System and Method for Playing a File on a Remote Device

Abstract

A system and method is provided for using a case having various components for playing a file (e.g., image, video, etc.) on a remote device (e.g., a television, etc.), wherein the case (or a portion thereof) is adjacent a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone. The case preferably includes a wireless charging mechanism for wirelessly charging a battery on the portable electronic device, a memory for storing at least one file, a transceiver for transmitting the file to a remote device for presentation to a user, and a processor in communication with at least the memory and the transceiver, wherein the processor is controlled by an application operating on the portable electronic device and the application is configured (e.g., in response to user input) to transmit the file (a) from the portable electronic device to the case and (b) from the case to the remote device, for presentation thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A case affixed to a smartphone, said smartphone including at least a memory device, a display screen, and a battery, said case comprising:
 an inner surface adjacent a backside of said smartphone;   an outer surface facing away from said backside of said smartphone;   a wireless charging mechanism for wirelessly charging said battery on said smartphone;   a memory for storing at least one file;   a transceiver for transmitting said at least one file to a remote device, said remote device having a display for presenting said at least one file to a user; and   a processor in communication with at least said memory and said transceiver;   wherein said processor on said case is controlled by an application operating on said smartphone, said application being used to at least transmit said at least one file on said memory to said remote device for presentation to said user.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said transceiver is configured to transmit said at least one file to said remote device via a wired communication interface. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 2 , wherein said wired communication interface comprises a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said transceiver is configured to transmit said at least one file using a wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 4 , wherein said wireless communication protocol comprises at least one of Bluetooth and WiFi. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to transmit said at least one file to said remote device in response to at least one command received from said smartphone, said application being used to trigger the transmission of said at least one command from said smartphone to said processor. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 6 , further comprising a second transceiver in wireless communication with said smartphone, said second transceiver being used to receive said at least one command. 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 7 , wherein said application is further configured to move said at least one file from said memory device on said smartphone to said memory on said case via said second transceiver prior to said at least one file being transmitted to said remote device. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery, said rechargeable battery being used to power at least said processor. 
     
     
         10 . The case of  claim 9 , wherein said rechargeable battery is further used to charge said battery on said smartphone via said wireless charging mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising a wired communication interface configured to transmit said at least one file to a second remote device. 
     
     
         12 . A method for using a case in conjunction with a smartphone to play at least one file on a remote device, said smartphone having at least a memory device, a display screen, and a battery, comprising:
 inserting said smartphone into said case, said case including a wireless charging mechanism for wirelessly charging said battery on said smartphone; and   using an application on said smartphone to (a) transmit at least one file from said memory device to a memory on said case, and (b) play said at least one file on a remote device, said at least one file being transmit to said remote device via a transceiver on said case;   wherein a processor on said case is configured to transmit said at least one file from said memory on said case to said remote device via said transceiver in response to receiving at least one command from said smartphone.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of transmitting said at least one file to said remote device via said transceiver comprises transmitting said at least one file to said remove device via a wired communication interface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of transmitting said at least one file to said remote device via said transceiver comprises transmitting said at least one file using a wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a second transceiver on said case is used to receive said at least one command from said smartphone. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said second transceiver comprises one of a Bluetooth transceiver and a WiFi transceiver. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one file is transmitted to said case via said second transceiver. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one file comprises a plurality of images. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one file comprises a video file. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of transmitting said at least one file from said case to a second remote device via at least one wire, wherein said second remote device is an external memory device. 
     
     
         21 . A case for substantially surrounding a smartphone, said case comprising:
 a wireless charging mechanism for wirelessly charging said battery on said smartphone;   a memory for storing at least one file;   a transceiver for transmitting said at least one file to a remote device, said remote device having a display for presenting said at least one file to a user; and   a processor in communication with at least said memory and said transceiver;   wherein said processor on said case is controlled by an application operating on said smartphone, said application being interacted with to transmit at least one command to said processor on said case, said at least one command instructing said processor to transmit said at least one file to said remote device via said transceiver.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said remote device comprises a television.