Communication between a host device and an accessory via an intermediate device
First Claim
1. An accessory for use with a host device, the accessory comprising:
- a wireless transceiver configured to send and receive wireless signals;
an interface configured to communicate with an intermediate device via a first wired signal path, the intermediate device being further configured to communicate with the host device via a second wired signal path; and
a controller communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver and the interface, the controller being configured to generate commands to be sent to the host device via the intermediate device and to interpret and respond to commands received from the host device via the intermediate device,wherein the controller is further configured to;
provide to the host device via the intermediate device information pertaining to a wireless communication capability of the accessory, the information including a wireless address of the wireless transceiver of the accessory; and
receive from the intermediate device a converted command that conforms to an accessory-side command protocol for instructing the accessory to establish a wireless link with the host device, the converted command including a wireless address of the host device and being generated by the intermediate device from a command originating from the host device that conformed to a host-side command protocol.
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Accused Products
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 through a direct wired path and can exchange commands and 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 tunneled information relates to configuring a wireless link (e.g., a Bluetooth pairing) between the host device and the accessory.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An accessory for use with a host device, the accessory comprising:
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a wireless transceiver configured to send and receive wireless signals; an interface configured to communicate with an intermediate device via a first wired signal path, the intermediate device being further configured to communicate with the host device via a second wired signal path; and a controller communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver and the interface, the controller being configured to generate commands to be sent to the host device via the intermediate device and to interpret and respond to commands received from the host device via the intermediate device, wherein the controller is further configured to; provide to the host device via the intermediate device information pertaining to a wireless communication capability of the accessory, the information including a wireless address of the wireless transceiver of the accessory; and receive from the intermediate device a converted command that conforms to an accessory-side command protocol for instructing the accessory to establish a wireless link with the host device, the converted command including a wireless address of the host device and being generated by the intermediate device from a command originating from the host device that conformed to a host-side command protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for establishing a wireless link with a host device, the method comprising:
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establishing, by an accessory, a first point to point wired connection between the accessory and an intermediate device; receiving, by the accessory, an indication that a second point to point wired connection has been established between the host device and the intermediate device; providing, by the accessory to the host device via the first and second point to point wired connections, data indicative of a wireless communication capability of the accessory, the data including a wireless address of the accessory; and receiving, by the accessory from the intermediate device, a converted command that conforms to an accessory-side command protocol for instructing the accessory to establish a wireless link with the host device, the converted command including a wireless address of the host device and being generated by the intermediate device from a command originating from the host device that conformed to a host-side command protocol. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for establishing a wireless link between an accessory and a host device, the method comprising, by the accessory:
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receiving, by the accessory, from the host device via an intermediate device, a request for capability information pertaining to a wireless communication capability of the accessory, the capability information including a wireless address of the accessory; providing, by the accessory to the host device via the intermediate device, the capability information including a wireless address of the accessory; and receiving, by the accessory from the intermediate device, a converted command that conforms to a first protocol for instructing the accessory to establish a wireless link with the host device, the converted command including a wireless address of the host device and being generated by the intermediate device from a command originating from the host device that conformed to a second protocol, wherein the accessory and the intermediate device are configured to communicate with each other using the first protocol and wherein the host device and the intermediate device are configured to communicate with each other using the second protocol; and in response to receiving the converted command, establishing the wireless link. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An accessory for use with a host device, the accessory comprising:
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a wireless transceiver configured to send and receive wireless signals; an interface configured to communicate with an intermediate device via a first wired signal path, the intermediate device being further configured to communicate with the host device via a second wired signal path; and a controller communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver and the interface, the controller being configured to generate commands to be sent to the host device via the intermediate device and to interpret and respond to commands received from the host device via the intermediate device, wherein the controller is further configured to; establish a first wired connection to the intermediate device via the first wired signal path, wherein the accessory and the intermediate device are configured to communicate over the first wired connection using a first protocol; receive an indication that the intermediate device has established a second wired connection to the host device via the second wired signal path, wherein the first and second wired connections provide for an exchange of commands and data between the accessory and the host device, wherein the intermediate device and the host device are configured to communicate over the second wired connection using a second protocol different from the first protocol, and wherein the intermediate device is configured to convert commands between the first and second protocols; provide to the host device, via the intermediate device, capability information pertaining to a wireless communication capability of the accessory, the capability information including a wireless address of the wireless transceiver of the accessory; and subsequently to providing to the host device the capability information, receive from the host device, via the intermediate device, link information defining a new wireless link between the accessory and the host device, the link information including a wireless address of the host device; and establish the wireless link in response to receiving the link information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification