Apple patent involves media players that can determine if they support accessories

Posted by Dennis Sellers Aug 19, 2008 at 9:02am

Your iPhone and iPod may get smarter. An Apple patent (number 7415563) for a method and apparatus for allowing a media player to determine if it supports the capabilities of an accessory has appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office. The invention relates generally to electrical devices and more particularly to electrical devices such as media players that communicate with accessory devices.

A method and system for allowing a media player to determine if it supports the capabilities of an accessory are disclosed. The method and system comprise requesting information about the capabilities of the accessory by the media player and providing information about the capabilities of the accessory by the accessory to the media player. The method and system further include utilizing the information to determine if the capabilities of the accessory are supported by the media player. Accordingly, a method and system in accordance with the present invention provides a system that allows a media player to obtain information from an accessory about the accessory’s capability. A media player can then utilize this information to allow for the maximum functionality of the accessory when connected to the media player.

Here’s Apple’s summary of the invention: “A method and system for allowing a media player to determine if it supports the capabilities an accessory are disclosed. The method and system comprise requesting information about the capabilities of the accessory by the media player and providing information about the capabilities of the accessory by the accessory to the media player. The method and system further include utilizing the information to determine if the capabilities of the accessory are supported by the media player.

“Accordingly, a method and system in accordance with the present invention allow a media player to obtain information from an accessory about the accessory’s capability. A media player can then utilize this information to allow for the maximum functionality of the accessory when connected to the media player.”


The inventors are Paul Holden, Greg Marriott, Donald J. Novotney, John B. Filson and David Tupman. The graphic below illustrates a docking connector in accordance with the present invention.

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