Method and apparatus for sharing content with a remote device using a wireless network

• US 20040087326A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Dunko, Gregory A., Lohr, Jonathan C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/327 in the session layer [OSI layer 5]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for sharing content between a content source device and a remote device. The content source device is connected to a mobile device that communicates with the remote device using a wireless network. The mobile device is used to facilitate the sharing of content with the remote device. The content shared with the remote device is formatted for its use by either the content source device or the mobile device. The present invention is directed to a wireless content sharing system that may include a content source device that supplies the content, a mobile device to facilitate the sharing of content, and a remote device to receive the content.

Claims

1. A method of sharing content using a mobile device on a wireless network, the method comprising:

activating a content sharing session with at least one content source device and at least one remote device;

receiving content from the at least one content source device;

formatting the content received from the at least one content source device using remote device parameters; and

transmitting the formatted content to the at least one remote device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the remote device parameters transmitted by the at least one remote device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote device parameters comprise a generic set of default parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the content comprises at least one of the group of data formats including web pages, images, music, voice, text, graphics, software, audio, video, and multimedia.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the formatting of content step includes adding mobile device-generated content to the content received from the at least one content source device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the mobile device-generated content is voice.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving remote device-generated content from the at least one remote device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting at least one of the mobile device-generated content and remote device-generated content to the at least one content source device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is integrated into the at least one content source device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the content sharing session between the mobile device and the at least one content source device is established using a short range, wireless connection.

11. Apparatus for sharing content using a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for activating a content sharing session with at least one content source device and at least one remote device;

means for receiving content from the at least one content source device;

means for formatting the content received from the at least one content source device using remote device parameters; and

means for transmitting the formatted content to the at least one remote device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means for receiving the remote device parameters transmitted by the at least one remote device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means for receiving remote device-generated content from the at least one remote device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means for transmitting at least one of the mobile device-generated content and remote device-generated content to the at least one content source device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus is integrated into the at least one content source device.

16. A mobile device for sharing content using a wireless network, the mobile comprising:

a user interface operable to receive user input and provide information; and

a processing platform operably connected to the user interface operable, through use of instructions, to enable the activation of a content sharing session with at least one content source device and at least one remote device, receiving content from the at least one content source device, formatting the content received from the at least one content source device using remote device parameters, and transmitting the formatted content to the at least one remote device.

17. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the processing platform further comprises instructions to receive the remote device parameters transmitted by the at least one remote device.

18. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the remote device parameters comprise a generic set of default parameters.

19. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the content comprises at least one of the group of data formats including web pages, images, music, voice, text, graphics, software, audio, video, and multimedia.

20. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the formatting of content includes adding mobile device-generated content to the content received from the at least one content source device.

21. The mobile device of claim 20 wherein the mobile device-generated content is voice.

22. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the processing platform further comprises instructions to receive remote device-generated content from the at least one remote device.

23. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the processing platform further comprises instructions to transmit at least one of the mobile device-generated content and remote device-generated content to the at least one content source device.

24. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the mobile device is integrated into the at least one content source device.

25. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the content sharing session between the mobile device and the at least one content source device is established using a short range, wireless connection.

26. A method of sharing content using a mobile device on a wireless network, the method comprising:

activating a content sharing session with at least one content source device and at least one remote device;

receiving formatted content from the at least one content source device, wherein the content has been formatted by the at least one content source device using remote device parameters; and

transmitting the formatted content to the at least one remote device.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising receiving the remote device parameters transmitted by the at least one remote device and transmitting the remote device parameters to the at least one content source device.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the remote device parameters comprise a generic set of default parameters.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the content comprises at least one of the group of data formats including web pages, images, music, voice, text, graphics, software, audio, video, and multimedia.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising processing the formatted content received from the at least one content source device by adding mobile device-generated content to the formatted content.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the mobile device-generated content is voice.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising receiving remote device-generated content from the at least one remote device.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising transmitting at least one of the mobile device-generated content and remote device-generated content to the at least one content source device.

34. The method of claim 26 wherein the mobile device is integrated into the at least one content source device.

35. The method of claim 26 wherein the content sharing session between the mobile device and the at least one content source device is established using a short range, wireless connection.

