WO2018224681A1 - Apparatus and method for wireless projection - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for wireless projection Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018224681A1
WO2018224681A1 PCT/EP2018/065231 EP2018065231W WO2018224681A1 WO 2018224681 A1 WO2018224681 A1 WO 2018224681A1 EP 2018065231 W EP2018065231 W EP 2018065231W WO 2018224681 A1 WO2018224681 A1 WO 2018224681A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wireless projection
wireless
electronic device
projection apparatus
lan
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2018/065231
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hsing Yung Wang
Wen-Yang Wang
Sheng-yu SUN
Way Lu-Chen
Jr-Rong Fan
Original Assignee
Barco N.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Barco N.V. filed Critical Barco N.V.
Publication of WO2018224681A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018224681A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N9/00—Details of colour television systems
    • H04N9/12—Picture reproducers
    • H04N9/31—Projection devices for colour picture display, e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
    • H04L63/08—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities
    • H04L63/0807—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities using tickets, e.g. Kerberos
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
    • H04L63/08—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities
    • H04L63/0876—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/51—Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/06—Authentication
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/005—Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/4104—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices
    • H04N21/4122—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices additional display device, e.g. video projector
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/08—Access point devices

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a wireless projection apparatus, and methods of operating such apparatus, more particularly to an apparatus or method for wireless projection that can establish a connection with an electronic device of a user via a pairing means, as well as software which performs any of the methods when executed on a processing engine.
  • FIG.l is a schematic view of a conventional electronic multi -party conference with a wireless projection apparatus.
  • a wireless projection apparatus 10 and a plurality of electronic devices 12 are involved.
  • the wireless projection apparatus 10, furnished with a wireless AP, has a built-in wireless projection module.
  • Each of the electronic devices 12 is capable of wireless networking, and has another wireless projection module installed therein.
  • one of the electronic devices 12 accesses the wireless AP to establish network connections with the wireless projection apparatus 10 and further to execute the installed wireless projection module, information or a brief report stored in or displayed on this electronic device 12 can be transmitted to a display device 14 for broadcasting, through the wireless projection apparatus 10.
  • the wireless projection module is furnished to the wireless projection apparatus 10, and can be installed to any of the electronic devices 12 through online, solid state memory, flash drive or disk or USB downloading.
  • the wireless projection module is usually provided by the manufacturer of the wireless projection apparatus 10, and thus any guest user in the conference room would have no knowledge of the brand of the wireless projection apparatus in the conference room prior to his/her attendance.
  • the electronic device of the guest user would be highly impossible to install a relevant wireless projection module in advance.
  • a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is usually prepared in the conference room, such that the guest user (i.e., the attendant) can plug the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk directly into the his/her electronic device so as to establish connections with the wireless AP of the wireless projection apparatus.
  • a relevant the wireless projection module can be installed into and performed in the electronic device.
  • the wireless projection apparatus includes a memory, a network interface, a scanning module, a wireless AP, a USB socket and a wireless projection module.
  • the memory stores a pairing information.
  • the network interface is connected with a LAN.
  • the scanning module connected with the network interface issues a device discovery protocol to the LAN.
  • the pairing information includes a token, an IP address, (optionally a product ID), a unique ID and an optionally an SSID.
  • the electronic device further includes a discovery module. When the electronic device cannot connect the IP address provided by the pairing information, the discovery module searches automatically the device discovery protocol issued by the scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus so as to establish the network connection.
  • the device discovery protocol can be a discovery protocol for an mDNS or an Avahi;
  • the LAN can be an enterprise LAN, a school LAN or a facility LAN; and, the network interface can be an Ethernet interface cabled to the LAN or a wireless network interface connected wirelessly with the LAN.
  • the wireless projection method includes: a step of plugging a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into an electronic device, the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk being already written in with a pairing information by plugging a USB socket of a wireless projection apparatus; a step of determining whether or not a product ID of the pairing information is correct, the electronic device executing a wireless projection module if positive, and terminating the wireless projection method if negative; a step of the electronic device using an IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus; a step of determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address, and continuing the next step if positive; a step of the electronic device providing a token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and, a step of the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection if the identification upon the token is passed, and terminating the wireless projection method if the identification upon the token fails.
  • the wireless projection method includes: a step of plugging a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into an electronic device; a step of the electronic device executing a wireless projection module in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; a step of determining whether or not a product ID is correct, the wireless projection module initiating a wireless projection process if positive, and terminating the wireless projection method if negative; a step of the electronic device using an IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus; a step of determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address, and continuing the next step if positive; a step of the electronic device providing a token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and, a step of the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection if the identification upon the token is passed, and terminating the wireless projection method if the identification upon the token fails.
  • the wireless projection method further includes: a step of a discovery module of the electronic device automatically searching the device discovery protocol issued by the scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus; a step of determining whether or not the device discovery protocol has been located; a step of establishing the network connection with the wireless projection apparatus according to the device discovery protocol and optionally the unique ID in the pairing information if positive; and, a step of the electronic device providing a token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification.
  • the discovery protocol includes a new IP address provided by the wireless projection apparatus, and the electronic device uses the new IP address to connect the wireless projection apparatus.
  • a wireless projection method for a wireless projection apparatus comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with a product ID; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket, the wireless projection module using the product ID to initiate a wireless projection process; the wireless projection method comprising the steps of:
  • USB solid state memory flash drive or disk already written with the wireless projection module and the pairing information
  • the present invention provides a wireless projection apparatus, comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address, a product ID and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with a product ID; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket, the wireless projection module using the product ID to initiate a wireless projection process; wherein, when the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk plugs into the USB socket, the wireless projection module and the pairing information are automatically written into the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; wherein, after the USB solid state
  • software may be implemented as a computer program product which has been compiled for a processing engine in any of the electronic devices or is written in an interpretive language such as Java that runs on a virtual machine such as the Java virtual machine.
  • the computer program product may be stored on a non-transitory signal storage medium such as an optical disk (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), a digital magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, a solid state memory such as a USB flash memory, a ROM, etc.
  • a USB connection provides a serial port and a serial communication interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time.
  • Such i nterfaces can be provided by Ethernet, FireW i re, and USB and reference to USB n this application refers to any connection or port with which data is transmitted as a serial stream.
  • An electronic device can be any electronic digital processing device such as a tablet, a computer a laptop, a PDA, smartphone etc.
