Accessory attachment protocol and responsive actions

• US 8,402,128 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Holden, Paul, Bolton, Lawrence, Ganatra, Nitin, Toprani, Shyam
• Primary Examiner(s): Osman, Ramy M
• Application Number:
  US13/250,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/206, 709/219, 709/203, 709/208, 709/218, 709/223, 709/230, 709/232, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• 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

Embodiments of the present invention provide various communication techniques for communication between a mobile computing device and an accessory. An accessory protocol that is generic to the mobile computing device can be used for some communication. An application executing at the mobile computing device can communicate with the accessory using an application communication protocol. In some embodiments, the application communication protocol can be different from the accessory communication protocol. In other embodiments the application protocol may only be recognized by the application and the accessory. In some embodiments, messages conforming to an application protocol can be communicated between the application and the accessory by packaging the messages inside a message conforming to the accessory communication protocol.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a storage device configured to store one or more applications;

a communications interface configured to exchange data and commands with an accessory; and

a processor configured to;

receive, over the communications interface from the accessory, first information identifying a preferred application and second information identifying how the mobile computing device should behave if the preferred application is not resident on the mobile computing device;

if the preferred application is resident on the mobile computing device, launch the preferred application; and

if the preferred application is not resident on the mobile computing device, perform one or more actions based on the second information, the one or more actions including downloading the preferred application from a network location.

2. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the preferred application is automatically launched without user intervention.

3. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to, prior to launching the preferred application:

provide a notice to a user of the mobile computing device asking whether the user would like to launch the preferred application.

4. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to, prior to launching the preferred application:

highlight an icon associated with the preferred application on a home screen of the mobile computing device.

5. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the downloading is performed immediately upon determining that the preferred application is not resident on the mobile computing device.

6. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the downloading is performed when the processor determines that the mobile computing device has a proper level of wireless connectivity to download the preferred application.

7. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the downloading is performed when the mobile computing device is coupled with a host computer.

8. The mobile computing device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, over the communications interface from the accessory, third information identifying an application communication protocol that is supported by the accessory.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 8 wherein the one or more actions performed based on the second information comprise:

determining an alternative application that is compatible with the application communication protocol.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9 wherein the one or more actions performed based on the second information further comprise:

providing a notice to a user of the mobile computing device asking whether the user would like to download the preferred application or launch the alternative application.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a mobile computing device from an accessory, first information identifying an application communication protocol supported by the accessory and second information identifying a preferred application;

determining, by the mobile computing device, whether the preferred application is resident on the mobile computing device;

if the preferred application is resident on the mobile computing device, launching, by the mobile computing device, the preferred application;

if the preferred application is not resident on the mobile computing device, determining, by the mobile computing device, whether an alternative application that is compatible with the application communication protocol supported by the accessory is resident on the mobile computing device; and

if the alternative application is not resident on the mobile computing device, downloading the preferred application from a network location.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first information and the second information are received using an accessory communication protocol that is distinct from the application communication protocol.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the preferred application is automatically launched without user intervention.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising, prior to launching the preferred application:

providing a notice to a user of the mobile computing device asking whether the user would like to launch the preferred application.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising, prior to launching the preferred application:

highlighting an icon associated with the preferred application on a home screen of the mobile computing device.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising, if the alternative application is resident on the mobile computing device, launching the alternative application.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising, prior to launching the alternative application:

providing a notice to a user of the mobile computing device asking whether the user would like to download the preferred application or launch the alternative application.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon program code executable by a mobile computing device, wherein the program code, when executed by the mobile computing device, causes the mobile computing device to perform a method comprising:

receiving first information identifying an application communication protocol supported by the accessory, second information identifying a preferred application, and third information indicating that the accessory can also interoperate with any other application that is compatible with the application communication protocol;

if the preferred application is resident on the mobile computing device, automatically launching the preferred application; and

if the preferred application is not resident on the mobile computing device;

determining whether an alternative application that is compatible with the application communication protocol is resident on the mobile computing device; and

if the alternative application is not resident on the mobile computing device, providing a notice to a user of the mobile computing device asking whether the user would like to download the preferred application from a network location.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the first information, the second information, and the third information are received using an accessory communication protocol that is distinct from the application communication protocol.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the method further comprises, if the alternative application is resident on the mobile computing device, providing a notice to the user asking whether the user would like to launch the alternative application or download the preferred application from the network location.