I 1111111111111111 11111 1111111111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 111111111111111111
`
`
`US008711866B2
`
`States
`(12) United
`Shmueli et al.
`
`Patent
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,711,866 B2
`* Apr. 29, 2014
`
`(54) ROUTING OF DATA INCLUDING
`MULTIMEDIA BETWEEN ELECTRONIC
`DEVICES
`
`(76) Inventors: Oded Shmueli, Nofit (IL); Benny
`Yehezkel, Ramat-Gan (IL)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 269 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/118,503
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`May 30, 2011
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2011/0231884 Al
`
`Sep. 22, 2011
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 10/347,388, filed on
`Jan. 21, 2003, now Pat. No. 7,969,990.
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/398,077, filed on Jul.
`25, 2002.
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2008.01)
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H04L 12116
`H04L 12/28
`H04H 20/71
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ............ 370/396; 370/271; 370/312; 370/390
`( 58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,134,433 A
`6,144,671 A
`6,333,919 B2
`6,594,699 Bl *
`6,961,754 B2 *
`2002/0058499 Al*
`2002/0133545 Al*
`2002/0161862 Al
`2003/0073412 Al
`2003/0172121 Al
`2004/0017788 Al
`2004/0080779 Al
`
`10/2000 Joong et al.
`11/2000 Perinpanathan et al.
`12/2001 Gaffney
`7 /2003 Sahai et al. ................... 709/228
`11/2005 Christopoulos et al. ...... 709/204
`5/2002 Ortiz ............................. 455/412
`9/2002 Fano et al.
`.. ... 709/203
`10/2002 Horvitz
`4/2003 Meade, II
`9/2003 Evans et al.
`1/2004 Shmueli et al.
`4/2004 Kawamoto
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`GB
`WO
`WO
`
`2370451
`WO0l/41317
`WO 2004/012026
`
`6/2002
`6/2001
`2/2004
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Notice of Allowance Dated Feb. 18, 2011 From the US Patent and
`Trademark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Jutai Kao
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Rerouting apparatus for rerouting data including multimedia
`data. The apparatus is for association with electronic equip(cid:173)
`ment and allows for routing the data to a device regarded as
`the most convenient for playing the media. The apparatus
`comprises an announcer device for indicating to surrounding
`equipment that associated equipment is available for rerout(cid:173)
`ing, thereby to enable receipt of rerouted communications
`therefrom, and a scout device for scanning surroundings of
`the associated equipment to find out about compatible equip(cid:173)
`ment in the vicinity, thereby to reroute communications
`thereto. The apparatus may be attached to any device having
`data processing capability, to enable rerouting of data and
`communications therebetween.
`
`5,854,834 A * 12/1998 Gottlieb et al. .......... 379/114.04
`5,913,038 A
`6/1999 Griffiths
`
`24 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`Scout d •tector) 1 L
`
`IPR2024-01049
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`

`

`US 8,711,866 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2006/0013254 Al
`2007 /0285504 Al
`2008/0043693 Al
`2009/0055707 Al*
`
`1/2006 Shmueli et al.
`12/2007 Hesse
`2/2008 Mousseau et al.
`2/2009 Proctor, Jr. .................... 714/758
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Official Action Dated Jul. 5, 2007 From the US Patent and Trademark
`Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`Official Action Dated Jul. 7, 2010 From the US Patent and Trademark
`Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`Official Action Dated Jun. 9, 2009 From the US Patent and Trade(cid:173)
`mark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`Official Action Dated Apr. 17, 2008 From the US Patent and Trade(cid:173)
`mark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 111146, 130.
`
`Official Action Dated Dec. 23, 2009 From the US Patent and Trade(cid:173)
`mark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`Official Action Dated Oct. 27, 2008 From the US Patent and Trade(cid:173)
`mark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`Official Action Dated Oct. 27, 2008 From the US Patent Office Re.:
`U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`Official Action Dated Dec. 28, 2007 From the US Patent and Trade(cid:173)
`mark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`Official Action Dated Dec. 28, 2007 From the US Patent Office Re.:
`U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`Response Dated Dec. 6, 20 l Oto Official Action of Jul. 7, 20 l 0 From
`the US Patent and Trademark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`Response Dated Apr. 22, 2010 to Official Action of Dec. 23, 2009
`From the US Patent and Trademark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No.
`10/347,388.
