System for device-to-device pervasive digital output

• US 20020083121A1
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho, Liu, Christina Ying
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/12 Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 : Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 : Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 : Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 : Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 : indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 : Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 : Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 : Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 : Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

An electronic system and method of pervasive output allow an information apparatus to output data content conveniently to virtually any output device. One method includes establishing a communication channel between the information apparatus and an output device and receiving at the information apparatus over the communication channel an attributes corresponding to the output device. The output device may then be selected at the information apparatus based at least in part on the attributes. The data content is delivered to the output device for rendering.

Claims

1. A data output method for rendering at one or more output devices data content accessed from an information apparatus, comprising:

establishing a communication channel between the information apparatus and the one or more output devices;

receiving at the information apparatus over the communication channel one or more attributes corresponding to the one or more output devices;

selecting at the information apparatus the one or more output devices for rendering the data content based at least in part on the one or more attributes; and

delivering the data content to the one or more selected output devices for rendering.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the communication channel includes a wireless communication channel.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the data content resides in the information apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1 further including obtaining the data content from a data source distinct from the information apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining authentication information from the information apparatus and authenticating permission for the information apparatus to access the one or more output devices.

6. The method of claim 1 further including obtaining from the information apparatus payment information to administer payment for the output service that is selected.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the information apparatus discovering the one or more output devices to be available to render the data content.

9. The method of claim 7 in which discovering the one or more output devices includes the one or more output devices broadcasting information about the output services they provide and awaiting to be contacted by the information apparatus.

10. The method of claim 7 in which discovering the one or more output devices includes the information apparatus obtaining from a service node information about the one or more output devices.

11. The method of claim 7 in which the discovering of one or more output devices involves determining if the one or more output devices satisfy one or more output service requirements.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the one or more output service requirements include one or more of price, quality of service, and availability.

13. The method of claim 7 in which the information apparatus discovers the one or more output devices with wireless communication.

14. The method of claim 1 in which the attributes associated with the one or more output devices include information characterizing the one or more output devices.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the information characterizing the one or more output devices includes one or more of a make identifier, a model identifier, an output device type identifier, an output data format identifier, and an output device identifier.

16. The method of claim 1 in which the attributes associated with the one or more output devices include information characterizing output services provided by the one or more output devices.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the information characterizing the output services includes one or more of a quality of service indicator, an availability of service indicator and a service fee indicator.

18. The method of claim 1 in which the selecting of the one or more output devices includes input from a user.

19. The method of claim 1 in which the selecting of the one or more output devices is based at least in part upon a predetermined default criterion that is stored in the information apparatus.

20. The method of claim 1 further including receiving at the information apparatus via the communication channel components enabling the data content to be rendered by the selected one or more output devices.

21. The method of claim 20 in which the components include software code.

22. The method of claim 20 in which the components include a software application.

23. The method of claim 20 in which the components correspond to one or more of a device driver, a printer driver, an output driver, and a user interface.

24. The method of claim 1 in which the information apparatus includes one of a mobile computing device, a pervasive device, a digital camera, and a personal computer.

25. The method of claim 1 in which the one or more output devices include one or more of a printing device, a display device, and an audio output device.

26. The method of claim 1 further including conforming at the information apparatus the data content to an output data format compatible with the one or more selected output devices before delivering the data content to the one or more selected output devices for rendering.27. The method of claim 26 in which the conforming of the data content employs the one or more attributes.

28. The method of claim 26 in which conforming the data content includes at least partial raster image processing of the data content.

29. The method of claim 1 further including delivering the data content to an output controller before delivering the data content to the selected output device.

30. The method of claim 29 in which the output controller is one of a server, an external controller and a data access point.

31. The method of claim 29 further including performing raster image processing on the data content at the one or more selected output devices.

32. The method of claim 29 further including converting the data content into an output data compatible with the one or more selected output devices.

8. The method of 7 in which discovering the one or more output devices includes the information apparatus broadcasting an output service request and awaiting one or more responses from the one or more output devices.

33. A data output method for rendering at a selected output device data content accessed from an information apparatus, comprising:

establishing a communication channel between the information apparatus and the selected output device;

receiving at the information apparatus one or more components associated with the selected output device and enabling the data content to be rendered by the selected output device, the one or more components including an indication of an output data associated with the selected output device;

conforming at the information apparatus the data content to the output data associated with the selected output device; and

delivering the output data to the selected output device for rendering.

34. The method of claim 33 in which the communication channel includes a wireless communication channel.

35. The method of claim 33 in which the data content resides in the information apparatus.

36. The method of claim 33 further including obtaining the data content from a data source distinct from the information apparatus.

37. The method of claim 33 further comprising obtaining authentication information from the information apparatus and authenticating permission for the information apparatus to access the selected output device.

38. The method of claim 33 further including obtaining from the information apparatus payment information to administer payment for rendering service provided at the selected output device.

39. The method of claim 33 further including the information apparatus discovering the selected output device to be available to render the data content.

40. The method of claim 39 in which discovering the selected output device includes the information apparatus broadcasting an output service request and awaiting a response from the selected output device.

41. The method of claim 39 in which discovering the selected output device includes the selected output device broadcasting information about its availability and awaiting to be contacted by the information apparatus.

42. The method of claim 39 in which discovering the selected output device includes the information apparatus obtaining from a service node information about one or more output devices.

43. The method of claim 39 in which the discovering of the selected output device involves determining if the selected output device satisfies one or more output service requirements.

44. The method of claim 43 in which the one or more output service requirements include one or more of price, quality of service, and availability.

45. The method of claim 39 in which the information apparatus discovers the selected output device with wireless communication.

46. The method of claim 33 in which the one or more components are stored in the one or more output devices.

47. The method of claim 33 in which the one or more components are stored in one or more output controllers associated with the output devices.

