Adapter for physically interfacing between an accessory and a device
First Claim
1. An adapter configured for providing a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter comprising:
- a connector receptacle to mate with a connector insert on the accessory;
a connector insert to mate with a connector receptacle on the portable electronic device, wherein the connector insert is incompatible with the connector receptacle;
translation circuitry configured to;
translate protocols received from the accessory at the connector receptacle to different protocols output to the portable electronic device via the connector insert; and
translate protocols received from the portable electronic device at the connector insert to different protocols output to the accessory via the connector receptacle; and
authentication circuitry to respond to an authentication query received at the connector receptacle of the adapter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide compatibility among incompatible accessories and portable media players. One example provides an adapter having a connector receptacle to mate with an accessory'"'"'s connector insert and a connector insert to mate with a portable media player'"'"'s connector receptacle. Another example provides an adapter having a direct connection between pins on the connector insert and pins on the connector receptacle that are used for compatible signals. Another example provides an adapter including a DC-to-DC converter that receives a first power supply from an accessory and provides a second power supply to a portable media player. Another translates signals using different signaling technologies. Authentication and identification circuitry may also be included. Other examples may employ wireless technologies instead of either or both the connector insert and connector receptacle.
48 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An adapter configured for providing a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter comprising:
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a connector receptacle to mate with a connector insert on the accessory; a connector insert to mate with a connector receptacle on the portable electronic device, wherein the connector insert is incompatible with the connector receptacle; translation circuitry configured to; translate protocols received from the accessory at the connector receptacle to different protocols output to the portable electronic device via the connector insert; and translate protocols received from the portable electronic device at the connector insert to different protocols output to the accessory via the connector receptacle; and authentication circuitry to respond to an authentication query received at the connector receptacle of the adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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17. A method of using an adapter to provide signals across a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter including a connector receptacle to mate with a connector insert on the accessory and a connector insert to mate with the portable electronic device, the method comprising:
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receiving first protocols received from the accessory at the connector receptacle; translation circuitry of the adapter translating the first protocols to second protocols, the second protocols being different than the first protocols; outputting the second protocols to the portable electronic device via the connector insert; receiving third protocols from the portable electronic device at the connector insert; the translation circuitry translating the third protocols to fourth protocols, the fourth protocols different from the third protocols; and authentication circuitry responding to an authentication query received at the connector receptacle of the adapter. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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41. An adapter configured for providing a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter comprising:
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a connector receptacle to mate with a connector insert on the accessory; a connector insert to mate with a connector receptacle on the portable electronic device, wherein the connector insert is incompatible with the connector receptacle; a first plurality of data lines that pass directly through the adapter and are coupled between the receptacle connector and the insert connector; a second plurality of data lines coupled at one end to the receptacle connector and at a second end to the insert connector; translation circuitry coupled to the second plurality of data lines and configured to; translate a first USB protocol received from the accessory at the connector receptacle to a second USB protocol output to the portable electronic device via the connector insert; and translate protocols received from the portable electronic device at the connector insert to different protocols output to the accessory via the connector receptacle; and authentication circuitry coupled to the second plurality of data lines to respond to an authentication query received at the connector receptacle of the adapter. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. An adapter configured for providing a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter comprising:
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a connector receptacle to mate with a connector insert on the accessory; a connector insert to mate with a connector receptacle on the portable electronic device, wherein the connector insert is incompatible with the connector receptacle; translation circuitry configured to; translate protocols received from the accessory at the connector receptacle to different protocols output to the portable electronic device via the connector insert; and translate protocols received from the portable electronic device at the connector insert to different protocols output to the accessory via the connector receptacle; authentication circuitry to respond to an authentication query received at the connector receptacle of the adapter, wherein the authentication circuitry is configured to respond to an authentication query received at the connector receptacle from the accessory with a compatibility spoof authentication response, wherein the compatibility spoof authentication response includes a request for a certificate from the accessory, wherein the compatibility spoof authentication response further includes a string to be encrypted, and wherein the authentication circuitry is further configured to ignore the certificate from the accessory and the encrypted string received from the accessory.
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Specification