SYSTEM AND CONSTITUENT MEDIA DEVICE COMPONENTS AND MEDIA DEVICE-BASED ECOSYSTEM
Embodiments of the present application relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, wearable, hand held, and portable computing devices for facilitating communication of information and presentation of media. An ecosystem of wireless media devices may be in wireless communication with one another and with at least one wireless user device (e.g., smartphone, tablet or pad). The wireless media devices are configured to detect proximity and/or presence of wireless user devices, objects, or users in proximity of one or more of the wireless media devices and to capture and take over content handling from the at least one wireless user device. In some examples, the wireless media devices are powered by a rechargeable power source, such as a rechargeable battery or the like. Wireless media devices may vary in size such as personal, pocketable, portable, ultra-portable, head worn, shared household, table top, etc.
1 . An ecosystem of media devices, comprising:
a plurality of wireless media devices, each media device including
a radio frequency (RF) system including a plurality of different RF transceivers configured for wireless communication using a plurality of different wireless protocols,
an audio and video (NV) system including a plurality of speakers, a plurality of microphones, and at least one display,
a proximity detection system configured to wirelessly detect presence of wireless devices, moving objects, or both, using a selected one or more of the RF system, the A/V system, or a proximity detection island,
a data storage (DS) system including non-volatile memory,
a processor in electrical communication with the DS system, the proximity detection system, the A/V system, and the RF system, and
configuration data (CFG) embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium included in the DS system and configured for execution by the processor, the CFG including information on the wireless media device and on other wireless media devices in the plurality of wireless media devices, the CFG operative to control functions including wireless communication, operation, control, content handling, device interaction, and proximity detection.
2 . The ecosystem of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different RF transceivers includes a Bluetooth (BT) transceiver.
3 . The ecosystem of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different RF transceivers includes a wireless network (WiFi) transceiver.
4 . The ecosystem of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different RF transceivers includes a broadband wireless transceiver.
5 . The ecosystem of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different RF transceivers includes an Ad Hoc (AH) wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate over a proprietary AH wireless network with other wireless media devices in the plurality of wireless media devices using an AH wireless protocol that is proprietary to the plurality of wireless media devices.
6 . The ecosystem of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of different RF transceivers is configured for near field communications (NFC).
7 . The ecosystem of claim 1 and further comprising:
a de-tunable antenna included in the RF system and electrically coupled with one or more of the plurality of RF transceivers.
8 . The ecosystem of claim 7 , wherein the proximity detection system is electrically coupled with a signal generated by electrically de-tuning the de-tunable antenna, the signal used by the proximity detection system to wirelessly detect presence of wireless devices, moving objects, or both.
9 . The ecosystem of claim 1 , wherein the CFG includes information on one or more wireless devices other than the plurality of wireless media devices, the information including data necessary to establish a wireless communications link with the one or more wireless devices using one or more of the plurality of different RF transceivers
10 . The ecosystem of claim 9 , wherein the CFG is operative to cause the wireless media device to establish a temporary wireless communications link with the one or more wireless devices using a first one of its plurality of different RF transceivers, and subsequently, establish a persistent wireless communications link with the one or more wireless devices using a second one of its plurality of different RF transceivers.
11 . The ecosystem of claim 10 , wherein the first one comprises a BT transceiver and the second one comprises a WiFi transceiver.
12 . The ecosystem of claim 1 , wherein the CFG in each wireless media device is modified when one or more wireless media devices are removed from or added to the ecosystem.
13 . The ecosystem of claim 12 , wherein wireless media devices that were removed from the ecosystem and are subsequently added back to the ecosystem, are recognized by and automatically wirelessly communicate with wireless media devices that remained in the ecosystem.
14 . The ecosystem of claim 12 , wherein wireless media devices added for a first time to the ecosystem, are recognized by and automatically wirelessly communicate with wireless media devices already present in the ecosystem.
15 . The ecosystem of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless media devices are in wireless communication with a backend service and wirelessly access at least a portion of content to be handled by one or more of the plurality of wireless media devices from the backend service.
16 . An ecosystem, comprising:
a plurality of wireless media devices,
each wireless media device including a plurality of different RF transceivers configured for wireless data communications using different wireless protocols, at least one of the plurality of different RF transceivers is configured to wirelessly connect at least one of the plurality of wireless media devices with a backend service,
each wireless media device is in wireless communications with other of the plurality of wireless media devices using at least one its plurality of different RF transceivers,
each wireless media device including a proximity detection system configured to detect presence, proximity, or both of a selected one or more of
one or more wireless user devices,
one or more users, or
one or more objects,
at least one of the plurality of wireless media devices is configured to establish a wireless link with a wireless user device upon detection of the wireless user device by the proximity detection system, and
at least one of the plurality of wireless media devices is configured, after the wireless link is established, to handle content previously being handled by the wireless user device.
17 . The ecosystem of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of RF transceivers includes an Ad Hoc (AH) wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate over a proprietary AH wireless network with other wireless media devices in the plurality of wireless media devices using an AH wireless protocol that is proprietary to the plurality of wireless media devices.
18 . The ecosystem of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of a data payload for the content being handled by at least one of the plurality of wireless media devices is wirelessly obtained from the backend service.
19 . The ecosystem of claim 16 , wherein each wireless media device further includes an audio and video (A/V) system including a plurality of speakers, a plurality of microphones, at least one display, and an electrically de-tunable antenna.
20 . The ecosystem of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of wireless media devices include substantially identical configuration data (CFG) fixed in a non-transitory computer readable medium,
the CFG configured to execute in a processor included in each wireless media device, and the CFG including data for establishing the wireless link, for connecting with the backend service, and for handling the content.
21 . The ecosystem of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of wireless media devices are configured to wirelessly access all data from the backend service that is accessible by one or more access types selected from the group consisting of free access, un-restricted access, un-limited access, paid access, restricted access, access by permission, access by account, limited access, access by login, access by user name and password, and access by email address and password.