PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8280465-B2
Application Number: US-201113224020-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Wireless adapter for interfacing between an accessory and a device

Abstract:
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&#39;s connector insert and a connector insert to mate with a portable media player&#39;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.

Claims:
1. An adapter for providing a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter comprising:
 a first wireless interface to communicate with the accessory; 
 a second wireless interface to communicate with the portable electronic device; and 
 translation circuitry configured to:
 translate protocols received from the accessory at the first wireless interface to different protocols output to the portable electronic device via the second wireless interface; and 
 translate protocols received from the portable electronic device at the second wireless interface to different protocols output to the accessory via the first wireless interface; and 
 
 authentication circuitry to respond to an authentication query received at the first wireless interface of the adapter, 
 wherein the protocols of the accessory and the portable electronic device are otherwise incompatible. 
 
     
     
       2. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication circuitry is configured to respond to an authentication query received at the first wireless interface from the accessory with a compatibility spoof authentication response. 
     
     
       3. The adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the compatibility spoof authentication response includes a request for a certificate from the accessory. 
     
     
       4. The adapter of  claim 3 , wherein the compatibility spoof authentication response further includes a string to be encrypted. 
     
     
       5. The adapter of  claim 4 , wherein the authentication circuitry is further configured to ignore the certificate from the accessory and the encrypted string received from the accessory. 
     
     
       6. The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the portable electronic device is a portable media player. 
     
     
       7. The adapter of  claim 6  wherein the accessory is one of a docking station, automotive radio, transmitter, cable, radio, or alarm clock. 
     
     
       8. The adapter of  claim 1  further comprising identification circuitry to provide identification information to the accessory. 
     
     
       9. The adapter of  claim 8 , wherein the identification circuitry provides identification information to the accessory on behalf of the portable electronic device, the identification information providing the portable electronic device&#39;s capabilities. 
     
     
       10. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the translation circuitry translates between protocols using a first signaling technology at the connector receptacle and protocols using a second signaling technology at the wireless interface. 
     
     
       11. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the translation circuitry includes a video converter to convert a first video signal using a first technology provided by the portable electronic device to a second video signal using a second technology to the accessory. 
     
