Digital media player accessory interface
First Claim
1. An accessory for coupling with an electronic device having at least one device control user input for controlling a function of said device, said accessory comprising:
- an input port for receiving a digital device control signal indicative of a user'"'"'s manipulation of said device control user input of said device; and
conversion circuitry or software residing in said accessory for converting said digital device control signal into an accessory control input such that said device control user input can be used to control a function of said accessory that is different than a device function controlled by said device control user input;
wherein said device control user input selects a set of regional preferences for a device FM receiver and said accessory implements a corresponding set of regional preferences for an accessory FM transmitter in response to said preferences selected with said device control user input.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An accessory for an electronic device detects manipulation of a user input of the device and alters an operating parameter of the accessory in response to the detected manipulation of the device'"'"'s controls. The accessory is preferably an FM transmitter designed to be coupled to a portable media player such that an audio signal from the player is broadcast by the accessory. The user controls of the player can be used to select a transmission frequency of the accessory. The accessory can also preferably control the display of the device such that an image corresponding to the selected transmission frequency is generated by the accessory and displayed on a screen of the player.
93 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An accessory for coupling with an electronic device having at least one device control user input for controlling a function of said device, said accessory comprising:
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an input port for receiving a digital device control signal indicative of a user'"'"'s manipulation of said device control user input of said device; and conversion circuitry or software residing in said accessory for converting said digital device control signal into an accessory control input such that said device control user input can be used to control a function of said accessory that is different than a device function controlled by said device control user input; wherein said device control user input selects a set of regional preferences for a device FM receiver and said accessory implements a corresponding set of regional preferences for an accessory FM transmitter in response to said preferences selected with said device control user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An accessory for use with a digital media player without an FM transmitter wherein said digital media player includes a display screen and a set of user controls, said accessory comprising:
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repurposing circuitry residing in said accessory for detecting manipulation of at least some of said user controls through a connection to a digital output of said digital media player and producing control signals for an FM transmitter of said accessory based upon said detected manipulation of said user controls; wherein at least one of said user controls selects a set of regional preferences for a device FM receiver and said accessory implements a corresponding set of regional preferences for said FM transmitter in response to said preferences selected with said user control. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of coupling an FM transmitting accessory to a digital output port of a portable electronic device without an FM transmitter, said method comprising:
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detecting manipulation of a device user input of said portable electronic device with said FM transmitting accessory; determining an operating parameter of said FM transmitting accessory that corresponds to said detected manipulation of said device user input; and altering said operating parameter of said FM transmitting accessory in response to said detected manipulation of said device'"'"'s controls; wherein said device user input selects a regional preference for a device FM receiver and said FM transmitting accessory implements a corresponding regional preference for an accessory FM transmitter in response to said device user input. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification