A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MIRRORING DIGITAL CONTENT FROM A MOBILE DEVICE ON A FLAT PANEL TELEVISION USING UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS CONNECTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronic devices, and more specifically to the field of mirroring digital content from a mobile device on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Currently, mobile devices, for example smart phones and tablets, have capability of browsing and viewing digital content, for example music, video, or photos, using mobile internet subscription or a Wi-Fi connection. However, such mobile devices typically have a screen of a lesser size as compared to a personal computer. Hence, a user has to use the personal computer to browse internet, to share the digital content with other viewers, and to synchronize and backup the digital content. Some televisions, for example a flat panel television, can also be utilized for browsing. However, such televisions either require a landline connection for internet connection, a docking station, or a television out cable with an external adaptor. It is currently possible to share some of the digital content through the Wi-Fi connection using digital living network alliance (DLNA) on smart televisions with a Wi-Fi dongle. However, it is not possible to share such digital content without the Wi-Fi connection or in the flat panel television without Wi-Fi hardware and DLNA protocol.

[0003] In the light of the foregoing discussion there is a need for an efficient method and system for mirroring digital content from a mobile device on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection and to provide synchronization and backup of the digital content.

SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and system for mirroring digital content from a mobile device on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection.

[0005] An example of a method of mirroring digital content from a mobile device on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection includes receiving one or more encoded audio video packets from the mobile device. The mobile device is connected to the flat panel television using the universal serial bus connection. The method also includes decoding the one or more encoded audio video packets to render the digital content. The method further includes displaying the digital content to a user on the flat panel television.

[0006] An example of a system for mirroring digital content from a mobile device on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection includes a universal serial bus cable, the mobile device and the flat panel television. The mobile device further includes an audio sink that generates a plurality of audio packets, a video sink that generates a plurality of video packets, a muxer that multiplexes the plurality of audio packets and the plurality of video packets to provide one or more audio video packets tagged with a timestamp, and an encoder module that generates one or more encoded audio video packets. The flat panel television further includes a mobile cradle to hold the mobile device, a communication interface in electronic communication with the mobile device, a memory that stores instructions, and a processor. Further, the flat panel television includes a processor responsive to the instructions to receive the one or more encoded audio video packets from the mobile device, the mobile device being connected to the flat panel television using the universal serial bus connection, to decode the one or more encoded audio video packets to render the digital content, and to display the digital content to a user on the flat panel television.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0007] The accompanying figure, similar reference numerals may refer to identical or functionally similar elements. These reference numerals are used in the detailed description to illustrate various embodiments and to explain various aspects and advantages of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment, in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a flat panel television in accordance with one embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 3 is an exemplary illustration of generating encoded audio video packets, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 4 is an exemplary illustration of decoding encoded audio video packets, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of mirroring digital content from a mobile device on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 6 is an exemplary illustration of a flat panel television, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0014] FIGS. 7A-7B are exemplary illustrations of a mobile cradle included in a flat panel television, in accordance with one embodiment; and

[0015] FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of the flat panel television, in accordance with another embodiment.

[0016] It should be observed the method steps and system components have been represented by conventional symbols in the figure, showing only specific details which are relevant for an understanding of the present disclosure. Further, details may be readily apparent to person ordinarily skilled in the art may not have been disclosed. In the present disclosure, relational terms such as first and second, and the like, may be used to distinguish one entity from another entity, without necessarily implying any actual relationship or order between such entities.

[0017] Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a method and system for mirroring digital content from a mobile device on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an environment 100, in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented. The environment 100 includes a flat panel television 105, a universal serial bus (USB) cable 110, a mobile device 115, and a network 120. The USB cable 110 connects the flat panel television 105 and the mobile device 115 via USB interfaces. The mobile device 115 is further connected to the network 120. Examples of the flat panel television 105 include, but are not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD) television, a light emitting diode (LED) television, a plasma television, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) television, and a quantum dot display (QLED) television. Examples of the mobile device 115 include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet device, and a laptop. The mobile device 115 is a device that supports internet subscription. Examples of the network 120 include, but are not limited to, a local area network, a wide area network and a wireless network.

[0019] In some embodiments, the flat panel television 105 can be controlled by a user using a remote control device 130, for example a television remote control. In other embodiments, the flat panel television 105 can be controlled by the user using a remote mobile device, for example the remote mobile device 125. Examples of the remote mobile device 125 include, but are not limited to, a block phone with Bluetooth connection, and a smart phone. The remote mobile device 125, which behaves as a master device, sends commands to the mobile device 115, which behaves as a slave device. The remote mobile device 125 controls operation of the mobile device 115 using different communication protocols. Examples of the communication protocols include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth, infrared (IR), and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi).

