a RequestMediaPlayerModelNum command;

a RequestLingoProtocolVersion command;

a ReturnLingoProtocolVersion command;

an IdentifyAccessoryLingoes command;

a GetDevAuthenticationInfo command;

a RetDevAuthenticationInfo command;

an AckDevAuthenticationInfo command;

a GetDevAuthenticationSignature command;

a RetDevAuthenticationSignature command;

an AckDevAuthenticationStatus command;

a GetMediaPlayerAuthenticationInfo command;

a RetMediaPlayerAuthenticationInfo command;

an AckMediaPlayerAuthenticationInfo command;

a GetMediaPlayerAuthenticationSignature command;

a RetMediaPlayerAuthenticationSignature command;

an AckMediaPlayerAuthenticationStatus command;

or a NotifyMediaPlayerStateChange command.

23. The accessory of claim 21 wherein the microphone lingo comprises any one or more of the following commands:

a BeginRecord command;

an EndRecord command;

a BeginPlayback command;

an EndPlayback command;

an ACK command;

a GetDevAck command;

a MediaPlayerModeChange command;

a GetDevCaps command;

a RetDevCaps command;

a GetDevCtrl command;

a RetDevCtrl command;

or a SetDevCtrl command.

24. The accessory of claim 21 wherein the simple remote lingo comprises:

a ContextButtonStatus command.

25. The accessory of claim 21 wherein the display remote lingo comprises any one or more of the following commands:

an ACK command;

a GetCurrentEQProfileIndex command;

a RetCurrentEQProfileIndex command;

a SetCurrentEQProfileIndex command;

a GetNumEQProfiles command;

a RetNumEQProfiles command;

a GetIndexedEQProfileName command;

a RetIndexedEQProfileName command;

a SetRemoteEventNotification command;

a RemoteEventNotification command;

a GetRemoteEventStatus command;

a RetRemoteStatus command, a GetMediaPlayerStateInfo command;

a RetMediaPlayerStateInfo command;

a SetMediaPlayerStateInfo command;

a GetPlayStatus command;

a RetPlayStatus command;

a SetCurrentPlayingTrack command;

a GetIndexedPlayingTrackInfo command;

a RetIndexedPlayingTrackInfo command;

a GetNumPlayingTracks command;

a RetNumPlayingTracks command;

a GetPowerBatteryState command;

a RetPowerBatteryState command;

a GetSoundCheckState command;

a RetSoundCheckState command;

or a SetSoundCheckState command.

26. The accessory of claim 21 wherein the extended interface lingo comprises any one or more of the following commands:

an Acknowledge command;

a GetCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterInfo command;

a ReturnCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterInfo command;

a SetCurrentPlaying-TrackChapter command;

a GetCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterPlayStatus command;

a ReturnCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterPlayStatus command;

a GetCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterName command;

a ReturnCurrentPlaying-TrackChapterName command;

a SetAudiobookSpeed command;

a GetIndexedPlaying-TrackInfo command;

a ReturnIndexedPlaying-TrackInfo command;

a RequestProtocolVersion command;

a ReturnProtocolVersion command;

a RequestMediaPlayerName command;

a ReturnMediaPlayerName command;

a ResetDBSelection command;

a SelectDBRecord command;

a GetNumberCategorized-DBRecords command;

a ReturnNumber-CategorizedDBRecords command;

a RetrieveCategorized-DatabaseRecords command;

a ReturnCategorized-DatabaseRecord command;

a GetPlayStatus command;

a ReturnPlayStatus command;

a GetCurrentPlaying-TrackIndex command;

a ReturnCurrentPlaying-TrackIndex command;

a GetIndexedPlaying-TrackTitle command;

a GetIndexedPlaying-TrackArtistName command;

a ReturnIndexedPlayingTrackArtistName command;

a GetIndexedPlaying-TrackAlbumName command;

a ReturnIndexedPlaying-TrackAlbumName command, a SetPlayStatusChange-Notification command;

a PlayStatusChange-Notification command;

a PlayCurrentSelection command;

a PlayControl command;

a GetShuffle command;

a ReturnShuffle command;

a SetShuffle command;

a GetRepeat command;

a ReturnRepeat command;

a SetRepeat command;

a SetDisplayImage command;

a GetMonoDisplay-ImageLimits command;

a ReturnMonoDisplay-ImageLimits command;

a GetNumPlayingTracks command;

a ReturnNumPlayingTracks command;

a SetCurrentPlayingTrack command;

a SelectSortDBRecord command;

a GetColorDisplay-ImageLimits command;

or a ReturnColorDisplay-ImageLimits command.

27. The accessory of claim 21 wherein the RF transmitter lingo comprises any one or more of the following commands:

a BeginTransmission command;

or an EndTransmission command.

28. A method for use in an accessory, the method comprising:

establishing communication with a media player according to a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo and an accessory lingo;

receiving a command of the accessory lingo from the media player; and

invoking a functionality of the accessory in response to the command.

29. A method for use in an accessory, the method comprising:

establishing communication with a media player according to a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo and an accessory lingo; and

sending a command of the accessory lingo to the media player, wherein the command invokes a functionality of the media player.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising receiving a response to the command from the media player.

31. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium encoded with program instructions, which when executed by a processor in an accessory device cause the processor to execute a method comprising:

establishing communication with a media player according to a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo and an accessory lingo; and

providing functionality and capability of the accessory to the media player using the accessory lingo.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the method executed by the processor further comprises authenticating the accessory to the media player using the general lingo.

33. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the method executed by the processor further comprises identifying the accessory to the media player, wherein the identification includes requesting information indicating a version of a media player accessory protocol from the media player.

34. The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the media accessory protocol includes at least one command that allows the accessory to be controlled by or control the media player.

35. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the media player accessory protocol includes a plurality of accessory lingoes.

36. The computer program product of claim 35 wherein the plurality of accessory lingoes comprises one or more of a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an extended interface lingo or an RF transmitter lingo, wherein each of the accessory lingoes includes at least one command which controls a functionality of the accessory or the media player.

37. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the accessory device comprises any of a car stereo, a home stereo, a remote control, a radio, a voice recorder, a docking station, or a wireless device for communication with other accessory devices.

38. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium encoded with program instructions, which when executed by a processor in an accessory device cause the processor to execute a method comprising:

establishing communication with a media player according to a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo and an accessory lingo;

receiving a command of the accessory lingo from the media player; and

invoking a functionality of the accessory device in response to the command.

39. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium encoded with program instructions, which when executed by a processor in an accessory device cause the processor to execute a method comprising:

establishing communication with a media player according to a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo and an accessory lingo; and

sending a command of the accessory lingo to the media player, wherein the command invokes a functionality of the media player.

40. The computer program product of claim 39 wherein the method executed by the processor further comprises receiving a response to the command from the media player.