  • a processing engine such as a microprocessor as well further including memory such as random access memory and non-volatile memory as well as input/output interfaces for connection to a network which can also include a wireless connection.
  • the processing engine of the electronic device can execute programs to carry out any of the methods of the present invention.
  • the electronic device can also include a serial port e.g. a USB connection.
  • the electronic device may also include an input device such as a keyboard and/or pointer and a display as well as external storage devices such as optical disks of which a CDROM and DVD-ROM are examples, as well as solid state memory.
  • a LAN is a local area network that interconnects electronic devices such as computers typically within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university campus or office building.
  • Ethernet and Wi-Fi are the two common technologies in use for local area networks.
  • FIG.l is a schematic view of a conventional electronic multi-party conference with a wireless projection apparatus
  • FIG.2 is a schematic view of a wireless projection apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG.3 and FIG.4 illustrate together a flowchart of a wireless projection method in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
  • FIG.3A and FIG.4A illustrate together a flowchart of a wireless projection method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention of which FIG. 3 and FIG .4 show a variation.
  • the invention disclosed herein is directed to a method and an apparatus for wireless projection.
  • numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. In other instance, well-known components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
  • FIG.2 a schematic view of the wireless projection apparatus in accordance with the present invention is shown.
  • the wireless projection apparatus 2 includes a memory 21, a network interface 23, a scanning module 25, a wireless AP 27, a USB socket 28 and a wireless projection module 29.
  • the memory 21 is to store a pairing information 210, further including a token 212, an IP address 214, (optionally for example a product ID 216,) a unique ID 218 and an SSID 219.
  • the network interface 23 can be an Ethernet interface 231 cabled to a LAN 4, or a wireless network interface 232 wirelessly connected with the LAN 4.
  • the LAN 4 can be an enterprise LAN, a school LAN, a facility LAN or any LAN the like to provide a wired network 41 or a wireless AP 42.
  • Any electronic device 43 (a notebook computer for example) connected with the LAN 4 can be linked directly to the wired network 41 or the wireless AP 42.
  • the scanning module 25, connected with the network interface 23, is to issue a device discovery protocol 251 to the LAN 4, such as a discovery protocol for an mDNS or an Avahi.
  • the wireless AP 27 can be connected wirelessly with the electronic device 43.
  • the wireless projection module 29 is to perform a wireless projection.
  • the wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 can be written into a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26, after the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 is plugged into the USB socket 28.
  • the wireless projection module 29 as well as the pairing information 210 are written into a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26, after the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 is plugged into the USB socket 28.
  • the wireless projection apparatus 2 is usually set in a conference room, and thus at least one public USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 is prepared for the attendants into the conference room.
  • the public USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 has been already pre-stored with the wireless projection module 29 and the product ID 216 exactly the same as that of the wireless projection apparatus 2.
  • any attendant can bring his or her own USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26.
  • the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 can be plugged into the corresponding USB socket 28 of the wireless projection apparatus 2, so that the wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 can be (for example optionally automatically) written into the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 from the wireless projection apparatus 2.
  • the written USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 can be ready to engage any electronic device 43 in the conference room.
  • the wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 can be downloaded and installed into the corresponding electronic device 43.
  • a wireless-projection briefing via the electronic device 43 can begin through the wireless projection apparatus 29.
  • the instant electronic device 43 would execute the wireless projection module 29 inside the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26.
  • the wireless projection process would be performed to download and install the wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 into the corresponding electronic device 43.
  • a wireless-projection briefing can be performed.
  • the attendants might be employees already within the LAN 4, or guest users out of the LAN 4.
  • An electronic device 43a of the guest user can access the network in the conference room through the wireless AP 27 of the wireless projection apparatus 2, while the electronic devices 43 of the employees in the conference room are already linked with the LAN 4.
  • the electronic device 43 of any employee already within the LAN 4 can directly perform the wireless projection without disconnecting the LAN 4 and switching the network connection to the wireless AP 27 of the wireless projection apparatus 2.
  • the method includes: a step of plugging a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into an electronic device (S301), a step of the electronic device optionally executing a wireless projection module in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk (S3011), a step of determining whether or not a product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct (S302) with optionally determining if pairing information stored in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct, a step of the wireless projection module initiating a wireless projection process if a judgment of the step S302 is positive (S303), a step of terminating the method if the judgment of the step S302 is negative (S304), a step of connecting the electronic device with a wireless projection apparatus via an IP address of the pairing information (S305), a step of determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus
  • the method according to this another embodiment can include: a step of plugging a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into an electronic device (S301), a step of determining whether or not a product ID of pairing information stored in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct (S302), a step of having the electronic device to execute a wireless projection module stored in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk if a judgment of the step S302 is positive (S303), a step of terminating the method if the judgment of the step S302 is negative (S304), a step of connecting the electronic device with a wireless projection apparatus via an IP address of the pairing information (S305), a step of determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address (S306), a step of having the electronic
  • step S306 whenever the electronic device cannot use the IP address to connect the wireless projection apparatus successfully, the method performs further steps of: having a discovery module of the electronic device to search automatically a device discovery protocol issued by a scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus (S3061); determining whether or not the device discovery protocol has been located (S3062); establishing a network connection with the wireless projection apparatus according to the device discovery protocol and a unique ID of the pairing information if a decision of the step S3062 is positive (S3063a) and then going to perform Step S307, and determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with a wireless network (WiFi, particularly) provided by the pairing information if the decision of the step S3062 is negative (S3063b); terminating the method if a judgment of the step S3063b is positive (i.e., going to S304), and having the electronic device to switch the wireless network according to an SSID of the pairing information
  • the discovery protocol includes a new IP address provided by the wireless projection apparatus, the electronic device utilizes the new IP address to establish the wireless connection with the wireless projection apparatus, and the unique ID is a specific identification code for the wireless projection apparatus to prevent the electronic device from connecting another wireless projection apparatus.
  • the wireless projection method of the present invention needs simply to provide the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with the wireless projection module and the pairing information being written in. Thereupon, any guest user can plug the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into his/her own electronic device, and then execute the wireless projection module to connect the wireless projection apparatus according to the IP address of the pairing information if the product ID of the pairing information is judged to be correct. Thereafter, if the identification upon the token is passed, the wireless projection can be performed.
  • the wireless projection method of the present invention needs simply to provide the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 with the wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 being written in.
