Network connection configuration method for multimedia player and related computer system

A network connection configuration method for a multimedia player includes establishing a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection between a mobile device and a network connection device, such that the mobile device obtains a service set identification (SSID) and a password thereof of the network connection device; utilizing an image capture module of the mobile device to capture an optical image corresponding to the multimedia player, so as to establish a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device and the multimedia player; and establishing another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player and the network connection device according to the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device and the network connection device as well as the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device and the multimedia player.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a network connection configuration method and a computer system thereof for a multimedia player, and more particularly, to a network connection configuration method and a computer system thereof by utilizing an optical image and a mobile device to set up a connection for a multimedia player.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As digital video/audio advances, users observe all kinds of multimedia video/audio information that are available via different digital video/audio devices. For example, the user can utilize a display device and a multimedia player (such as a set top box, STB) to receive a plurality of radio program contents, and a mobile device can also be utilized to control what to be chosen/determined for displaying from the plurality of radio program contents. In the meanwhile, the mobile device can search for a neighbor access point (AP) to connect with a local area network for the Internet surfing. However, the multimedia player and the AP cannot be directly integrated together, and additional network connection modules are necessary to be installed inside the multimedia player with related network information comprising a user account and/or a network password for the network connection, which leads to inconvenient operations for the users.

Therefore, it is important to provide a network connection configuration method and a computer system thereof for a multimedia player, such that wireless connections between the mobile device, the multimedia player and the AP can be integrated together for users to conveniently finish network connection settings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide a network connection configuration method and a computer system thereof for a multimedia player, so as to integrate network connection operations/settings between a mobile device, a multimedia player and an access point.

An embodiment of the invention discloses a network connection configuration method for a multimedia player. The network connection configuration method comprises establishing a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection between a mobile device and a network connection device, such that the mobile device obtains a service set identification (SSID) and a password thereof of the network connection device; utilizing an image capture module of the mobile device to capture an optical image corresponding to the multimedia player, so as to establish a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device and the multimedia player; and establishing another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player and the network connection device according to the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device and the network connection device as well as the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device and the multimedia player.

An embodiment of the invention discloses another computer system coupled to a multimedia player. The computer system comprises a central processing unit; and a storage device coupled to the central processing unit to store a programming code for instructing the processing unit to process a network connection configuration method for the multimedia player. The network connection configuration method comprises establishing a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection between a mobile device and a network connection device, such that the mobile device obtains a service set identification (SSID) and a password thereof of the network connection device; utilizing an image capture module of the mobile device to capture an optical image corresponding to the multimedia player, so as to establish a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device and the multimedia player; and establishing another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player and the network connection device according to the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device and the network connection device as well as the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device and the multimedia player.

An embodiment of the invention discloses another network connection configuration method for a multimedia player. The network connection configuration method comprises providing an optical image corresponding to the multimedia player; after an image capture module of the mobile device captures the optical image of the multimedia player, a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Direct connection between the mobile device and the multimedia player is established; and after a Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device and a network connection device is established, the mobile device obtains a service set identification (SSID) and a password thereof of the network connection device, such that another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player and the network connection device is established according to the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device and the multimedia player.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specification and the claims of the present invention may use a particular word to indicate an element, which may have diversified names named by distinct manufacturers. The present invention distinguishes the element depending on its function rather than its name. The phrase “comprising” used in the specification and the claim is to mean “is inclusive or open-ended but not exclude additional, un-recited elements or method steps.” In addition, the phrase “electrically connected to” or “coupled” is to mean any electrical connection in a direct manner or an indirect manner. Therefore, the description of “a first device electrically connected or coupled to a second device” is to mean that the first device is connected to the second device directly or by means of connecting through other devices or methods in an indirect manner.

Please refer toFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B,FIG. 1AandFIG. 1Billustrate schematic diagrams of a multimedia system10according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, the multimedia system10is coupled to a computer system12and comprises a multimedia player100, a display device102, a mobile device104and a network connection device106. In the embodiment, the multimedia player100can be a set top box (STB), and is utilized to receive a plurality of multimedia video information and to correspondingly store the plurality of multimedia video information for management. The display device102can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) device to display at least one digital video content of the plurality of multimedia video information for observation. The mobile device104can be a mobile phone, a tablet, a notebook, a platform device or any mobile computing device to generate a control signal to the multimedia player100, so as to control related operations of the multimedia player100. The mobile device104also comprises a connection module for Internet services and an image capture module for image capture functions. The network connection device106can be an access point (AP) or a router for the multimedia system10being connected with the Internet. Besides, the computer system12comprises a central processing unit120and a storage device122, and the storage device122predetermines a programming code (not shown in the figure) to instruct the central processing unit120for processing a network connection configuration method for the multimedia system10, so as to establish network connections as well as interchange digital information between the mobile device104, the multimedia player100and the network connection device106.

