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.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for communication, the method comprising:
 establishing a communication link between a first device and a second device;   configuring said first device to enable data communication with said second device based on whether said second device supports data communication with content protection;   communicating content protected data between said first device and said second device based on said configuring; and   based on said first device determining that said second device does not support data communication with content protection, configuring said first device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising determining whether said second device supports data communication with content protection via said communication link. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising, based on said first device determining that said second device supports data communication with content protection, configuring said first device to utilize a communication protocol that utilizes content protection. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising configuring said first device with one or more communication parameters utilized for data communication with said second device. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said one or more communication parameters comprise at least one of stream rate, mode, signal sampling, or amplitude parameters. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising, if communication between said first device and said second device fails during data communication with content protection, configuring one or both of said first device and said second device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication link comprises a Bluetooth communication link. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program having at least one code section for communication, said at least one code section being executable by a computer for causing said computer to perform a method for communication, comprising:
 establishing a communication link between a first device and a second device;   configuring said first device to enable data communication with said second device based on whether said second device supports data communication with content protection;   communicating content protected data between said first device and said second device based on said configuring; and   based on said first device determining that said second device does not support data communication with content protection, configuring said first device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 8 , the method further comprising determining whether said second device supports data communication with content protection via said communication link. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 8 , the method further comprising, based on said first device determining that said second device supports data communication with content protection, configuring said first device to utilize a communication protocol that utilizes content protection. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 8 , the method further comprising configuring said first device with one or more communication parameters utilized for data communication with said second device. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 11 , wherein said one or more communication parameters comprise at least one of stream rate, mode, signal sampling, or amplitude parameters. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 8 , the method further comprising, if communication between said first device and said second device fails during data communication with content protection, configuring one or both of said first device and said second device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the communication link comprises a Bluetooth communication link. 
     
     
         15 . A system for communication, the system comprising:
 one or more circuits for use in a first device, said one or more circuits being operable to:
 establish a communication link between said first device and a second device; 
 configure said first device to enable data communication with said second device based on whether said second device supports data communication with content protection; 
 communicate content protected data between said first device and said second device; and 
 based on said first device determining that said second device does not support said data communication with said content protection, configure said first device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said one or more circuits is operable to determine whether said second device supports data communication with content protection via said communication link. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said one or more circuits is operable to, based on said first device determining that said second device supports data communication with content protection, configure said first device to utilize a communication protocol that utilizes content protection. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said one or more circuits is operable to configure said first device with one or more communication parameters utilized for data communication with said second device. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein said one or more communication parameters comprise at least one of stream rate, mode, signal sampling, or amplitude parameters. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said one or more circuits is operable to configure one or both of said first device and said second device to utilize a communication protocol that does not require content protection, if communication between said first device and said second device fails while utilizing said data communication with content protection.