Sending content from a smartphone or handheld device to a nearby screen, printer, or display shouldn’t be as difficult as it currently is.
Thankfully, a few patents are tackling this challenge head-on. Patent US9549285B2 is one such example. It covers a wireless system that enables content to be transmitted and rendered on external devices, even without a shared network.
The patent is currently central to an ongoing infringement suit, involving McDonald’s, IKEA, Screencloud, and others. While the litigation continues, our focus is on the technology, not the courtroom.
We wondered: What other patents are solving this problem? What methods do they use to handle device compatibility, data format conversion, or short-range communication?
To answer these questions, we used the Global Patent Search (GPS) tool to uncover related patents. Below are the top five patents, offering a glimpse into the future of smart content delivery systems. Let’s take a closer look.
Understanding Patent US9549285B2
Patent US9549285B2 describes a system that lets mobile devices connect to printers and screens wirelessly. It helps users send files to display devices like projectors, TVs, or kiosks without using cables.
The system works over a network or directly through infrared or Bluetooth communication. It also allows users to control what appears on the screen from their phone or tablet. This makes it easier to share content in real time without manual setup or local hardware access.
Source: Google Patents
Its Four Key Features Are
1. Wireless data transfer: A mobile device can send data directly to a printer or screen.
2. Passcode authentication: The system requires users to enter a passcode before rendering any data.
3. Location-based DRD selection: It helps users find available screens or printers near their location.
4. Remote display control: The mobile device can manage playback or display while the content is shown.
The system includes temporary memory in the display device, which clears itself after each use. It supports data mirroring, where content shows up on both the mobile device and the screen. Multiple users can interact with the same screen simultaneously or display different data.
It supports secure data transfer using encryption, passwords, or biometric verification. The technology can also include billing features to charge users for using public printers or kiosks. These features apply to both private and public rendering devices, including ATMs, printers, or digital signage.
Similar Patents As US9549285B2
To explore the innovation space around US9549285B2, we used the Global Patent Search tool to surface related inventions. These references tackle shared problems such as wireless printing, mobile-controlled presentation systems, and short-range data exchange.
They reveal alternate solutions that enable seamless communication between handheld devices and output hardware.
Related Read: Explore additional innovations in phone-controlled display systems, like patent US9965237B2, which highlights interactive display control mechanisms.
1. US7028102B1
This U.S. patent US7028102B1, published in 2006, describes a wireless method for printing or presenting documents from handheld devices. The invention allows users to select content from their mobile phones and transmit it to a local presentation device, such as a printer or electronic display, using short-range communication technologies.
Source: Global Patent Search
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Short-range communication integration – Enables handhelds to connect with nearby printers using Bluetooth or IrDA.
- Mobile-to-printer document routing – Handheld device sends document and printer details to a request handler system.
- Format conversion engine – Documents are converted into printer-compatible formats before transmission.
- Presentation unit discovery – Mobile phones auto-detect available printers in range, avoiding manual setup.
- Multiple delivery paths – Print files can be sent via network protocols, email, or short-range links.
- Mobile-driven command interface – Devices include “print” or “present” commands directly in user menus.
How It Connects To US9549285B2
• Both systems use handheld devices to control external display or print hardware wirelessly.
• Each supports the discovery of nearby rendering devices without manual configuration.
• Both handle document retrieval from remote locations and conversion for local output.
• Each allows transmission over various communication paths, including local and internet-based methods.
Why This Matters
This patent showcases a practical approach to wireless document rendering from mobile devices. It solves the user-experience problem of finding and using nearby presentation units by automating device detection and file transfer.
Like US9549285B2, it bridges networked content with physical output in a mobile-first context. The overlap suggests strong relevance in scenarios involving wireless printing and short-range delivery.
2. US2002160790A1
This US patent US2002160790A1, published in 2002, describes a communication framework that allows thin-client mobile devices to interact with networked resources through a link server. The link server acts as a gateway that receives requests, compresses data, and delivers it to mobile devices over wireless networks using lightweight protocols. It is optimized for devices with limited computing power and bandwidth constraints.
Source: Global Patent Search
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Thin-client communication protocol – Mobile devices use minimal computing power to process web-based requests.
- Link server architecture – Acts as a proxy between wireless and wired networks.
- Message compression and conversion – Converts markup data into compact formats for mobile use.
- Session management for mobile devices – Manages requests, caching, and screen data delivery.
- Wireless-optimized markup support – Supports formats like HDML, WML, and cHTML.
- URL mapping and content adaptation – Substitutes links dynamically to match device compatibility.
How It Connects To US9549285B2
• Both inventions enable mobile devices to request and control content across a wireless network.
• Each uses a server or middleware to adapt content for limited-display or low-power devices.
• Both manage secure data delivery between mobile clients and external systems.
• Each emphasizes reducing network load through compressed or optimized data formats.
Why This Matters
This reference focuses on improving communication between mobile devices and traditional network resources. By using a link server to compress, adapt, and manage data flows, the system extends mobile access to complex content environments. Like US9549285B2, it enables handheld devices to control data rendering remotely, supporting broader mobility use cases in constrained environments.
3. US6072521A
This US patent US6072521A, published in 2000, describes a handheld system designed to simulate two-way interactivity over one-way broadcast streams. It separates primary media (e.g., TV) from related data and uses a wireless handheld device to display interactive content. The system enables real-time access to supplemental information such as product details, recipes, or local offers while viewing traditional broadcasts.
Source: Global Patent Search
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Handheld data rendering device – Displays interactive content related to one-way media streams.
- Wireless communication interface – Allows handheld devices to receive data from host systems.
