(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2003/0171834 A1
`Silvester
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Sep. 11, 2003
`
`US 20030171834A1
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONNECTING A PORTABLE MEDIA
`PLAYER WIRELESSLY TO AN
`AUTOMOBILE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
`
`(52) US. Cl. ............................... .. 700/94; 381/58; 381/77
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(76) Inventor: Kelan C. Silvester, Portland, OR (US)
`
`Embodiments of the invention provides a method compris
`ing disabling audio playback through a loudspeaker unit of
`corresponqence Address:
`a ?rst media player; establishing a Wireless link With a
`John Patrlck Ward
`BLAKELY’ SOKOLOFF’ TAYLOR 8‘ ZAFMAN second media player using said ?rst media player; and
`LLP
`transmitting a signal via said Wireless link to said second
`i‘zezgg?vlv?l‘il‘ir B l
`media, said signal including an audio signal associated With
`a medium currently bemg played in said ?rst media player.
`Embodiments of the invention also provides the method
`comprising establishing a Wireless link With a second media
`player using a ?rst media player; receiving a signal from said
`second media; said signal including an audio signal associ
`ated With a medium currently being played in said second
`media player; and converting said signal into sound Which is
`played via a loudspeaker associated With the ?rst media
`player.
`
`1 s ire 0u evar
`
`d
`
`L05 Angeles’ CA 90025-1026 (Us)
`(21) Ap p1 N O _
`10 /09 4 220
`'
`"
`’
`(22) Filed;
`Man 7, 2002
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ......................... .. G06F 17/00; H04R 29/00
`
`-
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`200
`
`202
`
`218
`
`204
`
`208
`
`Loudspeakers
`
`7 CD Player
`
`Encryption Unit
`
`2 0
`
`‘
`Y
`
`206
`—
`bl
`t d'
`L '
`loglg o '?a e < 7 Controller
`cu spea ers
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`7
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`‘
`
`212
`
`.
`.
`Compression Umt
`
`Memo
`W
`
`device
`‘D
`
`capability
`“St
`
`7
`
`command
`
`protocol
`
`A
`
`‘y
`
`214
`
`216
`
`Tx
`
`Rx
`
`Wireless communications
`interface
`
`I
`
`I
`
`Antennae Complex
`
`Media Player
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
`
`Page 1
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 11, 2003 Sheet 1 0f 8
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`US 2003/0171834 A1
`
`124
`
`Prompt Generatron and
`Playback Unit
`
`t
`
`Mlcrophone
`
`120 ‘
`
`Signal Convener
`\
`
`128
`
`1 16
`
`Loudspeakers
`
`100
`
`113
`
`/ 126
`
`Decoder
`“
`
`110
`
`CD Player
`
`;
`
`V
`
`V
`
`V|cleo dlsplay
`
`22- 4*J
`;
`Tuner
`
`30
`
`1 12
`
`14
`
`/
`
`Cassette
`Player
`
`132
`
`/
`
`Antennae complex
`
`Controller
`
`M
`
`v
`
`Tx
`
`Flx
`
`Wrreless Coummunications
`Interface
`
`1
`
`Figure 1
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
`
`Page 2
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 11, 2003 Sheet 2 0f 8
`
`US 2003/0171834 A1
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`200
`
`204
`203
`Loudspeakers / /
`Encryption Unit
`
`CD Player
`
`202
`
`213
`
`i f0
`
`i
`
`206
`—
`bl
`t d'
`L '
`Ogle o Isa e <—> Controller 4
`loudspeakers
`
`Memo
`
`W
`
`Capability
`“St
`
`>
`
`device
`‘D
`
`command
`protocol
`
`212
`
`214
`
`Compression Unit
`
`_
`
`_
`
`216
`
`Tx
`
`Rx
`
`Wireless communications
`interface
`
`I
`
`I
`
`Antennae Complex
`
`Media Player
`
`Figure 2
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
`
`Page 3
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 11, 2003 Sheet 3 0f 8
`
`US 2003/0171834 A1
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`detect presence of media players
`
`l
`
`generate prompt for user to select media
`player with which to communicate
`
`300
`
`302
`
`s04
`7
`play prompt /
`
`306
`v
`receive user‘s input /
`
`l
`
`308
`
`establish connection with user selected /
`media player
`
`¢
`
`310
`
`receive information on the capabilty of the media /
`player and its command set
`
`l
`
`display command options for media / 312
`player
`
`314
`receive user input command /
`
`316
`transmit command to media player /
`using media player protocol
`
`Figure 3
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
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`Page 4
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 11, 2003 Sheet 4 0f 8
`
`US 2003/0171834 A1
`
`e S @
`eti l
`mm m
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`awn e t 8 n
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`>> W|reless connection to Sony DVD Video Entertainment System
`e a m ~‘m w
`Y. e t u p m. 0 C k 0 o b e t N0
`n
`
`“*“?e
`
`Insert CD here
`
`Figure 4
`
`@ @
`
`A.