  • any employee user can plug the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 into his/her own electronic device 43, and the discovery module 431 of the electronic device 43 can search automatically the device discovery protocol 251 issued by the scanning module 25 of the wireless projection apparatus 2. Then, based on the device discovery protocol 251, the unique ID of the pairing information 210, and the wireless projection apparatus 2, the network connection between the electronic device 43 and the wireless projection apparatus 2 can be established. Thereafter, if the identification upon the token 212 is passed, the wireless projection can be performed.
  • the wireless projection module 29 would determine automatically whether or not the electronic device 43 has been connected with the wireless network provided by the pairing information 210 (as described in the step S3063b). If the electronic device 43 has been connected with the wireless network provided by the pairing information 210 but fails to connect the wireless projection apparatus 2, it implies that the related system is in trouble, and thus the method would be terminated. If the electronic device 43 isn't connected with the wireless network provided by the pairing information 210, then the SSID 219 of the pairing information 210 would be introduced to help the electronic device 32 to switch to the wireless network provided by the wireless projection apparatus 2, and the step S303 is performed to complete the rest steps of the wireless projection method.
  • the electronic devices of the employee users within the LAN can establish the network connection with the wireless projection apparatus, without tedious procedures to unlink manually the LAN, and to switch the network connection to the wireless AP of the wireless projection apparatus.
  • the meeting can be held with better effectiveness.
  • Electronic devices such as described with respect to embodiments of the present invention can be standalone digital processing devices or can be embedded in another device. Such devices or methods can use a digital processing engine to carry out functions.
  • the processing engine preferably has processing capability such as provided by one or more microprocessors, FPGA's, or a central processing unit (CPU) and/or a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), and is adapted to carry out the respective functions by being programmed with software, i.e. one or more computer programs.
  • References to software can encompass any type of programs in any language executable directly or indirectly by a processor, either via a compiled or interpretative language such as Java.
  • any of the methods of the present invention can be performed by or assisted by logic circuits, electronic hardware, processors or circuitry which can encompass any kind of logic or analog circuitry, integrated to any degree, and not limited to general purpose processors, digital signal processors, ASICs, FPGAs, discrete components or transistor logic gates and similar.
  • Such devices may have memory (such as non-volatile memory, non-transitory computer readable medium, RAM and/or ROM), an operating system, optionally a display such as a fixed format display, ports for data entry devices such as a keyboard, a pointer device such as a "mouse", serial or parallel ports to communicate other devices, network cards and connections to connect to any of the networks.
  • the software can be embodied in a computer program product adapted to carry out the functions itemised below when the software is loaded onto the controller and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc. devices for use with any of the embodiments of the present invention can incorporate a computer system capable of running one or more computer applications in the form of computer software.
  • the methods of embodiments of the present invention can be performed by one or more computer programs running on a an electronic device by being loaded into a memory and run on or in association with an operating system such as WindowsTM supplied by Microsoft Corp, USA, Linux, Android or similar.
  • the electronic device can include a main memory, preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a non-transitory hard disk drive and/or a removable non-transitory memory, and/or a non-transitory solid state memory.
  • Non-transitory removable memory can be an optical disk such as a compact disc (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), a magnetic tape, which is read by and written to by a suitable reader.
  • the removable non-transitory memory can be a computer readable medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.
  • the non-volatile storage memory can be used to store persistent information that should not be lost if the computer system is powered down.
  • the application programs may use and store information in the non- volatile memory.
  • Software when executed on an electronic device implement a wireless projection method for a wireless projection apparatus, the wireless projection apparatus comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address, and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk being plugged into the electronic device, the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk already storing the pairing information by plugging it into the USB socket of the wireless projection apparatus.
  • the software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions of a wireless projection method for a wireless projection apparatus, the wireless projection apparatus comprising:
  • a memory storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with a product ID; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket, the wireless projection module using the product ID to initiate a wireless projection process.
  • processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's the following functions are carried out:
  • the electronic device or the wireless projection module determining whether or not the product ID of the pairing information and/or the product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct; if positive, the electronic device or the wireless projection module initiating or executing the wireless projection method, whereas if negative, terminating the wireless projection method; the electronic device using the IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus; determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address; if positive, continuing the next step; the electronic device providing the token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and if the identification upon the token is passed, the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection; if the identification upon the token fails, terminating the wireless projection method.
  • the software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions when the software is loaded onto the respective device or devices and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc.
  • the wireless projection method comprising the steps of:
  • the software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions when the software is loaded onto the respective device or devices and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc.: storing a product ID on the memory; initiating the wireless projection process whereby the wireless projection module includes the product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk which allows the initiation; the electronic device executes the wireless projection module stored in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk.
  • the software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions when the software is loaded onto the respective device or devices and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc.: storing a product ID on the memory; the electronic device further includes a discovery module; wherein, if the electronic device fails to connect the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address, the wireless projection method further includes the steps of:
  • step (d2) determining whether or not the device discovery protocol has been located; and (d3) if positive, establishing the network connection with the wireless projection apparatus according to the device discovery protocol, and then performing the step (e); if a decision of the step (d2) is negative, then further including the steps of:
  • the software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions when the software is loaded onto the respective device or devices and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc.: storing a product ID on the memory; the discovery protocol includes a new IP address provided by the wireless projection apparatus, and the electronic device uses the new IP address to connect the wireless projection apparatus; the device discovery protocol being a discovery protocol for an mDNS, or a discovery protocol for an Avahi; using a LAN which is an enterprise LAN or a school LAN; or using a network interface which is an Ethernet interface cabled to the LAN; or using a network interface that is a wireless network interface connected wirelessly with the LAN.
  • any of the above software may be implemented as a computer program product which has been compiled for a processing engine in any electronic device on the network or is written in an interpretive language such as Java that runs on a virtual machine such as the Java virtual machine.
  • the computer program product may be stored on a non-transitory signal storage medium such as an optical disk (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), a digital magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, a solid state memory such as a USB flash memory, a ROM, etc.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Computing Systems (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Projection Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

A wireless projection apparatus includes a memory storing a pairing information, a network interface connected with a LAN, a scanning module issuing the LAN a device discovery protocol via the network interface, a wireless projection module electrically connected to the memory and the scanning module, a wireless AP, and a USB socket. When a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is inserted into the USB socket, the wireless module and the pairing information will be written into the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk. When the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk engages an electronic device, the electronic device would execute the wireless projection module and connect the wireless projection apparatus via the network interface or the wireless AP after checking the pairing information. In addition, a wireless projection method for the wireless projection apparatus is also provided.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS PROJECTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a wireless projection apparatus, and methods of operating such apparatus, more particularly to an apparatus or method for wireless projection that can establish a connection with an electronic device of a user via a pairing means, as well as software which performs any of the methods when executed on a processing engine.
