Essential components for enabling a pervasive wireless digital ecosystem and wireless devices that support the wireless digital ecosystem

• US 8,630,000 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho, Liu, Christina Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Rudolph, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Riley, Marcus T
• Application Number:
  US11/929,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20080049253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,268 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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

Next generation pervasive wireless ecosystems and mobile information apparatus are herein disclosed and enabling millions of users to migrate to pervasive digital living and enterprise. Wireless communications may include the mobile information apparatus accessing wireless local area network or by direct wireless communication. The mobile information apparatus may include a wireless unit compatible with Bluetooth and/or IEEE802.11. Mobile information apparatus may conduct a local area wireless search within short distances for discovering wireless devices in its vicinity, receive an attribute related to the discovered wireless device, establish secure wireless communication with the discovered wireless device, and transfer or synchronize digital content or applications to/from the discovered wireless device. The discovered wireless device may be other mobile apparatus, wireless televisions, wireless audio devices, wireless speakers, wireless printers, among others, in a digital living room or office. Mobile apparatus may be smart phones, information pads, or laptops with touch sensitive screen interface.

Claims

1. A method of outputting digital content from a wireless information apparatus to one or more wireless output devices over a local wireless communication medium or within a wireless local area network, the local wireless communication medium not including the Internet in between the wireless information apparatus and the one or more wireless output devices, the digital content accessible by the wireless information apparatus, the one or more wireless output devices being distinct devices from the wireless information apparatus, and the wireless information apparatus including at least one wireless communication unit for wireless communication, the wireless communication unit being compatible with at least one short range wireless communication protocol standard that includes a Bluetooth protocol or one within IEEE 802.11 wireless protocol, said wireless digital content outputting method comprising:

(a) device searching, over the local wireless communication medium and through the wireless communication unit of the wireless information apparatus, for the one or more wireless output devices for wireless connection, the one or more wireless output devices that have broadcasted its availability or made available over the local wireless communication medium for wireless device discovery by another wireless device over the local wireless communication medium;

(b) device discovering over the local wireless communication medium, at the wireless information apparatus, the one or more wireless output devices that have broadcasted its availability or made available over the local wireless communication medium, and the one or more wireless output devices being found by the wireless information apparatus in the wireless device searching step (a) over the local wireless communication medium;

(c) receiving over the local wireless communication medium, at the wireless information apparatus, at least a device attribute from the one or more discovered wireless output devices in step (b), the device attribute received over the local wireless communication medium includes an attribute related to the one or more discovered wireless output devices;

(d) selecting, at the wireless information apparatus, a selected wireless output device from among the one or more discovered wireless output devices found in step (b) based, at least in part, on said device attribute received over the local wireless communication medium from the one or more discovered wireless output devices;

(e) obtaining, at the wireless information apparatus, authentication information for enabling wireless connection from the wireless information apparatus to the selected wireless output device, the authentication information not being previously available to the wireless information apparatus before having executed at least part of step (a) to step (d);

(f) authenticating wireless connection to the selected wireless output device with said authentication information obtained in step (e);

(g) enabling wireless connection from the wireless information apparatus to the selected wireless output device in dependence of whether the authentication for wireless connection in step (f) to the selected wireless output device is successful; and

(h) repeating any combination or part of step (a) to step (g) in dependence of not wireless device discovering over the local wireless communication medium the one or more output devices in step (b) or not having obtained a selected output device in step (d).

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the authentication information includes one or more of an identity of the wireless information apparatus, a user name, a password, an ID number, signatures, physical or digital security keys, biometrics, fingerprints, and a voice, individually or in any combination.

3. A method according to claim 1 further including,

sending, over wireless communication to the selected wireless output device, at least part of the authentication information for authentication, and

receiving, over the wireless communication from the selected wireless output device, a response related to whether the authentication is successful.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting, from the wireless information apparatus, intermediate output data associated with the digital content to the selected wireless output device, the selected wireless output device including an output engine that can output at least an image, and is associated with a wireless output controller for receiving the intermediate output data over the wireless communication medium, the method further comprising,

receiving, with the wireless output controller, the intermediate output data and recovering at least image data included in the intermediate output data, and

passing at least part of the image data to the output engine included in the selected wireless output device for rendering.

5. A method according to claim 1 in which the wireless information apparatus further includes an intermediate output data generator component to facilitate at least one operation that includes image processing operation, compression operation, encoding operation, or decoding operation, on at least part of the digital content.

6. A method according to claim 1 in which the wireless information apparatus includes a touch sensitive screen interface and the wireless information apparatus being one or more of a laptop computer, a smart phone, an Internet phone, an Internet pad, an Information pad, a Web pad, an Internet appliance, and a digital camera, individually or in any combination.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of recovering the image data from the intermediate output data by the wireless output controller includes at least one of decoding, decryption, color management, color space transformation, color correction, color matching, scaling, interpolation, image segmentation, image enhancement, and decompression, individually or in any combination.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless output device is one or more of a printing device, a display device, a projection device, a television, a speaker, and an audio output device, individually or in any combination.

