Apparatus and method for multi-user entertainment

• US 20040148419A1
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, David R., Lee, Peter, Ip, Michael C., Chen, Yancy T., Diaz, Elizabeth B.
• Application Number:
  US10/351,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148419A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for providing entertainment functions to multiple users, includes: a computer configured to receive audio data, and process the audio data for subsequent transmission as a streaming audio data, the computer configured to provide an entertainment function to a first user; and a variable function device configured to receive the streaming audio data from the computer and output the streaming audio data as an entertainment function for a second user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing entertainment functions to multiple users, the apparatus comprising:

a computer configured to receive audio data, and process the audio data for subsequent transmission as a streaming audio data, the computer configured to provide an entertainment function to a first user; and

a variable function device configured to receive the streaming audio data from the computer and output the streaming audio data as an entertainment function for a second user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer is coupled to the variable function device by a wireless link.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer is coupled to the variable function device by a wired link.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer comprises an entertainment computer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio data is obtained from a communication network.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio data is obtained from a broadcast network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio data is obtained from a data collection.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein audio data is streamed as a digital signal from the computer to the variable function device and converted into an analog signal by the variable function device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein audio data is converted into an analog signal streamed by the computer and streamed as an analog signal to the variable function device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio data is stored as a playlist prior to output as streaming audio data to the variable function device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer comprises a processor configured to process the audio data.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the variable function device comprises a processor configured to process the streamed audio data.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user can preselect a particular audio data for output by the computer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user can preselect a particular audio data to be streamed to the variable function device and to be output by the variable function device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second user can preselect a particular audio data to be streamed to the variable function device by providing an input command to the variable function device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer outputs a particular audio data and streams another particular audio data to the variable function device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second user can permit a particular function in the computer, including the streaming of a particular audio data to the variable function device, by providing an input command to the variable function device.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second user may provide the input command by use of a remote control device.

19. A method for providing entertainment functions to multiple users, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, audio data, and processing, by the computer, the audio data for subsequent transmission as a streaming audio data;

transmitting the audio data as a streaming audio data; and

receiving, by a variable function device, the streaming audio data, and generating, by the variable function device, the streaming audio data as an entertainment function.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer is coupled to the variable function device by a wireless link.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer is coupled to the variable function device by a wired link.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer comprises an entertainment computer.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the audio data is obtained from a communication network.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the audio data is obtained from a broadcast network.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the audio data is obtained from a data collection.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the audio data, storing the audio data as a playlist.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

selecting, by a first user, a particular audio data for output by the computer.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

selecting, by a second user, a particular audio data for transmission to the variable function device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the second user can preselect a particular audio data for transmission to the variable function device by providing an input command to the variable function device.

30. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

permitting, by a second user, a particular function in the computer, including the streaming of a particular audio data to the variable function device, by providing an input command to the variable function device.

31. An apparatus for organizing information, the apparatus comprising:

a computer configured to receive data, and generate information associated with the received data or information associated with a functionality of the computer; and

a variable function device configured to receive the generated information and provide the generated information to a user.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the computer and the variable function device are connected by a wireless link.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the computer and the variable function device are connected by a wired link.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the generated information includes one of an alert notification related to the received data, an identification information related to content of the received data, an alert notification related to a function of the computer, and a programmed notification provided by the user.

35. A method for organizing information, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, data, and generating, by the computer, information associated with the received data or information associated with a functionality of the computer; and

receiving, by a variable function device, the generated information, and providing, by the variable function device, the generated information to a user.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the computer and the variable function device are connected by a wireless link.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the computer and the variable function device are connected by a wired link.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the generated information includes one of an alert notification related to the received data, an identification information related to content of the received data, an alert notification related to a function of the computer, and a programmed notification provided by the user.

39. An apparatus for providing multi-room entertainment functions, the apparatus comprising:

a computer configured to receive audio data, and process the audio data for subsequent transmission as a streaming audio data, the computer configured to provide an entertainment function in a first room; and

a variable function device configured to receive the streaming audio data from the computer and output the streaming audio data as an entertainment function in a second room.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the computer is coupled to the variable function device by a wireless link.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the computer is coupled to the variable function device by a wired link.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the computer comprises an entertainment computer.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the audio data is obtained from a communication network.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the audio data is obtained from a broadcast network.

45. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the audio data is obtained from a data collection.

46. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein audio data is streamed as a digital signal from the computer to the variable function device and converted into an analog signal by the variable function device.

47. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein audio data is converted into an analog signal streamed by the computer and streamed as an analog signal to the variable function device.

48. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the audio data is stored as a playlist prior to output as streaming audio data to the variable function device.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the computer comprises a processor configured to process the audio data.

50. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the variable function device comprises a processor configured to process the streamed audio data.

51. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein a first user can preselect a particular audio data for output by the computer.

52. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein a second user can preselect a particular audio data to be streamed to the variable function device and to be output by the variable function device.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the second user can preselect a particular audio data to be streamed to the variable function device by providing an input command to the variable function device.

54. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the computer outputs a particular audio data and streams another particular audio data to the variable function device.

55. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein a second user can permit a particular function in the computer, including the streaming of a particular audio data to the variable function device, by providing an input command to the variable function device.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the second user may provide the input command by use of a remote control device.

57. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the computer configured to receive data, and generate information associated with the received data or information associated with a functionality of the computer, and the variable function device configured to receive the generated information and provide the generated information in the second room.

58. A method for providing multi-room entertainment functions, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer in a first room, audio data, and processing, by the computer, the audio data for subsequent transmission as a streaming audio data;

transmitting the audio data as a streaming audio data; and

receiving, by a variable function device in a second room, the streaming audio data, and generating, by the variable function device, the streaming audio data as an entertainment function.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the computer is coupled to the variable function device by a wireless link.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the computer is coupled to the variable function device by a wired link.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein the computer comprises an entertainment computer.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein the audio data is obtained from a communication network.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein the audio data is obtained from a broadcast network.

64. The method of claim 58, wherein the audio data is obtained from a data collection.

65. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the audio data, storing the audio data as a playlist.

66. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

selecting, by a first user, a particular audio data for output by the computer.

67. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

selecting, by a second user, a particular audio data for transmission to the variable function device.

68. The method of claim 58, wherein the second user can preselect a particular audio data for transmission to the variable function device by providing an input command to the variable function device.

69. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

permitting, by a second user, a particular function in the computer, including the streaming of a particular audio data to the variable function device, by providing an input command to the variable function device.

70. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

receiving, by the computer data, and generating, by the computer, information associated with the received data or information associated with a functionality of the computer; and

receiving, by the variable function device, the generated information, and providing, by the variable function device, the generated information in the second room.

71. A method for providing multi-user entertainment comprising:

providing a variable-function device communicatively coupled to a function-producing device comprising a processor;

duplicating a function from the function-producing device;

providing the duplicated function in the variable-function device;

accessing the function from the function-producing device; and

accessing the duplicated function from the variable-function device.