Software applications and information apparatus supporting output of digital content over a network (e.g., Internet) to an output device (e.g., printer) are herein disclosed and enabled. To output digital content, an application for accessing a service provided over the network is installed at the information apparatus, the information apparatus discovers the output device that is in the same local area network (e.g., via IEEE 802.11) as the information apparatus, output device information is received from the discovered output device, and the output device information is transmitted to the service for registering the output device. Subsequent to registration, an application (e.g., Internet browser, email, document) at the information apparatus, having appropriate security or authentication information, may transmit digital content to the service to output the digital content at the registered output device. The output of digital content does not require a device specific driver to be installed in the information apparatus.

A display control device includes: a display signal output unit configured so as to output a display image signal on a display unit so as to execute normal display, zoom-in display, scroll display, and zoom-out display regarding data to be displayed as display operation for data to be displayed; and a control unit configured to instruct the display signal output unit to perform, regarding data to be displayed, output of a display image signal for sequentially executing zoom-in display in a scroll start position from the normal display, scroll display from the scroll start position, and zoom-out display from a scroll end position to the normal display at a display unit.

The image processing apparatus includes a shooting unit configured to capture a moving picture including video data and audio data of a subject at a certain location; a receiver configured to receive video data of a moving picture of the subject without audio data of the moving picture; a layer generator configured to generate a first layer and at least one second layer to reproduce and display on the screen a plurality of pieces of video data including the video data captured by the shooting unit and at least one piece of video data received by the receiver; a display controller configured to reproduce and display the first layer and the at least one second layer to be overlaid with each other on one screen through hierarchical combining.

A method for establishing a wireless connection between a mobile information apparatus (e.g., smart phone) and an output system (e.g., audio output device) are herein disclosed and enabled. The method comprises using an interface of the output system to receive an indication from a user, and initiating wireless discovery based, at least in part, on physical proximity between the mobile information apparatus and the output system, subsequent to receiving the user indication. The method additionally comprises using the mobile information apparatus to wirelessly (1) discover the output system, (2) establish a wireless communication link between the mobile information apparatus and the output system, and (3) transmit audio output data from the mobile information apparatus to the output system over the established wireless communication link. Subsequently, the output system outputs or plays at least part of the wireles sly received audio output data from the mobile information apparatus.

An information apparatus that wirelessly discovers an available output device, within a physical vicinity, for outputting content is herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus includes a wireless communication unit for establishing short range wireless communication directly between the information apparatus and one or more available output devices; wirelessly receiving information from an available output device; determining, from the information received from the available output device, whether the available output device matches a requirement for outputting the content; and, when the requirement is matched, selecting the available output device, conforming at least part of the content into output data, and transmitting at least part of the output data over the short range wireless communication directly from the information apparatus to the selected output device. The information apparatus may include one or more of a smart phone, information pad, a digital camera, or an Internet appliance.

Printers or printer controllers supporting wireless printing, or printing over air, are herein disclosed and enabled. The printer or printer controller may include wireless communication circuitry to facilitate a client to discover the printer. Subsequent to being discovered by the client, the printer may wirelessly transmit at least part of an output device profile to the client that has discovered the printer or the printer controller, the output device profile includes information related to the printer. After the printer is selected or identified for service, the printer may receive, from the client, print data that is based, at least partly, on the output device profile. A device specific driver may or may not be necessary for printing. The device discovery may be a short range wireless communication or local area network communication. The wireless communication circuitry may support at least part of IEEE 802.11 standards or Bluetooth specifications.

An output system, such as a wireless speaker or an Internet appliance, that supports voice activated commands is herein disclosed and enabled. The output system is wirelessly connectable to a service operated over a network (e.g., Internet) for receiving output data (e.g., music) from the service for outputting at the output system. The setup of the output system includes: (1) wirelessly discovering the output system using a smart phone, (2) establishing a wireless communication link between the smart phone and the output system (e.g., via Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11), and (3) providing information, such as security and/or authentication information, from the smart phone to the output system over the wireless communication link. Thereafter, the output system accesses the service operated over the network, and the outpt system is operabke to receive voice activated commands from a user while the output system is connected to the service.

Wireless devices that establish a wireless connection with a mobile device (e.g., smart phone) by wirelessly detecting the mobile device within a physical proximity, are herein disclosed and enabled. To set up a wireless device (e.g., Bluetooth devices, audio output devices, television controllers, Internet appliances, digital cameras, etc.) for connecting with a smart phone, the wireless device and the smart phone are simply placed within physical proximity of each other for short range wireless detection. During the wireless detection, the smart phone and the wireless device may exchange, transmit, or receive device or security information to facilitate future wireless connections. Subsequent to the short range wireless detection, the wireless device and the smart phone are connected or locked for future wireless communications (e.g., Bluetooth or IEEE802.11), and future wireless connections between the wireless device and the smart phone can be established without having to repeat the short range wireless detection.

Output devices supporting wireless device discovery are herein disclosed and enabled. To setup an output device for wireless connection, wireless device discovery is performed by a client of the output device to discover the output device. Upon being discovered, the output device may provide identification or information related to the output device to the client for establishing a wireless connection. Subsequently, the output device may receive, via the established wireless connection, digital content from the client for output. Wireless device discovery operations may be based on one or more of a close proximity wireless communication, a Bluetooth wireless communication, or a wireless communication compatible with a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards. Security information or authentication may be required for establishing the wireless connection. Subsequent to having established the wireless connection, the output device receives the audio or video content from the client for playing at the output device.

A wireless device that includes at least a wireless communication unit, which is compatible with at least a protocol within IEEE 802.11 standards, for establishing a wireless connection with a server over a network is herein disclosed and enabled. To connect the wireless device with the server, the wireless device may first establish short range wireless communication with a client device, such as a smart phone. The wireless device may exchange data or information with the client device via the short range wireless communication; and the wireless device may implement an authentication procedure for detecting authentication information. Thereafter, the wireless device connects to the server over the Internet for accessing a service provided by the server. The accessing of the service may require authentication information on the wireless device, and the accessing of the service is subsequent to the wireless device having implemented the authentication procedure at the wireless device.