Near field communication (NFC) enabled wireless media system and player and method of operation

• US 8,583,044 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syndefense
• Original Assignee: Robin Dua
• Inventors: Dua, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US13/556,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 343/873, 340/572.1, 340/10.51, 705/14, 455/41.3, 455/2.01, 455/556.1, 455/552.1, 455/557, 455/3.06, 455/41.2, 463/25, 463/17, 250/201.5, 206/308.1, 709/213
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• 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 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• 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 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• 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

A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a primary transceiver to communicate primary data to an external device in at least one direction over a wireless communication channel;

a secondary transceiver to communicatively couple with the external device over another wireless communication channel instantiated in accordance with an activation state of a switch module;

a storage unit communicatively coupled to the secondary transceiver to store therein other data to be transmitted to the external device over the another wireless communication channel, when instantiated, in at least one direction therewith the external device; and

a processor electrically coupled to the primary and secondary transceivers to interoperate with the external device via the primary data communicated over the wireless communication channel and in accordance with the other data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor configures the wireless communication channel to communicate with the external device in accordance with at least a portion of the other data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activation state of the switch module is switched to a connect state, by which device-descriptive data are communicated, upon the external device coming into predetermined proximity with secondary transceiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an activation switch that, when actuated, switches the activation state of the switch module to a connect state, by which device-descriptive data are communicated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor configures the primary transceiver to establish the wireless communication channel in accordance with device-descriptive data communicated over the other wireless communication channel, the wireless communication channel remaining active subsequent to the secondary transceiver terminating the another wireless communication channel.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a transponder to provide communication configuration data to an external device;

a transceiver to receive media data from the external device over a communication channel instantiated in accordance with at least part of the communication configuration data provided by the transponder; and

an output device to output the media data received over the communication channel to a user.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transponder provides the data upon being brought into a predetermined proximity with the external device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the data provided by the transponder includes connectivity data defining parameters to instantiate the communication channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transponder is a Near Field Communication (NFC) transponder.

10. A wireless media player comprising:

a storage component to store at least one electronic media asset;

a near field communication (NFC) module to obtain data from at least one target device indicative of capabilities thereof via an NFC link; and

a wireless transceiver to establish a communication link with the target device in accordance with the obtained capabilities data thereof via the NFC link and to transmit the electronic media asset from the storage component to the target device over the established communication link.

11. The wireless media player of claim 10, further comprising:

a NFC activation button to initiate a NFC communication session with the target device by which the capabilities data are obtained.

12. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the wireless transceiver establishes the communication link with the at least one target device when the wireless media player is within a predetermined proximity to the at least one target device.

13. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the storage component stores device profile information including the capabilities data of the target device.

14. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the electronic media asset is transmitted to a plurality of the target devices simultaneously.

15. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the electronic media asset is transmitted to the at least one target device responsive to the communication link being established and exclusive of any user intervention.

16. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the at least one electronic media asset is selected to be transmitted to the at least one target device before the near field communication module obtains data from the at least one target device.

17. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the at least one electronic media asset is selected to be transmitted to the at least one target device after the wireless transceiver establishes the communication link with the target device.

18. The wireless media player of claim 10, further comprising:

a user interface including user controls by which the target device is selectable from one or more target devices with which the communication link has been previously established.

19. The wireless media player of claim 18, wherein the user interface includes a display screen to display information to a user and a keypad to accept information from the user.

20. The wireless media player of claim 19, wherein the user controls include soft-keys displayed on the display to present dynamic menu items indicative of the capabilities of the target device.

21. The wireless media player of claim 10, further comprising:

a commerce component with which to conduct commercial transactions using credential information stored therein and provided to the target device via the NFC module.

22. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the electronic media asset comprises at least one of an audio file, a video file, an audio-visual file, an image file, a presentation file, an internet content file, a mark-up language file and an electronic calling card file.

23. The wireless media player of claim 10, further comprising:

a network routing module to resolve a network address of the target device such that the communication link is formed through a communication network.

24. The wireless media player of claim 23, wherein the communication network is the Internet.

25. The wireless media player of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one user control by which at least one operation of the target device defined by the obtained capabilities data is controlled through manipulation thereof by a user.

