Dynamic detection and configuration of networked audio/video components

• US 20060281477A1
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Radial Labs Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Radial Labs Incorporated
• Inventors: Downes, Patrick G.
• Application Number:
  US11/450,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20060281477A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/509
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

One or more controllers use a first highly directional wireless communication system (first WCS) to communicate with one or more renderers to select one or more of the renderers for rendering content; The controller also communicates with one or more content servers over a convenient link to set up communications between the content server and the renderer. Finally, the content sever communicates with the renderer over a second wireless communications system (second WCS) as directed by the controller to download a content stream from the content server to the selected renderer(s) for rendering. Many devices comprising any or all of the controller, renderer and content server may interact in this way.

Claims

1. A method for rendering content on a selected renderer, comprising:

using a first wireless communication system to communicate between a controller and a selected renderer an instruction to utilize the renderer for rendering the content, the first wireless communication system covering a first volume of space;

establishing a communications link between a content server serving the content and the renderer, the communication links configured for downloading the content to the renderer;

communicating from the controller to the content server serving the content an identification of content to be rendered;

downloading the content over the communications link from the content server to the renderer in response to said communicating; and

initiating rendering of the content at the renderer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the communications link between the content server and the renderer is established over a second wireless communication system, wherein the second wireless communication system covers a second volume of space larger than said first volume of space.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the renderer includes an audio renderer.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the renderer includes a visual renderer.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the content is downloaded in the form of an encrypted stream of digital data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said using includes

pointing an emitter of the controller at a receiver of the renderer; and

emitting a signal over the first wireless communications system from the emitter to the receiver.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said using includes

communicating authentication information from the controller to the renderer, the authentication information configured to authenticate the controller.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said using includes

communicating configuration information from the controller to the renderer, the configuration information arranged to configure the communications link.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said downloading includes

determining that the controller is authenticated before downloading content from the content server to the renderer.

10. A method for communicating between a first device and a second device, the first device including a controller and the second device including a content server, the method comprising:

communicating wirelessly between from the controller to the content server an identification of content to be communicated;

selecting a direction for content communication, a first direction being from the content server to a renderer and a second direction being from a local content server associated with the controller to a renderer or the content server;

establishing a communications link for the selected direction of communication; and

using a wireless communication system to communicate the content over the established communications link.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the selecting is performed with a multi-state control disposed at the controller, a first state of the multi-state control corresponding to the first direction and a second state of the multi-state control corresponding to the second direction.

12. A system for rendering content on a selected renderer, comprising:

means for using a first wireless communication system to communicate between a controller and a selected renderer an instruction to utilize the renderer for rendering the content, the first wireless communication system covering a first volume of space;

means for establishing a communications link between a content server serving the content and the renderer, the communication links configured for downloading the content to the renderer;

means for communicating from the controller to the content server serving the content an identification of content to be rendered;

means for downloading the content over the communications link from the content server to the renderer in response to said communicating; and

means for initiating rendering of the content at the renderer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the communications link between the content server and the renderer is established over a second wireless communication system, wherein the second wireless communication system covers a second volume of space larger than said first volume of space.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the renderer includes an audio renderer.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the renderer includes a visual renderer.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the content is downloaded in the form of an encrypted stream of digital data.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein:

said means for using includes

means for pointing an emitter of the controller at a receiver of the renderer; and

means for emitting a signal over the first wireless communications system from the emitter to the receiver.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said means for using includes

means for communicating authentication information from the controller to the renderer, the authentication information configured to authenticate the controller.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said means for using includes

means for communicating configuration information from the controller to the renderer, the configuration information arranged to configure the communications link.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said means for downloading includes

means for determining that the controller is authenticated before downloading content from the content server to the renderer.

21. A system for communicating between a first device and a second device, the first device including a controller and the second device including a content server, the system comprising:

means for communicating wirelessly between from the controller to the content server an identification of content to be communicated;

means for selecting a direction for content communication, a first direction being from the content server to a renderer and a second direction being from a local content server associated with the controller to a renderer or the content server;

means for establishing a communications link for the selected direction of communication; and

means for using a wireless communication system to communicate the content over the established communications link.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein:

said means for selecting includes a multi-state control disposed at the controller, a first state of the multi-state control corresponding to the first direction and a second state of the multi-state control corresponding to the second direction.

23. A controller for controlling the rendering of content in a system, the controller comprising:

a first relatively non-directional wireless communications system for communicating with renderers to obtain a list of available renderers;

a user interface configured to enable a user to select one or more renderers for rendering content; and

a second highly directional wireless communication system configured to communicate a selection of a renderer and set up a communications link between a content server and the selected renderer.

24. The controller of claim 23, wherein:

the controller includes a content server for serving content and the user interface includes controls for selecting the content to be rendered on the selected renderer(s).

25. The controller of claim 23, wherein:

the first and second wireless communications systems operate on different electromagnetic radiation frequencies.

26. The controller of claim 25, wherein the first wireless communications system frequency is less than the second wireless communications system frequency.

27. The controller of claim 23, wherein:

the controller is configured as a sleeve device adapted for coupling to another device; and

the controller, when so coupled, includes a content server for serving content and the user interface includes controls for selecting the content to be rendered on the selected renderer(s).

28. The controller of claim 27, wherein:

the first and second wireless communications systems operate on different electromagnetic radiation frequencies.

