Pushing a graphical user interface to a remote device with display rules provided by the remote device

A portable media device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• an accessory interface coupled to the processor, wherein an accessory and the portable media device are different devices,
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive, from the accessory, via the accessory interface, screen information for defining a display window for displaying a remote graphical user interface on a display of the accessory;
• generate the remote graphical user interface including a number of graphical elements selected to fit within the display window using program code stored on the portable media device;
• and
• send the remote graphical user interface to the accessory,
• wherein the remote graphical user interface replaces at least a portion of a local graphical user interface generated by program code of the accessory when the remote graphical user interface is sent to the accessory, the program code of the accessory being separate and distinct from the program code stored on the portable media device.

An accessory comprising:

• a display;
• a controller;
• program code that when executed by the controller generates a local graphical user interface configured to control operation of the accessory independent of a portable media device;
• and
• a media device interface coupled to the controller,
• wherein the controller in conjunction with the media device interface is configured to:
• send information to the portable media device that includes a specification for a display window to be placed on the display, wherein the accessory and the portable media device are different devices;
• receive a remote graphical user interface including a number of graphical elements based at least in part on the information sent to the portable media device;
• render the display window on the display;
• and
• display the remote graphical user interface within the display window.

A method executed by an accessory, the method comprising:

• displaying a local graphical user interface generated by program code executed by a processor of the accessory;
• receiving a user request for display of a remote graphical user interface in place of the local graphical user interface;
• sending configuration information for the remote graphical user interface to a portable media device, the configuration information including information specifying a size for the graphical user interface and a location of the graphical user interface within a display area of a display of the accessory, wherein the accessory and the portable media device are different devices;
• receiving from the portable media device, the remote graphical user interface, the remote graphical user interface being generated by a processor of the portable media device that is separate and distinct from the accessory and including a number of graphical elements conforming to the configuration information;
• and
• displaying the remote graphical user interface on the display of the accessory at the specified location.

A method carried out by a portable media device, the method comprising:

• receiving an accessory identifier from an accessory, the accessory identifier being stored on the accessory and defining at least a type of display associated the accessory;
• sending to the accessory, a graphical user interface image associated with an input control mechanism of the accessory, the graphical user interface image being stored on the portable media device and associated with the accessory identifier received from the accessory, wherein the accessory and the portable media device are different devices;
• receiving a first command from the accessory in response to a first input provided to the accessory using the input control mechanism in cooperation with the graphical user interface image;
• based on the received information, sending to the accessory, an updated graphical user interface image associated with the input control mechanism;
• and
• receiving a second command from the accessory, the second command being in response to a second input provided to the accessory using the input control mechanism and the updated graphical user interface image,
• wherein the accessory identifier of the accessory is stored separately from the graphical user interface image stored on the portable media device.

An accessory comprising;

• a first graphical user interface configured to control accessory functionality made available by content provided by the accessory and independent of a portable media device;
• a control mechanism associated with the first graphical user interface;
• a display;
• a media device interface;
• and
• a controller coupled with the control mechanism, the display, and the media device interface, wherein the controller is configured to:
• send a request to the portable media device for a second graphical user interface in accordance with a user input received at the first graphical user interface,
• receive a second graphical user interface from the portable media device, the second graphical user interface being associated with the control mechanism and configured to control accessory functionality made available by content provided by the portable media device, wherein the accessory and the portable media device are different devices;
• receive an input via the control mechanism;
• send a command to the portable media device in response to the input;
• and
• receive an update to the second graphical user interface from the portable media device in response to the command, the updated second graphical user interface being associated with the control mechanism.

A portable media device comprising;

• a processor;
• and
• an accessory interface coupled with the processor,
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive information from an accessory indicating receipt of a user input at a local graphical user interface of the accessory requesting a remote graphical user interface conforming with one or more parameters, the local graphical user interface being provided by the accessory independent of the portable media device;
• and
• send the remote graphical user interface conforming with the one or more parameters to the accessory, wherein the accessory and the portable media device are different devices and the remote graphical user interface sent to the accessory is different than a native graphical user interface of the portable media device.