Handheld media and communication device with a detachable projector

Abstract

A novel handheld media and communication device with a detachable projector is disclosed. Both of the units comprise a wireless network interface. The detachable projector unit further comprises a processor, a file system, a cache, a projector and a power supply. The media files are copied into the file system of the projector unit before it is detached from the media and communication device that is then used as a remote control for the detached projector unit. The control is achieved by transmitting the metadata from the media and communication device to the projector unit to retrieve the associated media files for the projection. Further, a novel method for sharing a video/audio files by a group of users with handheld devices in a synchronized manner is disclosed. The devices form a local wireless network with calibrated built in clock in each device. The video and audio signals are assigned with a starting time for playing. The audio files are broadcasted to the local wireless network and received by each user's connecting device while the video files are sent to the projector for the projection. The video and audio files are played in a synchronized manner based upon the calibrated clocks. An expandable projector device with a plurality of projectors connected sequentially is also disclosed. The additional power supply and media files can be shared by the projector unit under the projection operation thus a much longer media sharing time can be achieved by portable devices.

1 . A handheld device, comprising:
 a media and communication device unit and a detachable projector unit.   
   
   
       2 . The media and communication device unit as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display device arranged to display a user interface with user selectable items and;   a processor that controls the operation of the said handheld device and;   a file system for providing means to store media files and;   a wireless network interface for providing means to communicate with said detachable projector unit when said projector unit is detached from said media and communication device unit and;   a clock measuring local time and;   a power supply unit for providing power to the handheld device and;   a connector that connects with said projector unit and;   a cache for providing means to store associated metadata of stored media files in said file system.   
   
   
       3 . The detachable projector unit as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a file system for providing means to store media files and;   a processor for providing means to control the operation of said projector unit and;   a projector that converts electrical signal into an image on a surface and;   a wireless network interface providing means to communicate with said media and communication device unit and;   a cache that stores data with a faster access time than said file system and;   a clock measuring local time and;   a projector driver that converts media files into said electrical signals to driver said projector and;   a power supply for providing power to the projector unit and;   a connector for providing means to connect to said media and communication device unit and;   a connector for providing means to connect to another projector unit and;   a connector for providing means to connect with an external power supply to said projector unit.   
   
   
       4 . The media and communication device unit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a media player. 
   
   
       5 . The media and communication device unit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a mobile communication means. 
   
   
       6 . The media and communication device unit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a digital image capture means. 
   
   
       7 . The wireless network interfaces as claimed in  claim 2 , including IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.1 and IEEE 802.15.4 type of standards and their extensions; 
   
   
       8 . The detachable projector as claimed in  claim 3 , comprising lasers and MEMS based micro mirrors. 
   
   
       9 . The handheld device as claimed in  claim 1  provides function as a portable media and communication device with a built in projector when the projector unit is attached, wherein the wireless network interfaces are switched off. 
   
   
       10 . The media and communication device unit as claimed in  claim 1  provides function as a remote control for said projector unit when said media and communication device unit and said projector unit are detached. 
   
   
       11 . A method of sharing video/audio files among a group of users with handheld media and communication devices and a projector unit with wireless network interfaces; comprising:
 attaching a handheld media and communication device with a projector unit and;   transferring video/audio files to said projector unit and;   detaching the handheld media and communication device and the projector unit and;   establishing a local wireless network among said handheld devices and;   establishing wireless connection with said projector unit in the said network and;   transmitting wirelessly a user selected metadata in said media and communication device to the projector unit to retrieve the said associated video/audio file and;   processing said video file for the projection and broadcasting said audio files to the said local wireless network and;   receiving said broadcasted audio files by devices connected to the local wireless network.   
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the operation of playing audio and playing video signal is synchronized, comprising:
 calibrating built in clock representing local time of the connected devices to the clock time of the said projector unit and;   programming the said retrieved video/audio file in the  claim 11  with a starting time for playing and;   starting the video projection in the said projector and the audio playing in speaker systems of each connected device at the said starting time that has been controlled by said built in clock in each device.   
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 displaying a hierarchical user interface on a display screen of the media and communication device including a number of user selectable items and;   selecting one of said items by the user and;   generating a signal and;   transmitting wirelessly to the projector unit.   
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 projecting the visual signals onto a surface and;   associating each user with a visual symbol and;   displaying the said user's visual symbol on the display surface and;   establishing a user messaging window on the display surface and;   displaying messages from each user in said messaging window.   
   
   
       15 . An expandable projector device, comprising a projector for projection operation and a plurality of projectors connecting to said projector sequentially by use of connectors. 
   
   
       16 . The projector as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a file system for providing means to store media files and;   a processor that controls the operation of said expandable projector device and;   a projector that converts electrical signal into a image on a surface and;   a wireless network interface that communicates with media and communication devices severed as a remote control and;   a cache that stores data with a faster access time than said file system and;   a clock measuring local time and;   a projector driver that converts media files into said electrical signals to drive said projector and;   a power supply for providing power to the media and communication unit and;   a connector that connects to said media and communication device unit and;   a connector that connects to another projector unit.   
   
   
       17 . The claimed plurality of projectors in  claim 15  while not performing projection operation, providing additional power supply to the projector under projection operation. 
   
   
       18 . The claimed plurality of projectors in  claim 15  while not performing projection operation, providing additional stored media files for the projector under the projection operation. 
   
   
       19 . The processor as claimed in  claim 16  from the projector under projection operation, providing means to control the operation of utilizing of the additional power supplies and additional media files from said plurality of projector units as claimed in  15 . 
   
   
       20 . The claimed expanded projector device in  claim 15 , connecting to a local wireless network and be controlled by a media and communication device connected to the network.