Method and system for sharing an output device between multimedia devices to transmit and receive data

Abstract

An example method and system for sharing an output device between multimedia devices to transmit and receive data, is provided. The method includes operations of automatically discovering one or more second multimedia devices, when a first multimedia device is positioned within communication range of the one or more second multimedia devices that transmit a low power signal; and transmitting data of the first multimedia device to the one or more second multimedia devices, when the one or more second multimedia devices are discovered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 identifying, by an electronic device connected to a wireless network, a plurality of external electronic devices connected to the same wireless network as the electronic device;   displaying, by the electronic device, a list of the identified external electronic devices;   based on a first input to the electronic device for selecting one of the external electronic devices from the displayed list, streaming over the wireless network to the selected external electronic device, by the electronic device, at least one of first video content or first audio content associated with the first video content; and   based on a second input to the electronic device for selecting a first external electronic device and a second external electronic device from the displayed list, displaying the first video content on the display of electronic device and streaming to the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device, over the wireless network, the first audio content for output by the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device while the display of the second external electronic device displays content related to the first video content and different from the first video content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of external electronic devices includes a speaker. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of external electronic device includes a television. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, by the electronic device, a notification regarding an identified external electronic device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second inputs comprise touch inputs via a touch screen. 
     
     
         7 . An electronic device comprising:
 a communication interface configured to connect to a wireless network;   a display; and   a processor configured to control the electronic device to perform operations comprising:   identifying a plurality of external electronic devices connected to a same wireless network as the electronic device;   displaying on the display a list of the identified external electronic devices;   based on a first input to the electronic device for selecting one of the external electronic devices from the displayed list, streaming over the wireless network to the selected external electronic device at least one of first video content or first audio content associated with the first video content; and   based on a second input to the electronic device for selecting a first external electronic device and a second external electronic device from the displayed list, displaying the first video content on the display of the electronic device and streaming to the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device, over the wireless network, the first audio content for output by the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device while the display of the second external electronic device displays content related to the first video content and different from the first video content.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic device comprises a smartphone. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of external electronic devices includes a speaker. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of external electronic devices includes a television. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the electronic device to display on the display a notification regarding an identified external electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second inputs comprise touch inputs via a touch screen.