U.S. patent application number 13/443904 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-04 for system and method for resource sharing and playing device thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to AMTRAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. The applicant listed for this patent is Jia-Haur Liang, Yuan-Hsi Tsai, Wen-Ping Yu. Invention is credited to Jia-Haur Liang, Yuan-Hsi Tsai, Wen-Ping Yu.
Application Number | 20130172077 13/443904 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48695230 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130172077 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yu; Wen-Ping ; et
al. |
July 4, 2013 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESOURCE SHARING AND PLAYING DEVICE
THEREOF
Abstract
A system and a method for resource sharing and a playing device
thereof are provided. The system for resource sharing includes a
playing device and a first electronic device. Wherein, the playing
device has a wireless connecting function, the communication unit
of the first electronic device searches a valid wireless access
point (AP) in a specific area, the first electronic device is
connected to the first wireless AP found for obtaining the first ID
data from the first wireless AP, the first ID data is then
transmitted to the playing device. The first ID data is then
provided from the playing device to the first wireless AP for an
authorization and establishing a connection. After an electronic
device is connected to the first wireless AP, the electronic device
accesses the playing resource of the playing device via the
connection between the first wireless AP and the playing
device.
Inventors: |
Yu; Wen-Ping; (New Taipei
City, TW) ; Liang; Jia-Haur; (New Taipei City,
TW) ; Tsai; Yuan-Hsi; (New Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yu; Wen-Ping
Liang; Jia-Haur
Tsai; Yuan-Hsi |
New Taipei City
New Taipei City
New Taipei City |
|
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
AMTRAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
New Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
48695230 |
Appl. No.: |
13/443904 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/43615 20130101;
H04N 21/8106 20130101; H04N 21/43637 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/29 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2011 |
TW |
100149266 |
Claims
1. A system for resource sharing, adapted for use in an area with a
first wireless access point and to provide a connection to an
electronic device for resource sharing, wherein the electronic
device has a wireless network communication interface, and a first
ID data is stored in the first wireless access point, the system
comprising: a playing device, having a wireless connecting
function; a first electronic device, having a communication unit
for searching a valid wireless access point in the area, connecting
the first electronic device to the first wireless access point
found, obtaining the first ID data from the first wireless access
point, and transmitting the first ID data to the playing device;
and wherein the playing device provides the first ID data to the
first wireless access point for authorization and establishes a
connection between the playing device and the first wireless access
point, wherein the electronic device connects to the first wireless
access point and uses playing resource of the playing device via
the connection between the first wireless access point and the
playing device.
2. The system for resource sharing of claim 1, wherein: the playing
device further performs a comparing process with the first ID data,
if a result of the comparing process is matched, the playing device
starts the connection with the first wireless access point.
3. The system for resource sharing of claim 2, wherein: a second ID
data is stored in the playing device; the first ID data comprises a
first SSID, a first WPA, and a first encoding rule, existed between
the first SSID and the first WPA; the second ID data comprises a
second SSID, a second WPA and a second encoding rule, existed
between the second SSID and the second WPA; the playing device in
the comparing process determines whether the first encoding rule
and the second encoding rule is matched.
4. The system for resource sharing of claim 1, wherein the first
electronic device has a display unit for displaying an operating
interface, the first electronic device transmits the first ID data
to the playing device after a specific command is executed by a
user via the operating interface.
5. The system for resource sharing of claim 1, wherein the playing
device is a sound bar, for receiving and playing desired audio
signals from the electronic device.
6. The system for resource sharing of claim 3, wherein the first
SSID is a MAC address of the first wireless access point, and the
second SSID is a MAC address of the playing device.
7. The system for resource sharing of claim 4, wherein the first
electronic device comprises a television device, and the display
unit is the screen of the television device.
8. A playing device, adapted for use in an area with a first
wireless access point and to provide a connection to an electronic
device for playing resource sharing, wherein a first ID data is
stored in the first wireless access point, the first ID data is
received by a first electronic device after the first electronic
device is connected to the first wireless access point, the playing
device comprising: a receiving unit, having a wireless network
communication interface, for receiving the first ID data
transmitted from the first electronic device; and a control unit,
coupled with the receiving unit, the first ID data is transmitted
from the receiving unit to the first wireless access point for an
authorization, wherein the control unit establishes a connection
between the playing device and the first wireless access point, and
the electronic device connects to the first wireless access point
and uses playing resource of the playing device via the connection
between the first wireless access point and the playing device.
9. The playing device of claim 8, wherein: the control unit further
performs a comparing process with the first ID data, if a result of
the comparing process is matched, the playing device starts the
connection with the first wireless access point.