36. Apparatus for sharing content using a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for activating a content sharing session with at least one content source device and at least one remote device;

means for receiving formatted content from the at least one content source device, wherein the content has been formatted by the at least one content source device using remote device parameters; and

means for transmitting the formatted content to the at least one remote device.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising means for receiving the remote device parameters transmitted by the at least one remote device and for transmitting the remote device parameters to the at least one content source device.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising means for processing the formatted content received from the at least one content source device by adding apparatus-generated content to the formatted content.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the apparatus-generated content is voice.

40. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising means for receiving remote device-generated content from the at least one remote device.

41. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising means for transmitting at least one of the apparatus-generated content and remote device-generated content to the at least one content source device.

42. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the apparatus is integrated into the at least one content source device.

43. A mobile device for sharing content using a wireless network, the mobile device comprising:

a user interface operable to receive user input and provide information; and

a processing platform operably connected to the user interface operable, through use of instructions, to enable the activation of a content sharing session with at least one content source device and at least one remote device, receiving formatted content from the at least one content source device, wherein the content has been formatted by the at least one content source device using remote device parameters, and transmitting the formatted content to the at least one remote device.

44. The mobile device of claim 43 wherein the processing platform further comprises instructions to receive the remote device parameters transmitted by the at least one remote device and transmitting the remote device parameters to the at least one content source device.

45. The mobile device of claim 43 wherein the remote device parameters comprise a generic set of default parameters.

46. The mobile device of claim 43 wherein the content comprises at least one of the group of data formats including web pages, images, music, voice, text, graphics, software, audio, video, and multimedia.

47. The mobile device of claim 43 wherein the processing platform further comprises instructions to process the formatted content received from the at least one content source device by adding mobile device-generated content to the formatted content.

48. The mobile device of claim 47 wherein the mobile device-generated content is voice.

49. The mobile device of claim 43 wherein the processing platform further comprises instructions to receive remote device-generated content from the at least one remote device.

50. The mobile device of claim 43 wherein the processing platform further comprises instructions to transmit at least one of the mobile device-generated content and remote device-generated content to the at least one content source device.

51. The mobile device of claim 43 wherein the mobile device is integrated into the at least one content source device.

52. The mobile device of claim 43 wherein the content sharing session between the mobile device and the at least one content source device is established using a short range, wireless connection.

53. A method of sharing content using a remote device on a wireless network, the method comprising:

activating a content sharing session with a mobile device; and

receiving content from at least one content source device via the mobile device, wherein the content has been formatted for use by the remote device using remote device parameters.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising transmitting the remote device parameters to the mobile device.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein the remote device parameters comprise a generic set of default parameters.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein the content comprises at least one of the group of data formats including web pages, images, music, voice, text, graphics, software, audio, video, and multimedia.

57. The method of claim 53 wherein the content received via the mobile device includes mobile device-generated content.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the mobile device-generated content is voice.

59. The method of claim 53 further comprising transmitting remote device-generated content to the mobile device.

60. Apparatus for sharing content using a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for activating a content sharing session with a mobile device; and

means for receiving content from at least one content source device via the mobile device, wherein the content has been formatted for use by the apparatus using apparatus parameters.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 further comprising means for transmitting the apparatus parameters to the mobile device.

62. The apparatus of claim 60 further comprising means for receiving mobile device-generated content.

63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the mobile device-generated content is voice.

64. The apparatus of claim 60 further comprising means for transmitting apparatus-generated content to the mobile device.

65. A remote device for sharing content using a wireless network, the remote device comprising:

a user interface operable to receive user input and provide information; and

a processing platform operably connected to the user interface operable, through use of instructions, to enable the activation of a content sharing session with a mobile device, and receiving content from at least one content source device via the mobile device, wherein the content has been formatted for use by the remote device using remote device parameters.

66. The remote device of claim 65 wherein the processing platform further comprises instructions to transmit the remote device parameters to the mobile device.

67. The remote device of claim 65 wherein the remote device parameters comprise a generic set of default parameters.

68. The remote device of claim 65 wherein the content comprises at least one of the group of data formats including web pages, images, music, voice, text, graphics, software, audio, video, and multimedia.

