System, method and apparatus for using a wireless device to control other devices

• US 9,547,981 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sockeye Licensing TX LLC
• Original Assignee: Sockeye Licensing TX LLC
• Inventors: Harold, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHU, SANH D
• Application Number:
  US14/531,641
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/557, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus which permits the use of a wireless cell phone or other communications device as a connection, communications and control device able to connect a full-sized desktop monitor or other digital display device, keyboard, mouse, speakers, printer and other external devices to a wireless cell phone device using any combination of wireline or wireless connections from the desktop devices to the wireless cell phone device. The wireless cell phone device is used to create an Internet or other network connection capable of accessing any browser-based web site or browser-based software application, e.g., via an Internet connection. Once the connections between the components are established with the wireless cell phone device and the Internet connection is established components. Access to Internet software, services and media includes all forms of browser-based desktop software, as well as digital movies, music, and streaming video.

Claims

1. A method for downloading and viewing a movie or video on a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) electrically coupling for consumer electronic entertainment purposes a display device suitable for use in a media center environment with a mobile communications device that does not form a part of the media center environment;

(b) causing a first graphic user interface to be displayed on the display device that conveys information to a viewer of the display device about movies or videos that are individually downloadable from a server for display on the display device for consumer electronic entertainment purposes;

(c) receiving entertainment selection commands by the mobile communications device to allow a particular one of the movies or videos to be selected for downloading from the server based on visual feedback the viewer receives by reading or interacting with the first graphic user interface shown on the display device;

(d) receiving by the mobile communications device of the particular movie or video that is sent to it from the server based on the viewer'"'"'s reading or interaction with the first graphic user interface shown on the display device;

(e) transmitting by the mobile communications device of at least some of the particular movie or video to the display device for display thereon simultaneously while at least some of the particular movie or video is being downloaded from the server to the mobile communications device; and

(f) wherein the electrical coupling between the mobile communications device and the display device allows the particular movie or video to be sent there between when the mobile communications device is located a distance away from the display device at which a person watches a movie at home.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media center environment forms a home media center environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is electrically coupled to the mobile communications device by means of at least one wireless connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is electrically coupled to the mobile communications device by means of at least one wireline connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is adapted to communicate with the server via the internet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the download commands are generated on the mobile communications device by means of a keyboard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a high definition display device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a television set.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

displaying a control graphic user interface on the display device while the particular movie or video is being shown on the display device:

entering display control commands into the mobile communications device and then sending those display control commands to the server to cause control actions to be performed on the particular movie or video being sent from the server through the mobile communications device and to the display device; and

sending a modified version of the particular movie or video being downloaded which embodies the display control commands.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the control graphic user interface is shown on the display device at the same time as the stream is shown on the display device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the control graphic user interface is shown on the display device only at the command of the user.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of electrically coupling at least one additional device other than the display device to the mobile communications device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device comprises a cellular telephone.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphic user interface only provides visual information about movies or videos that are available for download from the server.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the particular movie or video from the mobile communications device to the display device for display thereon occurs substantially simultaneously with the downloading of the particular movie or video from the server to the mobile communications device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing step includes downloading the first GUI from the server to the mobile communications device.