Techniques for transferring data between a media player and an accessory having a tuner

• US 7,949,810 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tikalsky, Terry, Lydon, Gregory T., Filson, John B., Novotney, Donald J., Tupman, David, Bolton, Lawrence G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US12/208,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 710300-306, 710104-106, 710 8- 12, 710 36- 38, 710 62- 64, 710/72
• US Class Current: 710/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

A method, system, and connector interface for controlling an accessory. The method includes obtaining, by a portable media player, tuning information from the accessory; and controlling, by the portable media player, the accessory based on the tuning information. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the portable media player and accessory may utilize a plurality of commands utilized in a variety of environments such as within a connector interface system environment to control access to the portable media player.

Claims

1. A method performed by an accessory communicatively coupled with a portable media player, the method comprising:

sending, to the portable media player, capability information indicating that the accessory is capable of performing one or more radio-frequency (RF) tuning functions;

receiving, at a tuner included in the accessory, a plurality of RF signals, wherein the tuner is a terrestrial tuner or a satellite tuner;

converting, via the tuner, the plurality of RF signals into audio data; and

sending the audio data to the portable media player.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, from the portable media player, a request for state information indicating a current state of the tuner; and

sending the state information to the portable media player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessory is powered by the portable media player.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more RF tuning functions include one or more of:

a band function, resolution function, mode function, or control function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable media player is configured to verify that the accessory has been instantiated and authenticated to interoperate with the portable media player prior to receiving the capability information.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the state information includes one or more of:

current band information, current frequency information, current mode information, or current received signal strength (RSSI) information.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the portable media player is configured to present the state information on a display of the portable media player.

8. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

receiving notification from the portable media player when the portable media player transitions between power states.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the power states include a power on state and a sleep state.

10. An accessory for use with a portable media player, the accessory comprising:

a radio-frequency (RF) tuner, the tuner being a terrestrial tuner or a satellite tuner;

an interface adapted to be coupled with a portable media player; and

a control module coupled to the interface, the control module being configured to;

send, to the portable media player, capability information indicating that the accessory is capable of performing one or more RF tuning functions;

receive, at the tuner, a plurality of RF signals;

convert, via the tuner, the plurality of radio signals into audio data; and

send the audio data to the portable media player via the interface.

11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured to:

receive, from the portable media player, a request for state information indicating a current state of the tuner; and

send the state information to the portable media player.

12. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the accessory is powered by the portable media player.

13. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the one or more RF tuning functions include one or more of:

a band function, resolution function, mode function, or control function.

14. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the portable media player is configured to verify that the accessory has been instantiated and authenticated to interoperate with the portable media player prior to receiving the capability information.

15. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the state information includes one or more of:

current band information, current frequency information, current mode information, or current received signal strength (RSSI) information.

16. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the portable media player is configured to present the state information on a display of the portable media player.

17. The accessory of claim 12, wherein the control module is further configured to:

receive notification from the portable media player when the portable media player transitions between power states.

18. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the power states include a power on state and a sleep state.

19. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the interface comprises a connector having a plurality of signal pins, the signal pins being arranged to mate with corresponding signal pins on a mating connector of the portable media player.

20. The accessory of claim 19, wherein the plurality of signal pins includes a pair of serial pins and wherein the audio data is sent via a transmit pin of the pair of serial pins.

21. The accessory of claim 20, wherein the plurality of signal pins further includes:

a ground pin and a power pin adapted such that the ground pin makes contact with a corresponding ground pin in the mating connector of the portable media player before the power pin makes contact with a corresponding power pin in the mating connector of the portable media player;

a USB signal pin;

a USB power pin;

an accessory identify signal pin;

an accessory detect signal pin;

a video output pin;

an accessory power pin; and

a line signal pin.

22. The accessory of claim 19, wherein the connector comprises a keying arrangement, and wherein one set of keys are separated by one length and another set of keys are separated by another length.

23. A method performed by a portable media player communicatively coupled with an accessory, the method comprising:

receiving, from the accessory, capability information indicating that the accessory is capable of performing one or more radio-frequency (RF) tuning functions; and

receiving audio data from the accessory, wherein the audio data is generated by a tuner included in the accessory from a plurality of RF signals received by the tuner, and wherein the tuner is a terrestrial tuner or a satellite tuner.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

sending, to the accessory, a request for state information indicating a current state of the tuner; and

receiving the state information from the accessory.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more RF tuning functions include a band function, resolution function, mode function, and control function.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

verifying that the accessory has been instantiated and authenticated to interoperate with the portable media player prior to receiving the capability information.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the state information includes one or more of:

current band information, current frequency information, current mode information, or current received signal strength (RSSI) information.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

presenting the state information on a display of the portable media player.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the portable media player powers the accessory.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

sending notification to the accessory when the portable media player transitions between power states.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the power states include a power on state and a sleep state.

32. A portable media player comprising:

a storage device configured to store a plurality of media assets;

an interface adapted to be coupled with an accessory; and

a control module coupled to the storage device and the interface, the control module being configured to;

receive, from the accessory, capability information indicating that the accessory is capable of performing one or more radio-frequency (RF) tuning functions; and

receive audio data from the accessory, wherein the audio data is generated by a tuner included in the accessory from a plurality of RF signals received by the tuner, and wherein the tuner is a terrestrial tuner or a satellite tuner.

33. The portable media player of claim 32, wherein the control module is further configured to:

send, to the accessory, a request for state information indicating a current state of the tuner; and

receive the state information from the accessory.

34. The portable media player of claim 32, wherein the portable media player powers the accessory.

35. The portable media player of claim 32, wherein the one or more RF tuning functions include a band function, resolution function, mode function, and control function.

36. The portable media player of claim 32, wherein the control module is further configured to:

verify that the accessory has been instantiated and authenticated to interoperate with the portable media player prior to receiving the capability information.

37. The portable media player of claim 33, wherein the state information includes one or more of:

current band information, current frequency information, current mode information, or current received signal strength (RSSI) information.

38. The portable media player of claim 33, wherein the control module is further configured to:

present the state information on a display of the portable media player.

39. The portable media player of claim 34, wherein the control module is further configured to:

send notification to the accessory when the portable media player transitions between power states.

40. The portable media player of claim 39, wherein the power states include a power on state and a sleep state.

41. The portable media player of claim 32, wherein the interface comprises a connector having a plurality of signal pins, the signal pins being arranged to mate with corresponding signal pins on a mating connector of the accessory.

42. The portable media player of claim 41, wherein the plurality of signal pins includes:

a ground pin and a power pin adapted such that the ground pin makes contact with a corresponding ground pin in the mating connector of the accessory before the power pin makes contact with a corresponding power pin in the mating connector of the accessory;

a USB signal pin;

a USB power pin;

an accessory identify signal pin;

an accessory detect signal pin;

a video output pin;

an accessory power pin; and

a line signal pin.

43. The portable media player of claim 41, wherein the connector comprises a keying arrangement, and wherein one set of keys are separated by one length and another set of keys are separated by another length.