JP2008530905A - Wireless adapter for content transfer - Google Patents

Abstract

  This specification describes an embodiment in which content is provided wirelessly from a content source to a content player. In one embodiment, for a wired connection between a wireless interface operable to receive content from a content source and a content player for routing content received by the wireless interface for playback by the content player A wired adapter is provided.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless adapter for content transfer.

  Portable content players and other devices that are capable of playing content such as music or video-like media are becoming increasingly common and are usually designed to play the user's personal content. ing. Users tend to use multiple media devices such as MP3 digital music players, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal computers and car audio systems, many of which use the user's personal content. It has the performance as a content player for playback. However, there is currently no fast and convenient method for transferring content between a plurality of users' devices. In addition, because these devices tend to have different user interfaces, users learn about each device and operate those devices to play music or other content, which is inconvenient. For example, some automobile manufacturers offer connector kits for connecting a portable music player, such as an MP3 player, to a vehicle's car audio system. However, in those existing connector kits, the user is required to wire-connect the portable music player to the dock, which is further wired to the car audio system of the vehicle. When a portable music player is connected to the dock, usually the user interface (display and control buttons) of the portable music player itself is disabled and the user needs to use control buttons belonging to the car audio system of the vehicle, Control of the portable music player connected to the dock is limited. In addition, users are typically provided with a limited numerical display on the vehicle's dashboard display to indicate the track being played. Other existing vehicle connector kits can employ portable music player title navigation for display on the vehicle dashboard to provide more detailed content information to the user. However, even such a connector kit requires the portable music player to be connected to the dock, and the user interface (display and control buttons) of the player is disabled when the portable music player is connected to the dock.

  Accordingly, this specification describes an embodiment in which content is provided wirelessly from a content source to a content player. In one embodiment, for a wired connection between a wireless interface operable to receive content from a content source and a content player for routing content received by the wireless interface for playback by the content player A wired adapter is provided.

1. System Overview FIG. 1 shows a system 100 for content distribution according to one embodiment. The system 100 includes a content provider 110, a content service 120, a network 130 and a target device 140. Content provider 110 includes an entity configured to provide content that can be consumed by a user by playback or other means. The content includes media such as audio, video and text, multimedia including two or more of audio, video and text, or other types of data. Examples of content include, but are not limited to, media files such as MP3 files, other types of audio files, video files, text music playlists, and other types of files. Examples of content providers 110 include, but are not limited to, news providers (such as local and cable news television stations), television studios, movie studios, music labels, online music (or other media) providers, and the like.

  In general, the content provider 110 provides content to the content service 120 so that the content service 120 can provide several functions. One of the functions includes receiving new content from the content provider 110 almost regularly. Another one of the functions includes making content received from content provider 110 available to the user. In addition, content service 120 may receive content from multiple content providers 110 and provide a relatively large content selection to the user. The user can obtain content that is made available by the content service 120, for example, through one or both of a subscription service and an on-demand service.

  Further, the content service 120 may automatically organize user content and continuously provide new content to the user. In addition, the content service 120 may perform other functions such as billing, user information tracking, historical data tracking, and the like. The content service 120 may include a server 121 and a database 122 for storing user information and content. The server 121 can download content to the target device 140 used by the user. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that depending on the size and complexity of the content service 120, the server 121 may include multiple servers and the database 122 may include multiple databases. For example, to support a relatively large number of users, several servers 121 and databases 122 may be required to obtain content from the content provider 110 and provide the content to the user with minimal delay.

  Network 130 may represent one or more networks. The network 130 includes one or more private networks, a public network such as the Internet, a wireless network such as a satellite network and a cellular network, a wireless local area network such as a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (registered trademark) network, a wired network, a local area network, and a wide network. It may include area networks as well as other types of communication networks.

  The content service 120 can provide content to the target device 140 via the network 130. Target device 140 may download content from content service 120, receive content from one or more other target devices, or download content from content service 120 and download content from another target device. It may be operable to receive. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the target devices 141, 142 are operable to download content from the content service 120, but may be operable to receive content from another target device. As also shown in FIG. 1, target device 143 is operable to receive content from another target device, such as target device 142. In this example, the target device 142 can download content from the content service 120 or receive content from the target device 141, and the target device 142 transmits the content to the target device 143. Content service 120 and target device 140 are described in further detail in connection with FIG. Examples of suitable target devices 140 include, but are not limited to, personal computers, personal digital assistants, cellular phones, car radios, home stereos, set top boxes, MP3 players, portable video players, and other end user devices.