`Supplemental Notice of Allowability Dated Apr. 13, 2011 From the
`US Patent and Trademark Office Re.: U.S. Appl. No. 10/347,388.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`IPR2024-01049
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`US 8,711,866 B2
`
`I) Incoming phone call
`
`I --
`
`10
`
`2) Route call to local
`fixed line phone
`
`Cloning
`
`11~
`
`tJ
`
`3) Transform to text and route to local monitor
`
`Fig. I
`
`Incoming
`Multi-Media
`Receiver
`
`Controller
`
`Transformer
`
`Media
`Cloner
`
`Outgoing
`Multi•Media
`22----+--+--1
`ransmitter (Multi•Channel)
`
`Device
`Library
`
`Fig. 2
`
`34
`
`IPR2024-01049
`Apple EX1038 Page 3
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`

`

`US 8,711,866 B2
`
`1
`ROUTING OF DATA INCLUDING
`MULTIMEDIA BETWEEN ELECTRONIC
`DEVICES
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 10/347,388 filed Jan. 21, 2003, which
`claims benefit of priority ofU.S. Provisional Patent Applica(cid:173)
`tion No. 60/398,077 filed Jul. 25, 2002. The contents of the 10
`above Applications are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to routing of data including
`multimedia between electronic devices, and more particu(cid:173)
`larly but not exclusively to rerouting of incoming communi(cid:173)
`cations that may or may not include multimedia to devices
`other than the initial receiving device. Data may arrive from 20
`external sources via communication or generated by, or at, a
`device. Data may be a package or a stream. Such a stream may
`be unidirectional, bi-directional or multidirectional.
`With the introduction of mobile communication devices,
`telecommunications technology has transfonned society over 25
`the past decade. The ability to communicate almost any(cid:173)
`where, anytime, with few geographical limitations has
`resulted in a society, in both social and business contexts,
`which is almost always on-line. Mobile communication
`devices today typically have data processing ability which 30
`allows them to handle multi-media, and different types of
`devices are today able to comm1micate with each other, either
`directly via a permanent or temporary link or indirectly via a
`network. Thus data, including multimedia, can be directed or
`routed from one device to another device. The idea of multi- 35
`media routing stems from the myriad of opportunities which
`present themselves in routing signals from one device or kind
`of device to another. However, in general, the playing of
`multimedia data is limited, at least in the short term, to the
`device on which it is received, or to those in which the data
`originates. This limitation can be a considerable limitation on
`the user's ability to enjoy the multimedia since different
`devices have very different capabilities regarding the playing
`of multimedia.
`The media playing devices considered specifically in the 45
`present disclosure include both mobile devices ( cell phones,
`PDA' s, handheld devices, etc.) and non-mobile devices (land/
`fixed line phones, computer monitors, Hi-Fi sets, speakers,
`etc.).
`Some of the devices may be used for just one or two media 50
`types and others are more general in their applicability, which
`is to say it is possible to use the devices in different modes for
`playing several media types: voice, text, images, and video.
`Likewise, the devices are used in various locations: at the
`office, home, car, hotel room, plane, outdoors, etc.
`Most current mobile devices in particular provide rela(cid:173)
`tively poor multi-media capabilities including digital audio,
`image, and/or video capabilities (as well as other media capa(cid:173)
`bilities) in comparison with other existing devices such as
`land/fixed line phones, computer monitors, TV screens and 60
`Hi-Fi sets. Compared to high quality media playing equip(cid:173)
`ment, even 3rd generation mobile devices (3G) are ofinferior
`quality.
`A number of patent applications discuss rerouting of com(cid:173)
`munications from one communication unit to another. An 65
`example is GB 2,370,451, which discloses a communication
`unit that detects the presence in its vicinity of a second com-
`
`2
`munication unit and determines its identity. If the identity is
`found to be of a predetermined set (e.g. of communication
`units having the same owner) calls made to the second com(cid:173)
`munication unit are diverted to the first unit. The arrangement
`is useful where a user has multiple communication units, for
`example a car telephone and a cellular handset, with differing
`telephone numbers as the user may be contacted using any of
`these.
`WO0141317A3: call diversion system, discloses a system
`specifically for redirecting calls between satellite and terres(cid:173)
`trial cellular systems. The disclosure addresses the issue of
`reformatting data messages for the transition.