26. The wireless media player of claim 10, further comprising:

a casing enclosing the storage component, the NFC module and the wireless transceiver, the casing including an indication of a location thereon of at least one NFC hot spot at which a NFC communication link with the target device is established, the capabilities data being obtained from the target device through the NFC communication link.

27. The wireless media player of claim 10, further comprising:

a cellular transceiver to initiate and support voice calls and data transmissions through a cellular telephone network.

28. The wireless media player of claim 10, further comprising:

a wireless network transceiver to access the Internet via an Internet wireless access point.

29. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the NFC module communicates with the target device over a near field communication channel to obtain the capabilities data from the target device.

30. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the NFC module communicates with the target device over a near field communication channel to send data indicative of capabilities of the wireless media player to the target device.

31. The wireless media player of claim 10, wherein the capabilities data include media processing capabilities, hardware capabilities, communications capabilities, audio device capabilities, live content processing capabilities, television content processing capabilities, peripheral device capabilities, media capture capabilities, media storage capabilities, media playback capabilities, device profile storage capabilities, automatic detection and connection capabilities, security capabilities, commercial transaction capabilities, and operating system and software capabilities.

32. A method of establishing a wireless communication connection between a handheld source device and at least one target device, the method comprising:

retrieving communication configuration information through at least one Near Field Communication (NFC) communication session between the handheld source device and the at least one target device;

configuring a wireless communication transceiver in accordance with the retrieved communication configuration information;

establishing the wireless communication connection through the configured wireless communication transceiver; and

transmitting at least one media asset from the handheld source device to the at least one target device through the wireless communication connection.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the transmitting of the at least one media asset further comprises:

receiving a selection of the at least one media asset to be transmitted before the retrieving of the communication configuration information through the at least one NFC communication session between the handheld source device and the at least one target device.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the transmitting of the at least one media asset further comprises:

receiving a selection of the at least one media asset to be transmitted after the establishing the wireless communication connection.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the retrieving of the configuration information includes:

initiating the NFC communication session when an NFC activation button on the handheld source device is actuated.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

providing the communication configuration information from the handheld source device to the at least one target device during the NFC communication session.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

streaming data to the at least one target device upon establishment of the wireless communication connection.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

storing the communication configuration information on the handheld source device.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

when the wireless communication connection is established between the handheld source device and the at least one target device, establishing a network communications link between the handheld source device and a second handheld source device via a communications network,

retrieving another communication configuration information through another NFC communication session between the second handheld source device and another target device of the at least one target device;

configuring a second wireless communication transceiver in accordance with the another retrieved communication configuration information; and

establishing another wireless communication connection through the another configured wireless communication transceiver.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

transmitting at least one media asset from the handheld source device to the second handheld source device via the network communications link, and

transmitting the at least one media asset from the second handheld source device to the another target device via the another wireless communication connection.

41. A wireless communication system comprising:

at least one source device comprising;

a Near Field Communication (NFC) module to selectively retrieve and provide device-descriptive data over a NFC communication channel; and

a wireless communication transceiver configurable in accordance with the selectively retrieved device-descriptive data to transmit and receive media asset data over a wireless communication channel; and

at least one target device comprising;

a NFC tag to provide the device-descriptive data over the NFC communication channel; and

another wireless communication transceiver to transmit and receive the media asset data over the wireless communication channel.

42. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the other wireless communication transceiver is configurable in accordance with the selectively provided device-descriptive data from the source device.

43. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the source device further comprises:

a NFC activation button cooperative with the NFC module to establish the NFC communication channel in accordance with the selected providing or retrieving of the device-descriptive data.

44. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the wireless communication channel is formed when the at least one source device is within a predetermined proximity to the at least one target device.

45. The wireless communication system of claim 44, wherein the source device streams the media asset data to the target device through the wireless communication channel.

46. The wireless communication system of claim 44, wherein the source device further comprises:

a processor to convert the media asset data from a first format to a second format prior to streaming.

