Remote controller and FM reception arrangement

• US 7,574,177 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tupman, Dave, Fadell, Tony, Dorogusker, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US11/326,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20070206827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/556.1, 455/566, 455/571, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/93, 455/73
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

A modular communication system that includes a battery operated portable multimedia player is used to remotely control a accessory unit arranged to provide an output audio stream to an audio output device. At a user'"'"'s discretion, the multimedia player can also be used to provide the original audio source material that is, in turn, processed by the accessory unit for output to the audio output device or an accessory unit can be used to provide the audio source material from, for example, a radio tuner incorporated therein.

Claims

1. A modular communication system operable in a number of operating modes, comprising:

a media player arranged to process a selected one of a plurality of digital media files stored therein; and

an accessory unit connected to the media player by a bi-directional cable or by a wireless connection wherein when the media player is active and connected to the accessory by way of the bi-directional cable, the media player provides power to the accessory unit by way of the bi-directional cable and wherein the accessory unit provides power to the media player, when needed, the accessory unit comprising;

an RF unit arranged to receive and process an over the air (OTA) RF signal,

an audio output device, and

an amplifier unit connected to the RF unit and the audio output device arranged to amplify the processed RF signal, wherein in one operating mode the RF unit bypasses the amplifier unit and provides the processed RF signal directly to the media player for further processing, if any, by the media player.

2. The modular communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player comprises:

a media player display;

a media player user interface comprising;

a graphical user interface displayed on the display, wherein a user selection of media files stored therein is assisted by the graphical user interface.

3. The modular communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the further processing by the media player comprises amplifying the processed RF signal received directly from the accessory unit.

4. The modular communication system as recited in claim 2, wherein the further processing by the media player comprises:

when the processed RF signal includes an encoded data portion,

decoding the encoded data portion; and

displaying any displayable decoded data by the media player on the media player display.

5. The modular communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein in another operating mode, media files processed by the media player are passed directly to the accessory unit for further processing, if any, by the accessory unit.

6. The modular communication system as recited in claim 5, wherein the further processing by the accessory unit comprises amplifying the processed media file received from the media player by the amplifier unit.

7. The modular communication system as recited in claim 6, wherein the amplification of the processed media file by the accessory unit is controlled by the media player, wherein the control by the media player is initiated by a user provided input event at the media player user interface.

8. The modular communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the media player further comprises a media player wireless interface and wherein the accessory unit further comprises an accessory unit wireless interface by way of which the media player and the accessory device wirelessly communicate with each other.

9. The wireless modular communication system as recited in claim 8, wherein the media player and the accessory taken together form a wireless network, wherein the media player can wirelessly control the accessory and the accessory can wirelessly control the media player at the discretion of the user.

10. A method performed by a modular communication system operable in a number of operating modes, the system including a media player arranged to process a selected one of a plurality of digital media files stored therein and an accessory unit connected to the media player by a bi-directional cable or by a wireless connection the accessory unit comprising an RF unit arranged to receive and process an over the air (OTA) RF signal,

an audio output device, and an amplifier unit connected to the RF unit and the audio output device arranged to amplify the processed RF signal, the method comprising:

wherein in one operating mode,

bypassing the amplifier unit by the RF unit; and

providing the processed RF signal directly to the media player for further processing, if any, by the media player.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the media player comprises:

a media player display;

a media player user interface comprising;

a graphical user interface displayed on the display, wherein a user selection of media files stored therein is assisted by the graphical user interface.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the further processing by the media player comprises amplifying the processed RF signal received directly from the accessory unit.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the further processing by the media player comprises:

when the processed RF signal includes an encoded data portion,

decoding the encoded data portion; and

displaying any displayable decoded data by the media player on the media player display.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein in another operating mode, media files processed by the media player are passed directly to the accessory unit for further processing, if any, by the accessory unit.

15. An accessory unit, comprising:

an RF unit arranged to receive and process an over the air (OTA) RF signal;

an audio output device; and

an amplifier unit connected to the RF unit and the audio output device arranged to amplify the processed RF signal, wherein when the accessory unit is connected to a media player arranged to store media files, in one operating mode the RF unit bypasses the amplifier unit and provides the processed RF signal directly to the media player for further processing, wherein when the accessory unit is connected to the media player by a bi-directional cable and the media player is active, the media player provides power to the accessory unit by way of the bi-directional cable.

16. The accessory unit as recited in claim 15, wherein the media player is connected to accessory unit by the bi-directional cable or by a wireless connection.

17. The accessory unit as recited in claim 16, when the media player is active and connected to the accessory by way of the bi-directional cable, the media player provides power to the accessory unit by way of the bi-directional cable and wherein, when needed, the accessory unit provides power to the media player.

18. The accessory unit as recited in claim 15, wherein the accessory unit is operable in a stand alone mode.

19. The accessory unit as recited in claim 15, wherein the accessory unit further comprises:

an accessory unit user interface arranged to receive a user supplied accessory unit input event; and

a microcontroller unit arranged to receive the user supplied accessory unit input event and, in response, provide corresponding instruction signals to the amplifier unit and the RF unit.

20. The accessory unit as recited in claim 15, wherein the media player comprises:

a display; and

a media player user interface, wherein the media player user interface further comprises a graphical user interface displayed on the display for aiding a user in the selection of media files stored in the media player and for providing media player control signals.

21. The accessory unit as recited in claim 20, wherein the bi-directional cable includes an accessory detection line arranged to carry a detection signal used to detect if the media player is connected to the accessory unit.

22. The accessory unit as recited in claim 15, wherein when the accessory unit is connected to the media player and when the media player is hibernating, the media player is drawing power from the accessory unit.

23. The accessory unit as recited in claim 22, wherein when a user supplied wake up signal is provided by the accessory unit to the hibernating media player by way of the bi-directional cable, the media player wakes up and provides all necessary power to the accessory unit.

24. The accessory unit as recited in claim 20, wherein when the processed over the air (OTA) RF signal includes an encoded data signal, then the encoded data signal is passed to the media player for display of any displayable data.

25. A method performed by an accessory unit operable in a number of operating modes, wherein the accessory unit includes at least an RF unit arranged to receive and process an over the air (OTA) RF signal, an audio output device, and an amplifier unit connected to the RF unit and the audio output device arranged to amplify the processed RF signal, comprising:

connecting the accessory unit to a media player by way of a bi-directional cable, wherein the media player is arranged to store media files and wherein when the media player is active, the media player provides power to the accessory unit by way of the bi-directional cable;

receiving an OTA RF signal at the RF unit;

processing the received OTA RF signal; and

when the accessory unit is operating in a bypass mode,

bypassing the amplifier unit and providing the processed RF signal directly to the media player arranged for further processing.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the another device is a portable media player connected to the accessory by the bi-directional cable or by a wireless connection.

27. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein when the media player is connected to the accessory by way of the bi-directional cable, the media player provides power to the accessory unit by way of the bi-directional cable and wherein, when needed, the accessory unit provides power to the media player.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

controlling an operation of the accessory unit by a user using only the media player; and

controlling an operation of the media player by the user using only the accessory unit.

29. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein when the media player is hibernating, then

providing power to the hibernating media player by way of the bi-directional cable by the accessory unit.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising:

providing a wake up signal by the accessory unit to the hibernating media player;

waking up the hibernating media player in response to the wake up signal; and

ceasing the supply of power by the accessory unit to the media player when the media player is awake and active.