`Neither of the above systems takes into consideration the
`15 types of multimedia content of the incoming calls data or
`playing quality and usage comfort when deciding whether to
`redirect, and redirection is based on devices having a shared
`ownership or otherwise being part of a predetermined set. In
`the above-described systems the user typically has only lim(cid:173)
`ited control over rerouting. Nevertheless, it would be highly
`advantageous to provide the user with the ability to select a
`target device, based on the type of multimedia content, and
`furthermore to choose a device for play or storage of the
`content independently of the initially targeted or originating
`device.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`According to a first aspect of the present invention there is
`thus provided data rerouting apparatus for association with
`electronic equipment for rerouting data, comprising:
`an announcer device for indicating to surrounding equip(cid:173)
`ment that said associated equipment is available for rerouting,
`thereby to enable receipt ofrerouted data therefrom, and
`a scout device for scanning surroundings of said associated
`equipment to find out about compatible equipment in the
`vicinity, thereby to reroute data thereto.
`The apparatus preferably further comprises a user interface
`associated with said scout device for allowing a user to select
`40 between available compatible equipment to reroute data
`thereto.
`Preferably, said scout device is operable to determine
`media type requirements of said compatible equipment, the
`apparatus further comprising a media transformer, associated
`with said scout device, for transforming media into a form
`that accords with said determined media type requirements.
`The media type requirements may include screen capability
`and data rate.
`Preferably, a plurality of types correspond to said media
`type requirements, and further comprising a user interface for
`allowing a user to select one of said media type requirements
`for transforming at said media transformer.
`The apparatus preferably further comprises a media cloner
`for making multiple copies of the data, in particular but not
`55 exclusively an incoming communication, thereby to enable
`said apparatus to redirect, for example, a single incoming
`communication to a plurality of locations.
`Preferably, said announcer is an active device, operable to
`transmit at least status information to respective surround(cid:173)
`ings.
`Preferably, said announcer comprises a passive device,
`carrying at least device identification information for reading
`by an active scout device.
`Preferably, said passive device further carries status infor(cid:173)
`mation of said device.
`Preferably, said announcer comprises a barcode and
`wherein said scout is a barcode reader.
`
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`

`

`3
`The apparatus preferably further comprises an outgoing
`multimedia transmitter for directing rerouted media directly
`to a selected device.
`The apparatus preferably further comprises control func(cid:173)
`tionality operable to inform a communication service pro(cid:173)
`vider of a desired rerouting, thereby to enable said commu(cid:173)
`nication service provider to reroute said data.
`The apparatus preferably comprises control functionality
`operable to carry out said rerouting directly.
`The apparatus preferably comprises control ftmctionality 10
`operable to carry out said rerouting through locally available
`network infrastructure.
`The apparatus preferably comprises a device database for
`storing compatibility data of different equipment types.
`According to a second aspect of the present invention there 15
`is provided a method of rerouting data comprising:
`Receiving or generating said data at a first device,
`determining availability of other devices in the vicinity of
`said first device, and
`rerouting said data to at least one target device selected 20
`from devices found to be available.
`The method preferably comprises detennining compatibil(cid:173)
`ity of said available devices in said vicinity with said com(cid:173)
`munication.
`The method preferably further comprises carrying out
`media type transformation from a media type of said data to a
`media type compatible with a selected device.
`The method preferably further comprises carrying out
`selection between devices found to be available, via a user
`interface.
`The method preferably further comprises carrying out a
`selection between devices found to be available, based on a
`predetermined user profile.
`The method preferably further comprises selecting a plu(cid:173)
`rality of devices to reroute said data thereto, and cloning said
`data for each selected device.
`The method preferably further comprises determining
`availability of other devices in the vicinity of said target
`device, and
`rerouting said data to at least one further target device
`selected from devices found to be available.
`According to a third aspect of the present invention there is
`provided a data rerouting apparatus for association with elec(cid:173)
`tronic equipment for rerouting data to at least one selected
`target device, comprising:
`a cloner for making multiple copies of incoming data,
`thereby to enable said apparatus to redirect single incoming
`data to a plurality of respective target devices, and
`a transformer, associated with said cloner, for receiving at
`least one of said multiple copies of said incoming data, and
`transforming said data into a form that accords with a deter(cid:173)
`mined media type requirement of a respective target device.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For a better understanding of the invention and to show
`how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now
`be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying
`drawings.