Please refer toFIG. 1A,FIG. 1BandFIG. 2, andFIG. 2illustrates a flow chart of a network connection configuration process20according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein those skilled in the art can correspondingly add different programming codes to comply with hardware upgrades of the multimedia system10according to different requirements, such that the multimedia system10and the computer system12can synchronize with each other, which is not limiting the scope of the invention. As shown inFIG. 2, the network connection configuration process20comprises, but not limited to, the following steps.

Step202: Establish a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106, such that the mobile device104obtains a service set identification (SSID) and a password thereof of the network connection device106.

Step204: Utilize the image capture module of the mobile device104to capture an optical image corresponding to the multimedia player100and to further obtain a personal information number (PIN) corresponding to the optical image, so as to establish a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100.

Step206: According to the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106as well as the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100, the mobile device104utilizes the Wi-Fi Direct connection to obtain the SSID and the password thereof of the network connection device106, so as to establish another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player100and the network connection device106.

In the embodiment, after a user initiates the multimedia system10, a wired/wireless transmission signal or a hardware switch can be adaptively utilized to control the computer system12for processing the network connection configuration process20. In step202, the mobile device104can utilize a wireless connection approach to search for the SSID of the network connection device106, and the corresponding password of the SSID is entered into the mobile device104, such that the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106is established. Accordingly, the mobile device104can obtain the SSID and the password thereof of the network connection device106, and the mobile device104can receive a plurality of digital information from the Internet via the network connection device106.

In step204, please also refer toFIG. 3, which illustrates a detailed schematic diagram of the mobile device104, the multimedia player100and the display device102according to an embodiment of the invention. In the multimedia system10, an image capture module300of the mobile device104is utilized to capture the optical image PA, so as to obtain the PIN corresponding to the optical image PA and to establish the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100. As shown inFIG. 3, the mobile device104comprises the image capture module300, and the display device102is utilized to display the optical image PA. In the embodiment, the optical image PA can be realized as a quick response code (i.e. QR code), which is not limiting the scope of the invention. Preferably, the optical image PA can be adaptively integrated with the multimedia video information through post-processed operations of the multimedia player100or processed by other operations of the display device102. After initiation, the display device102can be simultaneously utilized to display the multimedia video information and the optical image PA. Under such circumstances, the user can adaptively manipulate the image capture module300, such as a photographing camera or an optical sensing unit, to correspondingly obtain the QR code from the display device102, and in the meanwhile, the PIN of the QR code can also be interpreted, such that related connection settings for the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile104and the multimedia player100can be obtained.

Noticeably, those skilled in the art can further combine other Wi-Fi Direct Protected Setup (WPS) operations, such as a push button configuration (PBC) operation, with the operations of the optical image PA and the SSID thereof, to establish the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile104and the multimedia player100, which is also in the scope of the invention.

In step206, based on the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106as well as the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100, the mobile device104can utilize the Wi-Fi Direct connection to transmit the SSID and the corresponding password of the network connection device106to the multimedia player100. In that, the multimedia player100can utilize a wireless approach for searching for the SSID of the network connection device106, and the corresponding password can also be automatically entered into for the multimedia player100, such that another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player100and the network connection device106can be established. Accordingly, the user is not necessary to manually input the SSID and the corresponding password to establish the Wi-Fi connection shown inFIG. 1B. Thus, when the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106as well as the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100have been established, the Wi-Fi connection and the Wi-Fi Direct connection shown inFIG. 1Acan assist the Wi-Fi connection shown inFIG. 1Bto be established between the multimedia player100and the network connection device106.

Under such circumstances, the user is not required to predetermine wireless connection parameters (such as the SSID and the password thereof in the embodiment) corresponding to the network connection device106for the multimedia player100, and accordingly, the Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player100and the network connection device106can be automatically established while the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106as well as the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100have been established. Once the multimedia player100and the mobile device104are both connected to the network connection device106, the digital information utilized/processed in the mobile device104and the multimedia player100, such as the plurality of multimedia video information or network information received by the mobile device104, can be arbitrarily interchanged between any two of the multimedia player100, the mobile device104and the network connection device106, wherein the multimedia player100and the mobile device104can utilize different media access control (MAC) addresses while the multimedia player100and the mobile device104are connected with the network connection device106.

