Media player system

• US 20040224638A1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Filson, John Benjamin, Fadell, Anthony M., Zadesky, Stephen Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,627,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

A media player system is disclosed. One aspect of the media player system pertains to a docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a wireless media player system that includes a hand held media player capable of transmitting information over a wireless connection and one or more media devices capable of receiving information over the wireless connection. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of wirelessly connecting the hand held media player to another device. The method includes selecting a media item on the hand held media player; selecting one or more remote recipients on the hand held media player; and transmitting the media item locally to the hand held media player, and wirelessly to the selected remote recipients. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a hand held music player that includes a transmitter for transmitting information over a wireless connection. The transmitter is configured to at least transmit a continuous music feed to one or more personal tuning devices that each include a receiver capable of receiving information from the transmitter over the wireless connection. Yet another aspect of the media player system pertains to a connector that includes a housing and a plurality of spatially separated contacts mounted within the housing. A first set of contacts are directed at a first functionality and a second set of contacts are directed at a second functionality that is different than the first functionality.

Claims

1. A docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices, the media player having a media connector, the docking station comprising:

a housing;

a media bay disposed inside the housing, the media bay being capable of receiving the media player, the media bay including a media bay opening and a media bay connector, the media bay opening providing access to the media bay connector, the media bay connector being configured for removable engagement with the media connector of the media player, the media and media bay connectors providing a connection interface that allows data and power transmissions therethrough; and

one or more output connectors that are operatively coupled to the media bay connector, at least one of the output connectors being configured to allow data transmission therethrough for communication with the other media devices.

2. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the connection interface includes a plurality of different interfaces, the different interfaces being selected from PS/2, serial, parallel, network, USB, and Firewire interfaces.

3. The docking station as recited in claim 2 wherein the different interfaces are further selected from remote, dedicated audio, dedicated video, dedicated charging or dedicated powering interfaces.

4. The docking station as recited in claim 3 wherein the different interfaces include at least two data interfaces.

5. The docking station as recited in claim 3 wherein the two data interfaces are USB and Firewire interfaces.

6. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the media bay is configured to receive a back side of the media player.

7. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the media bay is configured to receive a bottom end of the media player.

8. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the media bay is configured to receive the entire media player.

9. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the media bay is configured to receive a portion of the media player.

10. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the media player is an MP3 music player, the MP3 music player having a hard drive for storing data associated with songs, the hard drive being operatively coupled to the media connector, and wherein the connector interface is configured to upload or download data associated with songs between the MP3 music player and the other media devices when the media connector of the MP3 music player is operatively coupled to the media bay connector of the docking station and when the output connector of the docking station is operatively coupled to the other media devices.

11. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the docking station is a stand alone device.

12. The docking station as recited in claim 1 wherein the docking station is integrated with at least one media device, the media device being selected from a notebook computer, general purpose computer, sound system, photo display or mobile radio.

18. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 11 wherein the hand held media player is selected from a music player, game player, video player and video camera and wherein the media devices are selected from other media players, desktop computers, notebook computers, PDAs, audio equipment, video equipment, peripheral devices, personal mobile radios, personal tuning devices or personal display devices.

19. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 18 wherein the hand held media player is a first music player and wherein at least one of the media devices is a second music player or a personal tuning device capable of processing audio communications.

20. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 19 wherein the music player is a MP3 music player.

21. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 19 wherein the first music player includes a transmitter for transmitting information over the wireless connection, the transmitter being configured to at least transmit a continuous music feed to one or more second music players or personal tuning devices that each include a receiver capable of receiving information from the transmitter over the wireless connection.

13. A wireless media player system, comprising

a hand held media player configured to transmit media over a wireless connection;

one or more media devices configured to receive media over the wireless connection.

14. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 13 wherein the hand held media player includes a transmitter, and wherein the one or more media devices includes a receiver capable of receiving transmissions from the transmitter.

15. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 13 wherein the hand held media player is configured to receive media over the wireless connection and wherein the one or more media devices are configured to transmit media over the wireless connection.

16. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 15 wherein the hand held media player and the one or more media devices each include a transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting media therebetween.

17. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 13 wherein the wireless connection is provided by one of FM, RF, Bluetooth, 802.11, UWB, IR and magnetic links.

22. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 13 wherein the media player and one or more media devices each include a processor, a user interface, a storage block, input/output circuitry and a communication terminal.

23. The wireless media player system as recited in claim 22 wherein the storage block includes a hard drive.

24. A method of wirelessly connecting a hand held media player to another device, the method comprising:

selecting a media item on the hand held media player;

selecting one or more remote recipients on the hand held media player; and

transmitting the media item locally to the hand held media player, and wirelessly to the selected remote recipients.

25. A connector for use in a media player system, the connector comprising:

a housing; and

a plurality of spatially separated contacts mounted within the housing, a first set of contacts being appropriated for Firewire, a second set of contacts being appropriated for USB.