CONTROLLER AND CONTROL METHOD FOR MEDIA RETRIEVAL, ROUTING AND PLAYBACK
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
a display screen coupled to the processor;
an input device operable to accept user input from a user; and
memory coupled to the processor, the memory including logic operable when executed by the processor to solicit information from a user, the logic having access to information regarding operation of a plurality of controllable devices that are remote from the apparatus, information regarding content for playback, and information regarding controls available for each respective controllable devices; and
the playback capabilities of each controllable device, wherein the logic is further operable when executed by the processor to generate a visual display of a user interface on the display screen that includes set of locations where there are one or more playback devices, such that a user can select one of the different locations for playback using the input device, and further select one or more items of content for playback, such that as a result of accepting user input a content item for playback at the selected location, and an indication to playback the selected content item, the remote control device causes playback of the content item at the selected location.
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Abstract
A remote control device for controlling a plurality of controllable devices, and a method for controlling devices using a remote control device. The remote control device includes a processor, a display screen coupled to the processor, and memory coupled to the processor, the memory including a program module to solicit information from a user. The program module has access to information regarding the operation of the plurality of controllable devices and which controllable device performs a selected function during operation of an activity. The program module generates a screen displayable on the display screen that includes different locations for playback, and a mechanism for the user to select one of the different locations for playback. As a result of a user providing the remote control device with an indication of the selected location for playback, and an item for playback at the selected location, the remote control device causes playback of the item at the selected location.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor;
a display screen coupled to the processor;
an input device operable to accept user input from a user; and
memory coupled to the processor, the memory including logic operable when executed by the processor to solicit information from a user, the logic having access to information regarding operation of a plurality of controllable devices that are remote from the apparatus, information regarding content for playback, and information regarding controls available for each respective controllable devices; and
the playback capabilities of each controllable device,wherein the logic is further operable when executed by the processor to generate a visual display of a user interface on the display screen that includes set of locations where there are one or more playback devices, such that a user can select one of the different locations for playback using the input device, and further select one or more items of content for playback, such that as a result of accepting user input a content item for playback at the selected location, and an indication to playback the selected content item, the remote control device causes playback of the content item at the selected location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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causing a screen of a remote control device to display a user interface that includes a set of locations where there are one or more playback devices and one or more controls operable by a user of the remote control device to select one or more of the locations for playback;
receiving from the remote control device a user selection of one or more locations for playback;
causing the remote control device to provide for the user a mechanism to select from a set of content items for playback at the selected one or more locations; and
receiving from the remote control device a user selection of one or more of the set of content items and an instruction to playback the selected one or more content items, such that as a result of user'"'"'s selecting to playback the one or more content items using the remote control device, playback of the selected one or more content items occurs at the selected more locations. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Logic embodied on one or more tangible computer readable media, the logic for execution in one or more processing systems that are coupled to a network, the logic comprising:
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control point logic that when executed in one of the processing systems is operable to communicate with one or more media players and/or with one or more media servers, each media player and media server coupled to the network and conforming to a standard that uses a standard communication control protocol, the control point logic when executed further operable to control any one of media players and any one of the media servers using the standard communication control protocol, the control protocol able to cause playback at a selected media player of a selected item of content of a selected media server, the playback including transfer of the data of the selected item of content from the selected media server to the selected media player; and
control server logic that when executed in one of the processing systems is able to communicate with the control point logic, and is operable to access a control database including information for controlling one or more of the media players and media servers, the control server logic further operable to receive data from one or more remote control devices, the control server module operable to interpret data received from a selected remote control device and to cause the control point module to control any one of media players and/or any one of the media servers according to the received data. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification