Active electronic media device packaging

• US 8,668,519 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenblatt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US13/766,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20130194062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 439/536, 455/575.1, 455/90.1, 715/203
• US Class Current: 439/536
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2201/00 Means or constructions for testing or controlling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/52 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/566 Hand holes or suspension apertures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile

Abstract

Active packaging for supplying power, data, or both power and data to an electronic media device while the device is housed within the active packaging is provided. The active packaging may include one or more electrical traces in-molded or printed onto the packaging that couple to a suitable connector on the device. Power may also be provided via one or more wireless power techniques. Multiple active packages may be conductively stacked to transmit power, data, or both power and data to a row or stack or devices. POM sensors integrated with or attached to the device (or the active packaging itself) may detect various movement events. Coordinated and synchronized display effects may be presented while the devices are housed within the active packaging.

Claims

1. A method of interacting with an electronic media device, the method comprising:

powering the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within retail packaging; and

receiving media content with the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within the packaging.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving media content with the electronic media device comprises receiving media content via a wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving media content with the electronic media device comprises receiving media content via a wire trace.

4. The method of claim 1, Wherein powering the electronic media device includes receiving power from a radio frequency (RF) power receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein powering the electronic media device includes receiving power from a wire trace on the packaging.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic media device is not removable from the retail packaging without breaking a seal of the retail packaging while the electronic media device is sealed within the retail packaging.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the media content on the electronic media device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the media content on the electronic media device.

9. A method of interacting with an electronic media device, the method comprising:

powering the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within retail packaging;

displaying media content with the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within the packaging;

determining whether a battery of the electronic media device should be charged based on predetermined battery charging rules; and

charging the battery based on the determination.

10. A method of interacting with a row or stack of packaged electronic media devices, the method comprising:

determining a position of one of the packaged electronic media device within the row or stack by using a sensor of the packaged electronic media device; and

enabling a display on the packaged electronic media device when the packaged electronic media device is determined to be the first packaged electronic media device in the row or stack.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor of the packaged electronic media device is a position, orientation, or movement (POM) sensor including an ambient light sensor, and

wherein determining a position of the packaged electronic media device comprises:

measuring the intensity of ambient light using the ambient light sensor; and

comparing the measurement to a threshold intensity value.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor of the packaged electronic media device is a position, orientation, or movement (POM) sensor including a proximity sensor, and

wherein determining a position of the packaged electronic media device comprises:

measuring a distance to at least one nearby object using the proximity sensor; and

comparing the measurement to a threshold distance value.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting movement of the packaged electronic media device by using a sensor of the packaged electronic media devices; and

displaying media content on the packaged electronic media device when the detected movement surpasses a predetermined amount.

14. A method of interacting with a plurality of packaged electronic media devices positioned in a grid, the method comprising:

determining a grid position of one of the packaged electronic media devices using a sensor of the packaged electronic media device; and

displaying a portion of media content on the packaged electronic media device, wherein the portion of media content displayed on the packaged electronic media device is based on the grid position of the packaged electronic media device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a grid position of a second one of the packaged electronic media devices using a sensor on the second packaged electronic media device; and

displaying a portion of media content on the second packaged electronic media device, wherein the portion displayed on the second packaged electronic media device is based on the grid position of the second packaged electronic media device.

16. A method of interacting with a packaged electronic media device, the method comprising:

determining using the packaged electronic media device whether an update to the packaged electronic media device is available, and

downloading the update to the packaged electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within retail packaging if an update is available.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

powering the packaged electronic media device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein determining using the packaged electronic media device whether an update to the packaged electronic media device is available includes enabling a wireless interface on the packaged electronic media device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein determining using the packaged electronic media device whether an update to the packaged electronic media device is available includes reading an internal clock to determine if a predetermined amount of time has lapsed since a previous determination.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

applying the update after the update is downloaded.

21. A method of interacting with an electronic media device, the method comprising:

powering the electronic media device by receiving power from a wire trace on retail packaging while the electronic media device is sealed within the retail packaging; and

receiving media content with the electronic media device while the electronic media device is sealed within the packaging.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the wire trace is electrically coupled to a corresponding pin or connector of the electronic media device.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronic media device is coupled to a backing of the retail packaging by a fastener, and

wherein the wire trace is electrically coupled to a corresponding pin or connector of the electronic media device through the fastener.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the trace is in-molded into the retail packaging.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the wire trace receives power from a wire trace on second retail packaging stacked together with the first retail packaging.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

powering a second electronic media device by receiving power from a second wire trace on second retail packaging while the second electronic media device is sealed within the second retail packaging,

wherein powering the first electronic media device comprises receiving power through the first wire trace from a third wire trace on the second retail packaging, wherein the second retail packaging is stacked together with the first retail packaging.