MOBILE INFORMATION APPARATUS THAT INCLUDES WIRELESS COMMUNICATION CIRCUITRY FOR DISCOVERY OF AN OUTPUT DEVICE FOR OUTPUTTING DIGITAL CONTENT AT THE WIRELESSLY DISCOVERED OUTPUT DEVICE

• US 20190121613A1
• Filed: 12/21/2018
• Published: 04/25/2019
• 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 10,642,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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
• 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

Information apparatus (e.g., a smart phone) for outputting digital content, stored in the information apparatus, at an output device is herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus includes wireless communication circuitry for discovering one or more output devices based, at least in part, on physical proximity and short range wireless communication. Subsequent to wirelessly discovering the output devices, the information apparatus receives device dependent attributes from the discovered output devices and provides, on a touch sensitive screen interface, at least an item related to the discovered output device for selection. The device dependent attributes include information related to the output devices. After the output device is selected, the information apparatus generates output data from the digital content that is acceptable for rendering at the output device; and wirelessly transmits the generated output data to the selected output device for rendering at least part of the digital content.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly outputting, at one or more output devices, digital content from a mobile information apparatus, the mobile information apparatus including:

at least one processing unit,

memory for storing at least part of the digital content,

a wireless communication unit, which includes one or more communication chip or chipsets, for enabling the mobile information apparatus to wirelessly communicate with the one or more output devices, where the one or more output devices are distinct and separate devices from the mobile information apparatus,

a display screen including a touch sensitive screen interface,

a graphical user interface for enabling a user to select a function or an icon displayed over the touch sensitive screen interface,

one or more software applications that include a digital imaging application, an audio application, a video application, a document creation application, an e-mail application, or an Internet browsing application,

an operating system providing an object model or an application programming interface to facilitate the one or more software applications access to the object model or the application programming interface and to communicate with utilities and services provided by device management applications at the mobile information apparatus, the one or more software applications having access to at least part of the digital content, and

output manager software, at the mobile information apparatus, for managing and coordinating communication with the one or more output devices to output at least part of the digital content to the one or more output devices,

the method comprising;

(1) wirelessly searching, using the wireless communication unit of the mobile information apparatus and over radio frequency wireless communication, for the one or more output devices, the wireless searching of the one or more output devices is based, at least in part, on the mobile information apparatus being within a physical distance from the one or more output devices;

(2) wirelessly receiving, via the wireless communication unit of the mobile information apparatus and over the radio frequency wireless communication, one or more device dependent attributes corresponding to the one or more output devices discovered in the wireless search in step (1);

(3) receiving a selection, via the touch sensitive screen interface of the mobile information apparatus, of a selected output device from among the one or more output devices that are wirelessly discovered in the wireless search in step (1), using the wireless communication unit of the mobile information apparatus and over the radio frequency wireless communication;

(4) passing, at the mobile information apparatus and from the one or more software applications, at least part of the digital content to the output manager software included in the mobile information apparatus, the passing of the at least part of the digital content being facilitated, at least in part, by the operating system included in the mobile information apparatus;

(5) generating, at the mobile information apparatus, output data from the at least part of the digital content passed in step (4) for delivering to the selected output device in step (3), the generated output data being related, at least in part, to the one or more device dependent attributes received in step (2) corresponding to the selected output device in step (3); and

(6) wirelessly delivering, via the wireless communication unit of the mobile information apparatus and over a radio frequency wireless communication link, at least part of the output data generated in step (5) to the selected output device in step (3) for rendering at least part of the digital content, and

whereby, the one or more software applications, included in the mobile information apparatus are enabled to wirelessly discover an output device based on physical proximity to the output device, select the discovered output device, and output at least part of the digital content, via the wireless communication unit of the mobile information apparatus, to the selected output device, and over the radio frequency wireless communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile information apparatus is at least a smart phone, and wherein the radio frequency wireless communication or the radio frequency wireless communication link is short range wireless communication;

and the radio frequency wireless communication or the radio frequency wireless communication link includes one or more of Bluetooth wireless communication or one being an implementation based on IEEE 802.11 standards.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile information apparatus is at least a smart phone, and wherein the selected output device is related at least to a television or an output controller connectable to a television;

and wherein the radio frequency wireless communication link in step (6) is compatible, at least in part, with at least a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards; and