     
       12. The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is smaller than the accessory. 
     
     
       13. The adapter of  claim 6 , wherein the protocols are WiFi and Bluetooth. 
     
     
       14. A method of using an adapter to provide signals across a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter including a first wireless interface to communicate with the accessory and a second wireless interface to communicate with the portable electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving first protocols received from the accessory at the first wireless interface; 
 translation circuitry of the adapter translating the first protocols to second protocols, the second protocols being different than the first protocols; 
 outputting the second protocols to the portable electronic device via the second wireless interface; 
 receiving third protocols from the portable electronic device at the second wireless interface; 
 the translation circuitry translating the third protocols to fourth protocols, the fourth protocols different from the third protocols; and 
 authentication circuitry of the adapter responding to an authentication query received at the first wireless interface of the adapter. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  further comprising identification circuitry providing identification information to the accessory. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14  further comprising a video converter converting a first video signal using a first technology provided by the portable electronic device to a second video signal using a second technology to the accessory. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14  further comprising the authentication circuitry responding to an authentication query received at the first wireless interface from the accessory with a compatibility spoof authentication response. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the compatibility spoof authentication response includes a request for a certificate from the accessory. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the compatibility spoof authentication response further includes a string to be encrypted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/239,671; entitled “Adapter,” filed on Sep. 26, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable electronic devices, such as portable media players, have become ubiquitous the past several years. As they have proliferated, so have the number and types of accessories that are designed to interact with these portable media players. These accessories range in complexity, including, for example, simple speaker systems and complex automotive entertainment systems. 
     These accessories commonly communicate with a portable media player using a connector system. This connector system typically includes a connector insert on the accessory and a connector receptacle on the portable media player. A user fits the connector receptacle of the media player over the connector insert on the accessory, thereby forming electrical connections for data and power. 
     Users may have more than one type of media player. For example, a user may have a high-capacity portable media player for home use and a smaller, low-capacity portable media player for use at the gym. 
     For various reasons, these media players may have different sized connectors. For example, the media players may be made by different manufacturers. Also, they may be made by one manufacturer, but a newer media player may have a more advanced, smaller sized connector receptacle. 
     For these reasons, a user may encounter a situation where she has multiple portable media players but one or more of these portable media players are incompatible with one of her accessories. It may be undesirable to acquire more than one such accessory, not only due to cost reasons, but also because of other concerns, such as limited space. It also may be undesirable to forgo use of the incompatible portable media player, particularly when it contains unique content. 
     Thus, what is needed are circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide compatibility among incompatible accessories and portable media players. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide compatibility among incompatible accessories and portable electronic devices. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an adapter having a connector receptacle to mate with a connector insert located on an accessory and a connector insert to mate with a connector receptacle on a portable media player. 
     A connector insert on an accessory may be incompatible with a connector receptacle on a portable media player in at least two ways. First, this incompatibility may be physical; the connector insert of the accessory may not fit the connector receptacle of the portable media player. Second, this incompatibility may be electrical; signals or power received or provided at the connector insert of the accessory may be electrically incompatible with signals or power received or provided at the connector receptacle of the portable media player. 
     Where the incompatibility is physical, an embodiment of the present invention provides an adapter having a connector receptacle to mate with a connector insert on an accessory and a connector insert to mate with a connector receptacle on a portable media player. One or more electrical connections may be made between pins of the connector insert and pins of the connector receptacle on the adapter. Where the incompatibility is electrical, an embodiment of the present invention provides one or more conversion circuits placed in the adapter between pins of the connector insert and pins of the connector receptacle on the adapter. Where the incompatibility is both physical and electrical, both these techniques may be employed by embodiments of the present invention. 
     In some situations, some or all of the signaling and power may be compatible between a portable media player and an accessory. Accordingly, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an adapter having a pass-through connection for compatible signals that need to be shared between the portable media player and accessory. For example, audio line out and video out signals from a portable media player may often be directly provided to an accessory, where the accessory acts as speakers or as a monitor. 
     In other situations, a power supply provided by an accessory may be incompatible with a power supply input on a portable media player. Accordingly, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention 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. 