2. Overview of Content Service Features and Benefits The system 100 provides a media experience to a user without requiring the user to change traditional behavior in order to utilize the content service 120 that provides the media experience. For example, the system 100 may be a target device of one of several target devices 140 that a user may use at any particular time, such as an automobile car radio, a cellular phone the user is moving on, a home personal computer or a home stereo. The above enables the user to play the audio content selected by the user, such as a music station, talk radio, or personal content. The target device can possess content selected by the user in a set of channels that are available seamlessly throughout the day on any one of many target devices. The system 100 manages the content and ensures that it is automatically replenished when consumed. Further, since the target device 140 is provided with an interface that is the same as or similar to the conventional device interface, the user can reproduce desired content on any target device relatively quickly and easily.

  In one embodiment, the content service 120 allows a user to configure one or more sets of channels on one or more target devices 140. Each channel is occupied by content provided by the user, referred to as content from the content provider or as the user's personal content. A channel is a data set of content, which may be a specific type of content. For example, the content service 120 may make available hundreds of stations of content or individual content. Webcast radio and webcast television are some examples of content stations. The content service 120 may provide the user with one or more of the content stations as a subscription service. Here, one or more stations are subscribed by the user, and the contents of that station are transmitted to the user's one or more target devices. In one example, one or more stations provide a large or continuous block of digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) compliant streaming content. Some examples of individual content include single songs or albums, movies, video clips, and the like. The content service 120 may provide an on-demand service, and the user can purchase and download individual content.

  Further, the channel may include specific types of content, such as sports talk channels, popular music channels, and the like. The user can configure a set of channels, for example, by selecting content provided by the content service 120 and of interest to the user. Hereinafter, this set of channels is referred to as a channel set. The channel may contain high quality digital content. This digital content is non-commercial in some examples. The channels of the channel set may also include content from the user's personal collection, such as audio files stored on the user's personal computer. This channel may be programmed with a playlist, genre or artist, any other desired category, or set of content.

  A user may configure several channel sets so that the user can use different channel sets at different times. For example, the user can create a first channel set for daily use, such as for commuting. This channel set may include traffic and news channels, sports talk radio channels, and other channels. The user can also create a second channel for long travel, including, for example, a classic rock channel and a comedy channel.

  Content for the channel may be downloaded from the content service 120 to one or more target devices 140. In addition, the content service 120 may refresh the target device almost continuously or periodically using new content. For example, new content or target device received from the content service 120 after the content of the channel at the target device is consumed by the user, such as after playback of the content, or after the content has become obsolete, such as after a predetermined time has elapsed. New content cached in another one of 140 may supplement or replace the content of the channel. This update of content on the target device may be performed automatically and targets that have only limited storage to store content, such as PDAs, phones or other devices that have a relatively small amount of storage space It may be beneficial for device 140.

  In addition, each target device 140 may comprise an interface that is the same as or similar to a conventional user interface that is widely used in one or more types of today's end-user devices. Thus, there is no need for the user to learn how to use the target device interface. In addition, a common interface may be provided on several target devices 140 that may be used by a single user to play content. For example, this common interface is provided on the user's phone, personal computer, car radio, etc. Thus, the user need not learn how to use different interfaces of different target devices 140.

  The user interface of the target device 140 may emulate a user interface of a conventional radio or music player with channel presets and may include those user interfaces. The interface on the target device 140 may provide a “one click” channel selection as well as clicking on a channel preset button on the radio. In one example, each channel may contain content occupied by the user's pre-selected music type or genre, which allows the user to click with one click, as well as switching between different radio stations on the radio. Allows switching between channels. The interface may also allow the user to fast forward, rewind, or pause content.

  A software application installed on the user's personal computer allows the user to manage and configure channel sets and update content on multiple target devices. Also, content stored on one target device may be available on one or more other target devices. In addition, the same software application or another software application is provided on the target device that allows the user to flag songs or other content and add those content to the personal purchase schedule list. Also good.

3. Content Service FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a system 100 for content distribution. The content service 120 is shown to include a management module 123, a content distribution module 124, and a collection module 125 in addition to the server 121 and database 122 described in connection with FIG. As used herein, a module includes one or more software programs, applications, or routines that are stored on a computer-readable medium (CRM) for execution by one or more processors. Embodiments of the CRM include, but are not limited to, electronic, optical, magnetic or other storage or transmission devices that can provide computer readable instructions to the receiver processor. Other examples of suitable CRMs include, but are not limited to, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic disks, memory chips, ROM, RAM, ASICs, configured processors, any optical media, Any magnetic tape or any other magnetic medium, or other medium from which the processor can read instructions. In addition, or alternatively, a module may represent hardware configured to perform one or more functions described herein.

  The management module 123 can adjust information among a plurality of users. For example, the management module 123 receives channel configuration information from multiple users. The channel configuration information may include a user selection of channel content in one or more sets of multiple user channels. User selected and user configured channel sets are stored in the database 122 along with additional channel configuration information added by the content service 120 related to user selection and configuration, such as permissions for content consumption, special attributes or rules. May be. Subsequently, the database 122 is queried to determine the content to provide to the user. In one embodiment, the management module 123 generates a web-based user interface that allows a user to log in to the content service 120, registers the content service 120, sets preferences, and configures channel sets. To do.

