Docking station for media player system
First Claim
1. A docking station for receiving a media player that has a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:
- a housing; and
a media bay comprising a media bay opening and a male plug connector, wherein the media bay opening is formed in the housing and adapted to receive the media player, andwherein the male plug connector is disposed in the media bay opening and configured to engage the receptacle connector of the media player, the male plug connector including;
a connector housing designed to accommodate at least 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;
Firewire contact locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 designated for Firewire signals;
universal serial bus (USB) contact locations 4, 6, and 8 designated for USB signals;
an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification;
serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals;
audio contact locations 27 and 28 designated for analog audio signals; and
ground contact locations 1 and 30 designated for ground.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A media player system is disclosed. One aspect of the media player system pertains to a docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a wireless media player system that includes a hand held media player capable of transmitting information over a wireless connection and one or more media devices capable of receiving information over the wireless connection. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of wirelessly connecting the hand held media player to another device. The method includes selecting a media item on the hand held media player; selecting one or more remote recipients on the hand held media player; and transmitting the media item locally to the hand held media player, and wirelessly to the selected remote recipients. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a hand held music player that includes a transmitter for transmitting information over a wireless connection. The transmitter is configured to at least transmit a continuous music feed to one or more personal tuning devices that each include a receiver capable of receiving information from the transmitter over the wireless connection. Yet another aspect of the media player system pertains to a connector that includes a housing and a plurality of spatially separated contacts mounted within the housing. A first set of contacts are directed at a first functionality and a second set of contacts are directed at a second functionality that is different than the first functionality.
184 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A docking station for receiving a media player that has a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:
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a housing; and a media bay comprising a media bay opening and a male plug connector, wherein the media bay opening is formed in the housing and adapted to receive the media player, and wherein the male plug connector is disposed in the media bay opening and configured to engage the receptacle connector of the media player, the male plug connector including; a connector housing designed to accommodate at least 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include; Firewire contact locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 designated for Firewire signals; universal serial bus (USB) contact locations 4, 6, and 8 designated for USB signals; an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification; serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals; audio contact locations 27 and 28 designated for analog audio signals; and ground contact locations 1 and 30 designated for ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A docking station for receiving a media player that has a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:
- a housing; and
a media bay comprising a media bay opening and a male plug connector, wherein the media bay opening is formed in the housing and adapted to receive the media player, and wherein the male plug connector is disposed in the media bay opening and configured to engage the receptacle connector of the media player, the male plug connector including;
a connector housing designed to accommodate at least 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;
digital contact locations 3 to 9 designated for digital signals including universal serial bus (USB) contact locations designated for USB data signals interleaved with contact locations designated for digital signals other than USB data signals;
analog contact locations 27 and 28 designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal; and
ground contact locations 1 and 30 designated for ground. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- a housing; and
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25. A docking station for receiving a media player that has a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:
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a housing; and a media bay comprising a media bay opening and a male plug connector, wherein the media bay opening is formed in the housing and adapted to receive the media player, and wherein the male plug connector is disposed in the media bay opening and configured to engage the receptacle connector of the media player, the male plug connector including; a connector housing designed to accommodate a plurality of contacts spaced apart in a single row of contact locations, wherein the contact locations are sequentially numbered from a first end to a second end, the contact locations including; a first ground contact location designated for ground; a first group of digital contact locations designated for one or more digital signals including universal serial bus (USB), the first group of digital contact locations being disposed between the first ground contact location and the first end, wherein the contact locations from the first group of digital contact locations that are designated for USB are disposed consecutively in every other contact location; and a second group of analog contact locations designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal, the second group of analog contact locations being disposed between the first ground contact location and the second end. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A docking station for receiving a media player that has a receptacle connector, the docking station comprising:
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a housing; and a media bay comprising a media bay opening and a male plug connector, wherein the media bay opening is formed in the housing and adapted to receive the media player, and wherein the male plug connector is disposed in the media bay opening and configured to engage the receptacle connector of the media player, the male plug connector including; a connector housing designed to accommodate a plurality of contacts spaced apart in a single row of contact locations, wherein the contact locations comprise thirty contact locations sequentially numbered from a first end to a second end, the contact locations including; first, second and third ground contact locations designated for ground, the first ground contact location being disposed at contact location 1 at the first end, the third ground contact location being disposed at contact location 30 at the second end and the second ground contact location being disposed at one of contact locations 15 or 16 between the first and second ends; a group of digital contact locations designated for one or more digital signals including universal serial bus (USB) signals, the group of digital contact locations being disposed between the first and second ground contact locations; a group of analog contact locations designated for one or more analog signals including an audio left signal and an audio right signal, the group of analog contact locations being disposed between the second and third ground contact locations; and a group of power contact locations designated for one or more power signals including USB power, accessory power and charger input power, the group of power contact locations being disposed between the first and second ground contact locations. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification