WIRELESS OUTPUT DEVICES OR WIRELESS CONTROLLERS FOR ESTABLISHING WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY AND FOR RECEIVING AUDIO OR VIDEO DIGITAL CONTENT

• US 20180335989A1
• Filed: 07/31/2018
• Published: 11/22/2018
• 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 Y.
• Granted Patent: US 10,768,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1258 by updating job settings at the printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 : in client-server-printer device configuration
• 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 3/162 : Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 : using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/181 : Receiving print data characterized by its formatting, e.g. particular page description languages
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1836 : Rasterization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 : specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 : Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 : with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 : with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 : Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 : the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00488 : providing an audible output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 : Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00938 : Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications program loading in general G06F9/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32534 : details of interfacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32582 : Output interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 : involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/442 : using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 : Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 : Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Output devices supporting wireless device discovery are herein disclosed and enabled. To setup an output device for wireless connection, wireless device discovery is performed by a client of the output device to discover the output device. Upon being discovered, the output device may provide identification or information related to the output device to the client for establishing a wireless connection. Subsequently, the output device may receive, via the established wireless connection, digital content from the client for output. Wireless device discovery operations may be based on one or more of a close proximity wireless communication, a Bluetooth wireless communication, or a wireless communication compatible with a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards. Security information or authentication may be required for establishing the wireless connection. Subsequent to having established the wireless connection, the output device receives the audio or video content from the client for playing at the output device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method for an output device to establish a wireless communication link with a client of the output device, the output device includes communication circuitry that includes one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication and memory storing at least an attribute or identification information related to the output device, the wireless communication method comprising:

(1) facilitating, by the one or more wireless communication units within the output device, a wireless device discovery operation for the output device to wirelessly discover the client or for the output device to be wirelessly discoverable by the client;

(2) transmitting, via the one or more wireless communication units within the output device, at least the attribute or identification information related to the output device from the output device to the client, the transmitting of the attribute or identification information being subsequent to the wireless device discovery operation in (1);

(3) implementing, at the output device, a security procedure or an authentication procedure for establishing a service between the output device and the client, the security procedure or the authentication procedure includes one or more of a user name, a password, an ID number, a PIN, an IP address, a device identification, a security key, a biometric, a fingerprint, or a voice, individually or in any combination;

(4) establishing a wireless communication link between the output device and the client, via the one or more wireless communication units within the output device, the establishing of the wireless communication link is subsequent to having implemented the security procedure or the authentication procedure in (3), and the establishing of the wireless communication link is subsequent to having transmitted the attribute or identification information in (2), and the wireless communication link being at least one of a direct short range wireless communication or a wireless local area network communication;

(5) receiving output data from the client and over the established wireless communication link in (4), the output data being related to at least part of digital content for output or playing at the output device, and the digital content being at least one of audio content or video content, individually or in any combination; and

(6) outputting or playing at the output device at least part of the digital content that is at least one of audio content or video content;

wherein the client is either a wireless information apparatus or a client application executable at the wireless information apparatus, and the wireless information apparatus is a distinct device from the output device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless communication units includes one or more chips or chipsets supporting, at least in part, at least a protocol within Bluetooth specifications or within IEEE 802.11 standards.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting at least attribute or identification information from the output device to the client facilitates selection or identification of the output device by the client;

and wherein, subsequent to having transmitted the attribute or identification information in (2), the wireless communication method further comprises;

wirelessly receiving a query or a service request from the client via the one or more wireless communication units of the output device; and

in response to the query or the service request, establishing the wireless communication link between the output device and the client, the wireless communication link being compatible with at least a protocol within Bluetooth specifications; and

wherein the output data received from the client over the established wireless communication link includes audio digital content for playing at the output device; and

wherein the output device is at least a Bluetooth enabled audio output device, and the wireless information apparatus is at least a smart phone.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the output device is at least one of an audio output device, a sound output device, a projection device, a display device, a television, or a controller box connected to a television, individually or in any combination;

and wherein the wireless information apparatus is at least one of a smart phone, an Internet-Phone, a touch sensitive screen phone, an Information-Pad, a digital camera, an Internet appliance, or an Internet-Pad, individually or in any combination.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the client is a smart phone, and the wireless device discovery operation is based, at least in part, on a short range wireless communication within close proximity between the output device and the smart phone.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein implementing the security procedure or the authentication procedure in step (3) includes receiving, by the output device from the client via the one or more wireless communication units within the output device, security information or authentication information that includes one or more of a user name, a password, an ID number, a PIN, an IP address, a device identification, a security key, a biometric, a fingerprint, or a voice, individually or in any combination.

7. A method for establishing a wireless communication link between a wireless output device and a smart phone, the wireless output device includes:

wireless communication circuitry, the wireless communication circuitry includes one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets supporting, at least in part short range wireless communication;

an output device for outputting or playing digital content; and

memory storing at least an attribute or identification information related to the wireless output device, the method comprising;

(1) facilitating, via the wireless communication circuitry of the wireless output device, a wireless discovery operation for the smart phone to wirelessly discover the wireless output device or for the wireless output device to wirelessly discover the smart phone, wherein the wireless discovery operation is based, at least in part, on physical proximity between the wireless output device and the smart phone;

(2) wirelessly transmitting, via the wireless communication circuitry of the wireless output device, at least the attribute or the identification information stored in the memory of the wireless output device to the smart phone, the transmitting of the attribute or the identification information is based, at least in part, on physical proximity between the wireless output device and the smart phone, and the transmitting of the attribute or identification information is subsequent to either the wireless output device having wirelessly discovered the smart phone in (1), or the smart phone having wirelessly discovered the wireless output device in (1);

(3) wirelessly receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry of the wireless output device, a service request or a connection request from the smart phone, the service request or the connection request from the smart phone is subsequent to the wireless output device having transmitted the attribute or the identification information from the wireless output device to the smart phone in (2);

(4) establishing, using the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets of the wireless output device, a wireless communication link between the wireless output device and the smart phone in response to having received the service request or the connection request in (3), the wireless communication link being a short range wireless communication link;

(5) wirelessly receiving, via the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets of the wireless output device and over the established wireless communication link in (4), output data from the smart phone, the output data including audio digital content or voice digital content, individually or in any combination;

(6) processing or decoding, by the wireless output device, at least part of the received output data in (5) for outputting or playing at the output device of the wireless output device at least part of the audio digital content or the voice digital content; and

(7) outputting or playing, using the output device within the wireless output device, at least part of the processed or decoded output data in (6), the processed or decoded output data being related to at least part of the audio digital content or the voice digital content.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more chips or chipsets of the wireless communication circuitry support, at least in part, at least a protocol within Bluetooth specifications or within IEEE 802.11 standards for establishing the wireless communication link.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

(8) wirelessly transmitting, from the wireless output device to the smart phone and using the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets within the wireless output device, status information or device information related to the wireless output device;

the status information or device information is for enabling the smart phone to wirelessly manage or wirelessly drive the wireless output device over the established wireless communication link in (4).

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

(8) wirelessly transmitting, using the one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets within the wireless output device and over the established wireless communication link in (4), audio data or voice data from the wireless output device to the smart phone.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising wirelessly receiving, from the smart phone and via the wireless communication circuitry of the wireless output device, security information or authentication information that includes one or more of a user name, a password, an ID number, a PIN, an IP address, a device identification, a security key, a biometric, a fingerprint, or a voice, individually or in any combination, and wherein subsequent to having successfully received the security information or the authentication information, the wireless output device establishes the wireless communication link in (4).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting of the attribute or the identification information in (2) is to facilitate selection or identification of the wireless output device by the smart phone or by an information apparatus that is a distinct device from the smart phone, and wherein the attribute or identification information includes one or more of a user name, a password, an ID number, a PIN, an IP address, a device identification, a code, a security key, a biometric, a fingerprint, or a voice, individually or in any combination.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein, subsequent to having wirelessly transmitted the attribute or the identification information in (2), the method further comprises wirelessly receiving a service request or a connection request from an information apparatus that is a distinct device from the smart phone, the receiving of the service request or connection request from the information apparatus is based, at least in part, on the smart phone having shared, over a network, information related, at least in part, to the attribute or the identification information that is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless output device to the smart phone in (2).

14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising wirelessly synchronizing software or data between the wireless output device and the smart phone over the established wireless communication link in (4).

16. The wireless output device according to claim 13, wherein the establishing of the wireless communication link in (4) is subsequent to having implemented, at the wireless output device, a security procedure or an authentication procedure, the security procedure or the authentication procedure includes wirelessly receiving, from the client and via the wireless communication circuitry of the wireless output device, one or more of a user name, a password, an ID number, a security key, a device identification, a PIN, a biometric, a fingerprint, or a voice, individually or in any combination.

17. The wireless output device according to claim 13, wherein the wireless output device is further operable for wirelessly transmitting, using the at least a wireless communication chip or chipset within the wireless output device and over the established wireless communication link in (4), audio data or voice data from the wireless output device to the smart phone.

18. The wireless output device according to claim 13, wherein the interface includes one or more of a display screen, a touch sensitive screen, a touch sensitive interface, a button, a push button, a soft key, a keypad, a status indicator, an on/off power control, or a switch, individually or in any combination.

19. The wireless output device according to claim 13, wherein the wireless output device is a Bluetooth enabled audio wireless output device, and the mobile information apparatus is a smart phone;

and wherein the wireless communication link established between the Bluetooth enabled audio wireless output device and the smart phone is compliant, at least in part, with at least a protocol within Bluetooth specifications; and

wherein the output data includes audio digital content for playing at the Bluetooth enabled audio wireless output device; and

wherein the Bluetooth enabled audio wireless output device further includes memory or a storage component for storing at least the attribute or identification information related to the wireless output device, and wherein transmitting the attribute or identification information from the Bluetooth enabled audio wireless output device to the client in (2) includes transmitting the attribute or identification information that is stored in the memory or the storage component of the Bluetooth enabled audio wireless output device to the smart phone.

20. The wireless output device according to claim 13, wherein the wireless output device is at least one of an audio wireless output device, a sound wireless output device, a projection device, a display device, a television, or a controller box connected to a television, individually or in any combination;

and wherein the mobile information apparatus is at least one of a smart phone, an Internet-Phone, a touch sensitive screen phone, an Information-Pad, a digital camera, an Internet appliance, or an Internet-Pad, individually or in any combination.

15. A wireless output device for receiving and playing digital content, comprising:

an output device;

wireless communication circuitry having at least a wireless communication chip or chipset configured to be compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards or within Bluetooth specifications;

wherein the wireless output device is operable for;

(1) facilitating, via the wireless communication circuitry within the wireless output device, a wireless device discovery operation, the wireless device discovery operation is for a client of the wireless output device to wirelessly discover the wireless output device;

(2) subsequent to the wireless output device being wirelessly discovered by the client in the wireless device discovery operation in (1), transmitting, via the wireless communication circuitry within the wireless output device, at least an attribute or identification information related to the wireless output device from the wireless output device to the client;

(3) subsequent to having transmitted the attribute or identification information related to the wireless output device in (2), receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry, a query or a service request from the client;

(4) subsequent to receiving the query or the service request in (3), establishing a wireless communication link between the wireless output device and the client, using the wireless communication chip or chipset within the wireless output device that is configured to be compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards or within Bluetooth specifications;

(5) receiving, by the wireless output device and over the established wireless communication link in (4), output data from the client; and

(6) outputting or playing, using the output device within the wireless output device, at least part of the output data received in (5);

wherein the output data is related to at least part of the digital content for outputting or playing at the wireless output device, and the digital content is at least one of audio digital content or video digital content, individually or in any combination; and

wherein the client is either a mobile information apparatus or a client application executable at the mobile information apparatus, and the mobile information apparatus is a distinct device from the wireless output device.