Proximity-based and acoustic control of media devices for media presentations

Abstract

Embodiments relate generally to electronic and electronic hardware, computer software, wired communications, wireless communications, and wireless network communications, portable, wearable, and stationary media devices. RF transceivers and/or audio system in each media device may be used to wirelessly communicate between media devices and/or user devices and allow configuration, content, and other data to be wirelessly transmitted from one media device and/or user device to another media device. One or more user devices in proximity of one or more media devices, post detection, may wirelessly communicate (e.g., using RF, light, sound/acoustics) with the one or more media devices and the one or more media devices may orchestrate wireless handling (e.g., using RF, light, sound/acoustics) of content from the user device and/or from a wirelessly accessible location such as the Cloud, Internet, data storage device, or other location as indicated by an application (APP), content, data or both from the user device.

1 . A method for proximity-based control of content on a device, comprising:
 acoustically detecting a user device using a proximity system, an audio/video (A/V) system or both of a media device;   establishing an acoustic communications link between the user device and the media device;   receiving on the media device, using the link, an acoustic signal from the user device;   harvesting user content, data or both from the acoustic signal; and   transferring content handling of the user content, the data or both from the user device to the media device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising: queuing the user content relative to other content currently being handled by the media device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the queuing comprises a preferential queuing of the user content relative to the other content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising: recording, using the media device, the user content, the data or both. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the recording includes storing the user content, the data or both in memory internal to the media device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the recording includes storing the user content, the data or both in memory external to the media device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising: modifying a playlist on the media device based on the user content, the data or both. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transferring comprises initiating playback of the user content on the media device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the harvesting, the transferring or both include wirelessly establishing a radio frequency (RF) communication link between the user device and a RF system of the media device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the harvesting, the transferring or both are wirelessly accomplished by using the acoustic communications link between the user device and the media device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity system includes at least one proximity detection island configured to detect the user device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving comprises using a microphone included in the A/V system to receive the acoustic signal from the user device. 
     
     
         14 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A wireless device including wireless detection of users and user devices, comprising:
 a controller in electrical communication with
 a data storage system, 
 a radio frequency (RF) system including at least one RF antenna electrically coupled with a plurality of RF transceivers, 
 an audio/video (AN) system including a speaker for producing sound, a microphone for capturing sound, 
 a proximity detection system configured to wirelessly detect presence of a user, a user device or both, 
   wherein the RF system is configured to detect a RF signal from the user device, to establish a wireless communications link with the user device, to wirelessly access user content, data or both from the user device or a location specified by the user device using the wireless communications link,   wherein the A/V system is configured to detect an acoustic signal from the user device using the microphone, to establish an acoustic communications link with the user device using the speaker and the microphone, to wirelessly access the user content, the data or both using the acoustic communications link, and   wherein the controller is configured to harvest the user content, the data or both that was accessed using the RF system, the A/V system or both, and configured to take over handling of the user content, the data or both from the user device.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the handling comprises playback or queuing of the user content, the data or both. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the handling comprises recording or buffering of the user content, the data or both. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the data includes information used by the RF system to establish the wireless communications link with the user device, and the user content, the data or both are wirelessly accessed using the wireless communications link. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the proximity detection system includes a plurality of proximity detection islands. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the A/V system is configured to process the acoustic signal in a frequency range that is outside a range for human hearing. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the microphone is configured to capture the acoustic signal in a frequency range that is outside a range for human hearing. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the speaker is configured to produce the acoustic signal in a frequency range that is outside a range for human hearing.