  For example, the user uses the personal computer 141 to connect to the content service 120 via the network 130 shown in FIG. The network 130 may include the Internet 131 shown in FIG. 2, other networks, or both. The user provides user information to the content service 120, and this user information is stored in the database 122. The management module 123 may present channel configuration information to the user, such as selecting the type of content for each channel. For example, a user may have news, traffic and weather on channel 1, sports talk radio on channel 2, pop music on channel 3, alternative music on channel 4, classic rock music on channel 5, For channel 6, classical music can be selected. Management module 123 stores user selections in database 122, and channels 1-6 are occupied by content corresponding to relevant user selections and related channel configuration information added by content service 120 using content distribution module 124. Is done. In the foregoing, it will be readily appreciated that six channels are shown for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Accordingly, any reasonably appropriate number of channels may be available for configuration without departing from the scope of the system 100.

  Alternatively, the management module 123 may present user information to the user, and a channel may be selected by the user based on the user information. For example, the user can provide user configuration information or a selection of favorite artists. Based on this information, several channels may be selected for the user's channel set. The user may select some of the channels for the channel set. A default channel may also be provided. Also, several channel sets may be configured for each user.

  The content distribution module 124 transmits the content for the channel set to one or more target devices 140. The content distribution module 124 can determine the content to be transmitted to the target device based on the related channel configuration information. For example, the content distribution module 124 reads channel configuration information for the set of channels selected from the database 122. In addition, the content distribution module 124 may transmit content for each channel to one or more target devices 140.

  For example, the aggregation module 125 receives content and playlists from the content provider 110 and stores information in the database 122 so that the content can be distributed to users as needed.

4). Personal Computer User Gateway for Content Service FIG. 2 shows several target devices 140. Target device 140 is shown to include personal computer 141, cellular telephone 142, car audio system 143, and home device 144. These are examples of some target devices 140 that can be used by a user. Obviously, other target devices 140 may be used, such as other portable content devices (eg, MP3 players), vehicle audio systems, home media servers, and the like.

  Several target devices 140 shown in FIG. 2 are connected to the content service 120 via a network. For example, the personal computer 141 is shown connected to the content service 120 via the Internet 131. The cellular telephone 142 is shown connected to the content service 120 via the cellular network 132 and the Internet 131. In addition, the target device 145 is shown connected to the content service 120 via a “hot spot” 133 and the Internet 131. Although not shown, in contrast to a public network such as the Internet 131, additional target devices 140 may be connected to the content service 120 using one or more private networks, and the content service 120 is a non-web based content service. May be provided. In one embodiment, the content service 120 includes a web service that allows a user to log in using a personal computer 141 or another target device. In this embodiment, channel content may be downloaded to one or more target devices 140 over the Internet 131.

  The personal computer 141 may include an application 170 having a management module 171, an update agent 161, and a user interface 151. The management module 171 generally allows the user to determine channel configuration information for configuring the selected channel set and send it to the content service 120. The channel configuration information may include a selection of content to place in the selected channel set.

  Examples of content that may be selected for a channel set may include genre-oriented music stations, talk content, user personal content, and the like. Genre-oriented music content may be selected from a catalog that lists a relatively large number of stations, or individual content provided by content provider 110. In addition, one music channel may deliver a continuous set of music tracks on the target device. Talk content can also be selected from a catalog of talk content channels that can be updated periodically, such as hourly, daily or weekly. In addition, content from more than one content provider may be placed in one channel set. The user's personal content may be stored on the personal computer 141 and can be discovered by the management module 171. In this way, the user can categorize different content by different techniques and move individual tracks of content or large blocks of content to channels of a channel set.

  The update agent 161 generally receives content from the content service 120 and can periodically refresh the content 180 stored on the personal computer 141. For example, the update agent 161 caches the content 180 in the personal computer 141. Content 180 may include content received from content distribution module 124 of content service 120.

  In addition, the update agent 161 controls the transfer of the content 180 to another target device 140. For example, content for one or more selected channel sets may be transferred to the cellular telephone 142 when the cellular telephone 142 is interfaced with the personal computer 141 by connection or other means. In one example, when cellular telephone 142 is connected to personal computer 141, the transfer of content 180 is performed as a substantially automatic function so that the user need not issue a transfer instruction. Update agent 161 can control the transfer of content 180 to cellular telephone 142 so that new content can be experienced by one or more playlists.

