| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090091422 | DEVICE IDENTIFICATION VIA SERIAL COMMUNICATION LINK - Systems and methods are provided that enable identification of an accessory device or other peripheral device via a serial communication link. An electronic device (e.g., a media player or portable media device) may identify an accessory device using a serial communication link when the accessory device is attached or coupled to the electronic device. Based on serial communications, for example, the electronic device may discover and identify an accessory device to determine whether one or more preferences or functionalities should be set or enabled. The electronic device may also discover whether an accessory device or its manufacturer, distributor, or retailer is authorized or licensed to enable certain functionalities or set certain preferences when connect to the electronic device. Therefore, aspects of a serial communication link that may already exist in many electronic devices for data communication usage may be repurposed to provide identification or authorization of accessories or other peripheral devices. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090182535 | ACCESSORY VALIDATION SYSTEM - Circuits, methods, and apparatus for testing media player accessories. One example includes an accessory validation system including hardware, firmware, and software. This example provides two test modes, referred to a sniff mode and an emulation mode. In the sniff mode, a test box may be inserted between an accessory and a media player. Traffic between the accessory and media player may be monitored and the presence of errors may be determined. In the emulation mode, the accessory validation system hardware emulates a media player. The emulator provides various types of responses to the accessory that would otherwise occur infrequently with an actual media player. The tests to be completed in these modes are compiled based on the category of functions that an accessory maker wishes to claim for the accessory. These category claims are then converted into a number of rules. From these rules, specific tests are generated. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090203316 | METHOD FOR USING BLUETOOTH MODULE TO PROCESS NON-BLUETOOTH SIGNALS - An electronic device having a communications module with a first set of data rates can be enabled to use the communications module to process signals received from a source that uses a second set of data rates. The device may generate packets, frames, etc. at the first set of data rates using the communications module from the signals received from the remote source by sampling signals at one or more of the first set of data rates. The device may then reconstruct data or payloads originally transmitted in the signals at the second set of data rates from the packets generated at the first set of data rates. Thus, the device can process signals or transmissions at the second set of data rates using the first set of data rates without requiring additional receivers or communications modules to process the signals. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090221404 | INTERFACING PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICES AND SPORTS EQUIPMENT - Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow sports or other equipment, such as gym or other cardio equipment, to write data to a media player. Examples further provide the uploading of this data to a computer and third-party website. To monitor progress, the third-party website can be used to track workout data over time. The third party-website can also collect data from other users, which is particularly useful for providing a competitive environment. This data can then be graphically displayed in various ways to provide encouragement. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090299506 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING STATUS INFORMATION BETWEEN A MEDIA PLAYER AND AN ACCESSORY - A method, system, and connector interface for transferring status information between a media player and an accessory. The method includes determining, by the accessory, when a button event occurs; and transmitting, by the accessory, at least one button status command to the media player, where the one or more button status commands comprise a context-specific button status command and at least one command associated with a particular media type. According to the method and system disclosed herein, the media player and accessory may utilize a plurality of commands in a variety of environments such as within a connector interface system environment to facilitate the transfer of status information. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100081337 | ADAPTER - Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide compatibility among incompatible accessories and portable media players. One example provides an adapter having a connector receptacle to mate with an accessory's connector insert and a connector insert to mate with a portable media player's connector receptacle. Another example provides an adapter having a direct connection between pins on the connector insert and pins on the connector receptacle that are used for compatible signals. Another example provides an adapter including a DC-to-DC converter that receives a first power supply from an accessory and provides a second power supply to a portable media player. Another translates signals using different signaling technologies. Authentication and identification circuitry may also be included. Other examples may employ wireless technologies instead of either or both the connector insert and connector receptacle. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20110320655 | Adapter for physically interfacing between an accessory and a device - Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide compatibility among incompatible accessories and portable media players. One example provides an adapter having a connector receptacle to mate with an accessory's connector insert and a connector insert to mate with a portable media player's connector receptacle. Another example provides an adapter having a direct connection between pins on the connector insert and pins on the connector receptacle that are used for compatible signals. Another example provides an adapter including a DC-to-DC converter that receives a first power supply from an accessory and provides a second power supply to a portable media player. Another translates signals using different signaling technologies. Authentication and identification circuitry may also be included. Other examples may employ wireless technologies instead of either or both the connector insert and connector receptacle. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120028583 | Wireless adapter for interfacing between an accessory and a device - Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide compatibility among incompatible accessories and portable media players. One example provides an adapter having a connector receptacle to mate with an accessory's connector insert and a connector insert to mate with a portable media player's connector receptacle. Another example provides an adapter having a direct connection between pins on the connector insert and pins on the connector receptacle that are used for compatible signals. Another example provides an adapter including a DC-to-DC converter that receives a first power supply from an accessory and provides a second power supply to a portable media player. Another translates signals using different signaling technologies. Authentication and identification circuitry may also be included. Other examples may employ wireless technologies instead of either or both the connector insert and connector receptacle. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120028761 | INTERFACING PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICES AND SPORTS EQUIPMENT - Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow sports or other equipment, such as gym or other cardio equipment, to write data to a media player. Examples further provide the uploading of this data to a computer and third-party website. To monitor progress, the third-party website can be used to track workout data over time. The third party-website can also collect data from other users, which is particularly useful for providing a competitive environment. This data can then be graphically displayed in various ways to provide encouragement. | 02-02-2012 |