BACKGROUND
With the popularity of wireless networks and the innovation of communication technologies, wireless projection apparatuses have been widely seen in various meeting occasions. A typical wireless projection apparatus has a wireless AP (Access point) to be connected with an electronic device of a user, a guest or a briefer, via wireless networking. Thus, information stored in or displayed on any electronic device can be transmitted or shared to the wireless projection apparatus, and further to be broadcasted on a display device. FIG.l is a schematic view of a conventional electronic multi -party conference with a wireless projection apparatus. In this conference, a wireless projection apparatus 10 and a plurality of electronic devices 12 are involved. The wireless projection apparatus 10, furnished with a wireless AP, has a built-in wireless projection module. Each of the electronic devices 12 is capable of wireless networking, and has another wireless projection module installed therein. When one of the electronic devices 12 accesses the wireless AP to establish network connections with the wireless projection apparatus 10 and further to execute the installed wireless projection module, information or a brief report stored in or displayed on this electronic device 12 can be transmitted to a display device 14 for broadcasting, through the wireless projection apparatus 10. In the art, the wireless projection module is furnished to the wireless projection apparatus 10, and can be installed to any of the electronic devices 12 through online, solid state memory, flash drive or disk or USB downloading.
Generally speaking, the wireless projection module is usually provided by the manufacturer of the wireless projection apparatus 10, and thus any guest user in the conference room would have no knowledge of the brand of the wireless projection apparatus in the conference room prior to his/her attendance. Thus, the electronic device of the guest user would be highly impossible to install a relevant wireless projection module in advance. For convenience and safety consideration, a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is usually prepared in the conference room, such that the guest user (i.e., the attendant) can plug the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk directly into the his/her electronic device so as to establish connections with the wireless AP of the wireless projection apparatus. Thereupon, a relevant the wireless projection module can be installed into and performed in the electronic device.
In a typical internal meeting of an enterprise, since most of attendants might be employees of the enterprise, it is highly possible that electronic devices of these employees have been already linked to a main network of the enterprise (generally a LAN) as soon as they enter the office. Hence, if any of the attendants uses this particular USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk to his/her electronic device, he or she needs to disconnect manually the link between his/her electronic device and the main network firstly, and then the electronic device can be switched to access the wireless AP of the wireless projection apparatus. Thereupon, as soon as the connection with the wireless projection apparatus is established, the electronic device can process the aforesaid downloading and displaying.
However, all these procedures to link the wireless network would waste a lot of time, and slow the meeting. There is a need for improvement. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a good wireless projection apparatus and method of operating the same. Since the wireless projection apparatus is usually incapable of identifying its user, the aforesaid work to disconnect and/or connect manually the link between any of the electronic device, the wireless AP of the wireless projection apparatus, and the main network of the enterprise is inevitable. Only through these inefficient and time-wasting processes, can the connection between the interested electronic device and the wireless projection apparatus be established and ready for the meeting.
Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide a wireless projection apparatus that can directly connect a LAN-linked electronic device a preceding step of disconnecting the link between the LAN and the electronic device.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a wireless projection method that connects a LAN-linked electronic device to the wireless projection apparatus without a necessary step of disconnecting the electronic device from the LAN. In embodiments of the present invention, the wireless projection apparatus includes a memory, a network interface, a scanning module, a wireless AP, a USB socket and a wireless projection module. The memory stores a pairing information. The network interface is connected with a LAN. The scanning module connected with the network interface issues a device discovery protocol to the LAN. When a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is plugged into the USB socket, the wireless projection module and the pairing information are written into the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk.
Preferably, the pairing information includes a token, an IP address, (optionally a product ID), a unique ID and an optionally an SSID. The electronic device further includes a discovery module. When the electronic device cannot connect the IP address provided by the pairing information, the discovery module searches automatically the device discovery protocol issued by the scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus so as to establish the network connection.
Preferably, the device discovery protocol can be a discovery protocol for an mDNS or an Avahi; the LAN can be an enterprise LAN, a school LAN or a facility LAN; and, the network interface can be an Ethernet interface cabled to the LAN or a wireless network interface connected wirelessly with the LAN.
In an aspect of the present invention, the wireless projection method includes: a step of plugging a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into an electronic device, the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk being already written in with a pairing information by plugging a USB socket of a wireless projection apparatus; a step of determining whether or not a product ID of the pairing information is correct, the electronic device executing a wireless projection module if positive, and terminating the wireless projection method if negative; a step of the electronic device using an IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus; a step of determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address, and continuing the next step if positive; a step of the electronic device providing a token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and, a step of the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection if the identification upon the token is passed, and terminating the wireless projection method if the identification upon the token fails.
In another alternative aspect of the present invention, the wireless projection method includes: a step of plugging a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into an electronic device; a step of the electronic device executing a wireless projection module in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; a step of determining whether or not a product ID is correct, the wireless projection module initiating a wireless projection process if positive, and terminating the wireless projection method if negative; a step of the electronic device using an IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus; a step of determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address, and continuing the next step if positive; a step of the electronic device providing a token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and, a step of the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection if the identification upon the token is passed, and terminating the wireless projection method if the identification upon the token fails. In the method of the present invention, if the electronic device fails to connect the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address, the wireless projection method further includes: a step of a discovery module of the electronic device automatically searching the device discovery protocol issued by the scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus; a step of determining whether or not the device discovery protocol has been located; a step of establishing the network connection with the wireless projection apparatus according to the device discovery protocol and optionally the unique ID in the pairing information if positive; and, a step of the electronic device providing a token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification. In the present invention, the discovery protocol includes a new IP address provided by the wireless projection apparatus, and the electronic device uses the new IP address to connect the wireless projection apparatus.