Please refer toFIG. 4, which illustrates a flow chart of another network connection configuration process40according to an embodiment of the invention, and certainly, those skilled in the art can correspondingly add different programming codes to comply with hardware upgrades of the multimedia system10according to different requirements, such that the multimedia system10and the computer system12can synchronize with each other, which is not limiting the scope of the invention. As shown inFIG. 4, the network connection configuration process40comprises, but not limited to, the following steps.

Step402: Utilize the image capture module300of the mobile device104to capture the optical image PA corresponding to the multimedia player100, so as to obtain the PIN corresponding to the optical image PA, such that the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100is established.

Step404: Establish the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106, such that the mobile device104obtains the SSID and the password thereof of the network connection device106.

Step406: According to the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106and the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100, the mobile device104can utilize the Wi-Fi Direct connection to transmit the SSID and the password thereof of the network connection device106to the multimedia player100, so as to establish another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player100and the network connection device106.

Noticeably, step202and step204of the network connection configuration process20can be exchanged to form step402and step404of the network connection configuration process40, and additionally, the network connection configuration process20and the network connection configuration process40share the similar operations, which is not described hereinafter for brevity.

Certainly, the network connection configuration method for the multimedia player100can be summarized as another network connection configuration process50, as shown inFIG. 5, to be complied into another programming code stored in the storage device122or a storage unit of the multimedia player100. Those skilled in the art can also add different programming codes to comply with hardware upgrades of the multimedia player100according to different requirements, such that the multimedia system10and the computer system12can synchronize with each other. As shown inFIG. 5, the network connection configuration process50for the multimedia player100comprises, but not limited to, the following steps.

Step502: Provide the optical image PA corresponding to the multimedia player100.

Step504: After the image capture module300of the mobile device104captures the optical image PA of the multimedia player100, the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100is established.

Step506: After the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106is established, the mobile device104obtains the SSID and the password thereof of the network connection device106. According to the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100, the mobile device104can utilize the Wi-Fi Direct connection to transmit the SSID and the password thereof of the network connection device106to the multimedia player100, so as to establish another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player100and the network connection device106.

In the embodiment, the multimedia player100can be utilized to process the network connection configuration process50and the computer system12can also be adaptively utilized to process the network connection configuration process20(or the network connection configuration process40). In other words, the embodiment of the invention can store different programming codes in the storage device122of the computer system12and the storage unit of the multimedia player100, respectively. Accordingly, the user can adaptively modify/control synchronization operations between the multimedia system10and the computer system12according to different requirements, to further integrate more multimedia players100and/or mobile devices104, so as to reduce a computation period of the hardware. More detailed operations of the network connection configuration process50can be understood from the network connection configuration process20(or the network connection configuration process40), which is not described hereinafter for brevity.

Noticeably, the network connection configuration process of the invention can adaptively prevent the multimedia player100from having to pre-set the network connection parameters of the network connection device106, and accordingly, another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player100and the network connection device106can be established after the optical image PA is captured by the mobile device104and the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100is established. Certainly, the number of the multimedia player100, the display device102, the mobile device104and the network connection device106of the multimedia system10can be adaptively modified, which is not limiting the scope of the invention. Besides, those skilled in the art can modify an interchange mechanism of the at least one digital information between the multimedia player100, the mobile device104and the network connection device106to cooperate with other operations well known in the same field, which is also in the scope of the invention. For example, the mobile device104can first obtain the plurality of multimedia video information of the multimedia player100, and then processes the Internet search for at least one multimedia video information interested by the user, or the multimedia player100can first receive a control command from the mobile device104, and then generate an update information (or a feedback information) to be transmitted to a multimedia video provider, which is also in the scope of the invention.

In summary, the embodiments of the invention provide the network connection configuration method for the multimedia player. First, the Wi-Fi connection between the mobile device104and the network connection device106(such as the AP) is established, and then the mobile device104obtains the SSID and the password thereof of the network connection device106. Next, the Wi-Fi Direct connection between the mobile device104and the multimedia player100is established, and the mobile device104can utilize the Wi-Fi Direct connection to transmit the SSID and the password thereof of the network connection device106to the multimedia player100, such that the multimedia player100can utilize the wireless approach to search for the SSID of the network connection device106and automatically enter the corresponding password, so as to establish another Wi-Fi connection between the multimedia player100and the network connection device106. Also, the Wi-Fi Direct connection can be realized via the PIN operation or the PBC operation, and the multimedia player100and the mobile device104can utilize different MAC addresses to be connected with the network connection device106. In comparison with the prior art, the embodiments of the invention can adaptively establish the connections between the mobile device104, the multimedia player100and the network connection device106, and the user can conveniently finish the related network configuration/setting to enlarge the application range of the multimedia system.