Systems and methods of controlling media content in a multi-room environment using a wireless communication device

Abstract

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling media content with a wireless device in a wireless communication network via a media content streaming device communicatively coupled to an access point in a multi-room environment. Users associated with client computing platforms may obtain authentication to the wireless communication network via the access point. Upon gaining access to wireless communication network, users may be able to access the Internet using their client computing platforms. Users may be able to effectuate a wireless data communication session between their client computing platforms and media content streaming devices. Users may be able to control the media content streamed by the media content streaming device onto a media content display device. The access point may be connected to the media content streaming device via a dongle-type connector. Associations between media content streaming devices and client computing platforms may be maintained.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A media content transmission system, the system comprising:
 a housing encompassing a streaming device configured to communicatively couple a display device, and a connecting device comprising a first interface configured to communicatively couple the streaming device, and a second interface configured to communicatively couple an access point; and   a plurality of mobile devices operated by a plurality of users, each mobile device configured to transmit media content from the mobile device onto the display device via the streaming device during a wireless data communication session;   wherein the wireless communication session between an individual mobile device and the access point is established by authenticating a user associated with the individual mobile device during an authentication process by assigning the individual mobile device to the access point; and   wherein the assigned individual mobile device transmits media content via the streaming device communicatively coupled to the assigned access point via the connecting device;   wherein the first interface of the connecting device comprises a microUSB connector and the second interface of the connecting device comprises an Ethernet connector.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the individual mobile device is configured to access a global internet using the assigned access point. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the assigned access point is communicatively coupled to a network server via a wired connection. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the individual mobile device is configured to communicate with the streaming device over one or more communication protocols comprising at least one of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, near field communication, and RFID communication protocols. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the streaming device is configured to be communicatively coupled to the display device via a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI). 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the media content transmitted by the individual mobile device via the streaming device onto the display device is received from the global internet. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein an individual user controls the media content received from the global internet and transmitted by the individual mobile device via the streaming device onto the display device via a graphical user interface of a media content application on the individual media device. 
     
     
         8 . A connecting device for transmitting media content, the device comprising:
 a first interface configured to communicatively couple a streaming device, the streaming device communicatively coupled to a display device; and   a second interface configured to communicatively couple an access point; and   wherein a mobile device of a plurality of mobile devices operated by a plurality of users is configured to transmit content from the mobile device onto the display device via the streaming device during an authenticated wireless data communication session between the mobile device and the access point; and   wherein the authenticated wireless communication session is established by associating the mobile device with the connecting device by assigning the mobile device to the access point; and   wherein the mobile device transmits media content via the streaming device communicatively coupled to the access point assigned to the mobile device via the connecting device.   
     
     
         9 . The connecting device of  claim 8 , wherein the first interface of the device for transmitting media content comprises a microUSB connector and the second interface of the device for transmitting media content comprises an Ethernet connector. 
     
     
         10 . The connecting device of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile device is configured to access a global internet using the assigned access point. 
     
     
         11 . The connecting device of  claim 8 , wherein the assigned access point is communicatively coupled to a network server via a wired connection. 
     
     
         12 . The connecting device of  claim 8 , wherein the device for transmitting media content and the streaming device are enclosed in a housing. 
     
     
         13 . A method for transmitting media content in a multi-user environment, the method comprising:
 establishing a wireless communication session between an individual mobile device of a plurality of mobile devices operated by a plurality of users and an access point by authenticating a user associated with the individual mobile device during an authentication process by assigning the individual mobile device to the access point; and   transmitting media content from the individual mobile device via a streaming device onto a display device during the wireless data communication session, wherein the streaming device is configured to communicatively couple the display device; and   wherein the streaming device is configured to communicatively couple the assigned access point via a connecting device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the communicative coupling of the assigned access point by the streaming device via the connecting device comprises communicatively coupling a first interface of the connecting device to the streaming device and communicatively coupling a second interface of the connecting device to the assigned access point; and
 wherein the first interface of the connecting device comprises a microUSB connector and the second interface of the connecting device comprises an Ethernet connector.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the individual mobile device is configured to communicate with the streaming device over one or more communication protocols comprising at least one of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, near field communication, and RFID communication protocols. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the transmitting media content from the individual mobile device via the streaming device onto the display device comprises communicatively coupling the streaming device to the display device via a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the authentication process comprises:
 receiving user information comprising an identification input; and   comparing the identification input with an authentication parameter;   wherein the access point is assigned to the individual mobile device upon determining the identification input matches the authentication parameter.