`With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is
`stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and
`for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred
`embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented
`in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most
`useful and readily understood description of the principles
`and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no
`attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in
`
`US 8,711,866 B2
`
`4
`more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understand(cid:173)
`ing of the invention, the description taken with the drawings
`making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several
`forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the
`accompanying drawings:
`FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram showing a plurality of elec(cid:173)
`tronic devices in the vicinity of one another, between which
`communications can be rerouted according to a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention, and
`FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram showing a preferred
`apparatus for attachment to an electronic device for allowing
`the device to support rerouting according to preferred
`embodiments of the present invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The capability of routing of multi-media content (possibly
`including media transformation and multiplication, i.e. clon(cid:173)
`ing) from one device to another may dramatically upgrade
`media playing quality, and grant the user the liberty to play the
`content on any device he wishes, preferably the most suitable
`device available, regardless of the origin of the content or the
`device to which the content may initially have been directed,
`25 or at which the content originates. Furthennore, by rerouting
`to a more capable device, a user's satisfaction level may be
`increased in comparison to having to remain with a device
`that say is limited by inferior data rate, processing power,
`memory capacity or input/output facilities. For example, a
`30 cellular communication device such as a mobile telephone is
`such a limited capability device which is typically the initial
`recipient of a communication. Such an initial recipient, or
`originator, is referred to hereinafter as the routing-source
`device. Furthermore, as will be explained below, the ability to
`35 route content from non-mobile, that is land or fixed devices to
`nearby mobile and other devices permits a range of possibili(cid:173)
`ties for use which is currently not provided for.
`For example, the ability to route an incoming phone call,
`typically comprising voice, from a mobile device to a land/
`40 fixed line phone may generally be expected to upgrade the
`quality of the call. The ability to route hand held calendar
`content from a mobile device having some digital ability to a
`computer monitor, may allow for better viewing of the infor(cid:173)
`mation. Such rerouting may also enhance the user's ability to
`45 share the information with other people or with computer
`applications, for example applications that capture informa(cid:173)
`tion displayed on the monitor and use it to trigger other
`events. Such applications can easily be run on a PC or laptop
`computer but are difficult to run on a mobile telephone for
`50 example.
`An incoming call or other originating data may be rerouted
`more than once. In preferred embodiments, individual
`devices do not need to know whether they are an initial
`receiving device or a first or subsequent rerouting device, and
`55 may treat any arriving communication in the same way.
`Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion provides an ability to route an incoming voice message
`from say a mobile device or voice mailbox to a facsimile
`machine or display monitor, combined with a transformation
`60 capability-in this case an ability to transform voice to text.
`Software packages that interpret voice and translate into text
`are well known and commercially available. Such packages,
`which presently require training on a specific voice in order to
`produce reasonable results, may broaden the usage of voice
`65 messages. However, even without training, the best packages
`can produce sufficiently good results to enable say the hard of
`hearing to make a reasonable interpretation of an incoming
`
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`US 8,711,866 B2
`
`5
`6
`In addition, using the above rerouting, a call can be set up
`voice signal. Thus such a rerouting-while-transforming capa(cid:173)
`to support a game session. The call can be set up using a
`bility may be highly desirable for people with special needs(cid:173)
`cellular telephone, and then one or both users reroutes the call
`impaired senses (hearing, vision) who may use such a capa(cid:173)
`to a game console.
`bility to receive information in a form more usable to them.
`The above may be achieved by sending rerouting control
`Likewise such a capability may be useful for receiving com(cid:173)
`data along with the rerouted communication, which control
`munications in difficult environments such as a noisy factory
`data includes a return address. The return address may be a
`floor.
`final return address for single stage rerouting, or may be an
`As a further example, an incoming phone call directed at a
`intermediated return address in the case of multi-stage rerout-
`land/fixed line may be rerouted to a mobile device, thus,
`10 ing. In the latter case, the intermediate return address can be
`effectively using the mobile as a cordless phone. Such a
`used in an intermediate rerouting device to find a further
`technique may ease acceptance of a phone call in a hotel
`rerouting address.
`lobby, at a colleague's office, at a restaurant and in many other
`Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified
`settings.
`block diagram showing in schematic form the elements of a
`Routing an incoming call away from a mobile telephone
`15 modification to be applied to a communication device for use
`may also be advantageous health-wise in decreasing the
`in call rerouting of the kind described in FIG. 1. It will be
`physical proximity of electromagnetic radiation (emitted by
`appreciated that the elements are not restricted to a cellular
`mobile devices) to the user.