  In addition, the update agent 161 generally forwards the content 180 to allow new content to be stored on the cellular telephone 142 while remaining within the performance limitations of the cellular telephone 142 storage. Can be controlled. Accordingly, at least a portion of content 180 may be stored on cellular telephone 142, which is shown as content 181. Similarly, a home device 144, such as a home stereo or set top box, can also receive content 180 from the personal computer 141. Instead of the personal computer 141, a server such as a home media server or another device may be used to receive and cache the content 180 from the content service 120 without departing from the scope of the system 200.

  The personal computer 141 may also include a user interface 151 that provides a “one click” selection of the channel and emulates a conventional interface. In one embodiment, the user interface 151 includes a GUI interface that the user can click to control playback and select a channel. In addition or alternatively, the user interface 151 may include hardware such as buttons, wheels, and keys.

5. Portable Content Device A portable content device, such as a cellular telephone 142, PDA, MP3 player, etc., may include an application 174 having a management module 172, an update agent 162 and a user interface 152. The management module 172 can generally determine the channel configuration information for configuring the selected channel set and transmit it to the content service 120 in the same manner as the above-described method related to the management module 171 of the personal computer 141. To do. In certain examples, the management module 172 may be considered optional for the application 174 since the management of the application 174 may be performed by the personal computer 141.

  The update agent 162 of the cellular telephone 142 generally controls the update of the content 181. Content 181 is routed from the content service 120 or through the personal computer 141 via a cellular network 132, the Internet 131, a wireless neighborhood network such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (802.11), or any combination thereof. New content received from content service 120 may be included. For example, content 181 may include new cached content received from content service 120, such as routed through Internet 131 and cellular network 132, as shown in FIG. In another example, content 181 may include new cached content received from personal computer 141 via a wired connection or a wireless neighborhood network.

  Also, the update agent 162 of the cellular telephone 142 can manage the reception of content from one or both of the content service 120 and the personal computer 141. More specifically, for example, the update agent 162 can control reception of one type of content from the content service 120 and another type of content from the personal computer 141. For example, the update agent 162 can control reception of content such that traffic information such as traffic information that needs to be updated relatively frequently (hot content) is received from the cellular network 132. In another example, the update agent 162 may ensure that hot content is received from the personal computer 141 before the hot content expires (without passing through the cellular network 132 or any other wireless communication network). The reception of content can be controlled. In addition, the update agent 162 can control the reception of cold content, which is content received from the personal computer 141 and that does not need to be updated as frequently. In this example, the personal computer 141 downloads cold content from the content service 120. Further, when the cellular telephone 142 is interfaced with the personal computer 141 by connection or other means, the cold content can be updated on the cellular telephone 142. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that cold content such as music can also be downloaded to the cellular telephone 142 via the cellular network 132.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cellular telephone 142 is also shown to include a wireless interface 148. The wireless interface 148 may be used to connect to the content service 120 via a hot spot 133, a personal computer 141, other target devices 140, and the like. The cellular telephone 142 further includes a wireless interface 150. The wireless interface 150 can be used to transfer content 181 to the car audio system 143. Alternatively, the wireless interfaces 148 and 150 may be combined as one wireless interface that performs all the functions of the wireless interfaces 148 and 150.

  Playback of the content 181 may be controlled via the user interface 152 of the cellular telephone 142. For example, the user interface 152 can include controls that enable selection of preset channels, rewind, fast forward, pause, playback, and the like.

  Although not shown, cellular telephone 142 may include devices configured to provide functionality to multiple devices. For example, the cellular telephone 142 can include an MP3 player, a PDA, a camera, a video player, and the like.

6). Content Player and Wireless Adapter A portable content device such as cellular phone 142 can transmit content to a content player such as car audio system 143 via wireless interface 150 of cellular phone 142. In addition, the wireless adapter 173 enables communication between the cellular telephone 142 and the car audio system 143 and can be used to receive content and to control playback of content. The wireless adapter 173 may be a part of the car audio system 143 or may be separated from the car audio system 143. In addition or alternatively, a wired interface may be used to allow communication between the cellular telephone 142 and the car audio system 143.

  FIG. 3 shows the operating environment of the wireless adapter 173 according to an embodiment in which the wireless adapter 173 is separated from the car audio system 143. However, alternative embodiments are envisioned where the wireless adapter 173 is similarly operable when integrated with the car audio system 143. The wireless adapter 173 allows a portable content device with appropriate performance to be integrated wirelessly with a content player component. In FIG. 3 and the following description, the portable content device is represented as a cellular telephone 142, but it is understood that the cellular telephone 142 is merely used as an example and that other portable content devices may be used instead. . Examples of other portable content devices include, but are not limited to, digital music players and PDAs. Similarly, in FIG. 3 and the following description, reference will be made to car radio components of car audio system 143, but such car radio components are merely used as examples and instead other components or other of car audio system 143 are used. It is understood that other content players may be used. Examples of components include, but are not limited to, a single CD player component, a CD changer component, and an auxiliary component. Examples of other content players include, but are not limited to, maritime audio systems on board, home audio systems, and other audio devices or systems.