     In other situations, some or all the signaling may be incompatible between a portable media player and an accessory. That is, the signaling may be incompatible in one or more of several layers, such as a physical, transport, or packet layer. Accordingly, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an adapter that includes translation circuitry that can translate the incompatible signals. This incompatibility may arise because different signaling technologies are used. For example, an accessory may use signaling compliant with a parallel technology, while a media player may use USB2 compliant signaling. In this case, an adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention can include circuitry for translating between the two signaling technologies. 
     Some accessories may include authentication circuitry. This circuitry queries a portable media player for its authentication information. In some circumstances, the portable media player may be from a different manufacturer and may not be able to reply to this authentication query. Accordingly, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an adapter having authentication circuitry that can spoof authentication responses to authentication queries from an accessory. In other embodiments of the present invention, the adapter can provide authentication information to an accessory on its own volition. 
     Some portable media players and accessories may include identification circuitry. This circuitry identifies the portable media player or accessory and lets the other know its capabilities. In some circumstances, a portable media player may not be able to properly identify itself to an accessory. Accordingly, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an adapter having identification circuitry that allows the adapter to provide identification information to the accessory on behalf of the portable media player. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may have one of a number of form factors. Some embodiments of the present invention may be shaped as a unit that resides on top of an accessory. Other embodiments of the present invention may include a cable, for example, where adapter circuitry is included in one end of the cable. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an adapter where one or more of these connector interfaces are replaced with wireless circuitry. In a specific example, the portable media player includes wireless capabilities while an accessory does not. Accordingly, another embodiment of the present invention provides an adapter that can have a connector receptacle to mate with a connector insert located on an accessory or docking station. This adapter can also have a wireless circuit for communicating with the media player. The adapter can translate signals between the accessory and the portable media player. 
     In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the portable media player does not include wireless capabilities while an accessory does. In this case, an adapter can have a connector insert to mate with a connector receptacle located on the portable media player. This adapter can also have a wireless circuit for communicating with the accessory. The adapter can translate signals between the accessory and the portable media player. 
     In another specific embodiment of the present invention, both the portable media player and accessory include wireless capabilities. In this case, an adapter can have wireless circuitry for communicating with the accessory and the portable media player. In various embodiments of the present invention, the portable media player and the accessory can use wireless communications of different wireless technologies. In this case, the adapter can translate wireless signals of a first technology used by the portable media player and wireless signals of a second technology used by the accessory. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic system that is improved by the incorporation of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a pass-through connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an adapter including a DC-to-DC converter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an adapter capable of translating signals according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an adapter that includes authentication and identification circuitry according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an adapter including a video converter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a block diagram of an adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a wireless adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic system that is improved by the incorporation of an embodiment of the present invention. This figure, as with the other figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. 
     This figure illustrates a portable electronic device that may attach to an accessory. In this example, the portable electronic device is a portable media player  110 . This portable media player  110  may be an iPod, iPhone, or similar device designed and manufactured by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. In this example, the portable media player  110  includes a touchscreen  116 . Other portable media players  110  may have other types of input and display devices. 
     In this example, the accessory is a docking station  120 . In other embodiments, the accessory may be an automotive radio, transmitter, cable, radio, alarm clock, or other device. The accessory includes control buttons  124  for controlling the docking station  120 . The docking station  120  further includes a data port  126 , which may be used for communicating with one or more external devices. 
     The portable media player  110  further includes a connector receptacle  112 . The connector receptacle  112  includes a receptacle tongue  114 , which may include pins or contacts (not shown.) The docking station  120  includes a connector insert  122 , which further includes an insert opening  124 . The insert opening  124  may also include contacts or pins (not shown.) When the portable media player  110  is mated with the docking station  120 , the connector insert  122  of the docking station  120  fits into the connector receptacle  112  of the portable media player  110 . 
     Various portable media players  110  may have different shapes and sizes, though the connector receptacles  112  may remain the same. To allow a proper fit of these different shaped portable media players  110 , removable inserts (not shown) may be used to mechanically fit the bottom of the portable media player  110  to a recess (not shown) on the docking station  120 . 
