Serially Reading Identification Information from a Connection Plug of an Accessory Device

Abstract

An identification system includes a mobile communications device and an accessory having a connection plug with a conical tip. An insulating ring extends about the conical tip portion to define a tip detection contact. The device includes a tip detection pin positioned adjacent to an interior end portion of a connection socket on the device. The tip detection pin engages the tip detection contact to enable identification of the accessory by the mobile communications device. An improved accessory is for use with a mobile communications device. A method identifies an accessory which has its connection plug inserted into a socket on a mobile communications device.

1 . A mobile communications device comprising:
 a housing;   a processor enclosed within the housing;   a memory operatively coupled to the processor;   a serial bus master device operatively connected to the processor; and   an accessory connection socket extending into the housing, the socket having at least a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact electrically coupled to a ground of the mobile communications device, the second electrical contact electrically coupled to the serial bus master device, and the socket operative to mechanically receive a connection plug of an accessory device such that at least the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are mechanically and electrically engaged with corresponding electrical contacts of the connection plug,   wherein the serial bus master device is operative to serially read identification information from the connection plug via the second electrical contact, and   wherein the memory stores executable code which, when executed by the processor, is operative to identify the accessory device from the identification information.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile communications device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the executable code, when executed by the processor, is operative to reject the accessory device if the identification information is not contained within an acceptable set of serial numbers. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile communications device as recited in  claim 1 , the socket having a third electrical contact, wherein the executable code, when executed by the processor, is operative to assign an input/output (I/O) identity to the third electrical contact according to the identification information. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile communications device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the executable code, when executed by the processor, is operative to identify the accessory device from the identification information using a serial number reference database. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile communications device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the serial number reference database is stored at the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile communications device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the executable code, when executed by the processor, is operative to periodically update content of the serial number reference database with new or updated information. 
     
     
         7 . A method in a mobile communications device, the method comprising:
 serially reading, via an electrical contact of an accessory connection socket of the mobile communications device, identification information from an accessory device that is electrically coupled to the mobile communications device through at least the electrical contact; and   identifying the accessory device from the identification information.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 rejecting the accessory device if the identification information is not contained within an acceptable set of serial numbers.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 assigning an input/output (I/O) identity to another electrical contact of the accessory connection socket according to the identification information.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 identifying the accessory device from the identification information using a serial number reference database.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 storing the serial number reference database at the mobile communications device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 periodically updating content of the serial number reference database with new or updated information.   
     
     
         13 . An accessory device, the accessory device comprising:
 a serial number device associated with an identifiable serial number;   a connection plug having at least a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, both electrically coupled to the serial number device,   wherein the first electrical contact of the accessory device operative to mechanically and electrically engage with a first electrical contact of an accessory connection socket of a mobile communications device to connect to a ground of the mobile communications device,   wherein the second electrical contact of the accessory device operative to mechanically and electrically engage with a second electrical contact of the accessory connection socket to serially provide the identifiable serial number to a serial bus master device of the mobile communications device.   
     
     
         14 . The accessory device of  claim 13 , wherein the accessory device is a headset accessory.