  In one embodiment, the wireless adapter 173 establishes a wireless communication link 310 with the cellular telephone 142 using a wireless neighborhood network. As used herein, a wireless neighborhood network refers to any wireless network capable of providing a short-range wireless communication link between networked devices. Examples of wireless neighbor networks include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11). Thus, wireless neighborhood networks are distinguished from long-range wireless networks such as cellular phones or cellular networks for mobile phones and satellite communication networks. In addition, the wireless adapter 173 is operable to be wired at 320 to an available I / O interface on the car audio system 143. Examples of such input connections include, but are not limited to, additional CD changers, I / O interfaces for satellite radio, or other auxiliary (AUX) I / O interfaces for other audio components.

  In one embodiment, the cellular telephone 142 has the appropriate capability to wirelessly transmit encoded and unencoded content and command / control signals to the wireless adapter 173 via the wireless neighbor network described above. In turn, the wireless adapter 173 provides any necessary signal conversion or decoding of such content and instruction / control for transfer to the car audio system 143. Thus, the wireless adapter 173 provides an interface that allows the cellular telephone 142 to transmit stored content to the car audio system 143 for content playback by the car radio component.

  FIG. 4 illustrates in more detail a wireless adapter according to one embodiment. The wireless adapter 173 provides an operating system (OS) kernel 410 that manages device hardware and software operations and a wireless communication link between the car audio system 143 and the cellular telephone 142 via the wireless adapter 173. An application profile stack 420 for a neighbor network and a decoder 440 are provided. A decoder 440 decodes content received from the cellular telephone 142, and any metadata of the content (eg, song title, artist name, playlist) for display on the car audio system 143. And an optional metadata decoder 442 for decoding. In one embodiment, content decoder 446 and metadata decoder 442 are encoded on the CRM and implemented as program code. Accordingly, a specific display format for the car audio system 143 may be included in the program code for the metadata decoder 442 so that content metadata as normally displayed on the cellular telephone 142 is displayed on the car audio system 143. Is possible. Such a specific display format may be obtained from the manufacturer of the car audio system 143. The manufacturer may be an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), such as an automobile manufacturer or aftermarket manufacturer. The wireless adapter 173 is also used to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from the cellular telephone 142 and converts the signal into a digital signal for processing by the application profile stack 420 and a wireless adapter. Hardware (not shown) is provided. Accordingly, the RF hardware and application profile stack 420 provides the wireless adapter 173 with a wireless interface for communication with the cellular telephone 142.

  Once decrypted, the content and any associated metadata are transferred to the car audio system 143 via an input / output (I / O) interface 450. The input / output (I / O) interface 450 may be part of the wireless adapter 173 as shown in FIG. 4 or may be implemented as a connector separated from the wireless adapter 173 by a wired connection. The I / O interface 450 is either physically linked to an available I / O interface on the car audio system 143 or wired to a wired communication link between the wireless adapter 173 and the car audio system 143. 320 (shown in FIG. 3). The wireless adapter 173 includes an I / O manager 495 that manages the I / O interface 450 of the wireless adapter 173 for connection to the car audio system 143, and an instruction translation module 490. Hereinafter, the instruction translation module 490 will be described.

  The command translation module 490 is suitable for the translation of command / control signals between the cellular telephone 142 and the car audio system 143 encoded on the CRM, as performed by the wireless neighbor network and I / O interface 450. Program code. In one embodiment, any standard or general audio profile can be included in the program code, and the wireless adapter 173 can provide different car audio systems from different manufacturers that use such standard or general audio profiles. Can be operated. For example, different manufacturers may use the same standard audio profile to control one or more components of a car audio system, such as preset station buttons and station seek up / down buttons of a car radio component. Accordingly, it is possible to introduce such standard voice profiles into different types of car audio systems and translate command / control signals back from the car audio system 143 to the cellular telephone 142. Similarly, the I / O interface 450 may be a standard or general I / O interface, and the wireless adapter 173 may be a different car audio system from different manufacturers having such standard or general I / O interfaces. The I / O interface is operable to be connected. For example, different manufacturers may use the same standard I / O for control signal input and output for one or more components of their car audio system, such as control signals for car audio components, CD player components, or both. A / O interface may be provided.

  In another embodiment, the wireless adapter 173 is specific to each manufacturer's car audio system 143, and the command translation module 490 includes program code specific to a particular manufacturer's dedicated audio profile. In such a case, a dedicated audio profile can be obtained from a particular manufacturer. In the same way that content is transmitted from the cellular phone 142, the updated software code is downloaded to the wireless adapter 173 wirelessly from the cellular phone 142 or wired or wirelessly from any other suitable device. Alternative embodiments are envisioned. Accordingly, the command translation module 490 of the wireless adapter 173 can be configured to either an initially scheduled car audio system 143 component, another component of the same car audio system 143, or a different car audio system than planned. Software updates can be provided. For example, a user who desires to use the wireless adapter 173 in different vehicles with different car audio systems may download program code appropriate to the specific instructions / control for use in each vehicle.

