Controlling a media device using a mobile device

• US 10,707,919 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2019
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Belk, Andy, Prats, Augustin, Linde, Joakim, Newman, Lucas, Paulson, Nicholas J., Alsina, Thomas Matthieu
• Primary Examiner(s): Sobutka, Philip
• Application Number:
  US16/595,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20200112341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412, 455411, 4554141, 455419, 455420, 4554563, 725 37
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Techniques for automatically configuring and controlling a digital media device are described. A digital media device can be configured or controlled by a mobile device, e.g., a smart mobile phone. When the digital media device is being configured, the digital media device can broadcast a signal, indicating that the digital media device is requesting configuration information from a mobile device. A mobile device located in proximity of the digital media device, upon detecting the signal, can perform various security checks to determine that the request is legitimate, and then open a communication channel with the digital media device. The mobile device can provide user preferences of the mobile device, as well as credentials for accessing and downloading remote content, to the digital media device through the communication channel. Upon receiving the configuration information, the digital media device can use parameters in the configuration information as its settings.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing with a digital media device, the method comprising, at a mobile device:

receiving, at a wireless interface of the mobile device, a request from the digital media device, wherein the request;

indicates that the digital media device is requesting an approval by the mobile device for the digital media device to perform a function, and

includes an identifier associated with the digital media device; and

in response to identifying;

(1) that the mobile device satisfies a threshold distance relative to the digital media device,

(2) that the identifier is known to the mobile device, and

(3) an authentication event at the mobile device;

providing the approval to the digital media device to cause the digital media device to perform the function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is issued by the digital media device in response to detecting, at the digital media device, an initial request to perform the function.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media device causes an indication associated with the request to be displayed on a display device with which the digital media device is communicably coupled.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to providing the approval to the digital media device:

establishing a communication channel with the digital media device, wherein the approval is provided to the digital media device over the communication channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication event comprises:

receiving an input of a password; and

verifying the password.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier indicates a type, a model, or a unique identifier of the digital media device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein identifying that the identifier is known to the mobile device comprises:

comparing the identifier to a second identifier that was stored into a memory of the mobile device at a previous time.

8. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by at least one processor included in a mobile device, cause the mobile device to interface with a digital media device, by carrying out steps that include:

receiving, at a wireless interface of the mobile device, a request from the digital media device, wherein the request;

indicates that the digital media device is requesting an approval by the mobile device for the digital media device to perform a function, and

includes an identifier associated with the digital media device; and

in response to identifying;

(1) that the mobile device satisfies a threshold distance relative to the digital media device,

(2) that the identifier is known to the mobile device, and

(3) an authentication event at the mobile device;

providing the approval to the digital media device to cause the digital media device to perform the function.

9. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the request is issued by the digital media device in response to detecting, at the digital media device, an initial request to perform the function.

10. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the digital media device causes an indication associated with the request to be displayed on a display device with which the digital media device is communicably coupled.

11. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the steps further include, prior to providing the approval to the digital media device:

establishing a communication channel with the digital media device, wherein the approval is provided to the digital media device over the communication channel.

12. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the authentication event comprises:

receiving an input of a password; and

verifying the password.

13. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the identifier indicates a type, a model, or a unique identifier of the digital media device.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein identifying that the identifier is known to the mobile device comprises:

comparing the identifier to a second identifier that was stored into a memory of the mobile device at a previous time.

15. A mobile device configured to interface with a digital media device, the mobile device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the mobile device to perform steps that include;

receiving, at a wireless interface of the mobile device, a request from the digital media device, wherein the request;

indicates that the digital media device is requesting an approval by the mobile device for the digital media device to perform a function, and

includes an identifier associated with the digital media device; and

in response to identifying;

(1) that the mobile device satisfies a threshold distance relative to the digital media device,

(2) that the identifier is known to the mobile device, and

(3) an authentication event at the mobile device;

providing the approval to the digital media device to cause the digital media device to perform the function.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the request is issued by the digital media device in response to detecting, at the digital media device, an initial request to perform the function.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the digital media device causes an indication associated with the request to be displayed on a display device with which the digital media device is communicably coupled.

18. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor further causes the mobile device to perform steps that include, prior to providing the approval to the digital media device:

establishing a communication channel with the digital media device, wherein the approval is provided to the digital media device over the communication channel.

19. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the authentication event comprises:

receiving an input of a password; and

verifying the password.

20. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the identifier indicates a type, a model, or a unique identifier of the digital media device.