     Aside from this mechanical fitting, there are at least two other types of incompatibility that may arise between a connector insert on an accessory and a receptacle on a portable media player. Again, the connector receptacle may be physically incompatible with the connector insert, that is, they may have incompatible sizes. Also, signals at or needed by a connector receptacle may not be electrically compatible with signals at or needed by a connector insert. 
     A connector insert on an accessory may not be compatible with a connector receptacle on a portable electronic device or portable media player because the connector insert is designed to mate with products made by a first manufacturer, while the portable media player is instead made by a second manufacture. Also, a portable media player manufacturer may change the design of a connector receptacle for some products. For example, a smaller connector may be needed to enable the design of smaller portable media players. 
     Also, a connector insert on an accessory may not be compatible with a connector receptacle on a portable electronic device or portable media player because one or more signals or power supply outputs on either the insert or receptacle are incompatible with inputs on the other end. This may occur at one or more levels of signaling. For example, a physical layer used to transmit and receive signals may be incompatible between the accessory and media player. Specifically, signal voltages and other physical parameters may be different. Also, a transport level, which specifies signal frequency and other parameters, may be different between the devices. The packet structure layer, which defines how commands and data are formatted, and multi-packet logic levels, which define sequences of commands, may also vary among devices. 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide adapters that allow communication between a portable media player and an accessory, wherein a connector receptacle on the portable media player and a connector insert on an accessory are incompatible in one or both of these ways. One example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure includes a portable electronic device that may be connected to an accessory using an adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the portable electronic device is a portable media player  210 . The portable media player  210  includes a screen  216 . The portable media player  210  may include other input controls (not shown.) The portable media player  210  further includes a connector receptacle  212 , which includes a receptacle connector tongue  214 . Contacts or pins may be located on the connector receptacle tongue  214 . The accessory is a docking station  220 . Again, control buttons  226  and a data port  228  are included. The docking station  220  includes a connector insert  222 , which includes an insert opening  122 . 
     In this example, the connector receptacle  212  is not compatible with the connector insert  222 . Again, this incompatibility may be physical or electrical. Accordingly, the adapter  230  is deployed between the portable media player  210  and the docking station  220 . The adapter  230  includes a connector insert  232 , which has an insert opening  234 . The insert opening  234  may include contacts or pins. A connector receptacle (not shown for clarity) on the adapter  230  accepts the connector insert  222 . The connector receptacle  212  on the portable media player  210  accepts the connector insert  232 . In this way, an electrical connection between the docking station  220  and the media player  210  is achieved. 
     Again, a connector insert on an accessory may be physically incompatible with a connector receptacle on a portable media player. However, some or all of the power and signal lines between the two may be compatible. If all power and signal lines are compatible, or if at least those power and signal lines that are needed are compatible, a simple pass-through adapter may be used. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a pass-through connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes an adapter  310  having a receptacle  322  to couple to an accessory, and an insert  330  to couple to a media player. In this example, the insert  330  and receptacle  320  are physically incompatible. However, the receptacle  320  is compatible with a connector insert on an accessory, while the insert  330  is compatible with a receptacle on a media player. Examples of the connector inserts and connector receptacles that may be used can be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/423,490, filed Apr. 25, 2003, titled Media Player System, which is incorporated by reference. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, different types of signals and power may be communicated between an accessory and portable electronic device. For example, data signals, such as USB, Ethernet, serial port, or other signals, may be communicated. Audio signals, such as audio line out signals, may be shared. Video, such as composite video, DisplayPort, Digital Visual Interface (DVI) or other types of video data may be communicated. Other information, such as test or status information, may also be passed between devices. 
     Accordingly, data  340 , power and ground  350 , audio  360 , and video  370 , may pass directly through the adapter  310 . In other embodiments, some signals may not be compatible, but they may also be unneeded. These signals may simply not be passed through the adapter. In one specific example, an audio signal provided by a media player is compatible with an audio signal input on an accessory, while the accessory and portable media player may use different data signaling. If the data lines  340  are not needed, they may be left disconnected by the adapter, while the audio lines  360  can be connected from the insert  330  to the receptacle  320 . 
     In other systems, a power supply provided by an accessory may be incompatible with a power supply input requirement of a portable media player. In such a case, a power supply converter can be used. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an adapter including a DC-to-DC converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes an adapter  410  having a connector receptacle  422  to couple to an accessory and a connector insert  432  to couple to a media player. A first power supply received by the adapter on line  450  is converted to a second power supply and provided on lines  452  to a media player via the insert  430 . 