  Similarly, when the car audio system 143 is provided with a unique I / O interface by its manufacturer, the wireless adapter 173 includes a unique I / O interface 450 for the car audio system 143 and two I / O interfaces. Get good connectivity between / O interfaces.

  In order to manage the communication links 310 and 320 for wireless transfer of content from the cellular telephone 142 to the car radio system 143, the wireless adapter 173 further includes a neighboring wireless network manager 430. In order to transfer the decrypted content and content metadata to the car radio system 143, the neighboring wireless network manager 430 activates the application profile stack 420 to set up and control the wireless communication link 310, and the content and optional content metadata. To the decoder 440 and to the command translation module 490 and the I / O manager 495 to set up and control the wired communication link 320. In one embodiment, the network manager 430 includes program code for performing the functions described above, encoded on the CRM.

  FIG. 4 illustrates an application profile stack 420 having multiple Bluetooth profiles for coordinating the transmission of content from the cellular telephone 142 to the car audio system 143 and the transmission of command / control signals between the two devices. An example is shown. In one embodiment, the application profile stack 420 is implemented as program code encoded on a CRM. Examples of Bluetooth profiles that can be used in the application profile stack 420 include, but are not limited to, advanced audio distribution profiles (A2DP; Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), audio video remote control profiles (AVRCP; Audio Video Remote Control Profile), serial ports Profile (SPP), Hands Free Profile (HFP), Extended Service Discovery Profile (ESDP) and Personal Area Network (PAN) profiles. In order for the wireless adapter 173 and the cellular phone 142 to work together through the Bluetooth transport, the cellular phone 142 also includes the same Bluetooth profile found in the wireless adapter 173. Although reference is made to the use of Bluetooth profiles in FIG. 4 and the description herein, the profile used is simply the type of wireless neighborhood network used to provide the communication link between the cellular telephone 142 and the car audio system 143. It is understood that it depends.

  When the wireless adapter 173 is in operation, the A2DP can transfer the content stored in the cellular telephone 142 to the car audio system 143 as streaming audio for later stereo audio playback. And As described above, the stored content is placed on each channel of cellular telephone 142. The network manager 430 further controls the content decoder 446 to decode the streaming audio into a format understood by the car audio system 143 for output to the I / O interface 450. The car audio system 143 is connected to the I / O interface 450 through its own I / O interface. SPP uses a virtual serial port (not an actual serial cable) for wireless connection between devices to each of cellular phone 142 and car audio system 143 by emulation of RS-232 control signaling to form a wireless neighborhood network. )I will provide a. Thus, the SPP can be used to transfer content from the cellular telephone 142 to the car audio system 143 instead of A2DP, and also to provide remote control use of the cellular telephone 142 by the car audio system 143. In addition, HFP may be included to allow the car audio system 143 to handle incoming calls to the cellular telephone 142. In addition, AVRCP may be used instead of SPP in order to ensure interoperability of function control between cellular telephone 142 and car audio system 143 in wireless access in content access and playback. In this specification, the function control of a device is control that enables control of the function of such a device. Thus, both SPP and AVRCP allow cellular phone 142 to be controlled remotely by car audio system 143 via a wireless neighborhood network. For example, SPP or AVRCP allows the car audio system 143 to function as a controller that sends voice command / control signals to the cellular telephone 142 for playback of the audio stream. Examples of command / control signals may be played back, depending on the nature of the accompanying device, in this example cellular telephone 142 and wireless adapter 173, and the desired scenario for accessing the audio stream through the car audio system 143. Includes stop, channel selection, or display modes. In one embodiment, the wireless adapter 173 has the option of maintaining or disabling the user interface on the cellular telephone 142 for control over the connection of the wireless adapter 173 to the car audio system 143 and establishment of a wireless neighborhood network. A switch is provided to the user. As a result, the cellular telephone 142 can be controlled by function control on its own user interface, function control on the user interface of the car audio system 143, or both.

  The PAN profile allows accompanying Bluetooth devices to participate in a personal area network used for communication between devices that are in close proximity to each other. In this case, the accompanying Bluetooth device includes a car audio system 143 that supports Bluetooth by the wireless adapter 173 and is present in the vicinity of the wireless adapter 173 that supports Bluetooth (for example, the car audio system 143 is equipped). A cellular telephone 142 (in the same car). Thus, the PAN profile is managed by the car audio system 143 by the I / O manager 395, translated by the command translation module 490, and via the I / O interface 450 to establish a communication link with the cellular telephone 142. The status and identification information can be transmitted to the cellular telephone 142. The PAN profile can also be used to transfer content from the cellular telephone 142 to the car audio system 143.

