INTERNET-PADS THAT INCLUDE A DIGITAL CAMERA, A TOUCH SENSITIVE SCREEN INTERFACE, AND SUPPORT FOR VOICE ACTIVATED COMMANDS

• US 20130103775A1
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho, Liu, Christina Ying
• Granted Patent: US 9,110,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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

New Internet-Pad specifications that include voice activated command functions are disclosed and enabled. The Internet-Pad may include a touch sensitive screen, a digital camera, a wireless communication unit, an operating system, a graphical user interface, an e-mail application, an Internet browsing application, and an application for playing audio or video content. The Internet-Pad operating system supports an application programming interface (API). A user can install additional applications. The Internet-Pad may further include a microphone and a speaker for interacting via voice commands with the user. In some examples, the user may take a picture with the digital camera included in the Internet-Pad and transfer or synchronize the picture to a wireless output device. In other examples, the Internet-Pad may transmit an e-mail upon receiving voice commands, and the Internet-Pad also may stream or mirror digital content over the air to an output device via voice commands.

Claims

1. An Internet-Pad supporting both touch sensitive screen and voice activated command interfaces for interacting with a user, the Internet-Pad being a mobile and wireless information apparatus, the Internet-Pad including a digital Pad with access to the Internet and having one or more applications with access to digital content, the Internet-Pad including each of the following applications installed or pre-installed:

an e-mail application,

a digital imaging application,

an audio application,

a video application,

a document editing application,

an Internet browsing application, and

operating system software in the Internet-Pad supporting an object model or an application programming interface (API) to facilitate at least one of said e-mail application, said audio application, said video application, said digital imaging application, said document editing application, and said Internet browsing application, interfacing with device management applications in the Internet-Pad, and

wherein, the Internet-Pad is operable to allow the user to install additional applications associated for running on said operating system software to further expand the functionalities of the Internet-Pad;

the Internet-Pad further comprising;

a digital camera for taking pictures,

a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with the user,

a graphical user interface over the touch sensitive screen,

a microphone interface,

a speaker interface for outputting sound to the user,

a voice activated command function for receiving voice commands from the user over the microphone interface,

a processing unit,

a memory or storage unit for storing at least a portion of the digital content, and

a wireless communication unit that includes a radio frequency controller and an antenna for establishing radio frequency wireless communication between the Internet-Pad and one or more wireless output devices that are distinct devices from the Internet-Pad; and

wherein, the Internet-Pad is further operable to;

receive, via the voice activated command function from the user, a request to transmit or output at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad, the digital content including one or more of an e-mail, audio content, video content, a receipt, a confirmation, a map, a photo, graphics, a web page, and a document, individually or in any combination, and

pass the at least part of the digital content from at least one of said audio application, said digital imaging application, said document editing application, said e-mail application, said Internet browsing application, and said video application, individually or in any combination, for transmission or output of the at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad, the passing of the at least part of the digital content being facilitated, at least in part, by the object model or the application programming interface (API) provided by the Internet-Pad operating system software, and

transmit or output, over the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, the at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad;

whereby, the mobile and wireless Internet-Pad is operable to receive voice activated commands from the user to transmit or output the at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad; and

wherein, the Internet-Pad is further operable to;

take a picture with the digital camera included in the Internet-Pad,

discover, through the wireless communication unit of the Smart Phone, the one or more wireless output devices,

provide, via the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, the one or more discovered wireless output devices to the user for selection,

receive, from the user via the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, a selected wireless output device from among the one or more discovered wireless output devices provided to the user for selection,

establish a radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device for transfer of at least part of the picture taken with the digital camera, and

transfer, via the wireless communication unit included in the Internet-Pad, the at least part of the picture taken with the digital camera over the established radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device; and

whereby, the mobile and wireless Internet-Pad is further operable to receive, via the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, a selected wireless output device from the user for transfer of the at least part of the picture taken with the digital camera of the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device over the established radio frequency wireless connection between the Internet-Pad and the selected wireless output device.

2. The Internet-Pad of claim 1, wherein the Internet-Pad is further operable to:

receive, via the voice activated command function from the user of the Internet-Pad, a wireless output controller device for transmitting or outputting the at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad, the wireless output controller device being a distinct device from the Internet-Pad;

establish a wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the wireless output controller device for transmission or output of the at least part of the digital content to the wireless output controller device; and

transmit or output, over the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, the at least part of the digital content to the wireless output controller device over the established wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the wireless output controller device.

3. The Internet-Pad of claim 1, wherein the Internet-Pad is further operable to:

provide, via at least one of the speaker interface of the Internet-Pad or the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, one or more wireless output controller devices to the user for selection, the one or more wireless output controller devices being distinct devices from the Internet-Pad;

receive, via the voice activated command function from the user of the Internet-Pad or the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, a selected wireless output controller device from among the one or more wireless output controller devices that are provided to the user for selection by the user, the selected wireless output controller device being a distinct device from the Internet-Pad; and

transmit or output, over the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, the at least part of the digital content to the selected wireless output controller device.

