Handheld Media and Communication Device with a Detachable Projector for Sharing Media Assets in a Group

• US 20120291075A1
• Filed: 11/09/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yang Pan
• Original Assignee: Yang Pan
• Inventors: Pan, Yang
• Granted Patent: US 8,887,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3173 wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability

Abstract

A handheld device comprises a media and communication device and a detachable projector unit. Each of the units further comprises a wireless network interface. A novel method for sharing video and audio files by a group of users with handheld devices in a synchronized manner is disclosed. The devices form a local wireless network with calibrated built in clocks. The video and audio files are delivered in a synchronized manner based upon the calibrated clocks.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a media asset including a video file and an audio file among a plurality of users through a wireless network comprising a plurality of media and communication devices, wherein each of said users operates one of said devices, wherein one of said users is a controlling user operating a controlling media and communication device connectable to a detachable projector unit, the method comprising:

a. transferring selected media assets by the controlling user from said controlling device to said detachable projector unit when said device and said projector unit are connected through a wired connector;

b. establishing a data file including metadata of said transferred assets;

c. detaching said controlling device and said projector unit;

d. selecting at least one asset from said transferred assets through a user interface of said controlling device by said controlling user, wherein said user interface displays at least a portion of said metadata of said transferred assets;

e. transmitting through a wireless communication link the metadata of said selected asset from said controlling device to said projector unit to initiate the projector unit to retrieve the video file associated with the metadata;

f. transmitting the audio file from either said controlling device or said projector unit to said media and communication devices in the wireless network;

g. receiving said audio file by each of said devices; and

h. delivering the video file by the projector unit and delivering audio file by each of said devices in the wireless network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprising a method of synchronization of delivering said video file and delivering said audio file through built in local clocks in said devices and in said projector unit, the method of synchronization further comprising:

a. calibrating the clocks of said devices and the clock of said projector unit;

b. determining a starting time for delivering said video file by a processor in said projector unit after receiving said metadata of selected media asset by said projector unit;

c. transmitting the starting time to each of said devices through said wireless network; and

d. delivering said video file by said projector unit and delivering audio files by said devices according to said starting time.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said step of “

calibrating”

further comprising;

a. calibrating the clock in said controlling device and said projector unit when said device and said unit are connected through the wired connector;

b. transmitting a signal from the projector unit to said devices including said controlling device in the wireless network;

c. receiving the signal by each of said devices and recording receiving time according to each of the clocks in each of said devices;

d. sending an acknowledgement signal including recorded receiving time by each of said devices back to said projector unit;

e. receiving the acknowledgement signal (s) by said projector unit;

f. calculating by the processor of the projector unit the time differences between the recorded receiving time of each of said devices to the recorded receiving time of the controlling device; and

g. sending a signal to each of said devices of said calculated time difference.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprising:

a. transmitting said data file including metadata of transferred media assets from said controlling device to said devices in the wireless network;

b. receiving said data file by each of said devices;

c. selecting at least one of the transferred media assets through a user interface of anyone of said devices by anyone of the users; and

d. sending said selected metadata to said projector unit to initiate an operation of delivering the video file represented by said metadata.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said method further comprising:

a. sending a request signal from anyone of said devices through said wireless network to said controlling device after selecting the asset; and

b. receiving a permission through said wireless network from said controlling device to send the selected metadata to said projector unit.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a. projecting the video file onto a surface by said projector unit;

b. associating each of the users with a visual symbol by a processor of each of said devices;

c. transmitting through said wireless network said visual symbols to said projector unit;

d. projecting the user'"'"'s visual symbols onto predetermined positions of the display surface;

e. establishing a user messaging window on the display surface; and

f. displaying messages from anyone of the users in said messaging window, wherein said messages are displayed in association with said visual symbols.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said projector unit further comprising a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) device.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless network conforms to one or a combination of following standards:

a. Wi-Fi;

b. Bluetooth; and

c. ZigBee.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wired connector further comprising an IEEE 1394 compliant type of connector.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said media and communication device further comprising one or a combination of following devices:

a. a media player;

b. a mobile phone;

c. a game console;

d. a tablet computer;

e. a laptop computer; and

f. a digital imaging capturing device.

11. A wireless network for delivering a media asset including a video file and an audio file to a plurality of users, the network comprising:

a. a plurality of media and communication devices, wherein each of said devices is carried by a user and one of said device is a controlling device;

b. a projector unit for delivering a video file through a micro projector;

c. a wireless network for connecting said devices and said projector unit,

wherein said projector unit is connectable to at least the controlling device through a wired connector and media assets can be transferred from said controlling device to said projector unit through said wired connector, wherein said controlling device and said projector unit are in single piece with a pocket size after said device and said projector unit are connected;

wherein said audio file can be transmitted from said controlling device or said projector unit to said devices through said wireless network; and

wherein said controlling device can be used as a remote control device for controlling operations of delivering the video file through said projector unit and delivering said audio files through said devices connected to the wireless network.

12. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein said network further comprising a means of delivering said video file and delivering said audio file in all connected devices in a synchronized manner.

13. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein a data file including metadata of transferred media assets is established by a processor of said controlling device and is stored in a file storage system or a cache of said controlling device, wherein said data file may be transmitted to the devices connected to the wireless network.

14. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein metadata of at least a portion of said transferred assets may be displayed through a user interface of said controlling device for the controlling user to select, wherein selected metadata may be transmitted to said projector unit to initiate an operation of retrieving and delivering said video file.

15. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein said each of media and communication devices further comprising:

a. a processor pertaining to control operation of the device;

b. a file storage system for storing data files;

c. a communication interface for networking; and

d. a battery for supply power for the operation of the device.

16. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein said projector unit further comprising:

a. a processor pertaining to control operation of said unit;

b. a file storage system for storing data files;

c. a communication interface for networking; and

d. a battery for supply power for the operation of the unit,

wherein said processor, said file storage system and said battery may be used as additional resources for the controlling device when said unit and said controlling device are connected through the wired connector.

17. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein said wireless network conforms to one or a combination of following standards:

a. Wi-Fi;

b. Bluetooth; and

c. ZigBee.

18. A method of delivering a video file and an audio file of a media asset in a synchronized manner to a user through a media and communication device including a detachable projector unit, the method comprising:

a. calibrating a first clock in said device and a second clock in said projector unit by a processor in said device after said device and said unit are connected through a wired connector;

b. transferring the video file from said device to said projector unit through the wired connector;

c. detaching said projector unit from said device, forming a wireless communication link between said device and said unit;

d. selecting the media asset by a user through a user interface of said device;

e. transmitting a data file including the metadata of selected media asset and a starting time from said device to said projector unit through the wireless communication link; and

f. delivering said video file by said projector unit and delivering said audio file by said device according to said starting time.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said wireless communication link conforms to one or a combination of following standards:

a. Wi-Fi;

b. Bluetooth; and

c. ZigBee.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said method further comprising transmitting the audio file to said projector unit through said wired connector, wherein said audio file is subsequently sent to a speaker system.