Connection to multiple accessories with multiple accessory-specific protocols
First Claim
1. A mobile communication device comprising:
- a housing;
a communication interface disposed at least partially within the housing, and configured to exchange commands and data with one or more accessories, the communication interface having a plurality of communication ports including a first communication port and a second communication port, the plurality of communication ports being configured to communicate with accessories using an accessory communication protocol that enables communication between accessories and the mobile communication device;
memory disposed within the housing; and
a processor disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled with the memory and the communication interface, the processor being configured to execute a plurality of applications and control logic,the control logic being configured to;
establish a first communication session between a first application of the plurality of applications and a first accessory using a first application communication protocol, wherein messages of the first application communication protocol are transmitted through the first communication port using the accessory communication protocol; and
establish a second communication session between a second application of the plurality of applications and a second accessory using a second application communication protocol, wherein messages of the second application communication protocol are transmitted through the second communication port using the accessory protocol.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
85 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A mobile communication device comprising:
-
a housing; a communication interface disposed at least partially within the housing, and configured to exchange commands and data with one or more accessories, the communication interface having a plurality of communication ports including a first communication port and a second communication port, the plurality of communication ports being configured to communicate with accessories using an accessory communication protocol that enables communication between accessories and the mobile communication device; memory disposed within the housing; and a processor disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled with the memory and the communication interface, the processor being configured to execute a plurality of applications and control logic, the control logic being configured to; establish a first communication session between a first application of the plurality of applications and a first accessory using a first application communication protocol, wherein messages of the first application communication protocol are transmitted through the first communication port using the accessory communication protocol; and establish a second communication session between a second application of the plurality of applications and a second accessory using a second application communication protocol, wherein messages of the second application communication protocol are transmitted through the second communication port using the accessory protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile computing device, cause the processor to execute a method comprising:
-
establishing a first communication session between a first application executing on the mobile computing device and a first accessory communicatively coupled to the mobile computing device via a first port; communicating between the first application and the first accessory through the first communication session using a first application protocol, wherein communicating with the first accessory includes transmitting messages of the first application protocol through the first port using an accessory communication protocol that enables communication between accessories and the mobile computing device; establishing a second communication session between a second application executing on the mobile computing device and a second accessory communicatively coupled to the mobile computing device via a second port; and communicating between the second application and the second accessory through the second communication session using a second application protocol, wherein communicating with the second accessory includes transmitting messages of the second application protocol through the second port using the accessory communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A mobile communication device comprising:
-
a housing; a communication interface disposed at least partially within the housing, and configured to exchange commands and data with a plurality of accessories including a first accessory and a second accessory, the communication interface having a plurality of communication ports including a first communication port and a second communication port, the plurality of communication ports being configured to communicate with the accessories using an accessory communication protocol that enables communication between the accessories and the mobile communication device; memory disposed within the housing; and a processor disposed within the housing, and communicatively coupled with the memory and the communication interface, the processor being configured to execute a plurality of applications and control logic, the control logic being configured to; establish a first communication session between the first accessory and a first application of the plurality of applications; communicate between the first application and the first accessory through the first communication session using a first application protocol, wherein communicating with the first accessory includes transmitting messages of the first application protocol through the first port using an accessory communication protocol that enables communication between accessories and the mobile communication device; establish a second communication session between the second accessory and a second application of the plurality of applications; and communicate between the second application and the second accessory through the second communication session using a second application protocol, wherein communicating with the second accessory includes transmitting messages of the second application protocol through the second port using the accessory communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
Specification