Sharing a single external accessory connection of a mobile device across multiple application programs
US9826080B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 2016 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W76/25
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In an example, this disclosure provides a mechanism, preferably implementable in software, for a single ‘server’ application in a mobile device such as a smartphone to act as an intermediary to enable one or more third-party apps on the mobile device to connect and interact with an external accessory, for example, a vehicle component such as an automotive head-unit. The server app manages communications details so that third-party apps need to perform only simple messaging, thus relieving the burden on application providers and reducing the frequency of application updates. Further, the server application maintains a single connection or session with the external accessory (EA), while accommodating switching among multiple different client applications on the phone that seek to interact with the EA.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.