69. The remote device of claim 65 wherein the content received via the mobile device includes mobile device-generated content.

70. The remote device of claim 69 wherein the mobile device-generated content is voice.

71. The remote device of claim of claim 65 wherein the processing platform further comprises instructions to transmit remote device-generated content to the mobile device.

72. A method of sharing content using a content source device, the method comprising:

initiating a content sharing session with a mobile device;

formatting content available on the content source device for use by at least one generic remote device; and

transmitting the formatted content to the mobile device.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the content is formatted for use by the at least one generic remote device using remote device parameters.

74. The method of claim 73 further comprising receiving the remote device parameters transmitted by the mobile device.

75. The method of claim 73 wherein the remote device parameters comprise a generic set of default parameters.

76. The method of claim 72 wherein the content comprises at least one of the group of data formats including web pages, images, music, voice, text, graphics, software, audio, video, and multimedia.

77. The method of claim 72 further comprising receiving at least one of the mobile device-generated content and remote device-generated content from the mobile device.

78. The method of claim 72 wherein the mobile device is integrated into the at least one content source device.

79. The method of claim 72 wherein the content sharing session between the mobile device and the at least one content source device is established using a short range, wireless connection.

80. Apparatus for sharing content using a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for initiating a content sharing session with a mobile device;

means for formatting content available on the apparatus for use by at least one generic remote device; and

means for transmitting the formatted content to the mobile device.

81. The apparatus of claim 80 wherein the content is formatted for use by the at least one generic remote device using remote device parameters.

82. The apparatus of claim 81 further comprising means for receiving the remote device parameters transmitted by the mobile device.

83. The apparatus of claim 80 further comprising means for receiving at least one of the mobile device-generated content and remote device-generated content from the mobile device.

84. The apparatus of claim 80 wherein the mobile device is integrated into the apparatus.

85. A content source device for sharing content using a wireless network, the content source device comprising:

a user interface operable to receive user input; and

a processing platform operably connected to the user interface operable, through use of instructions, to enable the initiation of a content sharing session with a mobile device, formatting content available on the content source device for use by at least one generic remote device, and transmitting the formatted content to the mobile device.

86. The content source device of claim 85 wherein the content is formatted for use by the at least one generic remote device using remote device parameters.

87. The content source device of claim 86 wherein the processing platform is further operable to receive the remote device parameters transmitted by the mobile device.

88. The content source device of claim 86 wherein the remote device parameters comprise a generic set of default parameters.

89. The content source device of claim 85 wherein the content comprises at least one of the group of data formats including web pages, images, music, voice, text, graphics, software, audio, video, and multimedia.

90. The content source device of claim 85 wherein the processing platform is further operable to receive at least one of the mobile device-generated content and remote device-generated content from the mobile device.

91. The content source device of claim 85 wherein the mobile device is integrated into the content source device.

92. The content source device of claim 85 wherein the content sharing session between the mobile device and the content source device is established using a short range, wireless connection.

93. A method of sharing content using a wireless network, the method comprising:

activating a content sharing session between a mobile device and at least one content source device;

activating a content sharing session between a mobile device and at least one remote device;

formatting content using remote device parameters for use by at least one remote device;

transmitting content from the at least one content source device to the mobile device; and

transmitting content from the mobile device to the at least one remote device.

94. The method of claim 93 wherein the formatting step is performed by the content source device.

95. The method of claim 93 wherein the formatting step is performed by the mobile device.

96. The method of claim 93 wherein the content transmitted by the mobile device to the at least one remote device includes content from the content source device and content generated by the mobile device.

97. The method of claim 93 further comprising transmitting remote device-generated content from the at least one remote device to at least one of the mobile device and the at least one content source device.

98. The method of claim 93 further comprising transmitting mobile device-generated content from the mobile device to the at least one content source device.

99. A wireless content sharing system, comprising:

at least one content source device capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals;

a mobile device operably connected to the at least one content source device and capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the content source device;

at least one remote device operably connected to the mobile device and capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from the mobile device;

a wireless network capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals between the mobile device and the at least one remote device; and

wherein content is formatted and transmitted from the at least one content source device to the at least one remote device via the mobile device.