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
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`Page 5
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 11, 2003 Sheet 5 0f 8
`
`US 2003/0171834 A1
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`Command
`Play
`Stop
`Rewind
`Pause
`Fast Forward
`Mute
`Rewind (2x)
`Rewind (8x)
`Fast Forward (2x)
`Fast Forward (8x)
`Return to start
`Previous track
`Next track
`Dial
`
`500 /
`
`Value
`01 h
`02h
`03h
`04h
`05h
`06h
`13h
`23h
`15h
`25h
`07h
`08h
`09h
`0Ah
`
`Figure 5
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
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`Page 6
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`

`
`Patent Application Publication Sep. 11, 2003 Sheet 6 0f 8
`
`US 2003/0171834 A1
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`disable audio playback through / 600
`loudspeaker
`
`l
`
`establish wireless link with car / 602
`entertainment system
`
`i
`
`604
`transmit command set to car /
`entertainment system
`
`i
`
`606
`transmit playback information to car
`entertainment system eg. album title amd f
`somg titles
`
`l
`
`608
`receive control signal from car /
`entertainment system
`
`610
`alter state based on control signal /
`
`Figure 6
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
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`Page 7
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 11, 2003 Sheet 7 0f 8
`
`US 2003/0171834 A1
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`700
`
`702
`
`compress and
`encrypt playback
`signal
`
`l
`
`transmit playback
`signal
`
`Figure 7
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
`
`Page 8
`
`

`
`Patent Application Publication Sep. 11, 2003 Sheet 8 0f 8
`
`US 2003/0171834 A1
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`receive playback signal
`
`800
`
`decompress and decode playback
`signal
`
`/ 802
`
`i
`l
`i
`
`display playback information eg.
`title and track length
`
`play playback signal through
`loudspeakers
`
`808
`
`user input
`detected?
`
`alter state of car entertainment
`system or media player based on
`input
`
`810
`
`Figure 8
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
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`Page 9
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`

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`US 2003/0171834 A1
`
`Sep. 11, 2003
`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING A
`PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER WIRELESSLY TO AN
`AUTOMOBILE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] This invention relates to entertainment. In particu
`lar in relates to portable entertainment devices and to
`automobile entertainment systems.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0002] There are many portable entertainment devices on
`the market today. These include MPEG (MP3) players,
`portable radios, cassette players, and compact disc (CD), and
`Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) players. Even notebook com
`puters today can be regarded as portable entertainment
`devices in that many include CD and DVD players. These
`portable entertainment devices are often used in an automo
`bile equipped With a high quality entertainment system
`capable of playing high quality audio in a variety of formats,
`such as Dolby Digital 5.1. HoWever, there is no Way to take
`advantage of the superior audio qualities of such an auto
`mobile entertainment system While playing a medium on a
`portable entertainment device in the automobile.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0003] FIG. 1 shoWs a block diagram of an automobile
`entertainment system in accordance With one embodiment of
`the invention;
`[0004] FIG. 2 shoWs a block diagram of a media player in
`accordance With one embodiment of the invention;
`
`[0005] FIG. 3 shoWs a How chart of operations performed
`by the automobile entertainment system of FIG. 1;
`
`[0006] FIG. 4 shoWs a block diagram of a display unit of
`the automobile entertainment system of FIG. 1;
`
`[0007] FIG. 5 shoWs an eXample of the command set for
`the portable media player of FIG. 2;
`[0008] FIG. 6 shoWs a How chart of operations performed
`by the media player of FIG. 2;
`[0009] FIG. 7 shoWs a How chart of operations performed
`by the media player of FIG. 2 When in a playback state; and
`
`[0010] FIG. 8 shoWs a How chart of operations performed
`by the automobile entertainment system of FIG. 1 When in
`a playback state.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0011] A method and apparatus for connecting a portable
`media player Wirelessly to an automobile entertainment
`system is described. In the folloWing description, for pur
`poses of explanation, numerous speci?c details are set forth
`in order to provide a thorough understanding of the inven
`tion. It Will be apparent, hoWever, to one skilled in the art
`that the invention can be practiced Without these speci?c
`details. In other instances, structures and devices are shoWn
`in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the
`invention.
