User Directed Device Registration Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub

• US 20080065231A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Porto Vinci Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Technology Patents & Licensing Incorporated
• Inventors: Igoe, Patrick T.
• Application Number:
  US11/535,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20080065231A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/08 by combining tones G10H1/14, G10H1/16 take precedence; chord G10H1/38
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440209 for formatting on an optical medium, e.g. DVD
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of registering source devices and sink devices with a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system includes activating a first registration actuator associated with the wireless home entertainment hub and activating a second registration actuator associated with a first source device in the home entertainment system. The activation of the second registration actuator causes an indication of the registration of the first source device with the wireless home entertainment hub to be stored in the wireless home entertainment hub and the first source device. A designation for a first sink device in the home entertainment system is selected and the first registration actuator is activated. A third registration actuator is activated, such that the third registration actuator causes an indication of the registration of the selected sink device with the wireless home entertainment hub to be stored in the wireless home entertainment hub and the selected sink device. Data is transmitted from one of the registered source devices to one of the registered sink devices.

Claims

1. A method of registering source devices and sink devices with a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, the method comprising:

(a) activating a first registration actuator associated with the wireless home entertainment hub;

(b) activating a second registration actuator associated with a first source device of one or more source devices in the home entertainment system, wherein the activation of the second registration actuator causes an indication of the registration of the first source device with the wireless home entertainment hub to be stored in the wireless home entertainment hub and the first source device;

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for each of the source devices in the home entertainment system;

(d) selecting a designation for a first sink device of one or more sink devices in the home entertainment system;

(e) activating the first registration actuator associated with the wireless home entertainment hub;

(f) activating a third registration actuator associated with the selected sink device, wherein the activating of the third registration actuator causes an indication of the registration of the selected sink device with the wireless home entertainment hub to be stored in the wireless home entertainment hub and the selected sink device;

(g) repeating steps (d)-(f) for each of the sink devices the home entertainment system; and

(h) transmitting data from one of the registered source devices to one of the registered sink devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sink devices include a plurality of wireless speakers for presenting audio data to a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sink devices include a display device for presenting video data to a user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the display device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the source devices are wireless devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sink devices are wireless devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of step (d) includes identifying the position of a wireless speaker in a plurality of wireless speakers used in the home entertainment system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein activation of the first registration actuator includes pressing a button on the wireless home entertainment hub.

9. A method of registering a device with a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining an indication that a first registration actuator on the wireless home entertainment hub has been activated;

(b) receiving an indication that a second registration actuator on an unregistered device has been activated;

(c) storing an indication of registration of the device with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

(d) transmitting to the device an instruction to store an indication of the registration of the device with the wireless home entertainment hub.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the device is a wireless device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the unregistered device is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication of registration includes a unique device identifier for the device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the instruction includes a unique hub identifier for the wireless home entertainment hub.

14. A method of registering a device with a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining an indication that a registration actuator on the device has been activated;

(b) transmitting to the wireless home entertainment hub an indication that the registration actuator has been activated;

(c) receiving an instruction to store an indication of registration of the device with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

(d) storing an indication of the registration of the device with the wireless home entertainment hub.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the device is a wireless device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication that the registration actuator has been activated includes a unique device identifier for the device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the instruction includes a unique hub identifier for the wireless home entertainment hub.

18. A wireless home entertainment hub for registering a device in a home entertainment system, the wireless home entertainment hub comprising:

a memory for storing an indication of registration of one or more devices in the home entertainment system;

a first actuator for initiating the registration of at least one of the devices with the wireless home entertainment hub;

a transmitter for transmitting an indication that the first actuator has been activated;

a receiver for receiving an indication that a second actuator on the at least one device has been activated; and

a processor configured to facilitate the registration of devices with the wireless home entertainment hub.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a display device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a remote control device.