[0020] In some embodiments, the remote mobile device 125 can include one or more of a touchpad and cursor control keys, for example up key, down key, left key, right key, and an enter key, which are used for controlling the operation of the mobile device 115. Touch and cursor control events generated using the touchpad and cursor control keys on the remote mobile device 125 are further captured by the mobile device 115 and simultaneously displayed or typed on the flat panel television 105.

[0021] The mobile device 115 is connected to the flat panel television 105 using a USB connection, for example the USB cable 110. The mobile device 115 can be placed in a mobile cradle included in the flat panel television 105. The flat panel television 105 receives one or more encoded audio video packets from the mobile device 115. The flat panel television 105 further decodes the encoded audio video packets to render the digital content from the mobile device 115. Examples of the digital content include, but are not limited to, music, videos, and photos that are accessed using the internet subscription. The digital content is then displayed to a user on the flat panel television 105.

[0022] The flat panel television 105 including a plurality of elements is explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the flat panel television 105, in accordance with one embodiment.

[0024] The flat panel television 105 includes a bus 205 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor 210 coupled with the bus 205 for processing information. The flat panel television 105 also includes a memory 215, for example a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus 205 for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor 210. The memory 215 can be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by the processor 210. The flat panel television 105 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 220 or other static storage device coupled to the bus 205 for storing static information and instructions for the processor 210. A storage unit 225, for example a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to the bus 205 for storing information.

[0025] The flat panel television 105 can be coupled via the bus 205 to a display 230 for displaying digital content from a mobile device, for example the mobile device 115. The input device 235, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to the bus 205 for communicating information and command selections to the processor 210. Another type of user input device is the cursor control 240, for example a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to the processor 210 and for controlling cursor movement on the display 230. In some embodiments, either a remote control device or a remote mobile device can be used as the user input device.

[0026] Various embodiments are related to the use of the flat panel television 105 for implementing the techniques described herein. In some embodiments, the techniques are performed by the flat panel television 105 in response to the processor 210 executing instructions included in the memory 215. Such instructions can be read into the memory 215 from another machine-readable medium, for example the storage unit 225. Execution of the instructions included in the memory 215 causes the processor 210 to perform the process steps described herein.

[0027] In some embodiments, the processor 210 can include one or more processing units for performing one or more functions of the processor 210. The processing units are hardware circuitry used in place of or in combination with software instructions to perform specified functions.

[0028] The term "machine-readable medium" as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to perform a specific function. In an embodiment implemented using the flat panel television 105, various machine-readable media are involved, for example, in providing instructions to the processor 210 for execution. The machine-readable medium can be a storage medium, either volatile or non-volatile. A volatile medium includes, for example, dynamic memory, such as the memory 215. A non-volatile medium includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, for example the storage unit 225. All such media must be tangible to enable the instructions carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the instructions into a machine.

[0029] Common forms of machine-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic media, a CD-ROM, any other optical media, punchcards, papertape, any other physical media with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM; any other memory chip or cartridge.

[0030] In another embodiment, the machine-readable media can be transmission media including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that include the bus 205. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave and infra-red data communications. Examples of machine-readable media may include, but are not limited to, a carrier wave as described hereinafter or any othermedia from which the flat panel television 105 can read. For example, the instructions can initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to the flat panel television 105 can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitter to convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector can receive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriate circuitry can place the data on the bus 205. The bus 205 carries the data to the memory 215, from which the processor 210 retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by the memory 215 can optionally be stored on the storage unit 225 either before or after execution by the processor 210. All such media must be tangible to enable the instructions carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the instructions into a machine.

[0031] The flat panel television 105 also includes a communication interface 245 coupled to the bus 205. The communication interface 245 can provide a two-way data communication coupling between the flat panel television 105 and the mobile device 115. The mobile device 115 is further connected to the network 120. For example, the communication interface 245 can be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, the communication interface 245 can be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. In any such implementation, the communication interface 245 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

[0032] In some embodiments, the mobile device 115 includes elements similar to the flat panel television 105 and having similar functionality.