10. The playing device of claim 9, wherein: a second ID data is
stored in the playing device; the first ID data comprises a first
SSID, a first WPA, and a first encoding rule, existed between the
first SSID and the first WPA; the second ID data comprises a second
SSID, a second WPA and a second encoding rule, existed between the
second SSID and the second WPA; the control unit of the playing
device in the comparing process determines whether the first
encoding rule and the second encoding rule is matched.
11. The playing device of claim 8, wherein the playing device is a
sound bar, for receiving and playing desired audio signals from the
electronic device.
12. A method for resource sharing, adapted for use in an area with
a first wireless access point and to provide a connection between
an electronic device and a playing device for playing resource
sharing of the playing device, wherein the electronic device has a
wireless network communication interface, and a first ID data is
stored in the first wireless access point, the method comprising:
searching a valid wireless access point in the area by a
communication unit of a first electronic device, and obtaining the
first wireless access point; connecting the first electronic device
to the first wireless access point, and obtaining the first ID
data; transmitting the first ID data from the first electronic
device to the playing device; providing the first ID data from the
playing device to the first wireless access point for an
authorization and establishing a connection; and connecting the
electronic device to the first wireless access point, wherein the
electronic device uses playing resource of the playing device via
the connection between the first wireless access point and the
playing device.
13. The method for resource sharing of claim 12, further
comprising: performing a comparing process by the playing device
with the first ID data; and starting a connection between the
playing device and the first wireless access point if a result of
the comparison process is matched.
14. The method for resource sharing of claim 13, wherein: a second
ID data is stored in the playing device; the first ID data
comprises a first SSID, a first WPA, and a first encoding rule,
existed between the first SSID and the first WPA; the second ID
data comprises a second SSID, a second WPA and a second encoding
rule, existed between the second SSID and the second WPA; the
playing device in the comparing process determines whether the
first encoding rule and the second encoding rule is matched.
15. The resource sharing method of claim 12, wherein the first
electronic device has a display unit for displaying an operating
interface, the first ID data is transmitted from the first
electronic device to the playing device after a specific command is
executed by a user via the operating interface.
16. The method for resource sharing of claim 12, wherein the
playing device is a sound bar, for receiving and playing desired
audio signals from the electronic device.
17. The method for resource sharing of claim 14, wherein the first
SSID is a MAC address of the first wireless access point, and the
second SSID is a MAC address of the playing device.
18. The method for resource sharing of claim 15, wherein the first
electronic device comprises a television device, and the display
unit is the screen of the television device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan
application serial no. 100149266, filed on Dec. 28, 2011. The
entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby
incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this
specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a system and a method for
resource sharing. More specifically, the present invention relates
to a system and a method for resource sharing of a playing device,
adapted for an area with a wireless access point.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In the present days, with improvement of wireless
communication technology, wireless communication of the home
digital devices has became one of the major concerns in the field.
In the past, the sound bar and the electronic devices are connected
via physical cables in an one-to-one manner. With the growth of the
wireless sound bar that enables the implementation of the "Digital
Home" concept, multiple electronic devices that require audio
playing via the sound bar may be used in a family. In the
conventional art, short-range modes such as Bluetooth and infrared
are commonly used for wireless transmission. Due to the restriction
of the short-range, it is not convenient that the electronic
devices still need to be placed adjacent to the wireless sound bar
for audio playing. Therefore, allowing multiple electronic devices
to effectively access to playing resources of a single sound bar
without being restricted by the short-range has became another
major concern to the wireless home digital devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a system for resource
sharing, adapted for use in an area with a first wireless access
point and to provide a connection to a electronic device for
resource sharing, wherein the electronic device has a wireless
network communication interface, and a first ID data is stored in
the first wireless access point, the system including: a playing
device and a first electronic device. Wherein, the playing device
has a wireless connecting function, the communication unit of the
first electronic device searches a valid wireless access point in
said area. The first electronic device connects to the first
wireless access point found to obtain the first ID data from the
first wireless access point, and then the first ID data is then
transmitted to the playing device. The playing device provides the
first ID data from to the first wireless access point for an
authorization and establishes a connection. The electronic device
uses the playing resource of the playing device via the connection
between the first wireless access point and the playing device
after the electronic device is connected to the first wireless
access point.
[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the
playing device further performs a comparing process with the first
ID data, if the result of the comparing process is matched, the
playing device starts the connection with the first wireless access
point.
