Abstract:
Wireless output controller for wirelessly receiving, over a wireless local area network connection, digital content from a mobile information apparatus that is within the same wireless local area network as the wireless output controller is herein disclosed and enabled. To set up the wireless output controller, the wireless output controller receives first information from a portable electronic device and then provides, in response, second information to the portable electronic device over a short range wireless connection. The wireless output controller is further operable to connect to a wireless local area network, establish a wireless communication link over the connected wireless local area network with the mobile information apparatus, transmit device dependent attributes associated with the wireless output controller to the mobile information apparatus, receive output data related to the device dependent attributes from the mobile information apparatus, and process the output data for outputting or playing at an output device.
Abstract:
Output devices (or output controllers connectable to an output device) that is wirelessly discoverable by an information apparatus are herein disclosed and enabled. An output device may be an audio output device, a printer, a television, a projector, or a display device. The output device may include one or more chips or chipsets that are compatible with Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11 standards. The output device is operable to: wirelessly announce its availability for the information apparatus to wirelessly discover the output device when the information apparatus is within a limited physical distance to the output device; wirelessly transmit one or more device attributes related to the output device from the output device to the information apparatus that has wirelessly discovered the output device; and wirelessly receive, from the information apparatus, output data that is in accordance, at least in part, with the one or more device attributes.
Abstract:
Output systems (e.g., television controllers, audio output devices, display devices) for accessing digital content service provided by one or more services over the Internet are herein disclosed and enabled. To receive and play the digital content, the output system may obtain authentication information for accessing the service, receive a list of one or more digital content that is available from the service for selection, receive output data from the service related to the selected digital content, and then play either audio data or video data related to the received output data at an output device coupled to the output system. The output system may further implement a discovery operation for an information apparatus that is in the same network as the output system to wirelessly discover the output system for providing output service.
Abstract:
An information apparatus that wirelessly discovers an available output device, within a physical vicinity, for outputting content is herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus includes a wireless communication unit for establishing short range wireless communication directly between the information apparatus and one or more available output devices; wirelessly receiving information from an available output device; determining, from the information received from the available output device, whether the available output device matches a requirement for outputting the content; and, when the requirement is matched, selecting the available output device, conforming at least part of the content into output data, and transmitting at least part of the output data over the short range wireless communication directly 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.
Abstract:
Mobile information apparatus (e.g., smart phone, Internet appliance, information pad) and software applications of the mobile information apparatus supporting voice commands for receiving and playing digital content from a service provided over a network (e.g., Internet) are herein disclosed and enabled. The mobile information apparatus may establish a wireless local area network connection, and receive, via a touch sensitive screen interface, authentication information to access a service over the Internet. The service may be a subscribed service. While connected to the service, the mobile information apparatus may receive voice commands from a user for outputting or playing digital content that is available at the service, and, in response to the voice commands, the mobile information apparatus receives, from the service, output data related to the digital content for outputting or playing at an output device associated with the mobile information apparatus.
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.
Abstract:
Wireless devices that establish a wireless connection with a mobile information apparatus (e.g., smart phone) by wirelessly detecting, within physical proximity, the mobile information apparatus are herein disclosed and enabled. For example, to set up the wireless device (e.g., audio output devices, television controllers, Internet appliances) for connecting with a smart phone, simply place the device and phone within a physical distance for the device and phone to wirelessly discover each other. During wireless detection, the smart phone and the wireless device may exchange, transmit, or receive device information for storing in memory to facilitate future wireless connections. Subsequent to wireless detection and storing of the device information, the device and the smart phone may be locked or paired for wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth connection) such that future wireless connections between the device and the phone can be established without having to repeat the wireless detection.
Abstract:
A mobile information apparatus for making mobile payments associated with a credit card, via a near distance radio frequency wireless communication unit, is herein disclosed and enabled. The mobile information apparatus is at least a smart phone or an Internet-Pad. At least part of the payment information is stored in the mobile information apparatus with an encryption technique. To make a payment, the user is instructed to move the mobile information apparatus to within a limited local physical distance from a wireless output controller; the user authorizes the payment by providing fingerprint authentication; and subsequent to the fingerprint authentication, the mobile information apparatus releases the payment information that includes encrypted data associated with a transaction, over a short range radio frequency communication link, to the wireless output controller for payment and transaction processing.
Abstract:
Internet-Pads with voice activated command functions for replying to e-mails are disclosed and enabled. The Internet-Pad may include a touch sensitive screen, a graphical user interface, an image editing application, an e-mail application, an Internet browsing application, and applications for playing audio/video content. An operating system of the Internet-Pad may provide an application programming interface (API) to support applications. Users may install additional applications supported by the API to expand the functionalities of the Internet-Pad. The Internet-Pad may further include a microphone for receiving voice commands, and a speaker for outputting sound. In one example, the Internet-Pad may reply to an e-mail by simply receiving a user's voice command or by simply receiving a user's selection of a reply icon over the touch sensitive screen. In another example, the user may issue voice commands for the Internet-Pad to stream, send, play, print, or display digital content at an output device.
Abstract:
A new Smart Phone specification is disclosed, the Smart Phone may provide voice activated commands and may include a touch sensitive screen, a digital camera, a wireless communication unit, an operating system, a graphical user interface, an e-mail application, an Internet browsing application, and an application for playing audio or video content. The Smart Phone may provide an application programming interface (API) to support applications. The Smart Phone may further include a microphone interface, a speaker interface, and a voice activated command function for receiving voice commands from the user. In some examples, the Smart Phone may take a picture with the digital camera included in the Smart Phone and transfer the picture to a wireless output device; and in other examples, the Smart Phone may stream or transfer digital content to an output device over the air or wirelessly in response to a voice command.