US 8,572,257 B2Granted

Method and system to share media content between devices via near field communication (NFC) and wireless communication

OwnerRobin Duainventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A media storage and access system and methodology including a set-top box which receives and processes a plurality of signal sources and makes programming available locally through connected devices or via a data network such as a LAN, WAN, or the Internet. The system also integrates a multimedia storage system that allows programming content to be digitally stored. The system utilizes an integrated digital storage system and operating software to allow users to view a broadcast program (e.g., television, radio, etc.) with the option of instantly reviewing previous segments within the program. In addition, the system allows the user to store selected media programming while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing another program. The system also allows stored media assets to be accessed locally via a media device connected to the unit or remotely via the Internet.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A method of sharing data between a media device and a media controller, the method comprising:

requesting, with the least one of the media device and the media controller, at least one of device descriptive data, communication configuration information, and media information from the other of the media device or the media controller via a Near Field Communication (NFC) communication link to instantiate a wireless communication link between the media controller and the media device;
receiving the at least one of device descriptive data, the communication configuration information, and the media information from a non-requesting device of the at least one of the media device and the media controller via the NFC communication link;
establishing a wireless communication link between the media controller and the media device according to the received communication configuration information, the established wireless communication link being separate from the NFC communication link;
sharing the data between the media device and the media controller over the established wireless communication link independently of a connection state of the NFC communication link;
and
registering the media device with the media controller via the NFC communication link to exchange the at least one of the device descriptive data and the communication configuration information so as to enable a media device profile to be stored in a storage device in the media controller to enable the wireless communication link,
wherein the media controller and the media device communicate via at least another wireless communication link using a translatable routable address when the media controller and the media device are spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

4 more elements

A wireless communication system, comprising:

a media controller including:
a Near Field Communication (NFC) module including a first NFC tag and a first NFC reader to selectively retrieve and provide at least one of device descriptive data, communication configuration information, and media information via a NFC communication link;
and
a first wireless communication transceiver to transmit and receive data via a wireless communication link instantiated according to the selectively retrieved at least one of the device descriptive data, the communication configuration information, and the media information, the wireless communication link being independent of the NFC communication link;
and
a media device including:
a second NFC module including at least one of a second NFC tag and a second NFC reader to provide the at least one of the device descriptive data, the communication configuration information, and the media information, via the NFC communication link;
and
a second wireless communication transceiver to transmit and receive the data via the wireless communication link,
wherein the media controller registers the media device with the media controller via the NFC communication link to exchange the at least one of the device descriptive data and the communication configuration information so as to enable a media device profile to be stored in the media controller to enable the wireless communication link,
wherein the media controller and the media device communicate via at least another wireless communication link using a translatable routable address when the media controller and the media device are spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

8 more elements

A media controller comprising:

a storage device to store at least one electronic media asset;
a Near Field Communication (NFC) module including a NFC tag and a NFC reader to transmit to or receive from a wireless media device at least one of device descriptive data, communication configuration information, and media information via a NFC link;
and
a wireless transceiver to transmit the at least one stored media asset that is stored in the storage device via a wireless communication link instantiated according to the obtained at least one of the device descriptive data, the communication configuration information, and the media information,
wherein the media controller registers the wireless media device with the media controller via the NFC communication link to exchange the at least one of the device descriptive data and the communication configuration information so as to enable a media device profile to be stored in the media controller to enable a wireless communication link,
wherein the media controller and the media device communicate via at least another wireless communication link using a translatable routable address when the media controller and the media device are spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/623,422Filed 22 Nov 2009 · continuation
Priority: 27 Jan 2006
Published: US 2010/0095337 A115 Apr 2010
Granted: 29 Oct 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification42 codes

H04W 12/06
Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity: authentication
H04L 61/106
Of different types: across networks, e.g. mapping telephone numbers to data network addresses
H04L 61/4511
Using standardised directories; using standardised directory access protocols: using domain name system [DNS]
H04L 61/4557
Network directories; Name-to-address mapping: directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers

Family

Application11/341,715Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Jan 2006
US 7,624,417 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Nov 2009
US 2010/0095337 A1Pre-grant publication · published 15 Apr 2010
US 2007/0180485 A1Published application
US 8,572,257 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.