     Again, adapters according to embodiments of the present invention can compensate for both physical and electrical incompatibilities between an accessory and a portable electronic device such as a portable media player. In some systems, incompatibility may arise in the data signaling used by an accessory and the data signaling used by a portable media player. For example, one or more of the physical, transport, or packet levels discussed above may be different. Accordingly, various embodiment of the present invention provide a data converter that can translate between these two types of data signaling. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an adapter capable of translating signals according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes an adapter  510  having a receptacle  522  to couple to an accessory or docking station and an insert  532  to couple to a portable electronic device, such as a portal media player. In this case, one or more of the data signaling protocol layers used by an accessory is different than the data signaling protocol layers used by a portable media player. Accordingly, a data converter  545  is included in the adapter  510 . 
     Data converter  535  receives data having a first protocol on lines  540  and provides data having the second protocol on lines  542 . Similarly, data converter  545  receives data having the second protocol on lines  542  and provides data having the first protocol on lines  540 . 
     The amount of translation needed may vary. For example, both the accessory and portable electronic device may use the same standard, such as USB3, but they may use different packet structures for commands. In such a situation, only a translation between packet structures is needed. In other situations, the required translation may be more complex. For example, one side may use a standard or proprietary signaling technology such as USB2, while the other uses FireWire, or other such standard or proprietary technology. In this case, the converter  535  acts as a translator between these two standards. In various embodiments of the present invention, this translation, as well as the other electronic translations discussed, may occur partly on either or both the portable media player and the accessory. 
     Some accessories require a portable electronic device to request authorization information. If this information is not requested, operation may cease. If a portable media player is not able to provide an authentication request, it may not be able to be used with an accessory, even if one of the above adapters is available. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may employ authentication-spoofing circuitry. 
     Some accessories can also make use of identification information provided by a portable media player. In this way, the accessory can learn what kinds of signals to expect from or provide to the portable media player. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may also employ identification circuitry. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an adapter that includes authentication and identification circuitry according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes an adapter  610  having a receptacle  622  to couple to an accessory and an insert  632  to couple to a portable media player. An authentication and identification circuit  647  can provide signals on data lines  640 . 
     In one identification and authorization scheme employed by accessories and portable media players, the accessory connects and then, without prompting, provides an identification signal to a portable media player. The portable media player then determines which public key the accessory should have. The portable media player may then send an authorization request where it asks for a digital certificate. The accessory may then send this certification, which is checked by the portable media player. The portable media player may then send a random string to be encrypted by the accessory. The accessory may encrypt this string and send it to the portable media player, which then verifies the encrypted string. If these steps are properly completed, the portable media player begins or continues to communicate with the accessory, otherwise communication may be ceased. Further examples of this can be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/051,499, filed Feb. 3, 2005, titled “Accessory Authentication For Electronic Devices,” which is incorporated by reference. 
     In some systems, the accessory may include circuitry to perform its end of this routine. However, though an adapter may be available, a portable media player may not have the circuitry or software to accomplish its task. Accordingly, the authentication and identification circuit  647  can be used to spoof an authentication response. For example, after connection to an accessory, the authentication and identification circuit  647  may receive an identification signal from the accessory. In various embodiments of the present invention, the authentication and identification circuit  647  may either use or ignore this information. It may then ask for a certificate, ignoring any response from the accessory. It may then provide a string to be encrypted, again ignoring any response from the accessory. The accessory believes it has authenticated itself, and system operation proceeds. In other embodiments of the present invention, other identification and authentication routines may be spoofed by an authentication and identification circuit  647 . In various embodiments of the present invention, some of these identification and authorization tasks may be performed partly by the portable media player or the accessory. 
     In other systems, a video format provided by a portable media player may be different from a video format used by an accessory. In such an example, a video converter may be used. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an adapter including a video converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes an adapter  710  having a receptacle  720  to couple to an accessory and an insert  730  to couple to a portable media player. In this example, video provided on lines  772  is incompatible with video expected by the accessory on lines  770 . Accordingly, a video converter  775  is inserted in the video signal path. This video converter may, for example, convert composite video to component video. In various embodiments of the present invention, some of this video conversion may be performed by the portable media player or the accessory. 
