Portable media player emulator for facilitating wireless use of an accessory

• US 8,068,882 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Langberg, Eric Aaron, Zepp, David Brian, Davis, Keith Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro; Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sarwar; Babar
• Application Number:
  US11/412,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20070254695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,042 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/556.1, 455 412- 413, 455/557, 455/569.1, 455/573, 455/567, 455/575.2, 455/558, 455418-420, 455/553.1, 455410-411, 381/300, 381/302, 381/309, 381/311
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface

Abstract

A system for facilitating wireless communication between an accessory and a device comprising a device capable of converting at least an audio signal into a signal transmittable by a wireless communication means; a wireless communication means associated with the device capable of transmitting the converted signal; an accessory, including a docking cradle comprising a plurality of pins, wherein at least one pin on the docking cradle is capable of receiving an audio signal; and an adaptor capable of communicatively coupling with the accessory'"'"'s docking cradle, the adaptor being capable of receiving the transmission from the wireless communication means associated with the device and converting the signal into an audio signal that can be received by the accessory via the docking cradle.

Claims

1. An adaptor comprising:

a first wireless transceiver;

a first connector having a pinout, wherein the pinout is complimentary to a docking pinout of a docking connector of a docking cradle,

wherein the adaptor is adapted to physically and electrically mate with the docking cradle; and

wherein the first wireless transceiver is adapted to transmit information to and receive information from a device comprising a device connector, the device connector having the pinout that is complimentary to the docking pinout of the docking connector.

2. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein a second wireless transceiver associated with the device and the first wireless transceiver are both capable of bidirectional communication.

3. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein the second wireless transceiver is external to and electrically connected to the device.

4. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver perform a handshake prior to commencing communication.

5. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver communicate via a local communication means.

6. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein the bidirectional communication comprises audio information.

7. The adaptor of claim 1, further comprising a remote unit.

8. The adaptor of claim 7, wherein the first wireless transceiver receives information from the remote unit and forwards the information to at least one of the device or the docking cradle.

9. The adaptor of claim 8, wherein the information comprises commands.

10. The adaptor of claim 8, wherein the information comprises audio information.

11. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the adaptor is configured in a first form factor, the first form factor being adapted for docking in the docking cradle, and wherein the device is configured in a second form factor, the second faun factor being adapted for docking in the docking cradle.

12. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the device is configured in a form factor being adapted for docking in the docking cradle, and wherein the adaptor is also configured in the form factor.

13. An adaptor for adapting an accessory speaker system to become a speakerphone system, wherein the speaker system comprises a docking cradle having a docking connector that is compatible with a docking connector of a portable audio player, the adaptor comprising:

a connector configured to connect the adaptor to the accessory speaker system, wherein the connector is of a form factor compatible with the docking connector;

an adaptor housing of a form factor compatible with the docking cradle;

a microphone for receiving sound; and

, a bi-directional wireless communication system adapted to wirelessly receive audio information relating to a phone call from a wirelessly-enabled device comprising a device connector, the device connector having the pinout that is complimentary to a docking pinout of the docking connector, and to wirelessly transmit information representative of sound received by the microphone to the wirelessly-enabled device.

14. The adaptor of claim 13, wherein the received audio information is provided to the accessory for playback.

15. The adaptor of claim 13 wherein the information representative of a sound is used to reproduce at least a portion of the sound on the phone call.

16. The adaptor of claim 13, further comprising a processor for removing feedback information from the sound received by the microphone.

17. The adaptor of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication system consists of at least one selected from the set of:

Bluetooth, WiFi, Ultra-wide band, or infrared.

18. The adaptor of claim 13, wherein the connector is a 30 pin connector.

19. The adaptor of claim 18, wherein the 30 pin connector is the proprietary connector used by the Apple iPod.

20. The adaptor of claim 13, wherein the phone call is handled by a telephone, and the telephone is selected from the set of:

a VOIP system, a cell phone, or a POTS telephone.

21. The adaptor of claim 20, wherein the wireless communication system utilizes at least one selected from the set:

of Bluetooth, WiFi, ultra-wide band, or infrared.

22. The adaptor of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication system utilizes Bluetooth, and wherein the phone call is handled by a POTS telephone base comprising a Bluetooth transceiver for local tranception of the audio information from the phone call.

23. The adaptor of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication system utilizes Bluetooth, and wherein the phone call is handled by a cellular telephone comprising a Bluetooth transceiver for local tranception of the audio information from the phone call.