  ESDP discovers other Bluetooth devices in the vicinity of the wireless adapter 173 and thus in the vicinity of the car audio system 143, and through a network (such as a personal area network) that has a network profile (such as a PAN profile) A detection protocol is used that allows a communication link to be established with a nearby Bluetooth device. Thus, the wireless adapter 173 allows the target device, such as the car audio system 143, to dynamically detect a portable content device, such as the cellular phone 142, and automatically communicate with the cellular phone 142 from there for audio streaming without requiring user interaction. Support detection protocols that allow to interface with each other. For example, a user with a powered cellular telephone 142 in a pocket, briefcase, wallet, or car glove box equipped with a car audio system 143 and a connected wireless adapter 173 may remove the cellular telephone 142. Therefore, it is not necessary to activate the audio streaming function. Instead, if the car audio system 143 is already on, i.e., powered on or powered on, the car radio adapter 173 automatically detects the presence of the cellular telephone 142 and the cellular telephone Audio streaming from 142 to the car audio system 143 is started. Thus, from the cellular telephone 142 and user perspective, it does not matter what target device is connected to the wireless adapter 173 for seamless integration and standardization of the functions provided by the wireless adapter 173.

  Thus, wireless adapter 173 allows cellular phone 142 to be played and controlled in a natural and intuitive manner with familiar user interfaces already found in existing target devices and minimal user interaction. For example, the preset radio station button of the car radio component of the car audio system 143 can be operated to access a variety of different content channels available on the cellular telephone 142 and the user can control the content in such a way. When including content or individual content, the seek button of the same car radio component is operable to skip forward or backward the content of a particular content channel. In another example, the playback, send and return functions available to the CD player of the audio system access the content of the portable content device if the content includes user content or individual content that is so controllable. Is operable to control playback, send and return functions. In yet another example, in an audio system CD changer, the next disc, previous disc, and disc selection functions may be used to access the next channel, previous channel, and channel selection for accessing content on the portable content device. Operate to control functions.

  In one embodiment, the wireless adapter 173 has an infrared (IR), radio frequency (RF) or IR and RF command module 460 that enables remote control of the car audio system 143 via the remote control 405, and voice commands. And an utterance command module 470 that enables control of the wireless adapter 173 via the network. The IR / RF command module 460 and the speech command module 470 can operate in place of or together with each other. Further, each can operate instead of or in conjunction with application profile stack 173 and network manager 430. When a user uses the remote control 405 to control content playback of an audio stream from the cellular telephone 142 through the car audio system 143, an IR / RF control signal from the remote control 405 is sent to an IR / RF receiver (not shown). Via the IR / RF command module 460. The IR / RF command module converts the IR / RF control signal into a corresponding electrical signal for transfer to the command translation module 490. The instruction translation module 490 then translates such electrical signals and controls the cellular telephone 142, the car audio system 143, or both. Similarly, the speech command module 470 allows the user to provide voice commands and control the content playback of the voice stream from the cellular telephone 142 through the car audio system 143. The voice command is converted to an electrical signal by the speech command module 470 for transfer to the command translation module 490. The instruction translation module 490 then translates such electrical signals and controls the cellular telephone 142, the car audio system 143, or both.

  FIG. 5 shows a wireless adapter 573 according to an alternative embodiment. Like the wireless adapter 173, the wireless adapter 573 includes an OS kernel 410, a network manager 430, a decoder 440 having a metadata decoder 442 and a content decoder 446, an instruction translation module 490, an I / O manager 495, and an I / O interface 450. Prepare. However, the wireless adapter 573 includes a universal serial bus (USB) hub and host 510 instead of the application profile stack 420.

  The USB hub and host 510 allow connection of transceivers for neighboring wireless networks. The transceiver includes the functionality of the application profile stack 420 previously described for wireless adapter 173 in FIG. For example, a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi USB key is used to connect to a USB hub and host 510 for establishing wireless communication between the cellular telephone 142 and the car audio system 143 via the wireless adapter 573 as described above. It is possible to operate. Although FIG. 5 shows a USB connection, other types of connections are also applicable. For example, one alternative connection is Firewire® (IEEE 1394).

  The USB storage device manager 520 reads arbitrary content and content metadata stored on an arbitrary USB storage device key connected to the wireless adapter 573 via the USB hub and host 510, and performs stereo audio reproduction and It manages the transfer to the car audio system 143 as streaming audio for displaying metadata. Therefore, the USB hub and host 510 function as a wired interface that allows the content storage device to be connected to the wireless adapter 573 for content transfer. Like the transfer of content from the cellular telephone 142, the content and content metadata from the USB storage device key are each decoded by the playback decoder 440 and displayed by the car audio system 143.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 for wirelessly providing content stored in a content source such as a cellular telephone 142 to a content player such as a car audio system 143. By way of example and not limitation, the method 600 is described in connection with FIGS. Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that method 600 may be performed by systems and devices other than those shown in FIGS.