47. The wireless communication system of claim 44, wherein the source device further comprises:

a user interface to remotely control at least one playback operation of the media asset data on the target device.

48. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the source device further comprises:

a storage unit to store a device profile for the target device including the device-descriptive data thereof.

49. The wireless communication system of claim 48, wherein the wireless communication transceiver is configured in accordance with the device profile retrieved from the storage unit.

50. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the target device comprises one or more of a wireless headset, at least one wireless speaker, a wireless media player, a camera, a music player, a video player, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a game player, a portable storage device, a television, a digital video recorder, a video cassette recorder, a satellite receiver, a digital versatile disk player, a media entertainment center, a radio, an automobile computer system, a printer, a copier, a fax machine, a mouse, a joystick, a keyboard, a graphical data display, a projector, a medical monitoring device, a home appliance, a landline phone, a desktop personal computer, a notebook computer, a router, a telecommunication switch, and a remote control.

51. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the device-descriptive data is contained in an extensible markup language file.

52. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the device-descriptive data is compliant with a zero configuration network protocol.

53. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the device-descriptive data is compliant with the Universal Plug and Play standard.

54. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the source device further comprises:

a receiver to receive at least one over-the-air broadcast signal; and

a processor to packetize the received signal in accordance with the established wireless communication channel prior to transmission thereof to the target device.

55. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the source device and the target device exchange respective device-descriptive data over the NFC communication channel.

56. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the source device further comprises:

a radio transceiver activated upon receipt of the device-descriptive data from the target device.

57. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the capabilities data include media processing capabilities, hardware capabilities, communications capabilities, audio device capabilities, live content processing capabilities, television content processing capabilities, peripheral device capabilities, media capture capabilities, media storage capabilities, media playback capabilities, device profile storage capabilities, automatic detection and connection capabilities, security capabilities, commercial transaction capabilities and operating system and software capabilities.

58. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the at least one source device includes a first source device and a second source device, and the at least one target device includes a first target device and a second target device,

wherein the first source device and the first target device transmit and receive data over the wireless communication channel, and the second source device and the second target device transmit and receive data over a second wireless communication channel, and

wherein the first source device and the second source device are communicatively coupled via a network communication link, and the data transmitted and received between the first source device and the first target device is transmitted via the network communication link to the second source device so as to be transmitted to the second target device via the second wireless communication channel.

59. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein the at least one source device includes a first source device and a second source device, and the at least one target device includes a first target device and a second target device,

wherein the first source device and the first target device transmit and receive data over the wireless communication channel, and the second source device and the second target device transmit and receive data over a second wireless communication channel, and

wherein the first target device and the second source device are communicatively coupled via a network communication link, and the data transmitted and received between the first source device and the first target device is transmitted via the network communication link to the second source device so as to be transmitted to the second target device via the second wireless communication channel.

60. A wireless data processing apparatus comprising:

a primary transceiver to communicate primary data in at least one direction over a wireless communication channel;

a secondary transceiver to communicatively couple with an external data processing device over a near field impermanent wireless communication channel so as to communicate device-descriptive data in at least one direction therewith; and

a processor electrically coupled to the primary and secondary transceivers to interoperate with the external data processing device in accordance with the device-descriptive data via the primary data communicated over the wireless communication channel.

61. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 60, wherein the wireless communication channel is formed when the secondary transceiver is within a predetermined proximity to the external data processing apparatus.

62. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 60, wherein the processor configures the primary transceiver to establish the wireless communication channel in accordance with the device-descriptive data communicated over the near field impermanent wireless communication channel such that the wireless data processing apparatus is communicatively operative with the external data processing device over the wireless communication channel subsequent to the secondary transceiver terminating the near field impermanent wireless communication channel.

63. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 60, further comprising:

a storage unit to store the device-descriptive data retrieved by the secondary transceiver as a retrievable device profile of the external data processing device.

64. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 63, wherein the processor configures the wireless data processing apparatus to interoperate with the external data processing device in accordance with the device profile retrieved from the database.

65. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 64, wherein processor modifies the device-descriptive data with data received with the primary data via the wireless communication channel.

66. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 64, wherein the processor configures the primary transceiver to communicate with more than one of the external processing devices on at least the wireless communication channel in accordance with the device profile of respective external processing devices retrieved from the database.

67. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 60, wherein the secondary transceiver includes a NFC transceiver.

68. A wireless data processing apparatus comprising:

a communication transceiver to communicate primary data in at least one direction over at least one wireless communication channel;

a near field communication (NFC) transceiver to communicatively couple with an external data processing device over an NFC channel so as to communicate device-descriptive data in at least one direction therewith; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the communication transceiver and the NFC transceiver to interoperate with the external data processing device in accordance with the device-descriptive data via the primary data communicated over the wireless communication channel.

69. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 68, wherein the NFC transceiver further comprises:

a switch unit to, responsive to a state of a switch signal from the processor, selectively transition the NFC transceiver into a provisioning operational mode in which the device-descriptive data of the wireless data processing apparatus are read by the external data processing device through the NFC channel and an acquiring operational mode in which the device-descriptive data of the external data processing device is retrieved through the NFC channel.

70. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 69, further comprising:

an activation control communicatively coupled to the processor and operable by a user to set the state of the switch signal.

71. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 70, wherein, responsive to manipulation of the activation control by the user, the switch unit transitions the NFC transceiver from the provisioning operational mode into the acquiring operational mode.

72. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 71, wherein the switch unit transitions the NFC transceiver from the acquiring operational mode to the provisioning operational mode upon completion of reading the device-descriptive data from the external data processing device and exclusive of the manipulation of the activation control.

73. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 69, further comprising:

a memory unit having stored therein processor instructions that, when executed by the processor, conducts predetermined data processing operations that include controlling the state of the switch signal without user intervention.

74. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 69, wherein the NFC transceiver further comprises:

a reader unit to read the device-descriptive data from the external data processing device over the NFC channel in the acquiring operational mode;

a tag unit to store the device-descriptive data of the wireless data processing apparatus so as to be read by the external data processing device in the provisioning operational mode; and

a NFC interface electrically coupled to the switch unit to modulate and demodulate the device-descriptive data for communication over the NFC channel in a wireless transmission medium in accordance with the state of the switch signal.

75. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 74, wherein the device-descriptive data stored in the tag unit include a plurality of device data components indicative of respective attributes of the wireless data processing apparatus.

76. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 75, further comprising:

a memory unit having stored therein processor instructions that, when executed by the processor, comprise a data processing application dependent on at least one of the attributes, the processor modifying the device-descriptive data such that the indication therein of the at least one of the attributes is indicative of a function of the data processing application.

77. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 76, further comprising:

a user interface including at least one interface control characterizing one of the attributes contained in the device-descriptive data read from the external data processing device, the interface control further characterizing the function of the data processing application such that manipulation of the interface control is communicated to the external data processing device via the primary data to perform the function of the data processing application on the external data processing device.

78. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 69, further comprising:

a user interface to receive a selection of one or more media data to be transmitted from the communication transceiver to the external data processing device via the at least one wireless communication channel.

79. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 78, wherein the processor determines from one of the device data components of the device profile of the external data processing device whether the primary data are in a format supported by a data processing capability of the external data processing device, the processor providing the primary data to the communication transceiver for the communication thereof over the wireless communication channel only upon a positive determination that the primary data are in the supported format.

80. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 79, wherein the processor converts the primary data from a format outside the data processing capability of the external data processing device into the format supported by the data processing capability of the external data processing device and provides the converted primary data to the communication transceiver for the communication thereof over the wireless communication channel.

81. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 78, wherein the storage unit stores device profiles retrieved from respective external data processing devices in a database of the device profiles.

82. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 81, wherein the processor configures the communication transceiver in accordance with a selected one of the device profiles retrieved from the database.

83. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 81, wherein the processor configures the communication transceiver to communicate with more than one of the external processing devices on at least the wireless communication channel in accordance with the device profiles of respective external data processing devices retrieved from the database.

84. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 69, further comprising:

a storage unit to store the device-descriptive data retrieved by the NFC transceiver as a retrievable device profile of the external data processing device, the device profile including a plurality of device data components indicative of respective attributes of the external data processing device.