`telephone but may be applicable to any electronic device and
`It is pointed out that communication-enabled devices can
`more particularly but not exclusively to communication-en-
`receive an incoming communication for rerouting. However
`20 abled devices. Depending on the device type, some function(cid:173)
`as long as rerouting is direct from device to device, the device
`ality may be disabled. For example, a land/fixed line phone
`might not need an outgoing multi-channel multi-media trans(cid:173)
`to which the rerouting is made need not be generally enabled
`mitter component. A device not enabled for external commu(cid:173)
`for external communication as typically managed by a ser(cid:173)
`nication may not be able to receive originating communica-
`vice provider be it phone, cellular, internet and the like. Fur(cid:173)
`25 tions from an external communication network but may be
`thermore, routing is not limited to rerouting of incoming
`able to route data to other devices and be the target for data
`communications but also applies to routing of data from any
`and communication rerouting.
`kind of data source to any kind of data player. Data may arrive
`The device comprises an incoming multi-media receiver
`from external sources via communication or generated by, or
`20 which is responsible for capturing media content and
`at, a device. Data may be a package or a stream. Such a stream
`30 passing it to one of the other components in the device,
`may be unidirectional, bi-directional or multidirectional.
`depending on the circumstances, as will be explained below.
`Thus video data being captured at a video camera may be
`One of these other components is outgoing multi-channel
`directed using embodiments of the present invention to a
`multi-media transmitter 22. Transmitter 22 is responsible for
`convenient nearby video player or multimedia enabled PC.
`transmitting (directly) media streams to external devices
`Thus, a generally non-communication enabled device will be
`35 which are specified to it. Transmitter 22 comprises a multi(cid:173)
`unable to receive initial communications but can route data to
`channel port which is able to transmit several media types to
`other devices and can receive data as a rerouting target.
`several devices at the same time.
`Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
`A media transformer 24 is responsible for transforming its
`in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
`input (incoming media) into a required media type, or types,
`in its application to the details of construction and the
`40 and outputting the resulting media stream( s ), or file( s ). It too
`arrangement of the components set forth in the following
`preferably has a multi-channel Output. The media types
`description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
`required as output are preferably specified externally. A pre(cid:173)
`ferred embodiment of a media transformer includes a voice to
`applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced or
`text transformer as discussed above. The voice to text trans-
`carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
`the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the 45
`former may be augmented by a text to fax transformer. Fur(cid:173)
`purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
`ther transformations include image transformations such as
`Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified
`color to black and white, resolution reductions, and image
`schematic diagram showing a cellular telephone 10 in prox(cid:173)
`format transformations. Similar transformations may be pro(cid:173)
`imity to a fixed telephone 12 and a computer monitor 14. The
`vided for video, and to the extent applicable for sound for-
`three electronic devices need have no relationship to each 50
`mats.
`Media cloner 26 is responsible for duplication of its input
`other except that of proximity. An incoming call is received at
`cellular telephone 10. As will be explained below, the cellular
`channel content, preferably received from the incoming
`telephone 10 detects the presence of the other devices 12 and
`multi-media receiver 20 (input media) into as many output
`14 and allows the user to retain the call at the cellular tele(cid:173)
`channels as indicated to it externally. Each output stream, or
`phone 10 or alternatively to transfer it to either of the other
`55 file, is routed, as indicated to it externally, to either the media
`devices 12 and 14. If the user chooses the fixed telephone 12
`transformer 24 or the outgoing multi-media transmitter 22.
`Controller 28 is responsible for managing all the other
`then the call is rerouted in one of a number of ways explained
`below to the fixed telephone 12 where the call may be taken in
`components and monitoring their activities. In particular, any
`the usual way. If the user chooses the computer monitor 14
`media (packaged or streamed) transfer between components,
`then assuming the presence of speakers and a microphone the
`60 input and output, is performed under the controller's super(cid:173)
`vismn.
`call may be taken again in the normal way. In addition, soft(cid:173)
`ware may be provided, either at the cellular telephone 10 or at
`In operation, content is received at incoming multimedia
`the computer 14 to convert the voice signal into text.
`receiver 20. As will be explained in detail below, one or more
`It is noted that in the case of a cellular telephone, the
`destinations for the data as well as media type transforma-
`telephone communication is a bi-directional type of commu(cid:173)
`65 tions are selected. In the case of straightforward rerouting of
`nication, and any rerouting should preferably support a return
`the media to another device, the content is sent directly to
`outgoing multi-media transmitter 22 for simple media routing
`path for the communication.