`
`[0012] Reference in this speci?cation to “one embodi
`ment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature,
`structure, or characteristic described in connection With the
`embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
`
`invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodi
`ment” in various places in the speci?cation are not neces
`sarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate
`or alternative embodiments mutually eXclusive of other
`embodiments. Moreover, various features are described
`Which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by
`others. Similarly, various requirements are described Which
`may be requirements for some embodiments but not other
`embodiments.
`
`[0013] According to one embodiment, the invention pro
`vides a method comprising disabling audio playback
`through a loudspeaker unit of a ?rst media player; estab
`lishing a Wireless link With a second media player using said
`?rst media player; and transmitting a signal via said Wireless
`link to said second media player, said signal including an
`audio signal associated With a medium currently being
`played in said ?rst media player.
`
`[0014] According to another embodiment, the invention
`provides a method comprising establishing a Wireless link
`With a second media player using a ?rst media player;
`receiving a signal from said second media player; said signal
`including an audio signal associated With a medium cur
`rently being played in said second media player; and con
`verting said signal into sound Which is played via a loud
`speaker associated With said ?rst media player.
`
`[0015] According to a further embodiment of the inven
`tion, there is provided a portable media player comprising a
`disabling mechanism to disable audio playback through a
`loudspeaker unit of said portable media player; and a
`Wireless communications interface to transmit a signal to a
`second media player, said signal including an audio signal
`associated With a medium in said portable media player.
`
`[0016] According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
`there is provided apparatus comprising a Wireless commu
`nications interface to establish a Wireless communications
`link With a portable media player; a receiving mechanism to
`receive a signal from said media player, said signal including
`an audio signal associated With a medium currently being
`played in said media player; and a conversion mechanism
`for converting said signal into sound Which is played via a
`loudspeaker associated With said apparatus.
`
`[0017] Referring to FIG. 1 of the draWings, a system
`according to one embodiment of the invention in the form of
`the automobile entertainment system is indicated generally
`by reference numeral 100. FIG. 1 is a block diagram and
`includes only those components necessary to describe the
`present invention. Components of system 100 not necessary
`for purposes of describing the present invention have been
`omitted so as to not to obscure the present invention.
`HoWever, these components Will necessarily be understood
`by a person of ordinary skill in the art to form part of system
`100.
`
`[0018] The components of system 100 shoWn in FIG. 1
`include a compact disc (CD) player 110, a tuner 112, a
`cassette player 114, a set of loudspeakers 116, a video
`display 118, and a microphone 120. Each of these compo
`nents are connected to a controller 122 Which controls
`operation of the various components. The system 100 further
`includes a prompt generation and playback unit 124, a
`decoder 126, a signal converter 128 and a Wireless commu
`nications interface 130, all of Which are coupled to controller
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
`
`Page 10
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`

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`US 2003/0171834 A1
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`Sep. 11, 2003
`
`122. Further, an antenna complex 132 is coupled to wireless
`communications interface 130. Wireless communications
`interface 130 may support wireless standards known as
`BluetoothTM and IEEE 802.11. The operation of system 100
`will be described in greater detail below.
`
`[0019] Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a portable
`media player in accordance with one embodiment of the
`invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 200.
`As with FIG. 1, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing only
`those components necessary to describe the media player
`200. Thus, components necessarily forming part of media
`player 200 but not necessary to describe the inventive
`aspects of media player 200 have not been shown so as to
`avoid obscuring the inventive aspects of media player 200.
`However, one skilled in the art will necessarily understand
`that these components form part of media player 200. As
`shown, media player 200 includes a CD player 202 and
`loudspeakers 204 each of which are connected to a control
`ler 206. Other components of media player 200 include an
`encryption unit 208, logic 210 to disable loudspeakers 204,
`a compression unit 212, a wireless communications inter
`face 214 connected to an antenna complex 216, and a
`memory 218. The operation of media 200 will be described
`in greater detail below.
`
`[0020] Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a ?ow
`chart of operations performed by system 100 in accordance
`with one embodiment of the invention is shown. Starting at
`block 300, system 100 detects the presence of media players
`within its immediate vicinity. This is achieved by continu
`ously polling for a wireless communications signal in the
`form of an IEEE 802.11 signal or a BluetoothTM signal from
`a media player within the immediate vicinity of system 100.