  Reference is now made to FIG. At 610, the wireless adapter 173 (or 573) is connected to the I / O interface on the content player via the I / O interface on the wireless adapter 173 such as the I / O interface 450 and the car audio system 143 and the like. Establish a wired communication link with other content players. At 620, the wireless adapter 173 (or 573 with the transceiver connected) detects the presence of a content source near or near the wireless adapter 173 (or 573). At 630, the wireless adapter 173 (or 573) communicates with a nearby content source, such as the cellular phone 142, through a wireless proximity network, such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi network, to access content stored on the cellular phone 142. Establish a wireless communication link. As described above, content stored on the cellular telephone 142 may have been previously downloaded from the content service 120 via the Internet 131, the cellular network 132, and optionally via the personal computer 141. The wireless neighborhood network is implemented by the application profile stack 420 in the case of the wireless adapter 173, and in the case of the wireless adapter 573 by a transceiver such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi USB key that can be connected to the wireless adapter.

  At 640, the wireless adapter 173 (or 573) receives content, such as audio content, from a content source via a wireless communication link, such as an established wireless neighbor network. Also, at 650, wireless adapter 173 (or 573) receives a request for function control of the content source, such as selection of a content channel available at the content source, from the content player. At 660, the wireless adapter 173 (or 573) provides the content player with access to functional control of the content source, as implemented by the application profile stack 420. At 670, wireless adapter 173 (or 573) provides content from the content source to the content player for content playback and control by the content player. Content playback can also include display of content information on a content player.

  In one embodiment, the wireless adapters 173 and 573 of FIGS. 4 and 5 include both hardware and software. In one embodiment, each of the wireless adapters 173, 573 includes one or more processors, such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor, an application profile stack 420, a network manager 430, an instruction translation module 490, an I / O manager 495, a decoder 440. Implemented on a system-on-chip (SoC) basis, using one or more processors, each including an IR / RF instruction module 470 and one or more CRMs containing program code for implementation of the speech instruction module 470 Is done.

The figure which shows the system for content delivery by one Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the system for content delivery shown in FIG. 1 by one Embodiment. The figure which shows the operating environment of the wireless adapter by one Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating further details of a wireless adapter according to one embodiment. FIG. 6 shows further details of a wireless adapter according to an alternative embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates a method for wireless content transfer according to one embodiment.

Claims (12)

A method for providing content wirelessly,
Wirelessly receiving content from a content source through a wireless neighborhood network;
Routing content received wirelessly to a content player over a wired connection for playback of the received content;
Receiving a request for access to one or more function controls of a content source from a content player and instructing playback of the received content;
Providing the content player with access to the same one or more function controls of the content source via the one or more function controls of the content player in response to the request. A wireless adapter for wirelessly providing content to a content player,
A wireless interface operable to form a wireless neighborhood network with the content source and receive content wirelessly from the content source;
A wireless adapter comprising a wired interface that provides a wired connection with a content player and routes content received by the wireless interface for playback by the content player.   The wireless interface is operable to receive content metadata, and the wired interface includes routing the metadata to the content player over a wired connection for display of the metadata at the content player. The wireless adapter according to claim 2.   The wireless adapter according to claim 2, wherein the wireless interface is separated from the wireless adapter and is operable to be wired to the wireless adapter.   3. An instruction translation module operable to receive instructions for function control of content playback from a content source via a wireless interface and to translate the instructions for execution by a content player. Wireless adapter.   The wireless adapter according to claim 3, further comprising a content decoder module that decodes content and metadata received at the wireless interface for transmission to the content player via the wired interface.   6. The wireless adapter of claim 5, including a remote command module operable to receive wireless commands from a remote source different from the content source and convert the wireless commands into functional control commands received by the command translation module. .   6. The wireless adapter of claim 5, including a voice command module operable to receive voice commands from a source different from the content source and convert the voice commands into functional control commands received by the command translation module.   The wireless interface automatically detects the presence of a content source in the vicinity of the wireless adapter, routes the content from the content source to the wired interface, and is a content player of one or more functions of the content source controlled by the content source The wireless adapter of claim 2 including an application stack module operable to allow control in   The wireless adapter according to claim 2, wherein the content includes multimedia content.   The wireless of claim 2, including a content interface operable to provide a connection of another content source to the wireless adapter and receive content stored in the other content source for playback by the content player. adapter.   A content interface operable to provide a connection of another content source to the wireless adapter and receive content stored in another content source for playback by a content player, and a separate wireless interface is a content interface The wireless adapter according to claim 4, comprising: a wired connection to the wireless adapter.

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