4. The Internet-Pad of claim 1, wherein the Internet-Pad is further operable to:

discover, over the radio frequency wireless communication and through the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, a wireless output controller device; and

transmit or output, over the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, the at least part of the digital content to the wireless output controller device.

5. The Internet-Pad of claim 1, wherein the Internet-Pad further includes an output manager in the Internet-Pad for managing transfer of the at least part of the digital content to the selected wireless output device, the Internet-Pad being further operable to pass the at least part of the digital content from at least one of said e-mail application, said audio application, said digital imaging application, said document editing application, said Internet browsing application, and said video application, individually or in any combination, to the output manager in the Internet-Pad, the passing of the at least part of the digital content being facilitated, at least in part, by the object model or the application programming interface (API) provided by the Internet-Pad operating system software.

6. The Internet-Pad of claim 1, wherein the Internet-Pad is further operable to obtain authentication or security information at the Internet-Pad for the selected wireless output device, the Internet-Pad being further operable to establish a restricted radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device for transfer of the at least part of the digital content to the selected wireless output device.

7. The Internet-Pad of claim 1, wherein the Internet-Pad is further operable to:

discover, over the radio frequency wireless communication and through the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, one or more wireless output controller devices that are available for establishing a radio frequency wireless connection; and

receive, from the user via the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, a selected wireless output controller device from among the one or more wireless output controller devices that are provided to the user for selection by the user.

8. A method for transmitting digital content from an Internet-Pad via a voice activated command interface, the Internet-Pad being a mobile and wireless information apparatus, the Internet-Pad including a digital Pad with access to the Internet and having one or more applications with access to digital content, the Internet-Pad including each of the following applications installed or pre-installed:

an e-mail application,

a digital imaging application,

an audio application,

a video application,

a document creation application,

an Internet browsing application, and

operating system software in the Internet-Pad supporting an object model or an application programming interface (API) to facilitate at least one of said e-mail application, said audio application, said video application, said digital imaging application, said document creation application, and said Internet browsing application, interfacing with device management applications in the Internet-Pad, and

wherein, the Internet-Pad is operable to allow the user to install additional applications associated for running on said operating system software to further expand the functionalities of the Internet-Pad;

the Internet-Pad further comprising;

a digital camera for taking pictures,

a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with the user,

a graphical user interface over the touch sensitive screen,

a microphone interface,

a speaker interface for outputting sound to the user,

a voice activated command function for receiving voice commands from the user over the microphone interface,

a processing unit,

a memory or storage unit for storing at least a portion of the digital content, and

a wireless communication unit that includes a radio frequency controller and an antenna for establishing radio frequency wireless communication between the Internet-Pad and one or more wireless output devices that are distinct devices from the Internet-Pad, the method comprising;

receiving, via the voice activated command function from the user, a request to transfer at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad to a selected one of the one or more wireless output devices;

discovering, over a radio frequency wireless communication and through the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, the one or more wireless output devices that are available for establishing a radio frequency wireless connection;

providing, via at least one of the speaker interface of the Internet-Pad or the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, the one or more discovered wireless output devices to the user for selection;

receiving, via the voice activated command function from the user or the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, the selected wireless output device from among the one or more discovered wireless output devices that are provided to the user for selection by the user;

establishing a radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device for transfer of the at least part of the digital content to the selected wireless output device;

passing the at least part of the digital content from at least one of said audio application, said digital imaging application, said document creation application, said e-mail application, said Internet browsing application, and said video application, individually or in any combination, for transferring of the at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device, the passing of the at least part of the digital content being facilitated, at least in part, by the object model or the application programming interface (API) provided by the Internet-Pad operating system software; and

transferring the at least part of the digital content to the selected wireless output device over the established radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device; and

wherein, the at least part of the digital content in the Internet-Pad and accessible from at least one of said audio application, said digital imaging application, said document creation application, said e-mail application, said Internet browsing application, and said video application, individually or in any combination, is transferred to the selected wireless output device over the radio frequency wireless communication connection established between the Internet-Pad and the selected wireless output device when the mobile and wireless Internet-Pad receives voice activated commands from the user to initiate such transfer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected wireless output device is at least one of a music playing device, a sound output device, a video output device, an image display device, a television, a projection device, and a printing device, individually or in any combination.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising searching, over a radio frequency wireless communication and through the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, for one or more wireless output devices in response to the received voice request to transfer at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

taking a picture with the digital camera included in the Internet-Pad; and

transferring, via the wireless communication unit included in the Internet-Pad, at least part of the picture taken with the digital camera over the established radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the Internet-Pad further includes an image acquisition application for image data acquisition and an output manager for managing transfer of the at least part of the digital content to the one or more wireless output devices, the method further comprising passing the at least part of the digital content from said image acquisition application to the output manager via, at least in part, the object model or the application programming interface (API) provided by the Internet-Pad operating system software.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising obtaining authentication or security information at the Internet-Pad for the selected wireless output device, and wherein establishing a radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device includes establishing a restricted radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device for transfer of the at least part of the digital content to the selected wireless output device.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the Internet-Pad further includes a voice interface, and wherein providing one or more discovered wireless output devices to the user for selection includes providing to the user, via the voice interface of the Internet-Pad, one or more discovered wireless output devices for selection by the user.