`If a media player has been detected, at 302 system 100
`generates a prompt to prompt a user to select the media
`player with which to communicate. In some embodiments
`the prompt may be a visual prompt. In other embodiments
`the prompt may be an audio prompt. At block 304 the
`prompt is played. FIG. 4 of the drawings shows an example
`of a visual prompt which is displayed on an LCD screen 400
`associated with system 100. The visual prompt shown in
`FIG. 4 offers a user choices between devices including a
`DVD system, a notebook computer and a cellular telephone
`with which system 100 can communicate. At block 306,
`system 100 receives the user’s input regarding with which
`portable media player or device communications is to be
`established. Typically, a user will make the selection via
`buttons on a faceplate associated with entertainment system
`100. However, in the case of the prompt being an audio
`prompt then a user’s selection will be in the form of a voice
`command which will be deciphered by system 100 using
`standard voice recognition algorithms. To facilitate discus
`sion, it is assumed that media player 200 has been selected.
`At block 306, system 100 establishes a communications link
`with media player 200. At block 310, system 100 receives
`information on the functionality or capabilities of the media
`player 200 and a command set of media player 200. The
`command set includes simple protocol standards for device
`control de?ned so as to allow system 100 to control playback
`of media player 200. FIG. 5 of the drawings shows an
`example of a simple protocol 500 which can be used by
`system 100 to control playback media player 200.
`
`[0021] Referring to FIG. 5 it will be seen that commands
`such as play, stop, rewind, etc. have been assigned a hexa
`
`decimal value. Thus, transmission of the hexadecimal value
`for a particular command from system 100 to portable media
`player 200 will cause the portable media player to perform
`the command associated with the hexadecimal value. Thus,
`essentially block 310 involves communicating the command
`set and its associated hexadecimal values for portable media
`player 200 to system 100. In response system 100, at block
`312, displays the command options available for media
`player 200. For example, these commands will include play,
`stop, rewind, pause, fast-forward, etc. At block 314 system
`100 receives a user-input command which may, for example,
`be a “play” command. In response, at block 316, system 100
`transmits the value associated with the user-input command,
`for example the “01h” which corresponds to the “play”
`command to media player 200, thus causing the media
`player 200 to change its state to a playback state.
`
`[0022] Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a ?ow chart of
`the operations performed by media player 200 in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention is shown.
`Starting at block 600, media player 200 disables audio
`playback through loudspeakers 204. At block 602, media
`player 200 establishes a wireless link with system 100. At
`block 604 media player 200 transmits its command set to
`system 100. An example of command set is shown in FIG.
`5 of the drawings. At block 606, media player 200 transmits
`playback information to system 100. For example, this
`information could include an album title and song titles
`associated with a CD currently in media player 200. At block
`606 media player 200 receives a control signal from system
`100. The control signal may be a command to cause media
`player 200 to alter its state at block 610 based on the control
`signal. For example, media player 200 could have been in a
`stop state and in response to receiving the value “01h” from
`system 100, media player 200 will alter its state to move to
`a playback state.
`
`[0023] FIG. 7 of the drawings shows a ?owchart of
`operations performed by media player 200 when in a play
`back state. Starting at block 700, media player 200 com
`presses and encrypts a playback signal and transmits this
`playback signal at block 702 to system 100. Compression of
`the playback signal allows more information to be transmit
`ted from media player 200 to system 100 for a given
`bandwidth. This is advantageous when transmitting a sig
`ni?cant amount of information. For example, in the case of
`a video signal being transmitted from a portable DVD
`player. Encrypting the playback signal enhances privacy in
`that the signal cannot be picked up and played by an
`extraneous system which could be for example, in an
`adjacent automobile.
`
`[0024] FIG. 8 of the drawings shows a sequence of
`operations performed by system 100 in accordance with
`another embodiment of the invention. Starting at block 800,
`system 100 receives the encrypted and compressed playback
`signal from media player 200. At block 802, system 100
`decompresses and decodes the playback signal. This is done
`by decoder 126 of system 100. At block 804 system, 100
`displays the playback information associated with the media
`currently in media player 200. For example, in the case of a
`compact disc, this information would include the title and
`track length of each track in the compact disc. At block 806,
`system 100 plays back the playback signal through loud
`speakers 116. This is achieved by converting the signal in
`signal converter 128 into an audio signal. At 808, system 100
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
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`Page 11
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`Sep. 11, 2003
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`detects if a user has entered an input. If no user input is
`detected, system 100 repeats block 800. If user input has
`been detected then at block 810 system 100 alters its state or
`the state of media player 200 in response. For example, if the
`input is to pause playback, then system 100 Will transmit the
`value “04h” to media player 200 to cause media player 200
`to move to a pause state. Alternatively, system 100 may shut
`doWn if the input is to turn off system 100.
