METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INITIALIZING A NETWORK CONNECTION FOR AN OUTPUT DEVICE

• US 20130163442A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KIK Interactive Incorporated (MediaLab.AI, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: KIK Interactive Incorporated (MediaLab.AI, Inc.)
• Inventors: Livingston, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,042,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a processor configured to send an identifier to an output device such that the output device presents the identifier. The apparatus also includes a cellular communication module and a Wi-Fi communication module operatively coupled to the processor. The cellular communication module can be configured to establish a connection with a cellular network. The cellular communication module can be configured to receive, from a server via the cellular network, Wi-Fi configuration instructions in response to the server receiving the identifier and the Wi-Fi configuration instructions from a communication device. The Wi-Fi communication module can be configured to establish a connection with a Wi-Fi network based on the Wi-Fi configuration instructions. The Wi-Fi communication module can be configured to receive, from the communication device, a command configured to control content presented by the output device after the connection with the Wi-Fi network has been established.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to send an identifier to an output device such that the output device presents the identifier;

a cellular communication module operatively coupled to the processor, the cellular communication module configured to establish a connection with a cellular network, the cellular communication module configured to receive, from a server via the cellular network, Wi-Fi configuration instructions in response to the server receiving the identifier and the Wi-Fi configuration instructions from a communication device; and

a Wi-Fi communication module operatively coupled to the processor, the Wi-Fi communication module configured to establish a connection with a Wi-Fi network based on the Wi-Fi configuration instructions, the Wi-Fi communication module configured to receive, from the communication device, a command configured to control content presented by the output device after the connection with the Wi-Fi network has been established.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cellular communication module is configured to send, via the cellular network and prior to receiving the Wi-Fi configuration instructions, a list of Wi-Fi communication networks available to the Wi-Fi communication module to the server such that the server can provide the list to the communication device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cellular communication module is configured to send, via the cellular network, a request for the identifier prior to the processor sending the identifier to the output device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to send the identifier to the output device such that the output device presents the identifier as an optical pattern configured to be received by the communication device via an optical input.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to send the identifier to the output device such that the output device presents the identifier as an alpha-numeric identifier configured to be received by the communication device via an alpha-numeric input.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to send the identifier to the output device when the connection with the Wi-Fi network is inoperable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content presented by the output device includes content configured to be rendered by a web-browser application after the connection with the Wi-Fi network has been established.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector configured to be operatively coupled to an HDMI connector on the output device.

9. A method, comprising:

sending, from a processor of a monitor interface device, an identifier to an output device such that the output device presents the identifier;

receiving, from a server via a cellular network, Wi-Fi configuration instructions in response to the server receiving the identifier and the Wi-Fi configuration instructions from a communication device;

establishing a connection with a Wi-Fi network based on the Wi-Fi configuration instructions;

receiving, from the communication device, a command associated with content presented on the output device; and

sending, from the processor, the command to the output device such that the output device presents content based on the command.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the monitor interface device is coupled to the output device via a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the sending the identifier is at a first time, the method further comprising:

receiving an indication that the connection with the Wi-Fi network is inoperable; and

sending, at a second time after the first time and based on the indication, the identifier to the output device such that the output device presents the identifier.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the sending the identifier includes sending the identifier to the output device such that the output device presents the identifier as at least one of an optical pattern configured to be received by the communication device via an optical input or an alpha-numeric identifier configured to be received by the communication device via an alpha-numeric input.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending, via the cellular network and prior to receiving the Wi-Fi configuration instructions, a list of Wi-Fi communication networks available to the Wi-Fi communication module to the server such that the server can provide the list to the communication device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending the identifier to the server such that the server can associate the monitor interface device with the communication device based on the identifier.

15. A non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to be executed by a processor, the code comprising code to cause the processor to:

receive, from a communication device, an identifier associated with a monitor interface device in response to a user of the communication device perceiving the identifier on an output device coupled to the monitor interface device;

associate the communication device with the monitor interface device based on the identifier;

receive, from the communication device, Wi-Fi configuration instructions associated with the monitor interface device;

send the Wi-Fi configuration instructions to the monitor interface device via a cellular network; and

receive, from the monitor interface device, a Wi-Fi connection acknowledgement signal via a Wi-Fi network associated with the monitor interface device.

16. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising code to cause the processor to:

receive, from the monitor interface device and via the cellular network, a list of Wi-Fi networks available to a Wi-Fi communication module of the monitor interface device; and

send the list of Wi-Fi networks to the communication device prior to receiving the Wi-Fi configuration instructions from the communication device.

17. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising code to cause the processor to:

receive, from the monitor interface device and via the cellular network, the identifier prior to associating the communication device with the monitor interface device.

18. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising code to cause the processor to:

receive, from the monitor interface device and via the cellular network, a request for an identifier; and

send, to the monitor interface device via the cellular network, the identifier.

19. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising code to cause the processor to:

provide content to a web-browser application associated with the monitor interface device via the Wi-Fi network after receiving the Wi-Fi connection acknowledgement signal.

20. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 15, further comprising code to cause the processor to:

receive, from the communication device, an instruction to control content presented on the output device; and

send, to the monitor interface device via the Wi-Fi network, the instruction such that the monitor interface device can control the content presented on the output device based on the instruction.