29. The controller of claim 28, wherein the first wireless communications system frequency is less than the second wireless communications system frequency.

60. The controller of claim 23, further comprising:

a graphical display device configured to display visually perceivable graphical representations of components available for at least one of content serving and content rendering.

61. The controller of claim 60, further comprising:

a user interface associated with the graphical display and configured to enable a user to select available components displayed on the graphical display for use.

62. The controller of claim 61, wherein the controller automatically assigns and displays graphical representation to particular component.

63. The controller of claim 61, wherein the controller is programmed by a user to assign user-selected and/or user-defined graphical representations for association with particular components.

64. The controller of claim 27, wherein the user interface is configured to use a graphical display of the another device and content selection controls of the another device control the selection of content.

65. The controller of claim 64, wherein the another device is a portable digital music player.

30. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for rendering content on a selected renderer, the method including:

using a first wireless communication system to communicate between a controller and a selected renderer an instruction to utilize the renderer for rendering the content, the first wireless communication system covering a first volume of space;

establishing a communications link between a content server serving the content and the renderer, the communication links configured for downloading the content to the renderer;

communicating from the controller to the content server serving the content an identification of content to be rendered;

downloading the content over the communications link from the content server to the renderer in response to said communicating; and

initiating rendering of the content at the renderer.

31. A method for rendering content, comprising:

communicating using a first highly directional wireless communications system between a portable pointable controller and a renderer; and

configuring a communications link between the renderer and a content server, the communications link configured to operate over a second less directional wireless communications system using information provided in said communicating.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system operate on different electromagnetic radiation frequencies.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the controller includes the content server.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the controller is coupled to a music player device.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

selecting a renderer with said communicating.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

transmitting content from the content server to the renderer over the communications link.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein:

said configuring the communications link includes selecting a renderer and transmitting security, configuration and authentication information.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein:

said selecting a renderer includes pointing the controller at a renderer to be selected and activating a control of a user interface of the controller, and, responsive thereto,

transmitting a renderer selection signal over the first wireless communications system.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein:

said selecting a renderer includes displaying a list of available renderers on a display and using a control of a user interface of the controller to select at least one of the available renderers.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein:

the list is built by the controller in response to pre-programrned instructions.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein:

the list is built by the controller in response to user-programmed instructions.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein:

the list is built by the controller in response to signals received by the controller from available renderers over the first or second communications system.

43. An apparatus for rendering content, comprising:

means for communicating using a first highly directional wireless communications system between a portable pointable controller and a renderer; and

means for configuring a communications link between the renderer and a content server, the communications link configured to operate over a second less directional wireless communications system using information provided in said communicating.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system operate on different electromagnetic radiation frequencies.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the controller includes the content server.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the controller is coupled to a music player device.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising:

means for selecting a renderer with said means for communicating.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising:

means for transmitting content from the content server to the renderer over the communications link.

49. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein:

said means for configuring the communications link includes means for selecting a renderer and means for transmitting security, configuration and authentication information.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein:

said means for selecting a renderer includes means responsive to pointing the controller at a renderer to be selected and activating a control of a user interface of the controller for transmitting a renderer selection signal over the first wireless communications system.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein:

said means for selecting a renderer includes means for displaying a list of available renderers on a display and control means of a user interface of the controller for selecting at least one of the available renderers.

52. A portable pointable controller, comprising:

a local content server;

a local renderer;

a wireless communications system;

a user interface configured to enable a user to selectively upload content using the wireless communications system from a remote content server for rendering on the local renderer.

53. The controller of claim 52, wherein the user interface is further configured to enable a user to selectively download content using the wireless communications system from the local content server to a remote renderer.

55. The controller of claim 52, wherein the user interface is further configured to enable a user to selectively download content using the wireless communications system from the local content server to a remote content server.

56. The controller of claim 53, wherein the user interface includes a directional indication indicating whether an upload or a download is in progress.

57. The controller of claim 55, wherein the user interface includes a directional indication indicating whether an upload or a download is in progress.

54. A portable pointable controller, comprising:

a local content server;

a local renderer;

a wireless communications system;

a user interface configured to enable a user to selectively upload content using the wireless communications system from a remote content server to the local content server.

58. A method for using a portable pointable device having controller capability, optional content server capability and optional renderer capability built into it for using a first communication system to set up a communications link over a second communications system, the method comprising:

using Beacon Packets transmitted by available renderers and/or content servers over the second communications system to facilitate network association and configuration among controllers, content servers and renderers.

59. A method for using a portable pointable device having controller capability, optional content server capability and optional renderer capability built into it for using a first communication system to set up a communications link over a second communications system, the method comprising:

using Probe Request Packets transmitted by controllers, available renderers and/or content servers over the second communications system to facilitate network association and configuration among controllers, available renderers and content servers; and

using Probe Response Packets transmitted in response to the Probe Request Packets transmitted by the controllers, available renderers and/or content servers in order to facilitate the establishment of wireless connections among controllers, available renderers and content servers.

66. A wireless renderer device, comprising:

a first wireless communications system configured to receive a command to use the device for rendering content;

means for configuring the device to receive a stream of content from a selected remote content server;

a second wireless communications system configured to receive the stream of content at the device from the selected remote content server; and

circuitry configured to decode, amplify and render the stream of content.