[0033] The processor 210 in the flat panel television 105 is operable to receive one or more encoded audio video packets from the mobile device 115. The mobile device 115 is connected to the flat panel television 105 using a USB connection, for example the USB cable 110. The mobile device 115 can be placed in a mobile cradle included in the flat panel television 105. The processor 210 decodes the encoded audio video packets to render the digital content from the mobile device 115. Examples of the digital content include, but are not limited to, music, videos, and photos, that are accessed using the internet subscription. The processor 210 further enables the digital content to be displayed to a user on the flat panel television 105.

[0034] The processor 210 including a plurality of elements is explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 4. The mobile device 115 including a plurality of elements is explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 3.

[0035] FIG. 3 is an exemplary illustration of generating encoded audio video packets, in accordance with one embodiment.

[0036] The mobile device 115 includes an audio sink 305, a video sink 310, a muxer 315, an encoder module 320, and a USB interface 335. The encoder module 320 further includes a video encoder 325, and an audio encoder 330.

[0037] The audio sink 305 generates a plurality of audio packets and the video sink 310 generates a plurality of video packets. The muxer 315 further multiplexes and tags the audio packets and the video packets to provide one or more audio video packets. The audio video packets are further tagged with a timestamp. The audio video packets are then transmitted to the encoder module 320. The video encoder 325 encodes the video packets and the audio encoder 330 encodes the audio packets. One or more encoded audio video packets are generated that are further transmitted to the USB interface 335 of the mobile device.

[0038] One end of a USB cable, for example the USB cable 115, is connected to the USB interface 335 of the mobile device 115.

[0039] FIG. 4 is an exemplary illustration of decoding the encoded audio video packets, in accordance with one embodiment.

[0040] The flat panel television 105 includes a USB interface 405, a demuxer 410, a decoder module 415, a Tenderer module 420, the display 230, and a speaker 445. The decoder module 415 further includes a video decoder 425 and an audio decoder 430. The renderer module 420 further includes a video Tenderer 435, and an audio renderer 440. The demuxer 410, the decoder module 415, and the renderer module 420 can be included in the processor 210 of the flat panel television 105.

[0041] Another end of the USB cable, for example the USB cable 115, is connected to the USB interface 405 of the flat panel television 105.

[0042] The audio video packets are received by the demuxer 410 via the USB interface 405. The demuxer 410 demultiplexes and transmits the audio video packets to the decoder module 415. The video decoder 425 and the audio decoder 430 decodes the video packets and the audio packets respectively. The video Tenderer 435 and the audio Tenderer 440 in the Tenderer module 420 further renders the video packets and the audio packets. The video Tenderer 435 renders the video packets on the display 230 and the audio renderer 440 renders the audio packets on the speaker 445.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of mirroring digital content from a mobile device, for example the mobile device 115, on a flat panel television, for example the flat panel television 105, using universal serial bus connection, in accordance with one embodiment. The method starts at step 305.

[0044] The mobile device is a device that supports internet subscription. A user can view the digital content on the mobile device using the internet subscription. Examples of the digital content include, but are not limited to, photos, music, videos, and movies.

[0045] The user first connects the mobile device to the flat panel television using the universal serial bus connection. In one example, the universal serial bus connection includes using the universal serial cable 110 that is connected between universal serial bus interfaces on the mobile device and the flat panel television.

[0046] At step 510, one or more encoded audio video packets are received from the mobile device. The encoded audio video packets are received by the flat panel television on connection of the mobile device.

[0047] At step 515, the encoded audio video packets are decoded to render the digital content.

[0048] At step 520, the digital content is displayed to the user on the flat panel television. In one example, the user watching a video on a website via the mobile device can watch the video on the flat panel television by using the universal serial bus connection.

[0049] In some embodiments, the digital content displayed on the flat panel television can be controlled by the user using a television remote control device, for example the remote control device 130.

[0050] In other embodiments, the digital content displayed on the flat panel television can be controlled by the user using a remote mobile device, for example the remote mobile device 125. Examples of the remote mobile device 125 include, but are not limited to, a block phone with Bluetooth connection, and a smart phone. The remote mobile device 125, which behaves a's^a master device,'sends commands to the mobile device 115, which behaves as a slave device. The remote mobile device 125 controls operation of the mobile device 115 using different communication protocols. Examples of the communication protocols include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth, infrared (IR), and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi).

[0051] In some embodiments, the digital content can be stored in an internal memory, for example the memory 215, of the flat panel television.

[0052] In other embodiments, the digital content can be stored on an external hard disk drive.

[0053] In some embodiments, the digital content from the mobile device is synchronized with the internal memory of the flat panel television for backup.