15. An Internet-Pad including Internet-Pad software containing a program of commands executable by a processor of the Internet-Pad to facilitate transfer of digital content from the Internet-Pad to a wireless output device, the Internet-Pad being a mobile and wireless information apparatus and including a digital Pad with access to the Internet, and the Internet-Pad including each of the following applications installed or pre-installed:

an e-mail application,

a digital imaging application,

an audio application,

a video application,

a document editing application,

an Internet browsing application, and

operating system software in the Internet-Pad supporting an object model or an application programming interface (API) to facilitate at least one of said e-mail application, said audio application, said video application, said digital imaging application, said document editing application, and said Internet browsing application, interfacing with device management applications in the Internet-Pad, and

wherein, the Internet-Pad is operable to allow the user to install additional applications to further expand the functionalities of the Internet-Pad;

the Internet-Pad further comprising;

a digital camera for taking pictures,

a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with the user,

a graphical user interface over the touch sensitive screen,

a microphone interface,

a speaker interface for outputting sound to the user,

a voice activated command function for receiving voice commands from the user over the microphone interface,

a processing unit,

a memory or storage unit for storing at least a portion of the digital content, and

a wireless communication unit that includes a radio frequency controller and an antenna for establishing radio frequency wireless communication between the Internet-Pad and one or more wireless output devices that are distinct devices from the Internet-Pad, the Internet-Pad software being further executable by the processor of the Internet-Pad to facilitate the Internet-Pad to;

receive, via the voice activated command function from the user, a request to transmit or output at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad, the digital content including one or more of an e-mail, a receipt, a confirmation, a map, a photo, audio content, video content, graphics, a web page, and a document, individually or in any combination, and

transmit or output, over the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, the at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad;

whereby, the mobile and wireless Internet-Pad is operable to receive voice activated commands from the user to transmit or output the at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad; and

wherein, the Internet-Pad software is further executable by the processor of the Internet-Pad to facilitate the Internet-Pad to;

take a picture with the digital camera included in the Internet-Pad,

provide, via the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, the one or more wireless output devices to the user for selection,

receive from the user via the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, a selected wireless output device from among the one or more wireless output devices provided to the user for selection,

establish a radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device for transfer of at least part of the picture taken with the digital camera, and

transfer, via the wireless communication unit included in the Internet-Pad, the at least part of the picture taken with the digital camera over the established radio frequency wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device; and

whereby, the mobile and wireless Internet-Pad is further operable to receive, via the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, the selected wireless output device from the user for transfer of the at least part of the picture taken with the digital camera of the Internet-Pad to the selected wireless output device over the established radio frequency wireless connection between the Internet-Pad and the selected wireless output device.

16. The Internet-Pad of claim 15, wherein the Internet-Pad software is further executable by the processor of the Internet-Pad to:

receive, via the voice activated command function from the user of the Internet-Pad, a wireless output controller device for transmitting or outputting the at least part of the digital content from the Internet-Pad, the wireless output controller device being a distinct device from the Internet-Pad;

establish a wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the wireless output controller device for transmission or output of the at least part of the digital content to the wireless output controller device; and

transmit or output, over the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, the at least part of the digital content to the selected wireless output controller device over the established wireless connection from the Internet-Pad to the wireless output controller device.

17. The Internet-Pad of claim 15, wherein the Internet-Pad software is further executable by the processor of the Internet-Pad to:

provide, via at least one of the speaker interface of the Internet-Pad or the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, one or more wireless output controller devices to the user for selection, the one or more wireless output controller devices being distinct devices from the Internet-Pad;

receive, via the voice activated command function from the user of the Internet-Pad or the touch sensitive screen interface of the Internet-Pad, a selected wireless output controller device from among the one or more wireless output controller devices that are provided to the user for selection by the user, the selected wireless output controller device being a distinct device from the Internet-Pad, and transmit or output, over the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, the at least part of the digital content to the selected wireless output controller device.

18. The Internet-Pad of claim 15, wherein Internet-Pad software is further executable by the processor of the Internet-Pad to discover, over a radio frequency wireless communication and through the wireless communication unit of the Internet-Pad, the one or more wireless output devices that are available for establishing a radio frequency wireless connection.

19. The Internet-Pad of claim 15, wherein the Internet-Pad further includes an image acquisition application for image data acquisition and an output manager for managing transfer of the at least part of the digital content to the one or more wireless output devices, the Internet-Pad being further operable to pass the at least part of the digital content from said image acquisition application to the output manager, the passing of the at least part of the digital content being facilitated, at least in part, by the object model or the application programming interface (API) provided by the Internet-Pad operating system software.

20. The Internet-Pad of claim 15, wherein the Internet-Pad further includes a voice interface, the Internet-Pad being further operable to provide to the user, via the voice interface of the Internet-Pad, one or more wireless output devices for selection by the user.