Accessory identification for mobile computing devices

• US 9,654,293 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bolton, Lawrence G., Toprani, Shyam S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SISON, JUNE Y
• Application Number:
  US14/556,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20150207631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 898 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein provide for identification processes and/or procedures for accessories coupled with a mobile computing device. During identification an accessory can communicate lingo information that includes only those lingoes the accessory can use while coupled with the mobile computing device. The accessory can also communicate accessory protocol information to the mobile computing device during identification. The accessory can be limited to using only those lingoes and/or those protocols identified during identification. Various other accessory information, capabilities, preferences, etc. can also be communicated to the mobile computing device during identification.

Claims

1. A method of communicating using an accessory, the method comprising:

establishing, by the accessory, communication with a mobile computing device;

obtaining, by the accessory, mobile device capability information from the mobile computing device;

sending, by the accessory, a first capability token to the mobile computing device, the first capability token including a first code-value pair, the first code identifying the first capability token as a command capability token and the first value being a value identifying a subset of commands within an accessory protocol that are supported by the accessory, the first value being determined based at least in part on the mobile device capability information; and

sending, by the accessory, a second capability token to the mobile computing device, the second capability token including a second code-value pair, the second code identifying the second capability token as an interface capability token and the second value being a bitmask identifying one or more interface capabilities that are supported by the accessory, the second value being determined based at least in part on the mobile device capability information;

then

communicating, by the accessory, with the mobile computing device, wherein the subset of commands identified in the first capability token and the interface capabilities identified in the second capability token are usable by the accessory while communicating with the mobile computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a plurality of capability tokens including the first capability token and the second capability token to the mobile computing device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein when the accessory is communicating with the mobile computing device, only the capabilities identified by the plurality of capability tokens are usable by the accessory while communicating with the mobile computing device.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second capability token includes the bitmask where each bit in the bitmask is associated with a different one of a plurality of interface capabilities and the state of the bit identifies whether the associated interface capability is supported by the accessory.

5. The method according to claim 4 where the interface capabilities supported by the accessory includes at least one of analog line-out to the mobile computing device, analog line-in from the mobile computing device, analog video-out to the mobile computing device, analog video-in from the mobile computing device, digital audio in from the mobile computing device, digital audio out to the mobile computing device, digital video out to the mobile computing device, digital video in from the mobile computing device, speakerphone, or communication with mobile computing device operating system application.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the accessory establishes wireless communications with the mobile computing device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending an accessory information token to the mobile computing device, wherein the accessory information token includes information indicating at least one of accessory name, accessory firmware version, accessory hardware version, accessory manufacturer, accessory model number, and accessory serial number.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a preference token indicating a preferred state of at least one of the interface capabilities indicated in the second capability token.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a preference token indicating the “

ON”

state of at least one of analog line-in to the mobile computing device, analog line-out from the mobile computing device, analog video-in to the mobile computing device, analog video-out from the mobile computing device, digital audio out from the mobile computing device, digital audio in to the mobile computing device, digital video in to the mobile computing device, digital video out, speakerphone, or communication with the mobile computing device operating system.

10. A method of communicating using an accessory, the method comprising:

establishing, by the accessory, communication with a mobile computing device;

obtaining, by the accessory, mobile device capability information from the mobile computing device;

sending, by the accessory, a command to begin a device identification sequence; and

sending, by the accessory, a packet comprising a plurality of tokens, each of the plurality of tokens including a code-value pair, the code identifying a type of capability and the value identifying one or more capabilities of the identified type that are supported by the accessory, the plurality of tokens including;

a first token including a first code-value pair, the first code identifying the first token as a command capability token and the first value being a value identifying a subset of commands within an accessory protocol that are supported by the accessory, the first value being determined based at least in part on the mobile device capability information; and

a second token including a second code-value pair, the second code identifying the second token as an interface capability token and the second value being a bitmask identifying one or more interface capabilities that are supported by the accessory, the second value being determined based at least in part on the mobile device capability information;

then

communicating, by the accessory, with the mobile computing device, wherein the subset of commands identified in the first token and the interface capabilities identified in the second token are usable by the accessory while communicating with the mobile computing device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the command to begin a device identification sequence is sent in a separate packet from the plurality of tokens.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the value for at least one token is a value identifying one or more capabilities of the first type that are supported by the accessory.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising sending a preferred state for at least one of the capabilities supported by the accessory.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising sending accessory information to the mobile computing device, wherein the accessory information indicates accessory related information including at least one of accessory name, accessory firmware version, accessory hardware version, accessory manufacturer, accessory model number, and accessory serial number.

15. A method of communicating using an accessory, the method comprising:

sending, by the accessory, a command to a mobile computing device to begin a device identification sequence;

obtaining, by the accessory, mobile device capability information from the mobile computing device; and

sending, by the accessory, a plurality of tokens, each of the plurality of tokens including a code-value pair, the code identifying a type of capability and the value identifying one or more capabilities of the identified type that are supported by the accessory, at least one of the plurality of tokens further including an indication of a length of the token, the plurality of tokens including;

a first token including a first code-value pair, the first code identifying the first token as a command capability token and the first value being a value identifying a subset of commands within an accessory protocol that are supported by the accessory, the first value being determined based at least in part on the mobile device capability information; and

a second token including a second code-value pair, the second code identifying the second token as an interface capability token and the second value being a bitmask identifying one or more interface capabilities that are supported by the accessory, the second value being determined based at least in part on the mobile device capability information;

then

communicating, by the accessory, with the mobile computing device, wherein the subset of commands identified in the first token and the interface capabilities identified in the second token are usable by the accessory while communicating with the mobile computing device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein only the capabilities identified by the plurality of tokens are usable by the accessory while communicating with the mobile computing device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the indication of a length of the token identifies a length of the value.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the indication of a length of the token identifies a length of the token.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein at least one of the plurality of tokens does not further include an indication of a length of the token.