[0054] In other embodiments, the digital content from the mobile device can be synchronized with an external hard disk drive connected to the flat panel television for the backup.

[0055] In some embodiments, the mobile device is recharged when placed on the mobile cradle.

[0056] The method stops at step 525.

[0057] FIG. 6 is an exemplary illustration of the flat panel television 105, in accordance with one embodiment. The universal serial cable 110 is connected between the flat panel television 105 and the mobile device 115. As illustrated, the mobile device 115 is placed in a mobile cradle that is included in the flat panel television 105.

[0058] FIG. 7A is an exemplary illustration of a mobile cradle 705 included in the flat panel television 105, in accordance with one embodiment. The mobile cradle 705 is in a closed position. The user interface 405 on the flat panel television 105 is also illustrated. FIG. 7B is an exemplary illustration of the mobile cradle 705 included in the flat panel television 105, in accordance with another embodiment. The mobile cradle 705 is in an open position and holds the mobile device 115 for easy connection to the flat panel television 105 using the USB cable 110. The user interface 335 on the mobile device 115 is also illustrated.

[0059] FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of the flat panel television 105, in accordance with another embodiment. The remote mobile device 125 is connected remotely to the flat panel television 105 via the mobile device 115. The mobile device 115 is further connected to the network 120. The universal serial cable 110 is connected between the flat panel television 105 and the mobile device 115, which is further placed in a mobile cradle that is included in the flat panel television 105. The remote mobile device 125 controls the digital content displayed on the flat panel television 105 via the mobile device 115 using different communication protocols. Examples of the communication protocols include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth, infrared (IR), and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi).

[0060] Advantageously, the embodiments specified in the present disclosure mirrors digital content from a mobile device, enabled with internet subscription, on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection. A user can hence view and browse the digital content, for example internet websites and applications, photos, music, movies, and videos, on a larger screen with increased volume thereby enabling sharing of the digital content with multiple viewers. Examples of the internet websites and applications include, but are not limited to, travel destination websites, train ticketing websites, matrimonial websites, email applications, Youtube ,TED talks, and gaming applications. The user can also control the digital content by using a remote control device of the flat panel television or by using a keypad of a remote mobile device. The present disclosure enables users with a budget to purchase flat panel televisions which can also replace home personal computers. The present disclosure also provides a mobile cradle in the flat panel television to hold the mobile device for the universal serial bus connection.

[0061] In the preceding specification, the present disclosure and its advantages have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative examples of the present disclosure, rather than in restrictive sense. All such possible modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present disclosure.

I/We claim:

1. A method of mirroring digital content from a mobile device on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection, the method comprising:
receiving one or more encoded audio video packets from the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is connected to the flat panel television using the universal serial bus connection;
decoding the one or more encoded audio video packets to render the digital content; and
displaying the digital content to a user on the flat panel television.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device is placed in a mobile cradle comprised in the flat panel television.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user controls the digital content displayed on the flat panel television using one of a remote control device and a remote mobile device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital content from the mobile device is stored in an internal memory of the flat panel television.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital content from the mobile device is synchronized with an internal memory of the flat panel television.

6. A system for mirroring digital content from a mobile device on a flat panel television using universal serial bus connection, the system comprising: a universal serial bus cable; the mobile device comprising:
an audio sink that generates a plurality of audio packets;
a video sink that generates a plurality of video packets;
a muxer that multiplexes the plurality of audio packets and the plurality of video packets to provide one or more audio video packets tagged with a timestamp; and
an encoder module that generates one or more encoded audio video packets; and the flat panel television comprising:
a mobile cradle to hold the mobile device; and
a communication interface in electronic communication with the mobile device;
a memory that stores instructions; and
a processor responsive to the instructions to receive the one or more encoded audio video packets from the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is connected to the flat panel television using the universal serial bus connection;
decode the one or more encoded audio video packets to render the digital content; and
display the digital content to a user on the flat panel television.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the digital content displayed on the flat panel television is controlled by the user using one of a remote control device and a remote mobile device.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the digital content from the mobile device is stored in an internal memory of the flat panel television.

9. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the digital content from the mobile device is synchronized with an internal memory of the flat panel television.

10. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor comprises:
a demuxer that demultiplexes the one or more encoded audio video packets;
a decoder module that decodes the one or more encoded audio video packets to provide the plurality of audio packets and the plurality of video packets; and
a renderer module that renders the plurality of audio packets and the plurality of video packets to the user.