Wireless communication devices for connecting to a computing device and wirelessly receving data for rendering or outputting at the computing device

Abstract

A wireless communication device includes a structural device interface (e.g., a USB interface) for connecting to a computing device and a wireless interface for making a wireless connection to a mobile device. The wireless communication device activates after being connected to the computing device and automatically executes a software application stored in memory of the wireless communication device. Subsequent to being connected to the computing device and executing the software application, the wireless communication device is configured to wirelessly discover the mobile device and wirelessly receive data from the mobile device over a wireless channel, for rendering the wirelessly received data at the computing device.

1 . A wireless communication device for receiving and delivering data content, the wireless communication device comprising:
 a structural device interface that is connectable to, and disconnectable from, a structural external interface of a first computing device that is providing a data output service;   a processor;   a memory component storing a software application that is executable by the processor subsequent to connection of the structural device interface to the structural external interface of the first computing device;   a wireless communication component for providing wireless communication between the first computing device and a mobile device, wherein the mobile device includes wireless communication capability, the wireless communication component being operable to receive the data content from the mobile device via the wireless communication and to deliver the data content to the software application, the wireless communication component being compatible with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards; and   a memory controller for managing communication between the wireless communication device and the first computing device; and   wherein, subsequent to the connection of the structural device interface of the wireless communication device to the structural external interface of the first computing device, the wireless communication device is configured to:   (1) activate, by the wireless communication device, at least part of operations of the wireless communication device;   (2) manage, by the memory controller, at least part of an interaction between the wireless communication device and the first computing device;   (3) access, by the memory controller, the software application stored in the memory component; and   (4) automatically execute, by the memory controller, the software application stored in the memory component and accessed in (3), the automatic execution of the software application being subsequent to the wireless communication device being connected to the first computing device; and   wherein, subsequent to the memory controller of the wireless communication device having automatically executed the software application in (4), the wireless communication device is further configured to:   (5) wirelessly discover, using the wireless communication component and over a short-range wireless communication, the mobile device, the short-range wireless communication for wireless discovery is compatible with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards;   (6) establish, via the wireless communication component and over a short-range wireless communication, a wireless connection link with the mobile device that is wirelessly discovered by the wireless communication device in (5), the wireless connection link is a radio frequency wireless communication link that is compatible with at least one protocol within IEEE 802.11 wireless standards;   (7) wirelessly receive, via the wireless communication component and over the wireless connection link established in (6), and from the mobile device that is wirelessly discovered in (5), the data content corresponding to at least part of digital content, the wireless receiving of the data content from the mobile device being subsequent to the wireless communication device having wirelessly discovered the mobile device in (5);   (8) process, at the wireless communication device and using the software application stored in the memory component and automatically executed in (4), the data content that is wirelessly received from the mobile device in (7), into output data suitable for delivering to the first computing device; and   (9) deliver, by the memory controller and via the structural device interface of the wireless communication device connected to the structural external interface of the first computing device, the output data resulting from the processing in (8), from the wireless communication device to the first computing device for rendering at the first computing device;   wherein the software application provides access to the data output service of the first computing device, and delivers the output data resulting from the processing in (8) from the wireless communication device to the first computing device; and   wherein the wireless communication device is a distinct and separate device from the first computing device prior to the connection of the structural device interface of the wireless communication device to the structural external interface of the first computing device; and   wherein the wireless communication device is a distinct and separate device from the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of digital content includes video content, audio content, or document content, individually or in any combination. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the structural device interface of the wireless communication device is a structural USB device interface that is user-connectable to, and user-disconnectable from, a structural non-wireless external USB port of the first computing device, wherein the structural external interface of the first computing device is the structural non-wireless external USB port. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the wireless communication component further complies with a protocol within Wi-Fi communications, the wireless communication component further enabling the wireless communication component to access the Internet. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless communication device of  claim 3  in which the wireless communication device is configured as a dongle. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless communication device of  claim 3 , wherein subsequent to the connection of the structural device interface of the wireless communication device to the structural external interface of the first computing device, the wireless communication device is further configured to connect to a power source for drawing power for operating the wireless communication device, and wherein the wireless communication device automatically executes the software application in (4) subsequent to the wireless communication device being connected to the first computing device and subsequent to the wireless communication device being connected to the power source. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless communication device of  claim 6 , wherein the power source includes at least one of the first computing device or an external power source other than the first computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication device of  claim 6 , wherein the wireless communication device stores the output data resulting from the processing in (8) into the memory component and the memory controller delivers the output data in (9) from the memory component of the wireless communication device to the first computing device for rendering at the first computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery for powering the wireless communication device without connection to the first computing device so that the wireless communication device is operable to receive the data content via wireless communication and to store the data content in the memory component. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing of the data content in (8) includes at least one or more of the following, either individually or in combination:
 (a) decrypting/decompressing the data content received from the second computing device; or   (b) parsing or interpreting the data content received from the second computing device.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication device of  claim 10 , wherein the processing of the data content in (8) is either done by using the software application stored in the memory component of the wireless communication device or a separate application launched in the wireless communication device to process the data content in (8). 
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication device of  claim 11 , wherein subsequent to processing of the data content at the wireless communication device in (8), the wireless communication device is further configured to queue and spool the output data at the memory component of the wireless communication device. 
     
     
         13 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device is further configurable to provide, via the wireless communication component, over the wireless connection link established in (6), and to the mobile device that is wirelessly discovered in (5), information related to the wireless communication device. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the short-range wireless communication for wireless discovery in (5) further complies with at least one of the following:
 (a) a protocol within one or more IEEE 802 standards for direct short range wireless communication; or   (b) a protocol within Wi-Fi communications; or   (c) a protocol within Bluetooth specifications.