Accessory detection to minimize interference with wireless communication

• US 8,238,971 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Terlizzi, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAMS, MATTHEW C
• Application Number:
  US11/618,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26- 34, 455/63.1, 455/114.2, 455/278.1, 455/296, 4555561-557, 4555751-5759
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/02 Reducing interference from electric apparatus by means located at or near the interfering apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• 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

Abstract

A wireless handheld device includes one or more antennas and a connector configured to couple with one or more external accessories. The handheld device further includes an accessory detector coupled to the connector and configured to detect whether an external accessory coupled to the connector may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device.

Claims

1. A handheld device comprising:

one or more antennas configured to facilitate wireless communication;

a connector configured to couple with one or more external accessories; and

an accessory detector coupled to the connector, wherein the accessory detector is configured to determine, based on cryptographic information received from an external accessory coupled with the connector, an accessory type associated with the external accessory and is configured to determine whether the external accessory coupled to the connector may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device based on the accessory type;

wherein the accessory detector is further configured to change a gain of a power amplifier of the handheld device when the accessory detector detects interference with wireless communication with the handheld device.

2. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is configured to alert a user if the accessory detector detects that an external accessory coupled with the connector may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device.

3. The handheld device of claim 2 wherein the handheld device is configured to alert the user by displaying a corresponding message on a display or by generating an audio message corresponding to the alert.

4. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is configured such that if the accessory detector cannot recognize an external accessory coupled to the connector, the handheld device notifies the user that the external accessory may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device.

5. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is configured such that if the accessory detector detects that an external accessory coupled to the connector would interfere with the wireless communication with the handheld device, the handheld device alerts a user of the same.

6. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the connector and the one or more antennas are disposed at a base of the handheld device.

7. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is configured to adjust a radio characteristic of the handheld device if the accessory detector detects interference with wireless communication with the handheld device.

8. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is configured to tune the one or more antennas if the accessory detector detects interference with the operation of the one or more antennas.

9. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is configured to adjust an operating frequency of the handheld device if the accessory detector detects an operating frequency of the handheld device shifted out of a predetermined operating frequency range.

10. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the connector is configured to facilitate docking of the handheld device in a docking system.

11. The handheld device of claim 1 further configured to store a list of accessories, wherein the accessory detector is further configured to compare a detected external accessory coupled to the connector with the list of accessories to determine if a match can be found.

12. The handheld device of claim 11 wherein the list of accessories includes those accessories that are known to cause interference with the wireless operation of the handheld device.

13. The handheld device of claim 11 wherein the list of accessories includes those accessories that are known not to cause interference with the wireless operation of the handheld device.

14. The handheld device of claim 11 wherein the handheld device is configured to enable the list of accessories to be updated.

15. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the accessory detector is configured to detect accessories with USB and FireWire interfaces.

16. A mobile device comprising:

one or more antennas configured to facilitate wireless communication;

a connector configured to couple with one or more external accessories; and

an accessory detector coupled to the connector, wherein the accessory detector is configured to determine, based on cryptographic information received from an external accessory coupled with the connector, an accessory type associated with the external accessory, and wherein the accessory detector is configured to alert a user when the accessory detector detects that the external accessory may interfere with wireless communication with the mobile device as determined based on the accessory type;

wherein the accessory detector is further configured to change a gain of the one or more antennas upon the determination that the external accessory will interfere with wireless communication with the mobile device.

17. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the mobile device is configured to alert the user by displaying a corresponding message on a display or by generating an audio message corresponding to the alert.

18. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the mobile device is configured such that if the accessory detector cannot determine an accessory type based on an external accessory coupled to the connector, the mobile device notifies a user that the external accessory may interfere with wireless communication with the mobile device.

19. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the mobile device is configured such that if the accessory detector determines that an external accessory coupled to the connector would interfere with the wireless communication with the mobile device, the mobile device alerts a user of the same.

20. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the connector and the one or more antennas are disposed at a base of the mobile device.

21. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the accessory detector is further configured to compare a detected external accessory coupled to the connector with a list of accessories that are known not to cause interference with the wireless operation of the mobile device to determine if a match can be found.

22. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the accessory detector is further configured to compare the accessory type associated with the external accessory with a list of accessory types that are known to cause interference with the wireless operation of the mobile device to determine if a match can be found.

23. A mobile device comprising:

one or more antennas configured to facilitate wireless communication;

a connector configured to couple with one or more external accessories; and

an accessory detector coupled to the connector and configured to adjust a radio characteristic of the mobile device when the accessory detector determines, based on information encrypted according to a cryptographic scheme and received from an accessory coupled to the mobile device, that the accessory corresponds with an accessory type that is known to interfere with wireless communication with the mobile device;

wherein to adjust the radio characteristic, the accessory detector changes a gain of a power amplifier of the mobile device.

24. The mobile device of claim 23 wherein the mobile device is configured to tune the one or more antennas if the accessory detector determines that the accessory corresponds with an accessory type that is known to interfere with the operation of the one or more antennas.

25. The mobile device of claim 23 wherein the mobile device is configured to adjust an operating frequency of the mobile device if the accessory detector determines that the accessory corresponds with an accessory type that is known to interfere with an operating frequency of the mobile device shifted out of a predetermined operating frequency range.

26. The mobile device of claim 23 wherein the connector and the one or more antennas are disposed at a base of the mobile device.

27. A method of operation in a handheld device, comprising:

determining, based on information encrypted according to a cryptographic scheme and received from an external accessory coupled to the handheld device, an accessory type associated with the external accessory;

determining, based on the accessory type, whether the external accessory may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device;

alerting a user when it is determined that the external accessory may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device; and

changing a gain of a power amplifier of the handheld device to minimize or eliminate the interference.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the user is alerted by displaying a message on a display of the handheld device.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the user is alerted by generating an audio message.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

in the event that the accessory type cannot be determined, alerting the user that the external accessory may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

comparing the detected external accessory type with a list of external accessory types to determine if a match can be found.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the list of accessory types includes accessory types that are known to cause interference with the wireless operation of the handheld device.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the list of accessory types includes accessory types that are known not to cause interference with the wireless operation of the handheld device.

34. A method of operation in a handheld device, comprising:

determining, based on information encrypted according to a cryptographic scheme and received from an external accessory coupled to the handheld device, an accessory type associated with the external accessory;

determining, based on the accessory type, whether the external accessory may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device; and

adjusting a radio characteristic of the handheld device when it is determined that the external accessory will interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device;

wherein adjusting the radio characteristic comprises changing a gain of one or more antennas of the handheld device.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

tuning the one or more antennas in the handheld device if it is determined that the external accessory may interfere with the operation of the one or more antennas.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

adjusting an operating frequency of the handheld device if an operating frequency of the handheld device is shifted out of a predetermined operating frequency range.

37. A handheld device comprising:

one or more antennas configured to facilitate wireless communication;

a connector configured to couple with one or more external accessories; and

an accessory detector coupled to the connector, wherein the accessory detector is configured to determine, for an external accessory coupled to the connector, a device type class with which the accessory is associated;

the determination being based on cryptographic information received from the external accessory, wherein the device type class is selected from the group comprising;

a known accessory type that may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device, a known accessory type that does not interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device, and an unknown accessory type;

wherein the accessory detector is configured to change a gain of a power amplifier associated with the handheld device when it is determined that the external accessory is of an accessory type that will cause interference with wireless communication of the handheld device.