System and method for operating a media device

1. A method for conveying a signal between multiple media devices and a portable device using a docking station, comprising the steps of:

receiving said signal from a first media device at an input of said docking station, said docking station for charging said portable device;

determining if the portable device is connected to said docking station;

conveying said signal to said portable device if it is determined that said portable device is connected to said docking station;

conveying said signal through said docking station to a second media device if it is determined that said portable device is not connected to said docking station; and

conveying said signal through said docking station to said second media device when said portable device is connected to said docking station and not active, the step further including conveying said signal through said docking station to said second media device when said docking station is charging said portable device.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein said signal includes at least one of an analog audio signal and an analog video signal.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of conveying said signal to said portable device further includes conveying said signal to said portable device from said docking station when said portable device is active.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of conveying said signal to said portable device further includes conveying said signal to said portable device from said docking station when said portable device is powered on.

5. The method set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of conveying said signal to said portable device is responsive to said portable device.

6. A docking device, said docking device ( 310 ) comprising:

a first interface for connecting said docking device to a portable electronic device, said first interface permitting said docking device to charge said portable electronic device and to route signals to and from said portable electronic device, said docking device for charging said portable electronic device;

a second interface for connecting said docking device to a first media device, said second interface permitting said docking device to route said signals from said first media device;

a third interface for connecting said docking device to a second media device, said third interface permitting said docking device to route signals to said second media device; and

a switch for switchably connecting said second interface to said third interface when said portable electronic device is not connected to said docking device, for switchably connecting said second interface to said third interface said when said docking device is charging said portable electronic device, and for switchably connecting said first interface to said second interface when said portable electronic device is connected to said docking device, wherein

said switch is responsive to determining said portable electronic device is connected to said docking device.

7. The docking device of claim 6 , wherein said signals comprise an analog audio signal and an analog video signal.

8. The docking device of claim 7 , wherein said second interface further comprises separate signal paths for said analog audio signal and said video signal.

9. The docking device of claim 7 , wherein said third interface further comprises separate signal paths for said analog audio signal and said video signal.

10. The docking device of claim 6 , wherein said switch is responsive to said portable electronic device when said portable electronic device is connected to said docking device.

11. The docking device of claim 6 , wherein said switch switchably connects said first interface to said second interface when said portable electronic device is connected to said docking device and said portable electronic device is powered on.

12. The docking device of claim 6 , wherein said switch switchably connects said first interface to said third interface when said portable electronic device is connected to said docking device and said portable electronic device is powered on.

13. The docking device of claim 6 , wherein said switch switchably connects said second interface to said third interface when said portable electronic device when said portable electronic device is connected to said docking device and said portable electronic device is powered off.

14. The docking device of claim 6 , wherein said switch switchably connects said second interface to said third interface when said docking device is powered on.

15. The docking device of claim 6 , wherein said first interface communicates a control signal from said portable electronic device to said switch.

16. The docking device of claim 6 , wherein said portable electronic device is a portable media device for displaying video and audio content.

17. A system for conveying audio and video signals to media devices, comprising:

means for receiving said audio and video signals from a first media device at an input of a docking station, said docking station for charging a portable device;

means for determining if the portable device is connected to said docking station;

a means for conveying said audio and video signals to said portable device if it is determined that said portable device is connected to said docking station;

a means for conveying said audio and video signals through said docking station to a second media device if it is determined that said portable device is not connected to said docking station; and

a means for conveying said audio and video signals through said docking station to said second media device when said portable device is connected to said docking station and not active including conveying said audio and video signals through said docking station to said second media device when said docking station is charging said portable device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means for conveying said audio and video signals to said portable device further includes a means for conveying said audio and video signals to said first media device from said docking station when said portable device is powered on.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means for conveying said audio and video signals to said portable device is responsive to said portable device.

20. A method for conveying a signal between multiple media devices and a portable device using a docking station, comprising the steps of:

receiving said signal from a first media device at an input of said docking station, said docking station for charging said portable device;

determining if the portable device is connected to said docking station;

conveying said signal to said portable device if it is determined that said portable device is connected to said docking station; and

conveying said signal through said docking station to a second media device when said docking station is charging said portable device.

21. A docking device, said docking device ( 310 ) comprising:

a first interface for connecting said docking device to a portable electronic device, said first interface permitting said docking device to charge said portable electronic device and to route signals to and from said portable electronic device, said docking device for charging a portable electronic device;

a second interface for connecting said docking device to a first media device, said second interface permitting said docking device to route said signals from said first media device;

a third interface for connecting said docking device to a second media device, said third interface permitting said docking device to route signals to said second media device; and

a switch for switchably connecting said second interface to said third interface when said docking device is charging said portable electronic device and for switchably connecting said first interface to said second interface when said portable electronic device is connected to said docking device, wherein

said switch is responsive to determining said portable electronic device is connected to said docking device.

22. A system for conveying audio and video signals to media devices, comprising:

means for receiving said audio and video signals from a first media device at an input of a docking station, said docking station for charging said portable device;

means for determining if the portable device is connected to said docking station;

a means for conveying said audio and video signals to said portable device if it is determined that said portable device is connected to said docking station; and

a means for conveying said audio and video signals through said docking station to a second media device when said docking station is charging said portable media device.