     In some systems, it may be desirable for a portable media player to be remotely located away from an accessory. This may be simply achieved using a cable. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure includes a portable media player  810  and an accessory  820 . In this example, the adapter  830  is connected to a connector insert through a cable  840 . The connector insert  832  fits in a connector receptacle  812 . This allows the portable media player  810  to be remote from the docking station  820 . 
     In some systems, the portable electronic device may not have a connector receptacle. Instead, it may rely on wireless circuitry. In such a situation, it may be desirable to allow the wireless portable media player to communicate with an accessory having a connector insert. An example of such a system is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure includes a wireless portable media player  910  and a docking station  920  having a connector insert  922 . An adapter  930  interfaces between the connector insert  922  and wireless circuitry  919  in the portable media player  910  over wireless path  940 . Specifically, signals received by the adapter at the connector insert  922  are converted to wireless signals by wireless circuit  939  and sent over wireless path  940  to wireless circuit  919  in the portable media player  910 . Similarly, the portable media player  910  can provide signals the wireless circuit  919  over wireless signal path  940  to the wireless circuit  939  and the adapter  930 . The adapter  930  receives signals at the wireless circuit  939  and provides the signal to the docking station  920  via a connector insert  922 . A simplified diagram of the adapter  930  is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. This adapter includes a receptacle  1020  to couple to an accessory and a wireless transceiver and interface  1030  for communicating with a portable media player. Signals received at the receptacle  1020  are converted to wireless signals and provided to a portable media player. Wireless signals received from the portable media player are provided to the accessory using the receptacle  1020 . The adapter  1010  may be powered by power and ground received from the accessory on lines  1050 . 
     In some systems, the portable media player may include a connector receptacle while the accessory may be wireless. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide an adapter having a wireless interface for communicating with an accessory. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure includes a portable media player  1110  and a wireless docking station  1120 . An adapter  1130  interfaces between the portable media player and wireless circuitry  1139  in the accessory  1130  over wireless path  1140 . Specifically, signals received by the adapter from the portable media player are converted to wireless signals by wireless circuit  1139  in the adapter  1130  and sent over wireless path  1140  to wireless circuit  1129  in the accessory  1120 . Similarly, the accessory  1120  can provide signals via wireless circuit  1129  over wireless signal path  1140  to the wireless circuit  1139  in the adapter  1130 . The adapter  1130  receives signals at the wireless circuit  1139  and provides the signal to the portable media player  1110 . A simplified diagram of the adapter  1130  is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a block diagram of an adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes adapter  1210  having a wireless transceiver and interface  1220  for communicating with an accessory and an insert  1230  to couple to a media player. Signals received at the insert  1220  from a portable media player are wirelessly provided to an accessory using the wireless transceiver and interface  1230 . Wireless signals received from an accessory at the wireless transceiver and interface  1230  are provided to the portable media player via the insert  1220 . The adapter  1210  can be powered by power and ground received on lines  1252  from the portable media player. Alternately, the adapter  1210  may include a power supply  1255  that supplies power over power lines  1252  to the portable media player. 
     In other systems, both the accessory and portable media player, or other portable electronic device, may be wireless. However, the wireless signaling used by the accessory and the portable media player may be incompatible. For example, an accessory may use WiFi, while a portable media player may use Bluetooth. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may include translation circuitry for translating between different wireless standard or propriety protocols. An example of such a system is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes a wireless portable media player  1310  having a wireless circuit  1319  and a wireless docking station  1320  including wireless circuitry  1329 . A wireless adapter including wireless circuit  1339  provides a communication path between the portable media player  1312  and docking station  1320 . Again, while the docking station  1320  and portable media player  1310  are both wireless, they may use different wireless technologies or protocols. Accordingly, the adapter  1330  may include translation circuitry for translating between wireless signaling technologies. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a wireless adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example includes an adapter  1410  having a wireless transceiver and interface  1420  for communicating with an accessory and a wireless transceiver and interface  1430  for communicating with a portable media player. Again, the wireless signaling used by the accessory may be different from the wireless signaling used by the portable media player. The difference may be in one or more of the physical, transport, packet, or other levels as described above. For example, an accessory may use WiFi, while a portable media player may use Bluetooth. Accordingly, the data translation circuitry  1445  is included. A battery may power the adapter  1410 , or it may receive power via power connector  1450 . 
     The above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110901
Publication Date: 20121002
Grant Date: 20121002
Priority Date: 20080926
Inventors: DOROGUSKER JESSE
SCHUBERT EMILY C.
GINSBURG DONALD
LYDON GREGORY T.
BOLTON LAWRENCE G.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R31/065", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/065", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R31/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 42057954