In another aspect of the present invention a wireless projection method for a wireless projection apparatus is provided, the wireless projection apparatus comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with a product ID; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket, the wireless projection module using the product ID to initiate a wireless projection process; the wireless projection method comprising the steps of:
(a) plugging the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into the electronic device, the
USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk already written with the wireless projection module and the pairing information;
(b) the electronic device executing the wireless projection module of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk;
(c) determining whether or not the product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct; if positive, the wireless projection module initiating the wireless projection process; if negative, terminating the wireless projection method;
(d) the electronic device using the IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus;
(e) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address; if positive, continuing the next step;
(f) the electronic device providing the token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and
(g) if the identification upon the token is passed, the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection; if the identification upon the token fails, terminating the wireless projection method. In yet another aspect the present invention provides a wireless projection apparatus, comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address, a product ID and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with a product ID; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket, the wireless projection module using the product ID to initiate a wireless projection process; wherein, when the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk plugs into the USB socket, the wireless projection module and the pairing information are automatically written into the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; wherein, after the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk engages an electronic device, the electronic device executes the wireless projection module in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk, initiates the wireless projection process in accordance with the product ID, and uses the pairing information to establish a network connection with the wireless projection apparatus via one of the network interface and the wireless AP.
In a further aspect of the present invention software is provided that may be implemented as a computer program product which has been compiled for a processing engine in any of the electronic devices or is written in an interpretive language such as Java that runs on a virtual machine such as the Java virtual machine. The computer program product may be stored on a non-transitory signal storage medium such as an optical disk (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), a digital magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, a solid state memory such as a USB flash memory, a ROM, etc.
All these objects are achieved by the method and the apparatus for wireless projection described below.
DEFINITIONS A USB connection provides a serial port and a serial communication interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time. Such i nterfaces can be provided by Ethernet, FireW i re, and USB and reference to USB n this application refers to any connection or port with which data is transmitted as a serial stream.
An electronic device can be any electronic digital processing device such as a tablet, a computer a laptop, a PDA, smartphone etc. Such a device can include a processing engine such as a microprocessor as well further including memory such as random access memory and non-volatile memory as well as input/output interfaces for connection to a network which can also include a wireless connection. The processing engine of the electronic device can execute programs to carry out any of the methods of the present invention. The electronic device can also include a serial port e.g. a USB connection. The electronic device may also include an input device such as a keyboard and/or pointer and a display as well as external storage devices such as optical disks of which a CDROM and DVD-ROM are examples, as well as solid state memory.
A LAN is a local area network that interconnects electronic devices such as computers typically within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university campus or office building. For example Ethernet and Wi-Fi are the two common technologies in use for local area networks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be specified with reference to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which:
FIG.l is a schematic view of a conventional electronic multi-party conference with a wireless projection apparatus;
FIG.2 is a schematic view of a wireless projection apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and,
FIG.3 and FIG.4 illustrate together a flowchart of a wireless projection method in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
FIG.3A and FIG.4A illustrate together a flowchart of a wireless projection method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention of which FIG. 3 and FIG .4 show a variation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The invention disclosed herein is directed to a method and an apparatus for wireless projection. In the following description, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. In other instance, well-known components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. Referring now to FIG.2, a schematic view of the wireless projection apparatus in accordance with the present invention is shown. The wireless projection apparatus 2 includes a memory 21, a network interface 23, a scanning module 25, a wireless AP 27, a USB socket 28 and a wireless projection module 29.
The memory 21 is to store a pairing information 210, further including a token 212, an IP address 214, (optionally for example a product ID 216,) a unique ID 218 and an SSID 219. The network interface 23 can be an Ethernet interface 231 cabled to a LAN 4, or a wireless network interface 232 wirelessly connected with the LAN 4.
The LAN 4 can be an enterprise LAN, a school LAN, a facility LAN or any LAN the like to provide a wired network 41 or a wireless AP 42. Any electronic device 43 (a notebook computer for example) connected with the LAN 4 can be linked directly to the wired network 41 or the wireless AP 42. The scanning module 25, connected with the network interface 23, is to issue a device discovery protocol 251 to the LAN 4, such as a discovery protocol for an mDNS or an Avahi. The wireless AP 27 can be connected wirelessly with the electronic device 43. The wireless projection module 29 is to perform a wireless projection. The wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 can be written into a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26, after the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 is plugged into the USB socket 28. Optionally for example the wireless projection module 29 as well as the pairing information 210 are written into a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26, after the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 is plugged into the USB socket 28. The wireless projection apparatus 2 is usually set in a conference room, and thus at least one public USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 is prepared for the attendants into the conference room. Optionally, the public USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 has been already pre-stored with the wireless projection module 29 and the product ID 216 exactly the same as that of the wireless projection apparatus 2. Definitely, any attendant can bring his or her own USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26. Before or within a meeting, the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 can be plugged into the corresponding USB socket 28 of the wireless projection apparatus 2, so that the wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 can be (for example optionally automatically) written into the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 from the wireless projection apparatus 2. Then, the written USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 can be ready to engage any electronic device 43 in the conference room.
While the written USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk26 engages one of electronic devices 43 in the conference room, the wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 can be downloaded and installed into the corresponding electronic device 43. Thus, a wireless-projection briefing via the electronic device 43 can begin through the wireless projection apparatus 29.
Alternatively, while the written USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 engages one of electronic devices 43 in the conference room, the instant electronic device 43 would execute the wireless projection module 29 inside the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26. In the case that the product ID 216 is positively determined, the wireless projection process would be performed to download and install the wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 into the corresponding electronic device 43. Thus, a wireless-projection briefing can be performed. Generally speaking, in a meeting within the LAN 4, the attendants might be employees already within the LAN 4, or guest users out of the LAN 4. An electronic device 43a of the guest user can access the network in the conference room through the wireless AP 27 of the wireless projection apparatus 2, while the electronic devices 43 of the employees in the conference room are already linked with the LAN 4. Thus, by providing the wireless projection method of the present invention, the electronic device 43 of any employee already within the LAN 4 can directly perform the wireless projection without disconnecting the LAN 4 and switching the network connection to the wireless AP 27 of the wireless projection apparatus 2.
Referring now to FIG.3 and FIG.4 together, a flowchart of the wireless projection method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. The method includes: a step of plugging a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into an electronic device (S301), a step of the electronic device optionally executing a wireless projection module in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk (S3011), a step of determining whether or not a product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct (S302) with optionally determining if pairing information stored in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct, a step of the wireless projection module initiating a wireless projection process if a judgment of the step S302 is positive (S303), a step of terminating the method if the judgment of the step S302 is negative (S304), a step of connecting the electronic device with a wireless projection apparatus via an IP address of the pairing information (S305), a step of determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address (S306), a step of having the electronic device to provide a token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification if a decision of the step S306 is positive (S307), a step of determining whether or not the token is correct (S308), a step of having the wireless projection module to begin a wireless projection if a determination of the step S308 is positive (S309), and a step of terminating the method if the determination of the step S308 is negative (i.e., going to S304).
