Information apparatus or client software that wirelessly discovers, within short range, one or more output devices for establishing a wireless connection

• US 10,841,798 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2018
• Issued: 11/17/2020
• 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): Riley, Marcus T
• Application Number:
  US16/200,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20190107980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 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

Information apparatus that wirelessly discovers an output device, which is available within close physical vicinity for outputting digital content, is herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus includes wireless communication circuitry for establishing short range wireless communication between the information apparatus and the output device. The information apparatus wirelessly receives information from the output device that has been wirelessly discovered, and determines, from the information received, whether the output device matches a requirement for outputting digital content. When the requirement is matched, the information apparatus selects the discovered output device, conforms at least part of the content into output data, and transmits at least part of the output data over the short range wireless communication from the information apparatus to the selected output device. The information apparatus may include one or more of a smart phone, information pad, a digital camera, or an Internet appliance.

Claims

1. A method for an information apparatus to wirelessly output, at one or more output devices, at least part of content that is accessible by the information apparatus or stored at the information apparatus, the information apparatus is a distinct device from the one or more output devices, the information apparatus includes wireless communication circuitry for wireless communication, and a touch sensitive screen interface, wherein the method comprises:

(a) wirelessly discovering, over short range wireless communication and using the wireless communication circuitry of the information apparatus, at least two available output devices;

(b) wirelessly receiving, by the information apparatus, via the wireless communication circuitry of the information apparatus and over the short range wireless communication, information from an available output device, the information including at least an attribute of the available output device, and the available output device being one of the at least two available output devices that have been wirelessly discovered by the information apparatus in (a);

(c) determining, at the information apparatus and from the information wirelessly received from the available output device in (b), whether the attribute of the available output device matches a requirement for outputting at least part of the content, which is accessible by the information apparatus or stored at the information apparatus, from the information apparatus to the available output device, and, when the requirement is matched, either;

(d) receiving, via the touch sensitive screen interface of the information apparatus, an input from a user related to a selection of the available output device;

conforming at least part of the content into output data, based, at least in part, on the information wirelessly received from the available output device in (b); and

transmitting, via the wireless communication circuitry of the information apparatus, at least part of the output data over the short range wireless communication from the information apparatus to the selected available output device, or

(e) wirelessly receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry of the information apparatus and over the short range wireless communication, information from another available output device, the information specifying an attribute of the another available output device, and repeating at least steps (c) and (d), the another available output device being another output device of the at least two available output devices.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising wirelessly transmitting, using the wireless communication circuitry of the information apparatus, prior to step (b) and from the information apparatus to the one or more output device, data or a request, the data or the request calling for a receiving output device to wirelessly transmit information to the information apparatus over the short range wireless communication, the wirelessly transmitted information specifies an attribute related to the receiving output device, the receiving output device being one of the at least two available output devices wirelessly discovered in (a).

3. The method according to claim 1 in which the attribute related to the available output device includes one or more of quality of service, a status indicator, an availability indicator, or an output data format indicator, individually or in any combination.

4. The method according to claim 1 in which the attribute related to the available output device includes one or more of a name, an identity, a brand, a model, a registration, a device type, an address, capability information, or an indication of a supported output device profile.

5. The method according to claim 1, further including:

obtaining, prior to step (e) and by the information apparatus, authentication information for enabling wireless access to the selected available output device; and

in dependence of whether authentication for enabling wireless access to the selected available output device is successful, enabling wireless access from the information apparatus to the selected available output device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein either step (a), (b), or (c) further includes obtaining, at the information apparatus, prior to step (d), user preferences stored in the information apparatus, the user preferences being parameters related to rendering, at least part, of the content at the selected available output device;

and wherein the requirement in step (c) includes the user preferences.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information apparatus is a smart phone or an information pad, and wherein either step (c) or step (d) further includes receiving, from a user, an indication of a selected output device via the touch sensitive screen interface of the information apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 7 in which the wireless communication circuitry includes one or more chips or chipsets, the one or more chips or chipsets are compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards or within Bluetooth specifications for establishing the short range wireless communication.

9. The method according to claim 8 in which the available output device is at least one of a printer, a television, or a controller wire connected to a television;

and wherein the short range wireless communication includes a wireless local area network; and

wherein the output data includes document data, audio data or video data for output at the available output device.

10. The method according to claim 8, in which the available output device is, at least in part, an audio output device;

and wherein the short range wireless communication is compatible, at least in part, with at least one protocol within Bluetooth specifications; and

wherein the output data includes audio data for output at the available output device.

11. An information apparatus for wirelessly transferring output data from the information apparatus to an output device by short range wireless communication, the output data being related, at least in part, to digital content that is stored at the information apparatus or accessible by the information apparatus, and the output device being a distinct device from the information apparatus, the information apparatus including:

one or more wireless communication units,

a touch sensitive screen,

operating system software,

one or more processors, and

one or more client applications executable, at least partly, by the one or more processors at the information apparatus for providing one or more functionalities to the information apparatus, the one or more functionalities provided by the one or more client applications are facilitated, at least partly, by the operating system software included in the information apparatus, and wherein execution of the operating system software or the one or more client applications, by the one or more processors at the information apparatus, cause the information apparatus to implement a method that comprises;

(1) receiving, by the one or more client applications executing by the one or more processors at the information apparatus and over the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus, at least an indication, from a user, related to selection of digital content for rendering;

(2) wirelessly discovering, by short range wireless communication and using the one or more wireless communication units of the information apparatus, the output device;

(3) wirelessly receiving from the output device, over the short range wireless communication and using the one or more wireless communication units of the information apparatus, information related to the output device wirelessly discovered in (2), and the information includes at least one of a name, a brand, a model, security information, a device identity, an address, voice, capability information, or a device profile, individually or in any combination, related to the output device wirelessly discovered in (2);

(4) selecting, at the information apparatus using the touch sensitive screen and using the one or more client applications executing by the one or more processors at the information apparatus, the output device wirelessly discovered in (2), the selection of the output device being based, at least in part, on the information wirelessly received from the output device in (3) and being further based on user input via the touch sensitive screen of the information apparatus;

(5) conforming, using the one or more client applications executing by the one or more processors at the information apparatus, at least part of the digital content, which is selected in (1), into output data, the output data being related to at least part of the digital content selected in (1), and the output data includes one or more of a published standard, a proprietary standard, a format, a protocol, or a language, individually or in any combination, that is acceptable for wireless transferring to the output device selected in (4); and

(6) wirelessly transferring, over the short range wireless communication and using the one or more wireless communication units of the information apparatus, at least part of the output data conformed in (5) from the information apparatus to the output device selected in (4), wherein at least part of the output data conformed in (5) and that is wirelessly transferred to the output device is related, at least in part, to the digital content selected in (1).

12. The information apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the one or more wireless communication units of the information apparatus include one or more chips or chipsets, the one or more chips or chipsets are compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards or within Bluetooth specifications for establishing the short range wireless communication, and wherein the short range wireless communication is compatible, at least partly, with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards or within Bluetooth specifications.

13. The information apparatus according to claim 12 in which the output device is one or more of a television, an audio output device, a display device, a projection device, a monitor, a printer, or an output controller connectable to a television, individually or in any combination;

and wherein the digital content includes audio data, image data, or video data, individually or in any combination.

14. The information apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information apparatus is a smart phone and wherein the smart phone is further operable for opening a short range wireless communication channel, using the one or more wireless communication units of the information apparatus, for wirelessly searching the output device, and the short range wireless communication channel is a short range wireless communication based on close proximity of the smart phone to the output device.

15. The information apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the output device is at least one of an output controller externally connectable, by wired connection or wireless connection, to a display device, a projection device, a television, a monitor, or an audio output device, individually or in any combination.

16. An information apparatus for outputting output data from the information apparatus to one or more wireless output devices over a local wireless communication medium, the output data related to digital content being accessible by the information apparatus, the one or more wireless output devices being separate and distinct devices from the information apparatus, and the information apparatus including:

one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication over the local wireless communication medium,

one or more processors, and

software or firmware,

wherein execution of at least part of the software or firmware by the one or more processors of the information apparatus causes the information apparatus to implement a method that comprises;

(a) wirelessly searching, using the one or more wireless communication units of the information apparatus and over the local wireless communication medium, for the one or more wireless output devices that have broadcasted their availability over the local wireless communication medium for wireless connection;

(b) wirelessly discovering, using the one or more wireless communication units of the information apparatus and over the local wireless communication medium, the one or more wireless output devices that have broadcasted their availability over the local wireless communication medium, and the wireless discovery of the one or more wireless output devices is based, at least in part, on the information apparatus having wirelessly searched for the one or more wireless output devices in (a);

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

(d) selecting, at the information apparatus, a wireless output device from among the one or more wireless output devices wirelessly discovered in (b), the selection of the wireless output device being based, at least in part, on the information received over the local wireless communication medium from the one or more wireless output devices wirelessly discovered in (b);

(e) generating, by using the one or more processors of the information apparatus, the output data, the output data being related to at least part of the digital content for outputting at the wireless output device selected in (d), the generation of the output data is based, at least in part, on having received from the wireless output device device information related to the wireless output device selected in (d), and the generation of the output data is based, at least in part, on the device information that is received from the wireless output device;

(f) transmitting, using the one or more wireless communication units of the information apparatus and over the local wireless communication medium and to the wireless output device selected in (d), at least part of the output data generated in (e); and

(g) repeating any combination or part of steps (a) to (f), in dependence of not having wirelessly discovered, over the local wireless communication medium, the one or more wireless output devices in step (b), or not having obtained a selection of the wireless output device in step (d).

17. The information apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the local wireless communication medium is at least one of:

(1) a direct short range wireless communication between the information apparatus and the one or more wireless output devices, or

(2) a wireless local area network connectable by the information apparatus and by the one or more wireless output devices to the wireless local area network;

and wherein the one or more wireless communication units include one or more wireless communication chips or chipsets that are compatible with at least one wireless communication protocol within Bluetooth specifications or at least one wireless communication protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards.

18. The information apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the information apparatus is a smart phone or an information pad, and the information received from the wireless output device includes one or more of a name, a brand, an ID number, an output device profile, capability information, registration information, and voice, individually or in any combination.

19. The information apparatus according to claim 17, wherein execution of at least part of the software or firmware by the one or more processors of the information apparatus causes the information apparatus to implement the method that further includes, implementing an authentication procedure for accessing a service of the wireless output device, and, when the authentication procedure fails, not enabling the information apparatus to access the service of the wireless output device.

20. The information apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the information apparatus is a smart phone and the wireless output device is a printer, and wherein the information received from the output device in (c) includes capability information related to the wireless output device, and wherein the generating of the output data in (e) includes conforming the digital content into a form, language, or format that is acceptable for printing at the printer.