Context aware functionality in an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9495307-B2
Application number	US-201314020777-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2013
Priority date	Sep 7, 2012
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A method for operating a portable electronic device includes receiving an identifier associated with an accessory connected to the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device then determines a set of actions to be performed for that accessory based on the received identifier. The portable electronic device then performs the determined actions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating an electronic device comprising:
receiving, by the electronic device, identification information that includes a serial number that uniquely identifies an accessory connected to the electronic device and further identifies a category of the accessory;
determining that the electronic device has been configured to perform a first set of actions based on the serial number;
performing the first set of actions;
determining, from the received identification information, that the electronic device has been configured to perform a second set of actions based on the category of the accessory; and
performing those actions in the second set of actions that are not overridden by any action in the first set of actions, wherein at least one action in the second set of actions is not included in the first set of actions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the first set of actions comprises comparing the serial number to a list of serial numbers stored in the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the first set of actions comprises comparing the serial number to a list of serial numbers stored external to the portable electronic device to determine one or more actions associated with the identification information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification information is stored in memory disposed in a connector associated with the accessory.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first set of actions or the second set of actions includes setting a setting on the accessory and the step of performing at least one of the first set of actions or second set of actions includes formulating and sending a command to the accessory to set the setting.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first set of actions or the second set of actions includes setting a setting on the portable electronic device.

7. A portable electronic device comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
an accessory communication interface coupled to the processor, wherein the processor in conjunction with the accessory communication interface is configured to:
receive identification information that includes a serial number that uniquely identifies an accessory connected to the portable electronic device and further identifies a category of the accessory;
determine that the electronic device has been configured to perform a first set of actions based on the serial number;
perform the first set of actions;
determine, from the received identification information, that the electronic device has been configured to perform a second set of actions based on the category of the accessory; and
perform those actions in the second set of actions that are not overridden by any action in the first set of actions wherein at least one action in the second set of actions is not included in the first set of actions.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein the accessory communication interface includes a first connector configured to mate with a corresponding second connector of the accessory; and
wherein the first connector is further configured to receive the identification information stored in the second connector.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein the processor is further configured to access a list to determine at least one of the first set of actions or second set of actions, and wherein the list stores association information between the identification information and one or more actions performable by the portable electronic device.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein the first set of actions includes one or more actions associated with one or more capabilities supported by the portable electronic device.

11. The method of operating an electronic device set forth in claim 1 further comprising:
if the electronic device has not been configured to perform a first set of actions based on the serial number, displaying a configuration menu on the electronic device that enables a user to identify one or more actions to be associated with the accessory and performed when the accessory is subsequently connected to the electronic device;
receiving, by the electronic device, a selection of one or more actions from the one or more actions;
generating, by the electronic device, association information between the serial number and the one or more actions; and
storing the association information in a computer-readable memory within the electronic device.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 7 wherein the processor in conjunction with the accessory communication interface is configured to:
if the portable electronic device has not been configured to perform a first set of actions based on the serial number, display a configuration menu on the portable electronic device that enables a user to identify one or more actions to be associated with the accessory and performed when the accessory is subsequently connected to the electronic device;
receive a selection of one or more actions from the configuration menu;
generate association information between the serial number and the one or more actions; and
store the association information in a computer-readable memory within the electronic device.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Zadesky Stephen
• Rothkopf Fletcher
• Lynch Brian

Classifications

• G06F13/122 Primary

  where hardware performs an I/O function other than control of data transfer · CPC title

• G06F13/385

  for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices · CPC title