METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A CONTROL DEVICE TO CONNECT TO AND CONTROL A DISPLAY DEVICE
Systems and methods are provided to connect a control device such as a mobile phone to a display device. The control device can be used to operate (control) an application executing at a server and/or at the display device. In an embodiment, the display device initiates a connection request to the server via a network. The server then generates a unique code, and transmits the code to the display device. The code can be displayed as a matrix barcode. The control device scans the matrix barcode and decodes it. The control device then initiates a connection request to the server and transmits the code to the server. A matching engine connects the control device to the display device corresponding to the code. The connections are preferably made via a full-duplex Internet connection protocol, such as the WebSocket protocol, to facilitate low latency network connections.
1 . A system for connecting a control device to a display device, comprising:
(a) a display device;
(b) a server; and
(c) a first control device;
wherein the server is configured to generate a code and transmit the code to the display device;
wherein the display device is configured to display the code as a matrix barcode;
wherein the first control device is configured to scan and decode the matrix barcode;
wherein the first control device is configured to transmit the code decoded by the first control device to the server; and
wherein the server is configured to establish a connection between the first control device and the display device, if the code received from the first control device corresponds to the generated code.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the connections with the display device and the first control device follow a full-duplex Internet communication protocol.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the connection between the server and the first control device allows the first control device to control operation of a computer system.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
(d) a second control device configured to scan and decode the matrix barcode;
wherein the second control device is configured to transmit the code decoded by the second control device to the server; and
wherein the server is configured to establish a connection between the second control device and the display device, if the code received from the second control device corresponds to the generated code.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the connections with the display device and the second control device follow a full-duplex Internet communication protocol.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the connection with the first control device and the second control device allows the first control device and the second control device to control operation of a computer system.
7 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
(e) an nth control device configured to scan and decode the matrix barcode;
wherein the nth control device is configured to transmit the code decoded by the nth control device to the server; and
wherein the server is configured to establish a connection between the nth control device and the display device, if the code received from the nth control device corresponds to the generated code;
wherein n is an integer, n>2.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the connections with the display device and the nth control device follow a full-duplex Internet communication protocol.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the connection with the nth control device allows the nth control device, the first control device and the second control device to collectively control operation of a computer system.
10 . A method for connecting a control device to a display device, comprising:
(a) receiving a connection request from the display device;
(b) establishing a connection with the display device, responsive to the connection request;
(c) sending a generated code to the display device;
(d) receiving a code from the control device; and
(e) establishing a connection with the control device, if the received code corresponds to the generated code.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the received code corresponds to the generated code only if the received code is the same as the generated code.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein connecting the control device is performed using a server.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the connections with the display device and the control device follow a full-duplex Internet communication protocol.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the connection with the control device allows the control device to control operation of a computer system.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the operation of the computer system includes operation of a web page
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the operation of the computer system includes operation of a game.
17 . The method of claim 14 wherein the operation of the computer system includes operation of a software application.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the software application is an ecommerce application.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the ecommerce application allows for scanning at least one Universal Product Code (UPC) code using the control device.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the ecommerce application provides information based in part on the UPC.
21 . The method of claim 10 , wherein sending a generated code to the display device includes displaying the generated code on the display device as a matrix barcode.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein receiving the code from the control device includes scanning the matrix barcode from the display device.
23 . The method of claim 10 , where the control device is a smartphone.
24 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
(f) receiving a code from a second control device; and
(g) establishing a connection with the second control device, if the received code from the second control device corresponds to the generated code.
25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:
(h) receiving a code from an nth control device; and
(i) establishing a connection with the nth control device, if the received code from the nth control device corresponds to the generated code;
wherein n is an integer, n>2.
26 . A method for connecting a control device to a display device, comprising:
(a) using the control device to decode a matrix barcode;
(b) sending a code corresponding to the decoded matrix barcode to a server;
(c) establishing a connection with the server, if the sent code corresponds to a code generated by the server.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the matrix barcode is displayed on a display device.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the matrix barcode is displayed on a code display device.
29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the matrix barcode is displayed on a printed medium.
30 . The method claim 26 , wherein the matrix barcode is displayed on a television screen.
31 . The method claim 26 , wherein the display device is situated at a stadium.
32 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising: using the control device to decode a universal product code (UPC).
33 . A method for connecting a plurality of display devices to a server, comprising:
(a) receiving connection requests from a plurality of display devices;
(b) establishing connections with the display devices, responsive to the connection requests; and
(c) sending a generated code to each of the display devices.
34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the connections with the display devices and the server follow a full-duplex Internet communication protocol.
35 . The method of claim 33 , further comprising:
(d) displaying the code as a matrix barcode on each of the display devices.
