USING A PROCESSING DEVICE AS A DOCK FOR A MEDIA PLAYER

• US 20110295393A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lindahl, Aram
• Granted Patent: US 9,213,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

By integrating multiple electronic devices, it is possible to increase the functionality of the devices individually. For example it is possible to improve media playback functionality, create media playlists “on-the-go” and to use a first device power supply to charge the power supply of the second device. By integrating the devices, it is possible to address some of the shortcomings of devices that are decreasing in size with increasing power requirements, while still maintaining the advantages that these devices offer.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device, comprising:

coupling a first electronic device comprising a first power supply, a memory, and an interface to a second electronic device comprising a second power supply and playback circuitry;

controlling the playback circuitry of the second electronic device using the interface of the first electronic device;

powering the interface using the first power supply; and

powering the playback circuitry using the second power supply.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending media metadata from the second electronic device to the first electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending playback instructions from the first electronic device to the second electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising using the playback instructions sent from the first electronic device to the second electronic device to access media stored on a memory of the second electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising editing a media playlist stored in a memory of the second electronic device using the interface of the first electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a new media playlist for media items stored on the second electronic device using the interface of the first electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising charging the second power supply using the first power supply.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the interface with an interface application native to the first device.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending interface application data from the second device to the first device, wherein the application data is related to an interface application stored on the second device; and

controlling the interface of the first device with the interface application data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface is user-customized.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling comprises coupling the first and second electronic devices using a USB cable.

12. An electronic media system comprising:

a first electronic device comprising first memory storage, a first power supply, and playback circuitry configured to playback of media stored in the first memory storage;

a second electronic device comprising second memory storage, second output circuitry, a second power supply, a user interface, and a processor configured to generate media playback commands; and

coupling circuitry configured to couple the first electronic device and the second electronic device, wherein the media playback commands are configured to control the playback circuitry of the first device via the coupling circuitry.

13. The electronic media system of claim 12, wherein the coupling circuitry is configured to couple the first and second electronic devices via a USB connector.

14. The electronic media system of claim 12, wherein the coupling circuitry is configured to couple the first and second electronic devices via a 30-pin connector.

15. The electronic media system of claim 12, wherein the connector circuitry is configured to couple the first and second electronic devices wirelessly.

16. The electronic media system of claim 12, wherein the user interface comprises a visual display, and wherein the processor is configured to generate the media playback commands in response to user inputs received by the user interface.

17. The electronic media system of claim 12, wherein the second power supply and the coupling circuitry are configured to charge the first power supply.

18. The electronic media system of claim 17, wherein the first power supply is configured to simultaneously be charged while providing power to the first processor.

19. Computer readable media configured to control media playback of an electronic device, the computer readable media comprising computer program logic recorded thereon configured to:

instruct a first power supply of a first electronic device to charge a second power supply of a second electronic device;

identify metadata associated with media data stored on the second electronic device;

instruct the second electronic device to send the metadata to the first electronic device;

instruct a processor of the first electronic device to present an interface on the first electronic device that is associated with the metadata; and

send instructions received by the interface related to playback of the media data from the first electronic device to the second electronic device.

20. The computer readable media of claim 19, further comprising additional computer program logic recorded thereon configured to create a media playlist using the interface for controlling the playback of the media data and send the playlist from the first electronic device to the second electronic device.