Serial pass-through device

• US 8,086,781 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2010
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ananny, John, Fisher, David S., Langenfeld, Peter, Krueger, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TRISHA U
• Application Number:
  US12/690,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 710104-106, 710300-304, 710/306, 710/315
• US Class Current: 710/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2871 Implementation details of single intermediate entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A host device and an accessory exchange information (e.g., commands and data) via an intermediate device. The host device and accessory can each connect to the intermediate device. The host device can exchange commands and data with the intermediate device, while the accessory device can serially exchange data with the intermediate device. The host device and the accessory can also “tunnel” information to each other through the intermediate device, by packaging the tunneled information as a payload of a command recognizable by the intermediate device; the intermediate device can repackage and forward the payload. In some embodiments, the intermediate device can control serial communication parameters between the intermediate device and the accessory in response to commands received from the host.

Claims

1. A serial pass through device comprising:

an accessory interface configured to connect with an accessory, wherein the accessory and the serial pass through device communicate using a serial communication protocol through the accessory interface;

a host interface configured to connect with a host, wherein the host and the serial pass through device communicate using a host communication protocol through the host interface;

an authentication controller configured to authenticate the serial pass through device with the host; and

a controller configured to;

receive serial data from the accessory through the accessory interface;

packetize the data according to the host communication protocol;

send the packetized data to the host through the host interface;

receive a command from the host through the host interface, the command including a change to one or more serial communication parameters used to configure serial communication between the accessory and the serial pass through device; and

change the one or more serial communication parameters in accordance with the received command.

2. The serial pass through device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive packetized data from the host through the host interface, de-packetize the packetized data, and send the data to the accessory through the accessory interface.

3. The serial pass through device according to claim 1, wherein the accessory interface includes a serial send channel and a serial receive channel.

4. The serial pass through device according to claim 1, wherein the host interface comprises a 30 pin connector.

5. The serial pass through device according to claim 1, wherein the accessory interface comprises either a USB connector or a RS232 connector.

6. The serial pass through device according to claim 1, wherein the host interface comprises a Bluetooth module.

7. The serial pass through device of claim 1 wherein the one or more serial communication parameters include at least one of:

baud rate, parity, number of data bits, number of stop bits, or flow control.

8. The serial pass through device of claim 1 wherein packetizing the serial data according to the host communication protocol comprises segmenting the serial data into specific data lengths and adding header data.

9. A method of processing at an intermediate device coupled with an accessory and a host, the method comprising:

participating in authentication with the host, wherein the result of the authentication determines whether the intermediate device is authorized to communicate with the host;

receiving data from the accessory in a serial data stream;

packetizing the data according to a host communication protocol;

transmitting the packetized data to the host;

receiving a command from the host including a change to one or more serial communication parameters used to configure serial communication between the accessory and the intermediate device; and

changing the one or more serial communication parameters in accordance with the received command.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising buffering the data after the data is received from the accessory.

11. The method according to claim 9 further comprising buffering the packetized data before the data is sent to the host.

12. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

receiving packetized data from the host;

removing the packet information from the data; and

transmitting the data to the accessory as a serial data stream using serial communication parameters.

13. A method processing at an intermediate device coupled with an accessory and a host, the method comprising:

participating in authentication with the host, wherein the result of the authentication determines whether the intermediate device is authorized to communicate with the host;

receiving packetized data from the host, wherein the packetized data is packetized according to a host communication protocol;

extracting data from the packetized data;

sending the data to the accessory in a serial data stream;

receiving a command from the host including a change to one or more serial communication parameters used to configure serial communication between the accessory and the intermediate device; and

changing the one or more serial communication parameters in accordance with the received command.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprises buffering the packetized data.

15. The method according to claim 13 further comprises buffering the data prior to the sending.

16. A serial pass through device comprising:

an accessory interface configured to connect with an accessory such that the serial pass through device communicates with the accessory using a serial communication protocol;

a host interface configured to connect with a host, wherein the host and the serial pass through device communicate using a host communication protocol;

an authentication controller configured to authenticate the serial pass through device with the host; and

a controller configured to;

receive data from the accessory through the accessory interface using the serial communication protocol, format the data according to a host communication protocol, and send the formatted data to the host through the host interface;

receive formatted data from the host through the host interface using a host communication protocol, extract the data from the formatted data, and send the extracted data to the accessory using the serial communication protocol;

receive a command from the host through the host interface, the command including a change to one or more serial communication parameters used to configure serial communication between the accessory and the serial pass through device; and

change the one or more serial communication parameters in accordance with the received command.