Output systems, information apparatus, or internet appliances supporting voice commands for receiving and for playing selected digital content from a service over a network

• US 10,126,991 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexiworld Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, William Ho, Liu, Christina Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Marcus T
• Application Number:
  US15/725,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20180046418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/122 with regard to computing resources, e.g. memory, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1245 by conversion to intermediate or common format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1258 by updating job settings at the printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 : in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 : Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 : Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 : using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/181 : Receiving print data characterized by its formatting, e.g. particular page description languages
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1836 : Rasterization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 : specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 : Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 : with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 : with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 : Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 : the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00488 : providing an audible output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 : Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00938 : Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications program loading in general G06F9/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32534 : details of interfacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32582 : Output interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 : involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/442 : using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 : Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 : Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Output systems (e.g., information apparatus, Internet appliances, information pads, smart phones, audio output devices) supporting voice commands for playing digital content received from a service provided over a network (e.g., Internet) are herein disclosed and enabled. The output system may include an interface (e.g., touch sensitive screen interface, wireless interface) for receiving authentication information to access the service over the network. The service may be a subscribed service. While connected to the service, the output system receives voice commands from a user for outputting or playing digital content, and, in response to the voice commands, the output system receives, from the service, output data related to the digital content for outputting or playing at the output system. The output system may include a digital camera for image acquisition and may further be Bluetooth enabled for wirelessly receiving audio data (e.g., music) from a mobile device.

Claims

1. An output system for receiving digital content from one or more servers over a network, the digital content includes audio digital content or video digital content, and the received digital content is for outputting or playing at the output system, the output system comprising:

a display screen;

a touch sensitive screen interface provided on at least part of the display screen for interacting with a user;

one or more controllers or processors;

one or more wireless communication units that include wireless communication circuitry for wireless communication, the wireless communication includes wireless local area network communication;

one or more audio output devices for outputting audio digital content that includes at least one of sound content, voice content, or music content, individually or in any combination;

a microphone; and

a voice activated command interface for interacting with the user;

wherein the output system;

(1) couples, using the wireless communication circuitry of the output system, the output system to the network, the network includes a wireless local area network;

(2) receives, via the touch sensitive screen interface, authentication information related to the user for accessing the one or more servers over the network that includes the wireless local area network;

(3) establishes, using the wireless communication circuitry of the output system, a wireless connection to the one or more servers over the network that includes the wireless local area network for receiving at least part of the digital content, the wireless connection to the one or more servers over the network that includes the wireless local area network for receiving at least part of the digital content, is based, at least in part, on the authentication information received via the touch sensitive screen interface;

(4) wirelessly provides, via the wireless communication circuitry, the authentication information to the one or more servers over the network for accessing a service provided by the one or more servers;

(5) wirelessly connects, via the wireless communication circuitry, to the service provided by the one or more servers over the network, the wireless connecting to the service is based, at least in part, on having provided the authentication information for accessing the service;

(6) receives, via the voice activated command interface of the output system, an input from the user for outputting or playing digital content at the output system, the digital content includes at least one of audio digital content or video digital content, individually or in any combination;

(7) wirelessly transmits, using the wireless communication circuitry of the output system, a digital content object from the output system to the one or more servers over the network, the digital content object includes information corresponding to the digital content in (6) for outputting or playing at the output system;

(8) wirelessly receives, using the wireless communication circuitry of the output system, output data from the one or more servers over the network, the wireless receiving of the output data being in response to having transmitted the digital content object in (7), and at least part of the output data includes one of audio data, music data, sound data, or video data, individually or in any combination, that is related to the digital content in (6) for outputting or playing at the output system;

(9) processes, using the one or more controllers or processors of the output system, at least part of the output data received in (8) for outputting or playing at least part of the digital content at the output system; and

(10) outputs or plays, using at least one of the one or more audio output devices of the output system or the display screen of the output system, at least part of the processed output data in (9).

2. The output system of claim 1, wherein the output system is embodied as one of the following, individually or in any combination:

(i) an Internet appliance with access to the Internet, or (ii) an information apparatus for receiving the digital content from the service provided over the Internet using the voice activated command interface, or (iii) an audio output device, a display output device, or a television, individually or in any combination, for outputting or playing at least part of the digital content received from the service.

3. The output system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes one or more wireless chips or chipsets, the one or more wireless chips or chipsets are compatible, at least in part, with at least part of a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards for coupling the output system to the network that includes the wireless local area network.

4. The output system of claim 3, wherein the processing in (9) of at least part of the output data, includes one or more operations related to at least one of a decoding, an encoding, an encryption, a decompression, a conversion, an image enhancement, an image processing, a color correction, a color management, an interpolation, a scaling, a smoothing, a segmentation, or a de-segmentation, individually or in any combination.

5. The output system of claim 4, wherein the network further includes the Internet, and wherein the service provided by the one or more servers over the network is provided over the Internet, and the service provided over the network is for users who have signed up or paid or subscribed to the service, and wherein the receiving of the output data from the service is based, at least in part, on the user having provided subscription information for accessing the service over the Internet.

6. The output system of claim 5, wherein, while the output system is connected to the service over the Internet, the output system further transmits, via the wireless communication circuitry of the output system, an output device object from the output system to the one or more servers over the network, the output device object includes at least one of identification information, capability information, address information, status information, or attribute information, individually or in any combination, related to the output system;

and the transmitting of the output device object is to facilitate identification of the output system for service or for registration of the output system with the service.

7. The output system of claim 6, wherein the output device object includes identification information related to the output system, the identification information includes one or more of a name, a model, a brand, an identifier, a registration, a URL, a security key, a PIN, a password, or an IP address, individually or in any combination.

8. The output system of claim 3, wherein the output system further includes a digital camera for image data acquisition;

and wherein the output system further;

(a) captures, using the digital camera, video digital content;

(b) transmits, using the wireless communication circuitry and to the one or more servers, a content object that includes information related to the video digital content;

(c) receives, using the wireless communication circuitry and by the output system, output data from the one or more servers, the output data includes audio or video digital content for outputting or playing at the output system, the receiving of the output data being subsequent to having transmitted the content object in (b); and

(d) outputs or plays at the output system, using at least one of the display screen or the one or more audio output devices, at least part of the audio or video digital content included in the output data.

9. The output system of claim 3, wherein the output system further includes one or more chips or chipsets that are compatible, at least in part, with at least part of a protocol within Bluetooth specifications, and wherein the output system further:

wirelessly discovers, using the one or more chips or chipsets, a Bluetooth enabled device for establishing a wireless communication link, the wireless discovering of the Bluetooth enabled device includes either the output system wirelessly discovering the Bluetooth enabled device or the Bluetooth enabled device wirelessly discovering the output system; and

wirelessly establishes, using the one or more chips or chipsets, the wireless communication link with the Bluetooth enabled device, the wireless communication link being compatible, at least in part, with at least part of a protocol within Bluetooth specifications.

10. The output system of claim 9, wherein the Bluetooth enabled device is a handheld device that is a distinct and separate device from the output system;

and the output system further wirelessly receives, using the one or more chips or chipsets and over the established wireless communication link, audio digital content from the handheld device for playing at least part of the audio digital content at the output system.

11. The output system of claim 9, wherein the Bluetooth enabled device is an audio output device that is a distinct and separate device from the output system;

and the output system further wirelessly transmits, using the one or more chips or chipsets and over the established wireless communication link, audio digital content from the output system to the audio output device for playing at least part of the audio digital content at the audio output device.

12. The output system of claim 5, wherein the authentication information for connecting to the service provided over the network includes one or more of a user name, a password, an ID number, an address, an identification information, a biometric, a fingerprint, or voice, individually or in any combination.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having recorded therein software or firmware for an output system to receive audio digital content or video digital content from one or more servers operated, at least partly, over the Internet, the output system comprising:

one or more controllers or processors;

memory or storage;

one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication, the one or more wireless communication units include one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets;

a display screen;

a touch sensitive screen interface on at least part of the display screen for interacting with a user;

one or more audio output devices; and

a voice activated command interface for interacting with the user;

wherein execution of the software or firmware by the one or more controllers or processors causes the output system to;

couple, using the one or more wireless communication units, the output system to a network, the network includes a wireless local area network;

receive, using the touch sensitive screen interface, authentication information related to the user for accessing a service provided by the one or more servers;

wirelessly provide, via the one or more wireless communication units and over the network, the authentication information from the output system to the one or more servers;

wirelessly connect, via the one or more wireless communication units and over the network, to the service provided by the one or more servers over the Internet, the wireless connecting to the service is based, at least in part, on having provided the authentication information for accessing the service;

receive, subsequent to having wirelessly connected to the service and via the voice activated command interface of the output system, an input from the user for outputting or playing digital content at the output system;

wirelessly transmit, using the one or more wireless communication units of the output system, a digital content object from the output system to the one or more servers over the network, the digital content object includes at least a reference or pointer related to the digital content for outputting or playing at the output system;

wirelessly receive, using the one or more wireless communication units, output data from the one or more servers over the network, the wireless receiving of the output data being in response to having wirelessly transmitted the digital content object to the one or more servers, and at least part of the output data is related, at least in part, to the digital content for outputting or playing at the output system; and

output or play, using the one or more audio output devices of the output system or the display screen of the output system, at least part of the received output data that is related, at least in part, to the digital content, the digital content includes audio digital content or video digital content, individually or in any combination.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more wireless chips or chipsets included in the one or more wireless communication units are compatible, at least in part, with at least part of a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards for establishing wireless local area network communication.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the output system further includes a digital camera for image data acquisition;

and wherein the execution of the software or firmware by the one or more controllers or processors further causes the output system to;

