US 2010/0138581 A1 · Universal Docking System

Abstract

A docking system is presented for an ecosystem where multiple media players provide functionality according to the location of corresponding docking stations. The docking stations have locally encoded media player persona information that depends on the location where the docking station is installed. Once a media player is docked with the docking station, the media player obtains the persona information and configures itself to provide the functionality required for the location. The media player can restrict content as necessary based on the obtained persona information. Other features also can be incorporated within the docking station and media player assemblies to provide for proper airflow, isolation from vibration, or installation by unskilled individuals. A preferred ecosystem employing the disclosed techniques includes an aircraft in-flight entertainment system.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A universal docking system, comprising:

a plurality of media player docking stations each configured to receive any one media player from a plurality of swappable media players;
a structure having an interior portion in which the docking stations are installed at a plurality of docking station locations, where at least some of the docking stations are locally encoded with media player persona information that depends on the docking stations' locations;
and
wherein the at least some of the docking stations are configured to transfer the persona information to installed media players, where the persona information instructs the installed media players of their functional role at a receiving docking station's location.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Universal Docking System

Life of this patent

Universal Docking System

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22