Docking station for portable entertainment devices

• US 8,554,045 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: KSC Industries Inc.
• Inventors: Brooking, Eric, McCarty, William A., Rodriguez, Yadir, King, Jeff Jr., Wei, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US11/273,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20060127034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,885 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/95, 386/96, 386/118, 386200-232, 386239-248, 386/234, 386/278, 386353-357, 386358-362, 725/141
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/534 for network load management, e.g. bandwidth optimization, latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A docking station is configured to receive media in the form of audio and/or video from a portable entertainment device. The docking station transmits the received media to a remote playing device via a wired, wireless, or powerline connection. The media may include a control signal associated with the audio and/or video to control the remote playing device. In certain embodiments, the remote playing device transmits control signals to the docking station to control the portable entertainment device. In certain embodiments, the docking station electrically charges the portable entertainment device.

Claims

1. A docking station system for a media source device, the system comprising:

a housing separate from the media source device, the housing comprising,

a receptacle having a connector configured to mate with a media connector on the media source device, the receptacle solely supporting the media source device,

a first transmitter located proximate to the media source device when mated with said connector and configured to transmit a received signal to a unit located remote from the housing,

a receiver configured to receive a first control code from the remote unit, and

a power supply configured to power the first transmitter and recharge the media source device while the housing is receiving the signal,

wherein the remote unit comprises a second transmitter configured to transmit the first control code to the housing, wherein the housing directly controls the media source device via the connector based on the first control code, and wherein the media source device is solely coupled to the receptacle while the housing is receiving the signal from the media source device,

wherein the first transmitter is further configured to transmit a second control code to the remote unit, said second control code being associated with the signal, and wherein the remote unit is further configured to modify the signal based on the second control signal.

2. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises the first transmitter.

3. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the second control code and the signal are transmitted using the same communication protocol.

4. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the second control code and the signal are transmitted using different communication protocols.

5. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the second control code is input to the housing.

6. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the second control code is input to the housing a wireless protocol via a handheld remote control.

7. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the second control code is input to the media source device.

8. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the first control code is input via the unit.

9. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to wirelessly receive the first control code from a handheld remote control.

10. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein said connector is accessible through the housing and provides mechanical support to the media source device.

11. The docking station system of claim 10, wherein the connector has a plurality of pins, at least a first pin and a second pin being configured for attaching to the media source device, wherein the first pin is further configured to provide an electronic connection to receive the signal from the media source unit, and the second pin is further configured to provide an electronic connection to charge the media source device.

12. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an analog/digital converter configured to convert the signal to either an analog signal or a digital signal for transmission to the unit.

13. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the received signal is transmitted via a wired network.

14. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the received signal is transmitted via a powerline network.

15. The docking station system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter is wireless.

16. The docking station system of claim 15, wherein the first transmitter is RF.

17. The docking station system of claim 15, wherein the first transmitter is IR.

18. The docking station system of claim 15, wherein the first transmitter is Ethernet.

19. An entertainment system comprising:

a housing comprising,

an analog input configured to receive an analog signal from a media source device that is separate from the housing,

a digital input configured to receive a digital signal from the media source device,

a receptacle configured to receive and provide sole support for the media source device, the receptacle having a connector configured to mate with a media connector on the media source device,

a transmitter located proximate to the media source device and configured to transmit the received analog signal and/or received digital signal,

a receiver, and

a power supply configured to power the transmitter and recharge the media source device while the housing is receiving the analog signal and/or digital signal;

a unit located remote from the housing and comprising,

a receiver module configured to receive the transmitted signal, and

a transmitter module configured to transmit the received signal and a first control code, the first control code being transmitted to the receiver of the housing, the housing directly controlling the media source device via the connector based on the first control code; and

a remote playing device configured to receive the signal transmitted by the remote unit,

wherein the media source device is solely coupled to the receptacle while the housing is receiving the analog signal and/or digital signal, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a second control code to the remote unit, said second control code being associated with the received analog signal and/or received digital signal, and wherein the remote unit is further configured to modify the received signal based on the second control signal.

20. The entertainment system of claim 19, wherein the connection between the transmitter of the housing and the receiver module of the unit located remote from the housing is wired.

21. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the connection between the transmitter of the housing and the receiver module of the unit located remote from the housing is powerline.

22. The entertainment system of claim 19, wherein the connection between the transmitter of the housing and the receiver module of the unit located remote from the housing is wireless.

23. The entertainment system of claim 22, wherein the connection between the transmitter of the housing and the receiver module of the unit located remote from the housing is RF.

24. The entertainment system of claim 22, wherein the connection between the transmitter of the housing and the receiver module of the unit located remote from the housing is IR.

25. The entertainment system of claim 22, wherein the connection between the transmitter of the housing and the receiver module of the unit located remote from the housing is Ethernet.

26. A method for distributing audio signals from a hand held device, the method comprising:

receiving a media signal at a docking station from a media source device via a connector configured to mate with the media source device, the docking station providing sole mechanical support and electrical connections for the media source device, the docking station being separate from the media source device;

charging the media source device via the connector;

transmitting the media signal from the docking station and over a first network during a first time frame;

receiving the transmitted media signal at a location remote from the docking station;

providing the received media signal to a remote playing device via a second network;

inputting a first control signal at the remote location;

transmitting the first control signal to the docking station over a third network;

controlling the media source device directly via the connector based on the first control signal;

modifying the media signal based at least in part on the received first control signal;

transmitting the modified media signal to the remote location during a second time frame, the second time frame being after the first time frame;

transmitting a second control code to the remote location, said second control code being associated with the media signal; and

modifying the media signal at the remote location based on the second control signal.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the media signal comprises an audio signal.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the media signal comprises a video signal.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the media signal comprises an audio signal and a control signal associated with the audio signal.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the first network is a wired network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first network is a powerline network.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the first network is a wireless network.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the first network is an RF network.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the first network is an IR network.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the first network is an Ethernet network.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the first and third networks are both wireless networks and the second network is a wired network.