- Data synchronization scripts – Coordinates display timing between media content and supplemental data.
- Local and remote data management – Supports caching, purging, and dynamic retrieval of information.
- User-driven interaction – Enables requests for additional content using intuitive input features.
- Decoupled display architecture – Separates primary media playback from interactive data display.
How It Connects To US9549285B2
• Both systems use handheld devices to control and access multimedia content on external displays.
• Each solution enables content delivery through wireless connections and includes command-based control.
• Both patents allow decoupling of data rendering across distinct devices for user convenience.
• Each handles timed or synchronized content delivery based on user selection or media context.
Why This Matters
This patent provides an early example of mobile interactivity in media consumption environments. It shows how devices with limited bandwidth can enhance the user experience by syncing auxiliary data with passive broadcasts.
Like US9549285B2, it empowers handheld devices to control and personalize content rendering, especially useful in smart display ecosystems.
Did you know? Just like display systems need signals to stay in sync, US6813742B2 and similar patents improve wireless signal decoding using a pipelined Log-MAP method. This makes communication on mobile devices faster and with less delay.
4. US2001035914A1
This US patent US2001035914A1, published in 2001, describes an interface that connects handheld calculators to televisions or video devices. The system converts calculator LCD output into standard video signals, enabling display on NTSC, PAL, or similar video systems. It uses a programmable logic device and a processor to adapt to various calculator formats in real time.
Source: Global Patent Search
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Calculator-to-TV interface – Sends handheld display output to a television or video device.
- Programmable logic control – Uses an FPGA to manage multiple calculator display formats.
- Dynamic format detection – Automatically identifies the calculator’s output resolution and structure.
- Signal conversion to composite video – Transforms calculator LCD data into NTSC or PAL signals.
- Scaling and interpolation support – Adjusts resolution to suit higher-definition output devices.
- Support for global video standards – Compatible with SCART, RF modulators, and composite inputs.
How It Connects To US9549285B2
• Both patents deal with translating handheld device output to external display systems.
• Each solution ensures device-agnostic data rendering on larger or shared visual surfaces.
• Both adapt content from varying source formats to suit display-capable devices.
• Each includes signal processing that prepares content for specific display protocols.
Why This Matters
This patent reveals early efforts to extend small-screen content to shared, large-format displays. The concept parallels modern wireless display technologies by emphasizing signal translation and compatibility.
Like the subject patent, it addresses the challenge of transforming device-specific data into universal formats for external rendering.
5. US2001039578A1
This US patent US2001039578A1, published in 2001, describes a system for adaptive content distribution to diverse terminal devices. It standardizes content using a basic language and dynamically converts it into terminal-compatible formats such as HDML. The server handles device-specific rendering by identifying terminal type and delivering customized data output.
Source: Global Patent Search
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Device-independent content preparation – Centralized content is written once in a basic format.
- Terminal type recognition – The system detects the device requesting content and its display limits.
- Automatic format conversion – Content is dynamically transformed into HDML or other compatible types.
- Support for WAP terminals – Enables delivery to mobile phones with constrained capabilities.
- Server-driven customization – The server tailors output without needing specialized client-side logic.
- Multimodal output support – Extends rendering beyond screens, including audio-based formats.
How It Connects To US9549285B2
• Both systems focus on flexible content delivery to varied device types and form factors.
• Each performs automatic format adaptation to meet device-specific constraints.
• Both rely on server-side intelligence to simplify client-side processing.
• Each enables seamless rendering regardless of end-user hardware.
Why This Matters
This invention highlights server-based content flexibility, a concept central to modern wireless rendering. Like US9549285B2, it supports streamlined user experiences across incompatible devices. The focus on automated format adaptation also reflects the patent’s relevance in cross-platform media delivery.
Related Read: Understand how US7609961B2 and similar patents approach wireless device integration in vehicle systems, offering parallels in device-to-display communication design.
How To Find Related Patents Using Global Patent Search
Understanding the broader patent landscape is essential when working with wireless content delivery, handheld device-to-screen communication, or remote playback systems. The Global Patent Search tool helps simplify this process. It uncovers technologies that address similar technical challenges in media rendering and mobile device interaction.
1. Enter the patent number into GPS: Start by entering a patent number like US9549285B2 into the GPS tool. The system builds a focused search query. You can refine this using keywords like “wireless screen casting,” “mobile print command,” or “remote playback display control.”
Source: GPS
2. Explore conceptual snippets: Instead of reading long legal claims, GPS presents key technical snippets. These highlight inventions that enable wireless transmission, format compatibility, and device-to-output communication. The tool makes it easier to identify systems with features similar to those in US9549285B2.
3. Identify related inventions: GPS finds patents that use techniques such as proxy servers, format conversion engines, or device identification protocols. Many related inventions manage data exchange between mobile devices and output terminals like printers, screens, or kiosks.
4. Compare systems, not legal claims: GPS emphasizes how systems solve practical problems. It focuses on solutions like rendering across devices, connection reliability, and format translation. This makes it easier to understand design similarities without needing to analyze legal language.
5. Accelerate cross-domain insights: Whether you’re building remote display apps, interactive kiosks, or mobile printing tools, GPS helps you find relevant solutions. It connects ideas across mobile interfaces, network communication, and output hardware.
Using Global Patent Search allows you to quickly explore how other technologies handle wireless content delivery and rendering. This supports better design choices and reveals trends in smart media transfer and screen-to-device interoperability.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The related patent references mentioned are preliminary results from the Global Patent Search tool and do not guarantee legal significance. For a comprehensive related patent analysis, we recommend conducting a detailed search using GPS or consulting a patent attorney.