`
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`US 8,711,866 B2
`
`10
`
`7
`to a similar content type device. In other circumstances, trans(cid:173)
`forming from one media to another may be required prior to
`rerouting. In such a case, content is directed to media trans(cid:173)
`former 24 prior to rerouting, where transforming is carried
`out. The transformed content is then directed to the outgoing
`multi-media transmitter 22 as before. Content is directed to
`media cloner 26 in cases where it is intended to route the
`content to more than one device, or if for any reason it is
`intended to send multiple copies to the same device. From the
`media cloner the content may then be sent directly to the
`outgoing multi-media transmitter 22 for direct output, or one
`or more of the copies may be sent to the media transformer for
`transformation prior to output. Routing of the content and
`operation of the above-mentioned components is preferably
`controlled by controller 28.
`In order to make decisions about selecting destinations and
`media types and in order to allow other devices to receive
`availability information, three more components are prefer(cid:173)
`ably provided, an announcer device 30, a scout device 32 and
`a device library 34.
`The announcer device 30 is responsible for announcing to
`the environment the availability of a current device for
`accepting routed media. It may also indicate device type and
`use conditions, preferably including any usage charges, thus
`enabling surrounding devices to avoid say sending video data
`to a fax machine, or enabling security conscious users to
`avoid receiving non-trusted data at their device. When the
`device becomes busy (for example, a phone that is handling a
`call), it announces this to the environment, typically via trans- 30
`missions. Similarly, it announces its becoming available.
`Announcements may be periodically repeated. As an alterna(cid:173)
`tive the announcer device 30 may signal only when available
`or only when unavailable. Another ( optional) function of the
`announcer 30 is that of informing the environment, typically 35
`a user, that media content has been routed to it and is now
`usable (for example, to announce that a rerouted call is now
`available on this telephone). The latter kind of announcement,
`that is to say to persons rather than to electronic equipment,
`may typically comprise light flashes, rings, a loudspeaker 40
`sound or even a smell.
`Typically, the announcer device 30 may be active (trans(cid:173)
`mitting) or passive (reacting, or reflecting). A simple example
`of a passive announcer device is a sticker attached to a phone
`and supplying say device type and conditions ofuse informa- 45
`tion using a barcode. The sticker may be scanned and com(cid:173)
`prehended by the scout devices 32. In addition to a sticker, a
`passive announcer may be provided using an LCD screen
`displaying a barcode. The LCD or like screen is advantageous
`in that, since its display can change, the barcode can indicate 50
`current status information. An alternative way of providing
`status information along with a barcode is by providing a
`color display alongside the barcode. The color display may be
`changed electronically or mechanically by the device to indi(cid:173)
`cate different states, and can be read optically along with the 55
`barcode.
`The scout device 32 is responsible for scanning the envi(cid:173)
`ronment to find other devices therein and to determine their
`status, typically free or busy. The scout is also responsible for
`obtaining any specific use conditions from announcers 30 of 60
`the devices being detected. The scout may be activated peri(cid:173)
`odically and/or upon demand.
`Device library 34 contains information needed for commu(cid:173)
`nicating with various devices. Such information may typi(cid:173)
`cally include usage related information as well as technical 65
`information regarding expected media formats and transmis(cid:173)
`sion technology specifications, including protocols, used by
`
`8
`the device type. It may also contains pre-defined user prefer(cid:173)
`ences if defined, including default user preferences.
`The controller 28 is responsible for integrating knowledge
`accumulated by the scout, and for directing operation of the
`announcer 30. The controller uses either pre-defined user
`preferences from the device library 34 or it may obtain pref(cid:173)
`erences over a network, or it may simply capture user prefer(cid:173)
`ences using menus or like user interaction. The controller
`preferably follows the appropriate receiving/transmitting
`protocol including hand shake, identification, authentication,
`encryption procedures and the like.
`The apparatus described in respect ofFIG. 2 may be physi(cid:173)
`cally packaged, for example as a card, a chip or an attached
`15 stand-alone unit. The apparatus may also be realized as soft(cid:173)
`ware within another apparatus, host device-for example, on
`a personal computer (PC), cell phone, a personal digital assis(cid:173)
`tant (PDA) or other standard electronic devices. In any case,
`the host apparatus preferably possesses its own transmission
`20 and receiving capabilities, or is connected, perhaps via a
`network, to another device that does have such