wherein the at least part of the output data wirelessly delivered to the selected output device in step (6) includes at least audio data or video data.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the one or more device dependent attributes corresponding to the one or more output devices include information characterizing the one or more output devices or services provided by the output device, and wherein the information characterizing the one or more output devices includes one or more of a make identifier, a model identifier, an output device type identifier, an output data format identifier, or an output device identifier, individually or in any combination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile information apparatus is at least a smart phone;

and wherein the selected output device is at least a wireless audio output device or a wireless sound output device, and wherein the at least part of the output data wirelessly delivered to the selected output device in step (6) includes at least audio data or sound data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the mobile information apparatus and via the radio frequency wireless communication, information or components related to the one or more output devices from the one or more output devices discovered in the wireless search in step (1);

and

wherein the received information or components include one or more of identity information, capability information, user interface information, format or language information, software code, or a software application, individually or in any combination.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining authentication information or security information, at the mobile information apparatus, the authentication information or the security information is for authenticating the user of the mobile information apparatus or the mobile information apparatus to gain access to output services provided by the one or more output devices; and

verifying the authentication information or the security information for the mobile information apparatus to gain access to the output services provided by the selected output device.

8. A mobile information apparatus for wirelessly outputting digital content at one or more output devices, the mobile information apparatus including:

a voice communication functionality for voice communication,

an image acquisition functionality for image acquisition,

a wireless communication unit that includes a radio frequency link controller to enable the mobile information apparatus to wirelessly communicate with the one or more output devices that are distinct and separate devices from the mobile information apparatus,

a touch sensitive screen,

a graphical user interface for enabling a user to invoke functions by selecting an item displayed on the touch sensitive screen,

a processing unit,

memory for storing at least part of the digital content,

an audio application or a video application,

one or more applications that include a document creation application, an e-mail application, and an Internet browsing application installed or included in the mobile information apparatus, with access to at least part of the digital content,

an operating system providing an application programming interface (API) to facilitate the one or more applications with access to the one or more output devices,

the mobile information apparatus, facilitated at least in part by the processing unit and the operating system, being configured to;

(1) wirelessly search, using the wireless communication unit of the mobile information apparatus, for the one or more output devices;

(2) wirelessly discover, by the mobile information apparatus, the one or more output devices subsequent to the wireless search in step (1), the wireless discovery is based, at least in part, on the one or more output devices being available within a physical distance from the mobile information apparatus;

(3) wirelessly receive, using the wireless communication unit of the mobile information apparatus, one or more device dependent attributes corresponding to the one or more output devices wirelessly discovered in step (2);

(4) receive, at the mobile information apparatus and via the graphical user interface over the touch sensitive screen, a selection of a selected output device, from among the one or more output devices wirelessly discovered in step (2), the one or more output devices being available within a physical distance from the mobile information apparatus;

(5) obtaining at least part of the digital content, at the mobile information apparatus, using, at least in part, the one or more applications;

(6) generate, by the mobile information apparatus, output data from the at least part of the digital content obtained at the mobile information apparatus in step (5), the generated output data is for delivering to the selected output device in step (4), and the generated output data is related, at least in part, to the one or more device dependent attributes in step (3) and corresponding to the selected output device in step (4); and

(7) wirelessly deliver, using the wireless communication unit of the mobile information apparatus and over a wireless communication link, at least part of the output data generated in step (6) from the mobile information apparatus to the selected output device in step (4) for rendering at least part of the digital content, and

whereby, the one or more applications, included in the mobile information apparatus, are enabled to output at least part of the digital content from the mobile information apparatus to the selected output device, using the wireless communication unit, after having wirelessly discovered the selected output device based, at least in part, on the physical distance between the mobile information apparatus and the selected output device.

9. The mobile information apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an output manager stored, at least partly, in the memory of the mobile information apparatus and executable, at least partly, by the processing unit for managing output of the digital content to the one or more output devices, and wherein the obtaining of at least part of the digital content in step (5), using the one or more applications, is facilitated, at least in part, by the output manager of the mobile information apparatus via the API.

10. The mobile information apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication unit supports at least one implementation within Bluetooth or at least one implementation within IEEE 802.11 standards;

and wherein the wireless communication link from the mobile information apparatus to the selected output device is a short range wireless communication link or a wireless local area network communication.