[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, said playing
device has a second ID data; the first ID data includes a first
SSID, a first WPA, and a first encoding rule, existed between the
first SSID and the first WPA; the second ID data includes a second
SSID, a second WPA and a second encoding rule, existed between the
second SSID and the second WPA; the playing device in the comparing
process determines whether the first encoding rule and the second
encoding rule is matched.
[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, said first
electronic device has a display unit for displaying an operating
interface, the first electronic device transmits the first ID data
to the playing device after a specific command is executed by a
user via the operating interface.
[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, said playing
device is a sound bar, for receiving and playing desired audio
signals from the electronic device.
[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, said first SSID
is a MAC address of the first wireless access point, and the second
SSID is a MAC address of the playing device.
[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, said first
electronic device includes a television device, and said display
unit is the screen of the television device.
[0013] The present invention provides a playing device, adapted for
use in an area with a first wireless access point and to provide a
connection to an electronic device for playing resource sharing,
wherein a first ID data is stored in the first wireless access
point. The playing device including: a receiving unit and a control
unit. Wherein, the receiving unit has a wireless network
communication interface, for receiving the first ID data
transmitted from the first electronic device. The control unit,
coupled with the receiving unit, the first ID data is transmitted
from the receiving unit to the first wireless access point for an
authorization, wherein the control unit establishes a connection
between the playing device and the first wireless access point, and
the electronic device connects to the first wireless access point
and uses the playing resource of the playing device via the
connection between the first wireless access point and the playing
device.
[0014] The present invention provides a method for resource
sharing, adapted for use in an area with a first wireless access
point and to provide a connection between an electronic device and
a playing device for playing resource sharing of the playing
device, wherein the electronic device has a wireless network
communication interface, and a first ID data is stored in the first
wireless access point, the method including the following steps:
searching a valid wireless access point in the area by a
communication unit of a first electronic device, and obtaining the
first wireless access point. Connecting the electronic device to
the first wireless access point, and obtaining the first ID data,
and transmitting the first ID data from the first electronic device
to the playing device. Transmitting the first ID data to the
playing device. Providing the first ID data from the playing device
to the first wireless access point for an authorization and
establishing a connection. The electronic device uses the playing
resource of the playing device via the connection between the first
wireless access point and the playing device after the electronic
device in the area is connected to the first wireless access
point.
[0015] Based on above, the present invention provides a system and
a method for resource sharing and a playing device thereof. The
system and the method for resource sharing allow one specific
electronic device to establish a connection between the playing
device and the first wireless access point. This mechanism allows
other electronic devices in the area to connect the first wireless
access point so the electronic devices within the area may access
the playing resource of the playing device via the connection
between the first wireless access point and the playing device.
[0016] In order to make the aforementioned and other features and
advantages of the invention more comprehensible, embodiments
accompanying figures are described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1A is a functional block diagram of a system for
resource sharing according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 1B is a functional block diagram of a system for
resource sharing according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 1C is a functional block diagram of a first electronic
device of a system for resource sharing according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2A is a flow chart of a method for resource sharing
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2B is a flow chart of a method for resource sharing
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0022] FIG. 1A is a functional block diagram of a system for
resource sharing according to an embodiment of the present
invention. The resource sharing system 100 includes a first
wireless access point 110, an electronic device 120, an electronic
device 130, a first electronic device 140 and a playing device 150.
Wherein, the electronic device 120 and electronic device 130 may be
electronic devices with wireless network communication interface
and audio files playing requirement, such as desktop computer,
tablet computer, laptop computer, smart phone, PDA. The first
electronic device 140 may be a desktop computer, a tablet computer,
a laptop computer, a cell phone, a smart phone, a PDA and a
television or any electronic devices having a screen. Wherein, the
first electronic device 140 has a communication unit 142,
configured to search a valid wireless access point in a specific
area. The playing device 150 may be a sound bar with wireless
connecting function, configured to receive and broadcast desired
audio signals from the electronic device 120, the electronic device
130 and the first electronic device 140.
[0023] FIG. 1B is a functional block diagram of a system for
resource sharing according to another embodiment of the present
invention. Except that the playing device 150 further includes a
receiving unit 152 and a control unit 154, the system for resource
sharing in FIG. 1B is similar to the system for resource sharing of
FIG. 1A. The receiving unit 152 has a wireless network
communication interface, for receiving and transmitting signal
packages. The control unit 154 is coupled with receiving unit 152,
configured to establish a connection between the playing device 150
and other electronic devices. The control unit 154 may be
implemented with a hardware circuit framework, a software or a
firmware. Overall, the resource sharing system 100 is configured to
share playing resource of the playing device 150 with multiple
electronic devices (such as the electronic device 120 and the
electronic device 130). After the playing device 150 is connected
to the first wireless access point 110, multiple electronic devices
are able to connect the first wireless access point 110 via
wireless network, and then access to playing resources of the
playing device 150.
