Mechanism for improved interoperability when content protection is used with an audio stream

Abstract

A method and system that configure communication between devices in a network, where one device may support content protection, and another device may or may not support content protection. The devices may support communication utilizing Bluetooth® technology. A first device may determine whether a second device provides content protection support. If the second device does not support content protection, the first device may utilize a configuration that does not require content protection for communicating data with the second device. If the second device supports content protection, the first device may utilize a configuration that requires content protection for communicating data. If communicating data utilizing content protection fails, the first device may revert to utilizing a configuration that does not require content protection for communicating data with the second device.

1 . A method for handling interoperability between at least two devices in a network, the method comprising: 
 establishing a Bluetooth® communication link between a first device and a second device in the network, wherein the first device supports data communication with content protection;    determining whether the second device supports data communication with content protection;    configuring the first device for data communication based on the determination of content protection in the second device; and    communicating data between the first device and the second device via the established Bluetooth(K communication link.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein configuring the first device comprises configuring parameters utilized in a communication protocol.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a stream rate, mode, signal sampling parameters, and amplitude parameters.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising, if the second device does not support content protection, configuring the first device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising, if the second device supports content protection, configuring the first device to utilize a communication protocol that requires content protection.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 6  further comprising, if communication fails utilizing the communication protocol that requires content protection, configuring the first device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection.  
   
   
       7 . A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section that handles interoperability between at least two devices in a network, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising: 
 establishing a Bluetooth® communication link between a first device and a second device in the network, wherein the first device supports data communication with content protection;    determining whether the second device supports data communication with content protection;    configuring the first device for data communication based on the determination of content protection in the second device; and    communicating data between the first device and the second device via the established Bluetooth® communication link.    
   
   
       8 . The machine-readable storage according to  claim 7  wherein the code for configuring the first device comprises code for configuring parameters utilized in a communication protocol.  
   
   
       9 . The machine-readable storage according to  claim 8  wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a stream rate, mode, signal sampling parameters, and amplitude parameters.  
   
   
       10 . The machine-readable storage according to  claim 7  further comprising, if the second device does not support content protection, code for configuring the first device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection.  
   
   
       11 . The machine-readable storage according to  claim 7  further comprising, if the second device supports content protection, code for configuring the first device to utilize a communication protocol that requires content protection.  
   
   
       12 . The machine-readable storage according to  claim 11  further comprising, if communication fails utilizing the communication protocol that requires content protection, code for configuring the first device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection.  
   
   
       13 . A system that handles interoperability between at least two devices in a network, the system comprising: 
 at least one processor capable of establishing a Bluetooth® communication link between a first device and a second device in the network, wherein the first device supports data communication with content protection;    the at least one processor capable of determining whether the second device supports data communication with content protection;    the at least one processor capable of configuring the first device for data communication based on the determination of content protection in the second device; and    the at least one processor capable of communicating data between the first device and the second device via the established Bluetooth® communication link.    
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 13  wherein configuring the first device comprises configuring parameters utilized in a communication protocol.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein the parameters comprise at least one of a stream rate, mode, signal sampling parameters, and amplitude parameters.  
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 13  further comprising, if the second device does not support content protection, the at least one processor capable of configuring the first device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection.  
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 13  further comprising, if the second device supports content protection, the at least one processor capable of configuring the first device to utilize a communication protocol that requires content protection.  
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 17  further comprising, if communication fails utilizing the communication protocol that requires content protection, the at least one processor capable of configuring the first device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection.