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U.S. Patent: 8,989,064


Patent Title

Wireless controller wire connectable to output devices such as televisions for accessing digital content and for wireless communication with mobile information apparatus

Meta Information

Issued Date: Mar 24, 2015
Inventor: William Ho Chang et al
External Links: UPSTO, Google Patents

Technical Fields

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Abstract

A wireless controller for accessing digital content and connectable externally via a wired connection to output devices, such as televisions, projectors, audio output devices, and printers, is herein disclosed and enabled. The wireless controller may be a box for connecting to a television. To illustrate, connecting the wireless controller to a television makes the television a smart television for accessing digital content via the wireless controller. The wireless controller includes a wireless communication unit that is compatible with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 or Bluetooth for accessing a wireless local area network and may establish wireless connections with mobile information apparatus in its vicinity. Subsequent to establishing the wireless connection, the mobile information apparatus may transmit, stream, or mirror digital content to the output devices over the established wireless connection. The wireless controller may collect authentication, payment, or subscription information for accessing some digital content services.

U.S. Patent Number: 8,989,064

Sample Claim

1. A wireless data output controller method associated with a wireless controller for receiving, over a short range wireless communication, digital content from one or more wireless information apparatus, the wireless controller being externally connectable via a wired connection to an output device for rendering at least part of the digital content received from the one or more wireless information apparatus, the one or more wireless information apparatus being distinct devices from the output device and the wireless controller, the wireless controller including:

a wireless communication unit at the wireless controller for establishing a short range wireless communication with the one or more wireless information apparatus,

a communication interface that is a wired connection and that is externally connectable to the output device for enabling the output device to receive at least part of the digital content that includes video content, audio content, or document content, individually or any combination, via the wireless controller for rendering at least part of the digital content at the output device, the wireless data output controller method comprising:

establishing a wired connection externally between the wireless controller and the output device with the communication interface of the wireless controller;

establishing, by the wireless communication unit and at the wireless controller, the short range wireless communication for wireless communication with the one or more wireless information apparatus;

broadcasting, by the wireless communication unit and at the wireless controller over said short range wireless communication, the availability of the output device or the wireless controller to receive the digital content that includes video content, audio content, or document content, individually or in any combination, from the one or more wireless information apparatus while waiting for the one or more wireless information apparatus to identify the wireless controller or the output device for service;

providing, by the wireless controller and over the short range wireless communication to the one or more wireless information apparatus, at least a device profile that includes at least an identity of the output device or the wireless controller for identification or selection by the one or more wireless information apparatus;

receiving, at the wireless controller and over the short range wireless communication from the one or more wireless information apparatus, an output data stream corresponding to at least part of digital content that includes video content, audio content, or document content, individually or in any combination, for rendering at the output device;

passing at least part of the output data from the wireless controller to the output device over the wired connection, said at least part of the output data corresponding to at least part of the digital content that includes video content, audio content, or document content, individually or in any combination, received from the one or more wireless information apparatus; and

delivering, by the wireless controller, at least part of the output data from the wireless controller to the output device via the wired connection for rendering of at least part of the digital content that includes video content, audio content, or document content, individually or in any combination, at the output device, the wireless controller being a distinct device from the one or more wireless information apparatus.