36 . The method of claim 33 , wherein at least one code corresponding to a display device is displayed on a code display device.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the code displayed on the code display device is determined at least in part on the geographic location of the code display device.
38 . The method of claim 33 , wherein at least one of the generated codes is based at least in part upon the geographic location of the display device.
39 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the generated codes are stored in a database.
40 . The method of claim 33 , wherein a unique code is generated for each of the display devices.
41 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the code sent to a respective display device is one of a group of codes generated at the server for a cluster of display devices.
42 . The method of claim 41 , wherein a cluster of display devices is defined in part based upon geographic location.
43 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the code is stored in a database.
44 . The method of claim 33 , further comprising:
(d) for each of a plurality of control devices,
scanning a code;
sending the code to the server; and
establishing a connection between the control device and the display device, if the sent code corresponds to a code generated at the server for the display device.
45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the connections with the control devices and the server follow a full-duplex Internet communication protocol.
46 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the server includes a gaming logic engine.
47 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the server enables ecommerce.
48 . The method of claim 44 , wherein each of the connections allows one of the control devices to control operation at least of one of the display devices.
49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the operation includes operation of a web page.
50 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the operation includes operation of an interactive game.
51 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the operation includes execution of a software application.
52 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the operation includes display of product information.
53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the step of (d) further includes scanning a Universal Product Code (UPC) and the display of the product information is based at least in part on the scanned UPC.
54 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the operation includes operation of an ecommerce application.
55 . The method of claim 50 , wherein the operation of the interactive game is at least in part enabled by motion sensor input from the control device.
56 . The method of claim 50 , wherein the interactive game is based on a game selected from the group consisting of basketball, American football, baseball, tennis, golf, hockey, soccer, fishing and bean-bag toss.
57 . The method of claim 50 , wherein each of the connections allows one of the control devices to control operation of at least one of the display devices that is enabled at least in part by a downloadable gaming logic engine.
58 . The method of claim 33 , further comprising a method of connecting a plurality of control devices to a cluster of display devices:
(e) for each of the control devices,
scanning the code of one of the display devices;
sending the code to the server; and
establishing a connection between the control device and the group of display devices in the cluster, if the sent code corresponds to one code in a group of codes generated at the server for the cluster of display devices.
59 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the connection with the control device and the server follow a full-duplex Internet communication protocol.
60 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the connection allows the control device to simultaneously control operation of multiple display devices in the cluster.
61 . The method of claim 44 , wherein at least one of the control devices is a smartphone.
62 . The method of claim 44 , wherein at least one of the control devices is wearable computing eyewear.
63 . The method of claim 44 , wherein at least one of the control devices is a smart watch.
64 . A method for connecting a control device to a display device, comprising:
(a) establishing a connection between a first display software of a display device and a server;
(b) requesting, by the first display software, a first code from the server and displaying the first code on the first display software as a first matrix barcode;
(c) using a first control device, decoding the first matrix barcode;
(d) sending a code corresponding to the decoded first matrix barcode to the server; and
(e) establishing a connection allowing the first control device to control the first display software, if the code sent in (d) corresponds to the first code from the server.
65 . The method of claim 64 , wherein the connections follow a full-duplex Internet communication protocol.
66 . The method of claim 64 , wherein the first display software enables a first web page.
67 . The method of claim 64 , wherein the control includes operation of an interactive game.
68 . The method of claim 64 , wherein the control includes display of product information.
69 . The method of claim 64 , wherein the control includes an ecommerce application.
70 . The method of claim 64 , wherein the first control device is one of a smartphone, wearable computing eyewear, and a smart watch.
71 . The method of claim 64 , further comprising:
(f) establishing a connection between a second display software of the display device and the server;
(g) requesting, by the second display software, a second code from the server and displaying the second code on the second display software as a second matrix barcode;
(h) using a second control device, decoding the second matrix barcode;
(i) sending a code corresponding to the decoded second matrix barcode to the server; and
(j) establishing a connection allowing the second control device to control the second display software, if the code sent in (i) corresponds to the second code generated by the server.
72 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the connections follow a full-duplex Internet communication protocol.
73 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the second display software enables a second web page.
74 . The method of claim 71 wherein the first display software and the second display software are the same software application.
75 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the control includes operation of an interactive game.
76 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the control includes display of product information.
77 . The method of claim 71 , wherein the control includes an ecommerce application.
78 . The method of claim 71 , wherein at least one of the control devices is a smartphone.
79 . The method of claim 71 , wherein at least one of the control devices is wearable computing eyewear.
80 . The method of claim 71 , wherein at least one of the control devices is a smart watch.