[0024] FIG. 2A is a flow chart of a method for resource sharing
according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please
referring to FIG. 1B and FIG. 2A together, the communication unit
142 of the first electronic device 140 searches a valid wireless
access point in an area and obtains the first wireless access point
110 upon searching (step S210). Next, the first electronic device
140 is connected to the first wireless access point 110, and a
first ID data of the first wireless access point 110 is obtained
(step S220). Wherein the first ID data includes a first SSID
(service set identifier) and a first WPA (WiFi protected access).
Wherein the first SSID is a MAC address (media access control
address) of the first wireless access point, and a first encoding
rule is existed in between the first SSID and the first WPA.
[0025] FIG. 1C is a functional block diagram of the first
electronic device 140 of the system for resource sharing according
to an embodiment of the present invention. The first electronic
device 140 may be a television device. As shown in FIG. 1C, a
display unit 145 is a screen of the television device, an operating
interface 147 is displayed on the display unit 145. After step
S220, users may execute a specific command via the operating
interface 147. For example, playing resource sharing function of
the playing device 150 may be easily activate by users via a dialog
on the operating interface 147 which displays a "Activate resource
sharing for the playing device?" message. In the present
embodiment, user may select an option on the dialog via a remote
controller. If a "Yes" button displayed on the screen is selected
by users, the first ID data is then sent to the playing device 150
via the first electronic device 140 (step S230).
[0026] Next, after the first ID data is received by the receiving
unit 152 of the playing device 150, the first ID data is then sent
to the first wireless access point 110. An authorization and a
connection is performed between the control unit 154 and the
wireless access point 110 (step S240). After the connection is
established, the electronic device 120 or the electronic device 130
in the area is then connected to the first wireless access point
110 (step S250). The electronic device 120 or the electronic device
130 is now able to access playing resource of the playing device
150 via the connection between the first wireless access point 110
and the playing device 150 (step S260).
[0027] FIG. 2B is a flow chart of a method for resource sharing
according to another embodiment of the present invention. Except a
comparing process of an advanced authorization between step S230
and step S240, the flow chart in FIG. 2B is similar to the flow
chart in FIG. 2A. If a result of the operating operation is
matched, the playing device 150 is then started to connect the
first wireless access point 110. In the present embodiment, a
second ID data is stored in the playing device 150. The second ID
data includes a second SSID and a second WPA, and a second encoding
rule is existed in between the second SSID and the second WPA.
Wherein, the second SSID is a MAC address of the playing device
150.
[0028] The encoding rules mentioned above are described in more
detail below. For example, the first SSID is a 6 byte (48 bit) MAC
address of the network card with a 6 sets of hexadecimal numbers.
In this example, assumed that the MAC address is 68:10:01:10:12:78.
Next, perform a specific encoding using decimal addition to the 6
sets of hexadecimal numbers. For example, create a WPA with a
sequence of numbers arranged in following order: the sum of the
first 2 sets of numbers (i.e. 68+10), followed by the sum of the
next 2 sets of numbers (i.e. 01+10) and the sum of the last 2 sets
of numbers (i.e. 12+78). As a result, the WPA is 781190. Namely,
such arrangement is the first encoding rule of the present
embodiment. The encoding rule between the first SSID and the first
WPA is not limited by said arrangement, and a different setup may
be applied based on the demand.
[0029] In other words, the control unit 154 of the playing device
150 may compare and determine whether the first encoding rule of
the first wireless access point 110 is matched to the second
encoding rule of the playing device 150 (step S235). If the result
of the comparing process is matched, proceed to the operation of
step S240. The remaining steps in FIG. 2B are the same with steps
in FIG. 2A, so it will not be described herein.
[0030] In view of above, the present invention provides a system
and a method for resource sharing and a playing device thereof. The
system and the method for resource sharing allow a specific
electronic device to establish a connection between the playing
device and the first wireless access point. This mechanism allows
other electronic devices in the area to connect the first wireless
access point so the electronic devices in the area may access
playing resource of the playing device via the connection between
the first wireless access point and the playing device. For
example, with the above-mention mechanism, users may easily connect
multiple electronic devices in their family with an authorized
playing device via wireless network connection.
[0031] Although the invention has been described with reference to
the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary
skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiment may
be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the
attached claims not by the above detailed descriptions.
* * * * *