`
`[0025] One advantage of the present invention is that it
`alloWs a user to operate a portable media player such as a
`compact disc player, a notebook computer, a MP3 player, a
`portable radio, a cassette player, etc. Within an automobile to
`take advantage of the superior quality audio of an entertain
`ment system in the automobile.
`[0026] It Will be apparent from this description the aspects
`of the present invention may be embodied, at least partly, in
`softWare. In other embodiments, hardWare circuitry may be
`used in combination With softWare instructions to implement
`the present invention. Thus, the techniques are not limited to
`any speci?c combination of hardWare circuitry and softWare.
`[0027] Although the present invention has been described
`With reference to speci?c eXemplary embodiments, it Will be
`evident that the various modi?cation and changes can be
`made to these embodiments Without departing from the
`broader spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.
`Accordingly, the speci?cation and draWings are to be
`regarded in an illustrative sense rather than in a restrictive
`sense.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method comprising:
`
`disabling audio playback through a loudspeaker unit of a
`?rst media player;
`
`establishing a Wireless link With a second media player
`using said ?rst media player; and
`
`transmitting a signal via said Wireless link to said second
`media player, said signal including an audio signal
`associated With a medium currently being played in
`said ?rst media player.
`2. The method of claim 1, Wherein said Wireless link
`complies With a communication standard selected from the
`group comprising a standard knoWn as BluetoothTM, and a
`standard knoWn as IEEE 802.11.
`3. The method of claim 1, Wherein said signal comprises
`a video signal.
`4. The method of claim 3, further comprising compressing
`said signal before transmission.
`5. The method of claim 4, further comprising encrypting
`said signal before transmission.
`6. The method of claim 1, Wherein said signal comprises
`information identifying components of said signal.
`7. The method of claim 1, Wherein said second media
`player is an entertainment system of an automobile.
`8. A method comprising:
`
`establishing a Wireless link With a second media player
`using a ?rst media player;
`receiving a signal from said second media player, said
`signal including an audio signal associated With a
`medium currently being played in said second media
`player; and
`
`converting said signal into sound Which is played via a
`loudspeaker associated With said ?rst media player.
`9. The method of claim 8, Wherein establishing a Wireless
`link comprises detecting a presence of one or more second
`media players and prompting a user to select said or one of
`said second media players With Which to establish said
`Wireless link.
`10. The method of claim 9, Wherein prompting a user
`comprises playing a prompt message and receiving said
`user’s input in response.
`11. The method of claim 9, Wherein said prompt message
`is an audio prompt message played through said loud
`speaker.
`12. The method of claim 9, Wherein said prompt message
`is a visual prompt message played through a visual display
`associated With said ?rst media player.
`13. A portable media player comprising:
`a disabling mechanism to disable audio playback through
`a loudspeaker unit of said portable media player; and
`
`a Wireless communications interface to transmit a signal
`to a second media player, said signal including an audio
`signal associated With a medium in said portable media
`player.
`14. The portable media player of claim 13, Wherein said
`Wireless communications interface supports a standard
`selected from the group comprising a standard knoWn as
`BluetoothTM; and a standard knoWn as IEEE 802.11.
`15. The portable media player of claim 13, further com
`prising a compression mechanism to compress said signal
`before transmission.
`16. The portable media player of claim 12, further com
`prising an encryption mechanism to encrypt said signal
`before transmission.
`17. Apparatus comprising:
`
`a Wireless communications interface to establish a Wire
`less communications link With a portable media player;
`
`a receiving mechanism to receive a signal from said
`media player, said signal including an audio signal
`associated With a medium currently being played in
`said media player; and
`
`a conversion mechanism for converting said signal into
`sound Which is played via a loudspeaker associated
`With said apparatus.
`18. The apparatus of claim 17, Wherein said Wireless
`communications interface comprises a detection mechanism
`to detect a presence of one or more portable media players.
`19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a
`prompting mechanism to generate a prompt to prompt a user
`to select said or one of said portable media players With
`Which to establish said Wireless communications link.
`20. The apparatus of claim 17, Wherein said prompting
`mechanism generates an audio prompt message Which is
`played to said loudspeaker.
`21. The apparatus of claim 19, Wherein said prompting
`mechanism generates a visual prompt Which is displayed
`through a visual display associated With said apparatus.
`22. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising an input
`mechanism to enable a user to input a response to said
`prompt.
`
`Honda Exhibit 1014
`
`Page 12