85. A wireless data processing apparatus comprising:

a near field communication (NFC) module to provide, responsive to a request therefor by an external data processing device, device-descriptive data including at least an attribute of a wireless communication channel over which primary data is receivable by the wireless data processing apparatus;

a wireless communication unit to at least receive the primary data over the wireless communication channel in accordance with the attribute thereof;

a processor to process the primary data received over the wireless communication channel into an electrical signal; and

a transducer to produce an output perceivable by a human user in accordance with the electrical signal.

86. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 85, wherein the transducer comprises at least one speaker.

87. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 86, wherein the transducer comprises a visual display.

88. A wireless data processing system comprising:

a plurality of data processing devices, each comprising;

a communication transceiver to communicate primary data in at least one direction over at least one wireless communication channel;

a processor communicatively coupled to the communication transceiver to perform at least one data processing function with the primary data;

a near field communication (NFC) tag to store device-descriptive data indicative of at least the data processing function; and

a NFC reader, in an acquiring one of the data processing devices communicatively coupled to the processor thereof, to selectively read the device-descriptive data from the NFC tags,

wherein the processor of the acquiring data processing device configures the acquiring data processing device in accordance with the device-descriptive data of at least one of the data processing devices, and the acquiring data processing device interoperates with the at least one of the data processing devices via the primary data communicated over the wireless communication channel established therewith.

89. The wireless data processing system of claim 88, further comprising:

a database in the acquiring data processing device to store the device-descriptive data read from the NFC tags of the data processing devices.

90. The wireless data processing system of claim 89, wherein the communication transceiver of the acquiring data processing device transmits contents of the database to at least one of the data processing devices, whereby the one of the data processing devices selectively communicates the data processing devices the device-descriptive data of which is stored in the transmitted database.

91. The wireless data processing system of claim 90, further comprising:

a user interface on the data processing devices to select device-descriptive data from the database, whereby the processor retrieves the selected device-descriptive data from the database and configures the communication transceiver to establish the wireless communication channel with the corresponding one of the data processing devices in accordance with the retrieved device-descriptive data thereof.

92. The wireless data processing system of claim 89, wherein the communication transceiver of each of the data processing devices maintains the wireless communication channel over a predetermined maximum range, the processor of the acquiring data processing device retrieving the device-descriptive data of one of the data processing devices upon determining from the primary data that the one of the data processing devices is within the maximum range of the acquiring data processing device.

93. The wireless data processing system of claim 92, wherein the processor of the acquiring data processing device configures the communication transceiver thereof to establish the wireless communication channel with another of the data processing devices that is within the maximum range thereof upon termination of the wireless communication channel previously established with the one of the data processing devices.

94. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 88, wherein the processor of the acquiring data processing device, upon retrieving the device-descriptive data of one of the data processing devices, configures the communication transceiver thereof to establish a wireless communication with the one of the data processing devices in accordance with the device-descriptive data thereof and to communicate with the one of the data processing devices on the established wireless communication channel in accordance with the device-descriptive data thereof.

95. A wireless data processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory unit having stored therein processor instructions that comprise a data processing application when executed;

a wireless transceiver to communicate application-specific data in at least one direction over a wireless communication channel, the application-specific data associated with the data processing application;

a near field communication (NFC) transceiver to communicatively couple with an external data processing device over a NFC communication channel so as to communicate selective NFC data therewith; and

a processor electrically coupled to the wireless transceiver to interoperate with the external data processing device through the application-specific data, to the NFC transceiver to configure a communication session with the external device in accordance with the selected NFC data, and to the memory unit to execute the processor instructions stored therein.

96. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 95, wherein:

the memory unit has stored therein other processor instructions that comprise an application layer communication initiation protocol process when executed;

the processor executes the application layer communication initiation protocol process to establish the communication session with another data processing application on the external processing device in accordance with the NFC data; and

the wireless transceiver communicates the application-specific data between the data processing application and the other data processing application on the external data processing device during the established communication session over the wireless communication channel.

97. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 96, wherein the application-specific data include graphical user interface information by which user controls are arranged in a graphical user interface to operate at least one of the data processing application and the other data processing application.

98. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 97, further comprising:

a graphical user interface having an arrangement of the user controls thereon to operate the data processing application, the processor assembling the graphical user interface information to be indicative of the arrangement of the user controls, the wireless transceiver communicating the assembled graphical user interface information to the external data processing apparatus, whereby the other data processing application on the external data processing device is remotely operated through the graphical user interface.

99. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 97, further comprising:

a graphical user interface having an arrangement of the user controls thereon to operate the data processing application, the graphical user interface being configured by the processor in accordance with the arrangement of user controls received in the graphical user interface information from the external data processing device through the wireless communication channel, whereby the data processing application or the other data processing application on the external data processing device is operated through the graphical user interface.

100. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 95, further comprising:

a user interface to receive a selection of one or more media data to be transmitted to the external data processing device via the wireless communication channel.

101. The wireless data processing device of claim 95, wherein:

the memory unit has stored therein a device profile containing profile information of the external data processing device that includes the NFC data thereof, the profile information defining operational capabilities by which the interoperation between the wireless data processing apparatus and the external data processing device may be performed exclusive of transmission over the NFC channel; and

the processor, upon receiving updated profile information via the wireless communication channel, replaces the corresponding profile information in the memory unit.

102. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 96, wherein:

the memory unit has stored therein other processor instructions that comprise an application launching process when executed;

the NFC data include device-descriptive data of the external data processing device; and

the processor executes the application launching process and, upon determining that the device-descriptive data include capability-descriptive data corresponding to capabilities of the data processing application, executes the data processing application without user intervention.

103. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 102, wherein:

the data processing application includes a data management process by which the memory unit is accessed to store therein and retrieve therefrom data files, the data management process including a user interface by which information indicative of the data files is presented to a user;

the NFC data include data-descriptive data indicative of respective file formats of the data files on the external data processing device; and

the processor executes the application launching process and, upon receipt of the data-descriptive data, executes the data management process without user intervention.

104. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 103, wherein:

the wireless transceiver receives a list of the data files stored on the external data processing apparatus over the wireless communication channel;

the user interface of the data management process presents information thereon so that the list is perceivable by a human user; and

the processor executes the data processing application to process one of the data files selected through the user interface of the data management process so as to present the information defined in the selected data file in a manner perceivable by the user.

105. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 103, wherein the data management process filters the list to present only the data files therein on the user interface that can be presented to the user by the capabilities of the data processing application.

106. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 95, wherein:

the memory unit has stored therein data files by which information perceivable by a user is presented through the data processing application;

the NFC data include data-descriptive data indicative of respective file formats of the data files; and

the NFC transceiver provides the data-descriptive data in the NFC data to the external data processing device so that another data processing application thereon processes the data files to present the information in a manner perceivable by the user.

107. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 95, wherein:

the NFC data include data-descriptive data indicative of respective file formats of data files stored on the external processing device;

the NFC transceiver obtains the data-descriptive data in the NFC data from the external data processing device;

the wireless transceiver receives the data files over the wireless communication channel; and

the processor executes the data processing application to process the data files so as to present information defined therein in a manner perceivable by a user.

108. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 107, wherein:

the memory unit has stored therein other processor instructions that comprise an application launching process when executed; and

the processor executes the application launching process and, upon determining that the data files have been received over the wireless communication channel, executes the data processing application without user intervention.

109. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 95, wherein the NFC transceiver includes:

a NFC memory unit to store the NFC data;

a NFC reader to read the NFC data from an external NFC memory unit;

a NFC interface electrically coupled to an antenna to communicate the NFC data over the NFC communication channel;

a switch unit to provide a signal path between the NFC interface and a selected one of the NFC memory unit and the NFC reader; and

a NFC controller communicatively interposed between the processor and the NFC memory unit, the NFC reader, and the switch unit to mediate operations therebetween, the mediated operations including selecting the signal path through the switch in accordance with a command signal from the processor.

110. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 109, wherein the NFC controller includes a programming interface by which the data processing application interoperates with the NFC memory unit and the NFC reader.

111. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 110, wherein the contents of the NFC memory unit is accessible to the data processing application through the programming interface, whereby the contents of the NFC memory unit are modified by operations of the data processing application.

112. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 95, wherein:

the NFC transceiver is selectively coupled with another external data processing device over the NFC communication channel so as to communicate credential information in the NFC data in at least one direction therewith independently of the application-specific data.

113. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 95, further comprising:

electronic system components to provide the wireless data processing apparatus with device capabilities of one of a wireless media player, a wireless headset, a wireless speaker, a camera, a music player, a video player, a personal digital assistant, a cellular phone, a game player, a portable storage device, headphones, a television, a digital video recorder, a video cassette recorder, a satellite receiver, a digital versatile disk player, a media entertainment center, a radio, an automobile computer system, a printer, a copier, a fax machine, a mouse, a joystick, a keyboard, a graphical data display, a projector, a medical monitoring device, a home appliance, a landline phone, a desktop personal computer, a notebook computer, a router, a telecommunication switch, and a remote control.

114. A wireless data processing apparatus, comprising:

a memory unit to store processor instructions that comprise a plurality of user tasks when executed;

a wireless transceiver to communicate task-specific data in at least one direction over a wireless communication channel, the task-specific data associated with one of the user tasks;

a near field communication (NFC) transceiver to selectively couple with external data processing devices over a NFC communication channel so as to communicate a selected one of NFC data and other NFC data in at least one direction therewith; and

a processor electrically coupled to the wireless and NFC transceivers to interoperate with the selected external data processing devices, the processor coupled to the memory unit to execute the processor instructions stored therein, the processor selectively executing the one of the user tasks with the task-specific data communicated over the wireless communication channel in accordance with the NFC data, the processor selectively executing the other of the user tasks with the other NFC data communicated over the NFC channel.

115. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 114, wherein the user task includes a presentation process to present the task-specific data in a manner perceivable by a human user and the other task is independent of the presentation process.

116. The wireless data processing apparatus of claim 114, wherein the NFC data include device-descriptive data of the wireless data processing apparatus or the external data processing device and the other NFC data include credential data specific to a user of a corresponding one of the wireless data processing apparatus or the external data processing device.

117. A method of establishing a wireless data exchange between a handheld source device and at least one target device, the method comprising:

generating a data message with the handheld source device to be transmitted to the at least one target device;

positioning the handheld source device and the at least one target device within a predetermined distance range from one another;

initiating a NFC communication session; and

transmitting the generated data message from the handheld source device to the at least one target device with the NFC communication session between the handheld source device and the at least one target device.

118. The method of claim 117, wherein the initiating of the NFC communication session includes:

positioning the handheld source device and the at least one target device to align one with the other within a predetermined area one each of the handheld source device and the at least one target device to initiate the NFC communication session.

119. The method of claim 117, further comprising:

retrieving communication configuration information through the NFC communication session between the handheld source device and the at least one target device;

configuring a wireless communication transceiver in accordance with communication configuration information retrieved from the at least one target device; and

establishing the wireless communication connection through a configured wireless communication transceiver.

120. The method of claim 117, further comprising:

transmitting at least one media asset from the handheld source device to the at least one target device through the wireless communication connection.

121. The method of claim 120, wherein the transmitting of the at least one media asset further comprises:

receiving a selection of the at least one media asset to be transmitted before the initiating of the NFC communication.

122. The method of claim 120, wherein the transmitting of the at least one media asset further comprises:

receiving a selection of the at least one media asset to be transmitted after the initiating of the NFC communication.

123. The method of claim 117, further comprising:

when the NFC communication session is established between the handheld source device and the at least one target device, establishing a network communications link between the at least one target device and a second handheld source device via a communications network;

transmitting the generated data message from the at least one target device to the second handheld source device via the communications network;

positioning the second handheld source device and another target device of the at least one target device within a predetermined distance range from one another;

initiating another NFC communication session between the second handheld source device and the another target device to transmit the generated data message.