(a) capture, using the digital camera, digital content;

(b) transmit, using the one or more wireless communication units and to the one or more servers, a content object related to the digital content in (a);

(c) receive, using the one or more wireless communication units and subsequent to having transmitted the content object, output data from the one or more servers, the output data includes at least part of the digital content for outputting or playing at the output system; and

(d) output or play, using at least one of the display screen or the one or more audio output devices, at least part of the digital content at the output system.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the output system further includes one or more chips or chipsets that is compatible, at least in part, with at least part of a protocol within Bluetooth specifications for wireless communication, and wherein the execution of the software or firmware by the one or more controllers or processors further causes the output system to:

wirelessly discover, using the one or more chips or chipsets, the Bluetooth enabled device for establishing a wireless communication link, the wireless discovering of the Bluetooth enabled device includes either the output system wirelessly discovering the Bluetooth enabled device or the Bluetooth enabled device wirelessly discovering the output system;

wirelessly establish, using the one or more chips or chipsets, the wireless communication link with the Bluetooth enabled device, the wireless communication link being compatible, at least in part, with at least part of a protocol within Bluetooth specifications;

wirelessly receive, using the one or more chips or chipsets and over the established wireless communication link, audio digital content from the Bluetooth enabled device; and

output or play at least part of the received audio digital content at the output system.

17. A method for outputting, at an output system, digital content received from one or more servers over the Internet, the digital content includes audio digital content or video digital content, the one or more servers operated, at least partly, over the Internet, the output system includes:

one or more wireless communication units that include one or more chips or chipsets;

a display screen;

a touch sensitive screen interface provided on at least part of the display screen for interacting with a user;

one or more audio output devices; and

a voice activated command interface for interacting with the user;

wherein the method comprises;

wirelessly coupling the output system, via at least one chip or chipset of the one or more chips or chipsets, to a network, the network includes a wireless local area network, wherein the at least one chip or chipset is compatible, at least in part, with at least part of a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards for wireless local area network communication;

receiving, via the touch sensitive screen interface, authentication information related to the user for accessing a service provided by the one or more servers;

wirelessly providing, via the at least one chip or chipset and over the network, the authentication information from the output system to the one or more servers;

wirelessly connecting the output system, via the at least one chip or chipset and over the network, to the service provided by the one or more servers;

receiving, via the voice activated command interface of the output system, a voice command from the user associated with obtaining at least part of a digital content object, the digital content object includes information related to the digital content for outputting or playing at the one or more audio output devices;

wirelessly transmitting, via the at least one chip or chipset and over the network, at least part of the digital content object from the output system to the one or more servers over the network;

wirelessly receiving, via the at least one chip or chipset and over the network, output data from the one or more servers over the network, the wireless receiving of the output data being in response to having transmitted at least part of the digital content object, and at least part of the output data is related, at least in part, to the digital content for outputting or playing at the output system; and

outputting or playing, using the one or more audio output devices of the output system or using the display screen of the output system, at least part of the received output data that is related, at least in part, to the digital content for outputting or playing at the output system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the outputting or playing of at least part of the received output data includes:

processing, at the output system, at least part of the output data received from the one or more servers for outputting or playing at the output system; and

outputting or playing, using the one or more audio output devices of the output system or using the display screen of the output system, at least part of the processed output data at the output system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the output system further includes a digital camera for image data acquisition;

and wherein the method further comprises;

(a) capturing, using the digital camera, video digital content;

(b) transmitting to the one or more servers, using the at least one chip or chipset, a content object that includes at least part of the video digital content;

(c) receiving from the one or more servers, subsequent to having transmitted the content object and via the at least one chip or chipset of the output system, output data that is related to digital content for outputting or playing at the output system; and

(d) outputting or playing, at the output system and using at least one of the display screen or the one or more audio output devices, at least part of the output data that is related to digital content in (c).

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more wireless communication units of the output system is compatible, at least in part, with at least part of a protocol within Bluetooth specifications, and the method further comprises:

wirelessly discovering, using the one or more wireless communication units, a Bluetooth enabled device for establishing a wireless communication link, the wireless discovering of the Bluetooth enabled device includes either the output system wirelessly discovering the Bluetooth enabled device or the Bluetooth enabled device wirelessly discovering the output system;

wirelessly establishing, using the one or more wireless communication units, the wireless communication link with the Bluetooth enabled device, the wireless communication link being compatible, at least in part, with at least part of a protocol within Bluetooth specifications; and

wirelessly receiving, using the one or more wireless communication units and over the established wireless communication link, audio digital content from the Bluetooth enabled device.