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U.S. Patent: 10,387,087


Patent Title

Output systems or audio output devices that include an interface operable by a user to initiate wireless discovery for establishing wireless connections with mobile devices

Meta Information

Issued Date: Aug. 20, 2019
Inventor: William Ho Chang et al
External Links: UPSTO, Google Patents

Technical Fields

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Abstract

A method for establishing a wireless connection between a mobile information apparatus (e.g., smart phone) and an output system (e.g., audio output device) are herein disclosed and enabled. The method comprises using an interface of the output system to receive an indication from a user, and initiating wireless discovery based, at least in part, on physical proximity between the mobile information apparatus and the output system, subsequent to receiving the user indication. The method additionally comprises using the mobile information apparatus to wirelessly
(1) discover the output system,
(2) establish a wireless communication link between the mobile information apparatus and the output system, and
(3) transmit audio output data from the mobile information apparatus to the output system over the established wireless communication link. Subsequently, the output system outputs or plays at least part of the wirelessly received audio output data from the mobile information apparatus.

U.S. Patent: 10,387,087

Sample Claim

1. An output system for establishing a wireless connection with a smart phone to wirelessly receive digital content from the smart phone, the digital content includes at least audio digital content, and the smart phone is a distinct device from the output system, the output system includes: an interface operable by a user, wireless communication circuitry for wireless communication, and an audio output device or a speaker for outputting sound; wherein the output system:
(1) uses the interface of the output system to receive at least an indication from the user operating the output system;
(2) uses the wireless communication circuitry of the output system to initiate a wireless discovery process subsequent to having received the indication from the user in (1), the wireless discovery process is for the output system to wirelessly discover the smart phone or for the smart phone to wirelessly discover the output system, and the wireless discovery process is based, at least in part, on physical proximity between the smart phone and the output system for short range wireless communication, and the wireless discovery process is further based, at least in part, on the output system being within a physical distance from the smart phone;
(3) uses the wireless communication circuitry of the output system to establish a wireless communication link between the output system and the smart phone, the establishing of the wireless communication link is subsequent to either (i) the output system having wirelessly discovered the smart phone in the wireless discovery process in (2), or (ii) the smart phone having wirelessly discovered the output system in the wireless discovery process in (2);
(4) uses the wireless communication circuitry of the output system to wirelessly receive audio output data from the smart phone over the established wireless communication link in (3), the received audio output data is related, at least in part, to the audio digital content; and
(5) uses the audio output device or the speaker of the output system to output or to play at least part of the wirelessly received audio output data in (4).