48. The method of claim 33 in which the one or more components include at least part of a printer driver.

49. The method of claim 33 in which the one or more components include software code.

50. The method of claim 33 in which the one or more components include one or more device dependent parameters relating to the selected output device.

51. The method of claim 33 in which the one or more components relate to one or more of a device driver, a printer driver, an output driver, and a user interface.

52. The method of claim 33 in which the one or more components include a software application.

53. The method of claim 33 further including selecting at the information apparatus the selected output device from among plural output devices based on one or more selection criteria.

54. The method of claim 53 in which the one or more selection criteria are obtained from a user.

55. The method of claim 53 in which the one or more selection criteria are automatically defined based on a predetermined default stored on the information apparatus.

56. The method of claim 33 in which conforming the data content includes performing raster image processing on the data content.

57. The method of claim 33 further including performing raster image processing on the output data at the selected output device.

58. The method of claim 33 further including converting the output data into a form compatible to one of an output engine, a printer engine, an output controller, and a printer controller.

59. The method of claim 33 in which the conformed data content is further processed in an output controller associated with the selected output device before being delivered to the selected output device.

60. The method of claim 33 in which the information apparatus includes one of a mobile computing device, a pervasive device, a digital camera, and a personal computer.

61. The method of claim 33 in which the output device includes one of a printing device, a display device, and an audio output device.

62. The method of claim 33 in which the output data includes compressed data.

63. In a computer readable medium, data output software for rendering at one or more output devices data content accessed from an information apparatus, comprising:

software for establishing a communication channel between the information apparatus and the one or more output devices;

software for receiving at the information apparatus over the communication channel one or more attributes corresponding to the one or more output devices;

software for selecting at the information apparatus the one or more output devices for rendering the data content based at least in part on the one or more attributes; and

software for delivering the output data to the one or more selected output devices for rendering.

64. The medium of claim 63 further including software for conforming at the information apparatus the data content in accordance with the one or more attributes before delivering the data content to the one or more selected output devices for rendering.

65. In a computer readable medium, data output software for rendering at a selected output device data content accessed from an information apparatus, comprising:

software for establishing a communication channel between the information apparatus and the selected output device;

software for receiving at the information apparatus one or more components associated with the selected output device and enabling the data content to be rendered by the selected output device, the one or more components including an indication of an output data associated with the selected output device;

software for conforming at the information apparatus the data content to the output data associated with the selected output device; and

software for delivering the output data to the selected output device for rendering.

66. A data output method for rendering at one or more output devices associated with a selected output system data content accessed from an information apparatus, comprising:

establishing a communication channel between the information apparatus and the selected output system;

receiving at the information apparatus over the communication channel one or more attributes corresponding to the one or more output devices associated with the output system;

selecting at the information apparatus one or more output devices for rendering the data content based at least in part on the one or more attributes; and

delivering the data content to the selected output system for rendering at the selected one or more output devices.

67. The method of claim 66 further including conforming at the information apparatus the data content in accordance with the one or more attributes before delivering the data content to the one or more selected output devices for rendering.

68. The method of claim 66 in which the communication channel includes a wireless communication channel.

69. The method of claim 66 in which the selected output system includes a network.

70. The method of claim 66 in which the selected output system includes at least one output device and at least one output controller.

71. The method of claim 66 in which an output controller in the selected output system communicates with the information apparatus.

72. The method of claim 71 in which the output controller is associated with one or more output devices.

73. The method of claim 71 in which the output controller is one of a server, an external controller and a data access point.

74. The method of claim 71 in which the output controller receives the data content.

75. The method of claim 74 in which the output controller performs raster image processing on the data content.

76. The method of claim 74 further including converting the data content into a form compatible to the selected one or more output devices.

77. The method of claim 74 further comprising the output controller delivering the data content to the selected one or more output devices.

79. The method of claim 78 in which the communication channel includes a wireless communication channel.

80. The method of claim 78 in which the selected output system includes a network.

81. The method of claim 78 in which the selected output system includes at least one output device and at least one output controller.

82. The method of claim 78 in which an output controller associated with the selected output system communicates with the information apparatus.

83. The method of claim 82 in which the output controller is one of a server, an external controller and a data access point.

84. The method of claim 82 in which the output controller receives the output data.

85. The method of claim 82 in which the output controller performs raster image processing on the output data.

86. The method of claim 84 further including converting the output data into a form compatible to the output devices.

87. The method of claim 84 further comprising the output controller delivering the output data to the output devices.

88. The method of claim 78 in which the one or more components are stored in one or more output controllers associated with the output devices.

89. The method of claim 78 in which the one or more components include at least part of a printer driver.

90. The method of claim 78 in which the one or more components include software code.

91. The method of claim 78 in which the one or more components include one or more device dependent information or parameter relating to the selected output device.

92. The method of claim 78 in which the one or more components relate to one or more of a device driver, a printer driver, an output driver, and an user interface.

93. The method of claim 78 in which the one or more components include information characterizing an output service provided by the selected output system.

94. The method of claim 78 in which the one or more components include a software application.

95. The method of claim 78 in which the information apparatus includes one of a mobile computing device, a pervasive device, a digital camera, and a personal computer.

96. The method of claim 78 in which the output device includes one of a printing device, a display device, and an audio output device.

78. A data output method for rendering at an output device associated with a selected output system data content accessed from an information apparatus, comprising:

establishing a communication channel between the information apparatus and the selected output system;

receiving at the information apparatus one or more components from the selected output system and enabling the data content to be rendered by the output device associated the selected output system;

conforming at the information apparatus the data content to an output data with the one or more components; and

delivering the output data to the selected output system for rendering by the output device.