Communication between an accessory and a media player using an extended interface lingo
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsEmily Clark Schubert, Wang Chun Leung, Gregory T. Lydon, Scott Krueger, Paul Phillip Holden, John Archibald, Lawrence G. Bolton, Donald J. Novotney, John Benjamin Filson, David Tupman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo.
Claims23
A method of operating an accessory, the method comprising:
- establishing, by the accessory, a communication link to a media player using a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo and an extended interface lingo, the extended interface lingo comprising at least one database command and at least one playback command;
- communicating, by the accessory, with the media player using one or more of the database commands of the extended interface lingo to access database information from a media content database of the media player;
- and
- communicating, by the accessory, with the media player using one or more of the playback commands of the extended interface lingo to allow the accessory to control a play state of the media player.
An accessory comprising:
- a display;
- an interface capable of communicating with a media player in accordance with a media player accessory protocol, the media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo and an extended interface lingo, the extended interface lingo comprising at least one database command and at least one playback command;
- wherein one or more of the database commands of the extended interface lingo is operative to access database information from a media content database of the media player,
- wherein one or more of the playback commands of the extended interface lingo is operative to allow the accessory to control a play state of the media player, and
- wherein the accessory is configured to present on the display a user interface comprising at least some of the database information.
A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium encoded with program instructions that, when executed by a processor in an accessory, cause the processor to:
- establish, by the accessory, a communication link to a media player using a media player accessory protocol comprising a general lingo and an extended interface lingo, the extended interface lingo comprising at least one database command and at least one playback command;
- communicate with the media player using one or more of the database commands of the extended interface lingo to allow the accessory to access database information from a media content database of the media player;
- and
- communicate with the media player using one or more of the playback commands of the extended interface lingo to allow the accessory to control a play state of the media player.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.