System capable of interacting with devices on a network
A system and method for seamless exchange and interaction of multimedia content between communication devices in a network are disclosed. The method can include the discovery and identification of devices within proximity of a sending device. The found devices can be authenticated through unique identifiers established during registration. Connection requirements can be determined based on the identifiers associated with the found devices and the sending device. In turn, the sender can establish a connection with the found devices using the connection requirements. The sending device can share or serve as a remote control to redirect and navigate the content, with a simple action or a gesture command, to the found device. The shared multimedia content, can either reside on the sender's mobile device or on a remote server within a connected network.
1. A system comprising:
a streaming server providing content to a computing device; and
a server, communicatively coupled to the streaming server, running an identity server module,
wherein a sending device and a receiving device are registered with the identity server module,
wherein the server stores a unique token for each of the sending and receiving devices, the unique token defining an identifier and device-specific communication details for each of the sending and receiving devices,
wherein the sending device scans to determine the receiving device is within proximity and only after the receiving device is determined to be within the proximity of the sending device, requests that the server direct the content provided to the computing device to the receiving device, and
wherein the server directs the streaming server to direct the content provided to said computing device to the receiving device using the device-specific communication details, which include connection requirements, provided in the unique token associated with the receiving device.
2. The system of claim 1 , comprising a streaming proxy for receiving the content from the streaming server and delivering the content to the receiving device based on the device specific communication details associated with the receiving device.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the system is connected to at least one communication device,
wherein the at least one communication device comprises at least one exchange agent module.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the system and the at least one communication device communicate through a wireless interface that is distributed within proximity of the at least one communication device.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the streaming proxy can redirect the content to a different location identified by the at least one exchange agent module.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one exchange agent module scans nearby devices to validate the at least one receiver.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sending device further validates the receiving device by accessing the identity server module to verify the receiving device has registered.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said sending device controls said content on said receiving device through commands provided by said sending device in response to input from an operator of the sending device.
9. A method for providing a streaming session, comprising:
registering a sending device and a receiving device with an identity server module on a server, wherein the server stores a unique token for each of the sending and receiving devices, the unique token defining an identifier and device-specific communication details for each of the sending and receiving devices;
using the sending device, scanning nearby devices to identify available receiving devices comprising the receiving device;
after the receiving device is determined to be within the proximity of the sending device, from the sending device, receiving an activation request for a personal computer receiving content in a session from a streaming server, wherein the activation request requests redirection of the content in the session from the personal computer to the receiving device;
using the server, directing the streaming server to provide the content to the receiving device using the device specific communication details;
disconnecting a communication connection with the personal computer;
streaming the session to the receiving device; and
with the sending device, controlling operations of the receiving device or navigation of the session on the receiving device,
wherein the sending device controls at least one of the operations of the receiving device and the navigation of the session on the receiving device via control signals transmitted via a communication channel between the sending and receiving devices that is established based on connection requirements associated with the receiving device.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sending device comprises an agent exchange module, capable of scanning nearby devices to identify available receiving devices within proximity.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
an operator of the sending device pressing a share button, which sends the activation request to a streaming proxy that responds by performing the streaming of the session to the receiving device.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
the streaming proxy providing the activation request to the streaming server,
wherein the streaming server disconnects the communication connection and streams the session to the receiving device.
13. A system comprising:
a first server providing content in a session to a computing device associated with an operator of a sending device; and
a second server running an identity server module,
wherein a sending device and a receiving device are registered with the identity server module,
wherein the second server stores communication requirements comprising a unique token for each of the sending and receiving devices, the unique token defining an identifier and device-specific communication details for each of the sending and receiving devices,
wherein the sending device scans to determine the receiving device is within proximity,
wherein the sending device validates that the receiving device is registered with the identity server module and when the receiving device is validated, sends a request that the second server provide the session on the receiving device,
wherein the second server responds to the request by causing the first server to provide the session on the receiving device using the communication requirements which include wireless communication connection requirements and after the receiving device is determined to be within the proximity of the sending device, directs the first server to direct the content to the receiving device using the device-specific communication details,
wherein the sending device controls navigation of the session on the receiving device through commands provided by the sending device in response to input from an operator of the sending device, and
wherein the sending device transmits the commands via a communication channel established between the sending and receiving devices using the communication requirements and established at least in part by the second server.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the input from the operator is received on the sending device via interactions by the operator with a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the sending device.
15. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a streaming proxy for receiving the content from the first server and delivering the content to the receiving device based on the communication requirements associated with the receiving device.