9. An image rendering system comprising:

a local wireless network having a local wireless propagation medium and at least first and second nodes, said first node including a wireless information apparatus and said second node including a wireless output device, the local wireless propagation medium including a local wireless communication or a wireless local area network, and not including a wide area network or the Internet in between the first node and the second node,

a first means on the wireless information apparatus for device discovering the wireless output device over the local wireless propagation medium,

a second means on the wireless information apparatus for obtaining authentication information for establishing a restricted wireless communication between the first node and the second node, the authentication information not being previously available to the wireless information apparatus prior to device discovering the wireless output device in the first means,

a third means on the wireless information apparatus for establishing a restricted wireless communication channel on the local wireless propagation medium for communication between the first and second node in dependence of a successful authentication with the authentication information obtained on the wireless information apparatus in the second means,

a fourth means on the wireless information apparatus for conforming a digital content into intermediate output data that includes at least image data for rendering at the second node, the image data including two or more image layers and the intermediate output data being encoded with a format, or a language, and the conforming of the digital content into the intermediate output data includes an encoding operation, an encryption operation, and a compression operation, individually or in any combination,

a fifth means on the wireless information apparatus for impressing the intermediate output data on the local wireless propagation medium, and

an output controller at the second node for retrieving the image data from the intermediate output data and converting the image data into an input acceptable for rendering by the wireless output device at the second node, wherein the retrieving of the image data includes a decoding operation, and wherein the retrieving of the image data further includes a decompression operation or a decryption operation.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising means to receive or provide at least a security key over the local wireless propagation medium for enabling restricted local wireless communication between the first node and the second node.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the local wireless communication propagation medium is at least one of a Bluetooth, an infrared, one protocol within IEEE 802.11 standard, and a wireless protocol standard based on 2.4 GHz frequency, individually or in any combination.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the output controller includes a wireless component for wireless communication with the wireless information apparatus, and the output controller is directly connected to an output device over a wired connection and the output device is one or more of a printing device, a display device, a television, a speaker, and an audio output device, individually or in any combination.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the output controller is internally included in the wireless output device and the wireless output device is one or more of a printing device, a display device, a television, a speaker, and an audio output device, individually or in any combination.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising means on the wireless information apparatus for collecting payment information as compensation for rendering of the digital content by the wireless output device at the second node.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the first node includes means for uploading wirelessly to the wireless information apparatus an output device profile that specifies device specific identification information or parameter values that include one or more of an address, a name, a reference, bit depth, output size, color profile, and resolution, individually or in any combination.

16. A method of outputting at least part of digital content that can be accessed by a wireless information apparatus to one or more output devices, the wireless information apparatus being a distinct device from the one or more output devices and including:

an intermediate output data generator component to facilitate image processing of at least part of image data, or to facilitate encoding or decoding of at least part of image data;

at least one wireless communication unit for wireless communication with the one or more output devices, the at least one wireless communication unit being compatible with at least one short range wireless communication protocol that includes one of a Bluetooth or one within IEEE 802.11wireless protocol standard; and

a touch sensitive screen interface for interacting with a user, said wireless information apparatus method comprising;

(a) establishing, with the at least one wireless communication unit included in the wireless information apparatus, a wireless communication link between the wireless information apparatus and the one or more output devices, the established wireless communication link includes a local wireless communication or a wireless local area network or a direct wireless communication between the wireless information apparatus and the one or more output devices, and the established wireless communication link does not include a wide area network or the Internet in between the wireless information apparatus and the one or more output devices;

(b) receiving, at the wireless information apparatus, at least information related to an available output device, from over the established wireless communication link in step (a), the information specifying an attribute of the available output device, the available output device being one of the one or more output devices, and the received information not being previously available to the wireless information apparatus until having executed at least part of step (a) to step (b);

(c) determining, at the wireless information apparatus, whether the attribute of the available output device received over the wireless communication link matches a requirement for outputting at least part of the digital content, and if so enabling at least part of step (d) to step (g);

(d) selecting, at the wireless information apparatus said available output device employing at least in part the touch sensitive screen interface of the wireless information apparatus and based, at least in part, on said information related to the available output device and received over the wireless communication link;

(e) conforming, at the wireless information apparatus, at least part of the digital content into one or more output images, the one or more output images include two or more image layers;

(f) generating, at the wireless information apparatus, intermediate output data employing at least in part the intermediate output data generator for image processing or for encoding or for decoding of at least part of the one or more output images, the intermediate output data that includes the one or more output images being encoded, at least partly, to a format or a language; and

(g) transmitting, from the wireless information apparatus with the at least one wireless communication unit, the intermediate output data that includes the one or more output images over said wireless communication link from the wireless information apparatus to the selected available output device; and

(h) receiving, at the wireless information apparatus and over the established wireless communication link, at least information from another available output device specifying an attribute of the other available output device; and

repeating any combination or part of steps (c) to (d) with the other available output device as the available output device in dependence of the attribute related to the other available output device received over the established wireless communication link matching a requirement for outputting of at least part of the digital content.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the one or more output images includes two or more image layers and at least one image layer includes encrypted data or compressed data.

18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising, prior to step (b), searching at the wireless information apparatus for an output device for rendering of at least part of the digital content over the wireless communication link.

19. A method according to claim 16, further including, in any one step prior to step (d), obtaining user preferences at the wireless information apparatus over the touch sensitive screen interface, the user preferences being parameters related to rendering of the digital content at the selected output device in step (d).

20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising, in any step prior to step (e), obtaining authentication information at the wireless information apparatus for enabling restricted wireless access to the selected output device, and, in dependence of whether authenticating wireless access to the selected available output device is successful, enabling wireless access from the wireless information apparatus to the selected available output device.