| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090083834 | ACCESSORY AUTHENTICATION FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - Improved techniques to control utilization of accessory devices with electronic devices are disclosed. The improved techniques can use cryptographic approaches to authenticate electronic devices, namely, electronic devices that interconnect and communicate with one another. One aspect pertains to techniques for authenticating an electronic device, such as an accessory device. Another aspect pertains to provisioning software features (e.g., functions) by or for an electronic device (e.g., a host device). Different electronic devices can, for example, be provisioned differently depending on different degrees or levels of authentication, or depending on manufacturer or product basis. Still another aspect pertains to using an accessory (or adapter) to convert a peripheral device (e.g., USB device) into a host device (e.g., USB host). The improved techniques are particularly well suited for electronic devices, such as media devices, that can receive accessory devices. One example of a media device is a media player, such as a hand-held media player (e.g., music player), that can present (e.g., play) media items (or media assets). | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090189460 | PORTABLE POWER SOURCE TO PROVIDE POWER TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE VIA AN INTERFACE - A portable power source is configured for use with an electronic device. The portable power source cooperates and communicates with the electronic device via a peripheral bus to which the electronic device is attachable. The portable power source includes circuitry to process a power request signal from the electronic device to determine whether a device connected to a bus interface of the portable power source is requesting power from the portable power source. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20100121741 | AUDIO SAMPLING AND ACQUISITION SYSTEM - Techniques for facilitating purchase of media items, such as digital media assets, are disclosed. A computing device, e.g., a portable media device, can save media indicia pertaining to one or media items of interest to a user. The media indicia can thereafter be use to purchase the one or more media items or other products associated therewith. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100327664 | PORTABLE POWER SOURCE TO PROVIDE POWER TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE VIA AN INTERFACE - A portable power source is configured for use with an electronic device. The portable power source cooperates and communicates with the electronic device via a peripheral bus to which the electronic device is attachable. The portable power source includes circuitry to process a power request signal from the electronic device to determine whether a device connected to a bus interface of the portable power source is requesting power from the portable power source. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110085672 | DYNAMIC POWER MANAGEMENT IN A PORTABLE MEDIA DELIVERY SYSTEM - A consumer electronic product (e.g., a portable media player ported to a media delivery accessory) is powered by a limited capacity DC power source (such as a battery or mini-fuel cell). The consumer electronic product limits the maximum allowable sound pressure level (SPL) that can be produced by the speakers. In one embodiment, the maximum allowable SPL is based upon an amount of stored energy available in the limited capacity DC power source. | 04-14-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20110116647 | EQUIPMENT WITH OPTICAL PATHS FOR NOISE CANCELLATION SIGNALS - Electronic devices are provided that communicate over cables and other communications paths that include optical and electrical paths. A cable may include wires for forming an electrical path and one or more optical fibers for forming an optical path. Connectors at one or both ends of the cable may include electrical contacts and an optical coupling structure associated with the optical path. Optical paths may be included in connectors such as tip-ring-sleeve connectors and connectors of other types. Interface circuitry may be included in a connector to convert between optical and electrical signaling schemes. Wavelength-division-multiplexing may be used to support bidirectional communications. Breakout boxes and other equipment may be connected using the cables. Digital signals such as digital noise cancellation signals may be conveyed over the optical paths. Power and other electrical signals may be conveyed over the electrical paths. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110116675 | AUDIO CONNECTORS WITH WAVELENGTH-DIVISION-MULTIPLEXING CAPABILITIES - Electronic devices are provided that communicate over cables and other communications paths that include optical and electrical paths. A cable may include wires for forming an electrical path and one or more optical fibers for forming an optical path. Connectors at one or both ends of the cable may include electrical contacts and an optical coupling structure associated with the optical path. Optical paths may be included in connectors such as tip-ring-sleeve connectors and connectors of other types. Interface circuitry may be included in a connector to convert between optical and electrical signaling schemes. Wavelength-division-multiplexing may be used to support bidirectional communications. Breakout boxes and other equipment may be connected using the cables. Digital signals such as digital noise cancellation signals may be conveyed over the optical paths. Power and other electrical signals may be conveyed over the electrical paths. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110116747 | AUDIO PLUGS WITH OPTICAL AND ELECTRICAL PATHS - Electronic devices are provided that communicate over cables and other communications paths that include optical and electrical paths. A cable may include wires for forming an electrical path and one or more optical fibers for forming an optical path. Connectors at one or both ends of the cable may include electrical contacts and an optical coupling structure associated with the optical path. Optical paths may be included in connectors such as tip-ring-sleeve connectors and connectors of other types. Interface circuitry may be included in a connector to convert between optical and electrical signaling schemes. Wavelength-division-multiplexing may be used to support bidirectional communications. Breakout boxes and other equipment may be connected using the cables. Digital signals such as digital noise cancellation signals may be conveyed over the optical paths. Power and other electrical signals may be conveyed over the electrical paths. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110116750 | AUDIO JACKS WITH OPTICAL AND ELECTRICAL PATHS - Electronic devices are provided that communicate over cables and other communications paths that include optical and electrical paths. A cable may include wires for forming an electrical path and one or more optical fibers for forming an optical path. Connectors at one or both ends of the cable may include electrical contacts and an optical coupling structure associated with the optical path. Optical paths may be included in connectors such as tip-ring-sleeve connectors and connectors of other types. Interface circuitry may be included in a connector to convert between optical and electrical signaling schemes. Wavelength-division-multiplexing may be used to support bidirectional communications. Breakout boxes and other equipment may be connected using the cables. Digital signals such as digital noise cancellation signals may be conveyed over the optical paths. Power and other electrical signals may be conveyed over the electrical paths. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110116751 | INTERFACE ACCESSORIES WITH OPTICAL AND ELECTRICAL PATHS - Electronic devices are provided that communicate over cables and other communications paths that include optical and electrical paths. A cable may include wires for forming an electrical path and one or more optical fibers for forming an optical path. Connectors at one or both ends of the cable may include electrical contacts and an optical coupling structure associated with the optical path. Optical paths may be included in connectors such as tip-ring-sleeve connectors and connectors of other types. Interface circuitry may be included in a connector to convert between optical and electrical signaling schemes. Wavelength-division-multiplexing may be used to support bidirectional communications. Breakout boxes and other equipment may be connected using the cables. Digital signals such as digital noise cancellation signals may be conveyed over the optical paths. Power and other electrical signals may be conveyed over the electrical paths. | 05-19-2011 |