11. The mobile information apparatus of claim 10 in which the one or more device dependent attributes include one or more of identity information related to the selected output device, a software code, a software application, a user interface information, or an output device driver, individually or in any combination;

and wherein the wireless receiving of the one or more device dependent attributes in step (3), using the wireless communication unit of the mobile information apparatus, is received from the one or more output devices wirelessly discovered in step (2).

12. The mobile information apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mobile information apparatus is at least a smart phone, and wherein the selected output device is related at least to a television or an output controller connectable to a television;

and wherein the wireless communication link in step (7) includes a wireless local area network that is compatible, at least in part, with at least a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards; and

wherein the at least part of the output data wirelessly delivered to the selected output device in step (7) over the wireless local area network includes at least audio data or video data.

13. The mobile information apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mobile information apparatus is at least a smart phone;

and wherein the selected output device is at least a wireless audio output device or a wireless sound output device; and

wherein the at least part of the output data wirelessly delivered to the selected output device in step (7) includes at least audio data or sound data.

14. The mobile information apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mobile information apparatus is at least a smart phone, and wherein the image acquisition functionality of the mobile information apparatus for image acquisition includes at least a digital camera, the digital content is obtained via the digital camera of the mobile information apparatus for outputting at the selected output device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having recorded therein software or firmware for an information apparatus to wirelessly output digital content at one or more output devices, the information apparatus includes:

at least one processing unit,

memory or storage for storing at least part of the digital content,

a wireless communication unit including one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets for establishing a wireless communication link with the one or more output devices, the one or more output devices are distinct and separate devices from the information apparatus,

a display screen,

a touch sensitive screen interface for interaction with a user,

one or more applications that include at least one of a digital imaging application, an audio application, a video application, a document creation application, an e-mail application, or an Internet browsing application,

an operating system providing an application programming interface (API) facilitating the one or more applications to interface and communicate with device management applications included in the information apparatus, and

wherein execution of the software or firmware, by the at least one processing unit at the information apparatus, performs a data output method at the information apparatus, comprising;

(1) wirelessly searching, using the wireless communication unit of the information apparatus and over short range wireless communication, for the one or more output devices;

(2) wirelessly discovering, using the wireless communication unit included in the information apparatus, the one or more output devices, the wireless discovery is based, at least in part, on a physical distance between the information apparatus and the one or more output devices for short range wireless communication;

(3) wirelessly obtaining, using the wireless communication unit of the information apparatus, one or more device dependent attributes corresponding to the one or more output devices wirelessly discovered in step (2);

(4) receiving, via the touch sensitive screen interface of the information apparatus, a selected output device from among the one or more output devices that are wirelessly discovered in step (2), the selection of the output device is based on the one or more device dependent attributes obtained in step (3);

(5) processing, at the information apparatus, the at least part of the digital content, to generate output data compatible as input to the selected output device in step (4), the generated output data is related, at least in part, to the one or more device dependent attributes in step (3) and corresponding to the selected output device in step (4); and

(6) wirelessly transmitting, using the wireless communicating unit of the information apparatus and over the wireless communication link, at least part of the generated output data in step (5) from the information apparatus to the selected output device in step (3), for rendering at least part of the digital content.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication link is a radio frequency wireless communication link that is compatible with one or more of a Bluetooth wireless communication, an implementation based on IEEE 802.11 standards, a Home Radio Frequency (Home RF), or an implementation operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency, individually or in any combination.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein subsequent to obtaining the authentication or security information at the information apparatus, the data output method further comprises:

displaying, over the touch sensitive screen interface, the one or more output devices discovered in the wireless discovery in step (2) for user selection; and

wherein the selecting of the selected output device in step (4) includes receiving an input from the user via the touch sensitive screen interface.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 in which the data output method further includes receiving, at the information apparatus and via the radio frequency wireless communication link, information or components related to the one or more output devices from the one or more output devices discovered in the wireless discovery in step (2);

and

wherein the information or components include one or more of identity information, capability information, user interface information, format or language information, software code, or a software application, individually or in any combination.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the information apparatus is at least a smart phone;

and wherein the selected output device is at least a wireless audio output device or a wireless sound output device, and wherein the at least part of the generated output data wirelessly transmitted to the selected output device in step (6) includes at least audio data or sound data.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more output devices include one or more of a printing device, a television, a projector, a display device, an audio output device, or a controller connectable to a television, individually or in any combination;

and wherein the information apparatus is at least a smart phone.