Alternatively, referring to FIG. 3A and FIG. 4A together, a flowchart of the wireless projection method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown which is very close to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4. The method according to this another embodiment can include: a step of plugging a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into an electronic device (S301), a step of determining whether or not a product ID of pairing information stored in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct (S302), a step of having the electronic device to execute a wireless projection module stored in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk if a judgment of the step S302 is positive (S303), a step of terminating the method if the judgment of the step S302 is negative (S304), a step of connecting the electronic device with a wireless projection apparatus via an IP address of the pairing information (S305), a step of determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address (S306), a step of having the electronic device to provide a token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification if a decision of the step S306 is positive (S307), a step of determining whether or not the token is correct (S308), a step of having the wireless projection module to begin a wireless projection if a determination of the step S308 is positive (S309), and a step of terminating the method if the determination of the step S308 is negative (i.e., going to S304). n either of the embodiments above as described with respect to FIGs 3, 3A, 4, 4A, in step S306, whenever the electronic device cannot use the IP address to connect the wireless projection apparatus successfully, the method performs further steps of: having a discovery module of the electronic device to search automatically a device discovery protocol issued by a scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus (S3061); determining whether or not the device discovery protocol has been located (S3062); establishing a network connection with the wireless projection apparatus according to the device discovery protocol and a unique ID of the pairing information if a decision of the step S3062 is positive (S3063a) and then going to perform Step S307, and determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with a wireless network (WiFi, particularly) provided by the pairing information if the decision of the step S3062 is negative (S3063b); terminating the method if a judgment of the step S3063b is positive (i.e., going to S304), and having the electronic device to switch the wireless network according to an SSID of the pairing information if the judgment of the step S3063b is negative (S3064) ; determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless network in accordance with the SSID (S3065); and, performing the step S303 if a determination of the step S3065 is positive, and terminating the method if the determination of the step S3065 is negative (i.e., going to S304). In the present invention, the discovery protocol includes a new IP address provided by the wireless projection apparatus, the electronic device utilizes the new IP address to establish the wireless connection with the wireless projection apparatus, and the unique ID is a specific identification code for the wireless projection apparatus to prevent the electronic device from connecting another wireless projection apparatus. To the guest users outside the LAN, since their electronic devices are not connected with the LAN generally, thus the wireless projection method of the present invention needs simply to provide the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with the wireless projection module and the pairing information being written in. Thereupon, any guest user can plug the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into his/her own electronic device, and then execute the wireless projection module to connect the wireless projection apparatus according to the IP address of the pairing information if the product ID of the pairing information is judged to be correct. Thereafter, if the identification upon the token is passed, the wireless projection can be performed.
Referring now back to FIG.2, to the employee users within the LAN 4, since their electronic devices 43 have been already connected with the LAN 4 generally, thus the wireless projection method of the present invention needs simply to provide the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 with the wireless projection module 29 and the pairing information 210 being written in. In this circumstance, any employee user can plug the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk 26 into his/her own electronic device 43, and the discovery module 431 of the electronic device 43 can search automatically the device discovery protocol 251 issued by the scanning module 25 of the wireless projection apparatus 2. Then, based on the device discovery protocol 251, the unique ID of the pairing information 210, and the wireless projection apparatus 2, the network connection between the electronic device 43 and the wireless projection apparatus 2 can be established. Thereafter, if the identification upon the token 212 is passed, the wireless projection can be performed.
In the case that the electronic devices 43 within the LAN 4 cannot connect the wireless projection apparatus 2 automatically through the discovery module 432, the wireless projection module 29 would determine automatically whether or not the electronic device 43 has been connected with the wireless network provided by the pairing information 210 (as described in the step S3063b). If the electronic device 43 has been connected with the wireless network provided by the pairing information 210 but fails to connect the wireless projection apparatus 2, it implies that the related system is in trouble, and thus the method would be terminated. If the electronic device 43 isn't connected with the wireless network provided by the pairing information 210, then the SSID 219 of the pairing information 210 would be introduced to help the electronic device 32 to switch to the wireless network provided by the wireless projection apparatus 2, and the step S303 is performed to complete the rest steps of the wireless projection method.
As described above, in the present invention, the electronic devices of the employee users within the LAN can establish the network connection with the wireless projection apparatus, without tedious procedures to unlink manually the LAN, and to switch the network connection to the wireless AP of the wireless projection apparatus. Thus, the meeting can be held with better effectiveness.
Electronic devices such as described with respect to embodiments of the present invention can be standalone digital processing devices or can be embedded in another device. Such devices or methods can use a digital processing engine to carry out functions. The processing engine preferably has processing capability such as provided by one or more microprocessors, FPGA's, or a central processing unit (CPU) and/or a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), and is adapted to carry out the respective functions by being programmed with software, i.e. one or more computer programs. References to software can encompass any type of programs in any language executable directly or indirectly by a processor, either via a compiled or interpretative language such as Java. The implementation of any of the methods of the present invention can be performed by or assisted by logic circuits, electronic hardware, processors or circuitry which can encompass any kind of logic or analog circuitry, integrated to any degree, and not limited to general purpose processors, digital signal processors, ASICs, FPGAs, discrete components or transistor logic gates and similar.
Such devices may have memory (such as non-volatile memory, non-transitory computer readable medium, RAM and/or ROM), an operating system, optionally a display such as a fixed format display, ports for data entry devices such as a keyboard, a pointer device such as a "mouse", serial or parallel ports to communicate other devices, network cards and connections to connect to any of the networks. The software can be embodied in a computer program product adapted to carry out the functions itemised below when the software is loaded onto the controller and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc. devices for use with any of the embodiments of the present invention can incorporate a computer system capable of running one or more computer applications in the form of computer software.
