Using a handheld device to control what appears on a display isn’t new, but US9965237B2 takes that interaction a step further.
Assigned to Flick Intelligence, LLC, this patent introduces a system for wireless device-to-screen communication and personalized data sharing during live events. This patent is currently part of a dispute between Flick Intelligence LLC and Vuzix Corporation. However, we will focus only on the technical aspects of the patent.
With the Global Patent Search (GPS) tool, we explore similar technologies involving handheld input, interactive displays, and real-time data transmission. GPS makes it easier to uncover related inventions and understand how they match up with the features in US9965237B2.
If you are researching device-display integration or interactive media systems, this GPS-backed analysis helps map out comparable technologies worth reviewing.
Understanding Patent US9965237B2
US9965237B2 focuses on enhancing how users interact with visual content across connected devices. The system syncs handheld devices with multimedia displays and allows users to make inputs wirelessly in real time within a shared environment. This approach does not rely on traditional infrared remote controls or fixed interfaces. Instead, it gives users a direct, visual way to select and receive content using their own devices.
Source: Google Patents
Its Four Key Features Are
#1. Device registration: Controllers tied to one or more multimedia displays wirelessly register handheld devices.
#2. Cursor control: Users can select profile icons to serve as on-screen cursors during interaction with displayed content.
#3. Targeted selection: The handheld device highlights and selects screen elements, triggering data responses.
#4. Supplemental data delivery: The system fetches data from the display or a remote database and returns it to the user’s device.
This technology allows for interactive media experiences without specialized hardware. It brings cursor control, content selection, and data syncing into a unified framework. The design adapts well to events, entertainment, and multi-user environments.
Similar Patents As US9965237B2
To explore the design space surrounding US9965237B2, we utilized the Global Patent Search tool to identify related inventions. These references share key technical themes, including multi-device video sharing, cursor control, and real-time media interaction. Several of them also reflect advancements seen in collaborative display systems and remote control technologies.
Below, we highlight five of these patents that illustrate comparable strategies for enabling synchronized, multi-terminal interaction across networked environments.
#1. JP2007249695A
This Japanese patent, JP2007249695A, published in 2007, describes an information sharing system that supports real-time video exchange and cursor control between remote terminals. The system enables bidirectional media distribution. It also allows users to customize and display cursors on shared video content across devices.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Remote cursor distribution – One terminal transmits cursor actions, and other terminals display them in sync with the shared video.
- User-defined cursor settings – Cursor size, color, and shape can be customized and distributed to all terminals.
- Synchronized media playback – Both video and cursor data are recorded and replayed together for consistent visual alignment.
- Two-way device roles – Each terminal can act as either sender or receiver of both video and cursor data.
- Toggle-based cursor visibility – Users can switch cursor display on or off independently from the main video stream.
How It Connects To US9965237B2
- Both support wireless, real-time interaction with shared display content.
- Each enables the use of cursors to engage with video-based user interfaces.
- Both include features for cursor customization and visual clarity during interactions.
- Each patent allows synchronized cursor tracking across multiple networked devices.
Why This Matters
This patent shows how early information-sharing systems addressed cursor control across distributed screens. It highlights the relevance of synchronized video-cursor integration. US9965237B2 expands on this by using handheld devices and supplemental data exchange in interactive multimedia environments.
#2. JP2007304978A
This Japanese patent, JP2007304978A, published in 2007, presents a video display system that allows remote control of multimedia content using a communication terminal. It introduces a navigational panel interface. This allows users to interact with displayed video content through a secondary device such as a smartphone or remote terminal.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Navigational panel control – A separate UI panel allows users to control content displayed on a main graphic display.
- Dual-display system – Content is shown on a primary display, while control commands are sent from a secondary communication terminal.
- Metadata-driven interface generation – Operation metadata and panel generation data are used to dynamically create the control interface.
- Bi-directional communication – Control signals flow from the terminal to the display; content and interface data flow back to the terminal.
- Cursor and button inputs – Directional buttons enable fine cursor movement and scrolling through a dedicated input interface.
How It Connects To US9965237B2
- Both systems enable external device control of multimedia content on a display.
- Each supports real-time user interaction through a network-connected interface.
- Both patents rely on transmitting control data (cursor position or metadata) between a handheld terminal and a display device.
- Each enables content navigation and manipulation without requiring physical interaction with the main screen.
Why This Matters
JP2007304978A illustrates a control model where a mobile or remote device drives user interaction with media on a separate screen. It highlights an early approach to decoupling control from display. US9965237B2 refines this through cursor-based interaction and data feedback using handheld devices.
#3. KR100893119B1
This Korean patent, KR100893119B1, published in 2009, discloses a system for delivering interactive material to a mobile device in sync with video content playing on a nearby display. It introduces a secondary communication channel that allows users to express interest in on-screen content and receive related data in real time.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Wireless interactive delivery – Interactive media is transmitted wirelessly to mobile devices positioned near the video display.
- Time-synchronized interaction – User prompts, such as icons, are displayed in sync with video playback for timely engagement.
- User-generated tags – When a user selects an interactive element, a tag is created that marks the point of interest.
- Dynamic server response – Tags may trigger real-time queries to a remote server for personalized responses.
- Multi-format interactivity – Interactive elements can include text, images, audio, or video formats.
How It Connects To US9965237B2
- Both systems support wireless interaction between a handheld device and a nearby video display.
- Each enables users to select on-screen content and receive supplemental data or feedback.
- Both use timing-based cues to coordinate interaction with live or recorded video.
- Each stores or transmits user-generated input (such as tags or cursor data) for further response or analysis.
Why This Matters
KR100893119B1 introduces early methods of mobile-device-driven interaction with video content. It demonstrates how synchronized, interest-based engagement was used to enhance viewing experiences. US9965237B2 builds on this idea by adding cursor-driven selection and structured data return from multimedia displays.
#4. US2014201790A1
This U.S. patent application, US2014201790A1, published in 2014, presents a system that integrates an electronic pointer into digital image data like video feeds or software interfaces. It enables remote pointing and interaction by overlaying a cursor based on a user’s gesture or device input. This works even when the display hardware itself is not inherently designed for pointer input.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Pointer-data integration – Combines movement data from a pointing device directly into a video stream for display on a screen.
- Remote processing architecture – Uses a centralized server system to calculate pointer position and generate overlays.
- Multi-sensor input – Supports various input types, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and touchscreens.
- Feedback-enabled UI – Provides real-time feedback to the user based on cursor position, such as boundary vibration alerts.
- Hardware-agnostic approach – Enables pointer control even on displays not built for input, through software and cloud processing.
How It Connects To US9965237B2
- Both patents enable the movement of a user-controlled pointer on a remote or shared display.
- Each allows input via handheld or mobile devices to interact with visual data on-screen.
- Both involve cursor integration without modifying the underlying display hardware.
- Each supports data exchange between a local device and a remote system to deliver interactive control.
Why This Matters
US2014201790A1 showcases how pointer-based interaction can be layered onto video content using external processing. It provides a technical basis for mobile-controlled cursor integration, reinforcing the value of touch-based and voice-activated control systems and overlay systems. These are key concepts shared by US9965237B2 in its approach to bidirectional interaction.
#5. US6813630B1
This U.S. patent, US6813630B1, published in 2004, details a system for wireless interaction between a client device and a host display. It introduces pointer-based control to select and transfer content from a host screen to a client using area selection or insertion points.
Source: GPS
What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape
- Wireless pointer-based control – Enables a client device to move a pointer on a host display via wireless signals.
- Area selection mechanism – Users can drag to define a screen region for content retrieval or insertion.
- Bidirectional content transfer – Supports copying content from host to client and from client to host.
- Multi-pointer support – Differentiates between pointers from multiple clients with unique labels or colors.
- Adaptable pointer control – Allows cursor control via touchscreens, trackpoints, or keystrokes on the client device.
How It Connects To US9965237B2
- Both systems use handheld devices to control a pointer on an external display.
- Each enables users to select display content remotely and receive or transmit related data.
- Both support bi-directional data flow between a local user device and a multimedia screen.
- Each handles pointer positioning without modifying the display’s native hardware.
Why This Matters
US6813630B1 laid early groundwork for using handheld devices to wirelessly control and retrieve content from remote displays. Its combination of pointer navigation and data transfer aligns closely with the goals of US9965237B2. This expands the concept through more modern, event-driven display interactions.
Recommended Read: If you are interested in other recent patents on screen interaction and smart input, check out our deep dive into US9529918B2, another inventive take on interactive display control.
How to Find Related Patents Using Global Patent Search
It is essential to understand the broader patent landscape when studying bidirectional communication, cursor-based interfaces, or interactive display systems. The Global Patent Search tool makes this process easier. It surfaces inventions that address similar technical challenges in multi-device control and content navigation.
1. Enter the patent number into GPS: Start by entering a patent number like US9965237B2 into the GPS tool. The platform transforms it into a focused query, which can be refined with terms like “wireless interaction,” “media display control,” or “cursor selection.”
Source: GPS
1. Explore conceptual snippets: Instead of analyzing features line-by-line, GPS now offers curated text snippets. These highlight how other inventions manage user input, sync displays, or deliver interactive content to handheld devices.
2. Identify related inventions: The tool surfaces patents describing pointer coordination, content tagging, and cross-device signaling. It reveals how display interactions are handled across different system architectures.
3. Compare systems, not legal claims: Rather than centering on claim language, GPS highlights conceptual methods. This lets users trace similar strategies for navigating multimedia content or integrating user-directed control features.
4. Accelerate cross-domain insights: Whether you are working in consumer tech, broadcast media, or interface design, GPS helps connect ideas across sectors where display control and data sharing intersect.
With Global Patent Search, researchers can quickly see how shared interaction models evolve across devices. This practical view supports better design decisions, sharper innovation in multimedia systems, and sound IP strategy.
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.