The methods of embodiments of the present invention can be performed by one or more computer programs running on a an electronic device by being loaded into a memory and run on or in association with an operating system such as Windows™ supplied by Microsoft Corp, USA, Linux, Android or similar. The electronic device can include a main memory, preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a non-transitory hard disk drive and/or a removable non-transitory memory, and/or a non-transitory solid state memory. Non-transitory removable memory can be an optical disk such as a compact disc (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), a magnetic tape, which is read by and written to by a suitable reader. The removable non-transitory memory can be a computer readable medium having stored therein computer software and/or data. The non-volatile storage memory can be used to store persistent information that should not be lost if the computer system is powered down. The application programs may use and store information in the non- volatile memory. Software when executed on an electronic device implement a wireless projection method for a wireless projection apparatus, the wireless projection apparatus comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address, and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk being plugged into the electronic device, the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk already storing the pairing information by plugging it into the USB socket of the wireless projection apparatus.
The software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions of a wireless projection method for a wireless projection apparatus, the wireless projection apparatus comprising:
a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with a product ID; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket, the wireless projection module using the product ID to initiate a wireless projection process. When the software is loaded onto the respective device or devices and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's the following functions are carried out:
determining whether or not the product ID of the pairing information and/or the product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct; if positive, the electronic device or the wireless projection module initiating or executing the wireless projection method, whereas if negative, terminating the wireless projection method; the electronic device using the IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus; determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address; if positive, continuing the next step; the electronic device providing the token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and if the identification upon the token is passed, the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection; if the identification upon the token fails, terminating the wireless projection method.
The software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions when the software is loaded onto the respective device or devices and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc. the wireless projection method comprising the steps of:
(a) plugging the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into the electronic device, the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk already written with the wireless projection module and the pairing information; (b) the electronic device executing the wireless projection module of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk;
(c) determining whether or not the product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct; if positive, the wireless projection module initiating the wireless projection process; if negative, terminating the wireless projection method;
(d) the electronic device using the IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus;
(e) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address; if positive, continuing the next step;
(f) the electronic device providing the token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and
(g) if the identification upon the token is passed, the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection; if the identification upon the token fails, terminating the wireless projection method.
The software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions when the software is loaded onto the respective device or devices and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc.: storing a product ID on the memory; initiating the wireless projection process whereby the wireless projection module includes the product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk which allows the initiation; the electronic device executes the wireless projection module stored in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk.
The software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions when the software is loaded onto the respective device or devices and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc.: storing a product ID on the memory; the electronic device further includes a discovery module; wherein, if the electronic device fails to connect the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address, the wireless projection method further includes the steps of:
(dl) the discovery module of the electronic device automatically searching the device discovery protocol issued by the scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus;
(d2) determining whether or not the device discovery protocol has been located; and (d3) if positive, establishing the network connection with the wireless projection apparatus according to the device discovery protocol, and then performing the step (e); if a decision of the step (d2) is negative, then further including the steps of:
(gl) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with a wireless network provided by the pairing information; (g2) terminating the wireless projection method if positive, and continuing the next step if negative;
(g3) the electronic device using an SSID provided by the pairing information to connect the wireless network;
(g4) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless network corresponding to the SSID; and
(g5) performing the step (c) if positive, and terminating the wireless projection method if negative.
The software embodied in the computer program product is adapted to carry out the following functions when the software is loaded onto the respective device or devices and executed on one or more processing engines such as microprocessors, ASIC's, FPGA's etc.: storing a product ID on the memory; the discovery protocol includes a new IP address provided by the wireless projection apparatus, and the electronic device uses the new IP address to connect the wireless projection apparatus; the device discovery protocol being a discovery protocol for an mDNS, or a discovery protocol for an Avahi; using a LAN which is an enterprise LAN or a school LAN; or using a network interface which is an Ethernet interface cabled to the LAN; or using a network interface that is a wireless network interface connected wirelessly with the LAN.
Any of the above software may be implemented as a computer program product which has been compiled for a processing engine in any electronic device on the network or is written in an interpretive language such as Java that runs on a virtual machine such as the Java virtual machine. The computer program product may be stored on a non-transitory signal storage medium such as an optical disk (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), a digital magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, a solid state memory such as a USB flash memory, a ROM, etc. While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims
1. A wireless projection apparatus, comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address, and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket; wherein, when the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk plugs the USB socket, the wireless projection module and the pairing information are automatically written into the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; wherein, after the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with the wireless projection module and the pairing information written in engages an electronic device, the electronic device determines whether or not the pairing information is correct, and the wireless projection module is executed to establish a network connection between the electronic device and the wireless projection apparatus via one of the network interface and the wireless AP if the pairing information is judged to be correct.
2. The wireless projection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory stores a product ID.
3. The wireless projection apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the wireless projection module includes the product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk which allows to initiate the wireless projection process.
4. The wireless projection apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the pairing information further includes an SSID of the wireless projection apparatus.
5. The wireless projection apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electronic device further includes a discovery module; wherein, when the electronic device cannot connect an IP address provided by the pairing information, the discovery module searches automatically the device discovery protocol issued by the scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus so as to establish the network connection.
6. The wireless projection apparatus of claim 5, wherein the device discovery protocol is a discovery protocol for an mDNS.
7. The wireless projection apparatus of claim 5, wherein the device discovery protocol is a discovery protocol for an Avahi.
8. The wireless projection apparatus of any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the LAN is an enterprise LAN.
9. The wireless projection apparatus of any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the LAN is a school LAN.
10. The wireless projection apparatus of any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the network interface is an Ethernet interface cabled to the LAN.
11. The wireless projection apparatus of any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the network interface is a wireless network interface connected wirelessly with the LAN.
12. A wireless projection method for a wireless projection apparatus, the wireless projection apparatus comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address, and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket; the wireless projection method comprising the steps of:
(a) plugging the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into the electronic device, the
USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk already storing the pairing information by plugging it into the USB socket of the wireless projection apparatus;
(b) determining whether or not the product ID of the pairing information and/or the product
ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct; if positive, the electronic device or the wireless projection module initiating or executing the wireless projection method, whereas if negative, terminating the wireless projection method;
(c) the electronic device using the IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus;
(d) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address; if positive, continuing the next step;
(e) the electronic device providing the token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and (f) if the identification upon the token is passed, the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection; if the identification upon the token fails, terminating the wireless projection method.
13. The wireless projection method of claim 12, wherein the memory stores a product ID.
14. The wireless projection method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the wireless projection module includes the product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk which allows to initiate the wireless projection process.
15. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 12 to 14, wherein the electronic device executes the wireless projection module stored in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk.
16. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 12 to 15, wherein the electronic device further includes a discovery module; wherein, if the electronic device fails to connect the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address, the wireless projection method further includes the steps of:
(dl) the discovery module of the electronic device automatically searching the device discovery protocol issued by the scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus;
(d2) determining whether or not the device discovery protocol has been located; and
(d3) if positive, establishing the network connection with the wireless projection apparatus according to the device discovery protocol, and then performing the step (e).
17. The wireless projection method of claim 16, if a decision of the step (d2) is negative, then further including the steps of:
(gl) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with a wireless network provided by the pairing information; (g2) terminating the wireless projection method if positive, and continuing the next step if negative;
(g3) the electronic device using an SSID provided by the pairing information to connect the wireless network; (g4) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless network corresponding to the SSID; and
(g5) performing the step (c) if positive, and terminating the wireless projection method if negative.
18. The wireless projection method of claim 16 or 17, wherein the discovery protocol includes a new IP address provided by the wireless projection apparatus, and the electronic device uses the new IP address to connect the wireless projection apparatus.
19. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 16 to 18, wherein the device discovery protocol is a discovery protocol for an mDNS.
20. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 16 to 18, wherein the device discovery protocol is a discovery protocol for an Avahi.
21. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 16 to 20, wherein the LAN is an enterprise LAN.
22. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 16 to 20, wherein the LAN is a school LAN.
23. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 16 to 20, wherein the network interface is an Ethernet interface cabled to the LAN.
24. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 16 to 20, wherein the network interface is a wireless network interface connected wirelessly with the LAN.
25. A wireless projection apparatus, comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address, a product ID and a unique ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with a product ID; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket, the wireless projection module using the product ID to initiate a wireless projection process; wherein, when the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk plugs into the USB socket, the wireless projection module and the pairing information are automatically written into the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk; wherein, after the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk engages an electronic device, the electronic device executes the wireless projection module in the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk, initiates the wireless projection process in accordance with the product ID, and uses the pairing information to establish a network connection with the wireless projection apparatus via one of the network interface and the wireless AP.
26. The wireless projection apparatus of claim 25, wherein the pairing information further includes an SSID of the wireless projection apparatus.
27. The wireless projection apparatus of claim 25 or 26, wherein the electronic device further includes a discovery module; wherein, when the electronic device cannot connect an IP address provided by the pairing information, the discovery module searches automatically the device discovery protocol issued by the scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus so as to establish the network connection.
28. The wireless projection apparatus of claim 27, wherein the device discovery protocol is a discovery protocol for an mDNS.
29. The wireless projection apparatus of claim 27, wherein the device discovery protocol is a discovery protocol for an Avahi.
30. The wireless projection apparatus of any of the claims 25 to 29, wherein the LAN is an enterprise LAN.
31. The wireless projection apparatus of any of the claims 25 to 29, wherein the LAN is a school LAN.
32. The wireless projection apparatus of any of the claims 25 to 29, wherein the network interface is an Ethernet interface cabled to the LAN.
33. The wireless projection apparatus of any of the claims 25 to 29, wherein the network interface is a wireless network interface connected wirelessly with the LAN.
34. A wireless projection method for a wireless projection apparatus, the wireless projection apparatus comprising: a memory, storing a pairing information including a token, an IP address and a unique
ID of the wireless projection apparatus; a network interface, establishing a network connection with a LAN; a scanning module, connected with the network interface, issuing a device discovery protocol to the LAN; a wireless AP; a USB socket, for receiving a USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk with a product ID; and a wireless projection module, coupled electrically with the memory, the scanning module, the wireless AP and the USB socket, the wireless projection module using the product ID to initiate a wireless projection process; the wireless projection method comprising the steps of:
(a) plugging the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk into the electronic device, the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk already written with the wireless projection module and the pairing information;
(b) the electronic device executing the wireless projection module of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk;
(c) determining whether or not the product ID of the USB solid state memory, flash drive or disk is correct; if positive, the wireless projection module initiating the wireless projection process; if negative, terminating the wireless projection method;
(d) the electronic device using the IP address of the pairing information to connect the wireless projection apparatus;
(e) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address; if positive, continuing the next step;
(f) the electronic device providing the token to the wireless projection apparatus for identification; and (g) if the identification upon the token is passed, the wireless projection module beginning a wireless projection; if the identification upon the token fails, terminating the wireless projection method.
35. The wireless projection method of claim 34, wherein the electronic device further includes a discovery module; wherein, if the electronic device fails to connect the wireless projection apparatus through the IP address, the wireless projection method further includes the steps of:
(el) the discovery module of the electronic device automatically searching the device discovery protocol issued by the scanning module of the wireless projection apparatus;
(e2) determining whether or not the device discovery protocol has been located; and
(e3) if positive, establishing the network connection with the wireless projection apparatus according to the device discovery protocol and the unique ID of the pairing information, and then performing the step (f).
36. The wireless projection method of claim 35, if a decision of the step (e2) is negative, then further including the steps of:
(hi) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with a wireless network provided by the pairing information;
(h2) terminating the wireless projection method if positive, and continuing the next step if negative;
(h3) the electronic device using an SSID provided by the pairing information to connect the wireless network;
(h4) determining whether or not the electronic device has been connected with the wireless network corresponding to the SSID; and (h5) performing the step (d) if positive, and terminating the wireless projection method if negative.
37. The wireless projection method of claim 35 or 36, wherein the discovery protocol includes a new IP address provided by the wireless projection apparatus, and the electronic device uses the new IP address to connect the wireless projection apparatus.
38. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 34 to 37, wherein the device discovery protocol is a discovery protocol for an mDNS.
39. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 34 to 37, wherein the device discovery protocol is a discovery protocol for an Avahi.
40. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 34 to 39, wherein the LAN is an enterprise LAN.
41. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 34 to 39, wherein the LAN is a school LAN.
42. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 34 to 41, wherein the network interface is an Ethernet interface cabled to the LAN.
43. The wireless projection method of any of the claims 34 to 42, wherein the network interface is a wireless network interface connected wirelessly with the LAN.
44. A computer program product which when executed on a processing engine performs any of the methods of claims 12 to 24 or claims 34 to 43.
45. A non-transitory signal storage means storing the computer program product of claim 44.
PCT/EP2018/065231 2017-06-08 2018-06-08 Apparatus and method for wireless projection WO2018224681A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130222211A1 (en) * 2008-01-17 2013-08-29 Seiko Epson Corporation Image display device, storage device, image display system and network setup method
US20140082227A1 (en) * 2012-04-18 2014-03-20 Barco Nv Electronic tool and methods for meetings
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