Inventory of Home Entertainment System Devices Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub

• US 20080066123A1
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Technology Patents & Licensing Incorporated
• Inventors: Kravets, Leonid, Igoe, Patrick T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,319,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 in which transmission is by pulses
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• 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 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/414 Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• 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 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440209 : for formatting on an optical medium, e.g. DVD
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44029 : for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 : involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 : Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 : Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• 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 52/0267 : by controlling user interface components
• 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 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• 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 detecting missing devices in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub includes obtaining a registration of at least one device that includes a source device. An instruction is received from a user to present program content from the source device. A set of one or more sink devices missing from the home entertainment system for a presentation of the program content based on an assessment by the wireless home entertainment hub of presentation capabilities of the home entertainment system using the at least one device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub is determined. The set of one or more sink devices is presented to the user.

Claims

1. A method of detecting missing devices in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a registration of at least one device, wherein the at least one device includes a source device;

(b) receiving an instruction from a user to present program content from the source device;

(c) determining a set of one or more sink devices missing from the home entertainment system for a presentation of the program content based on an assessment by the wireless home entertainment hub of presentation capabilities of the home entertainment system using the at least one device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

(d) presenting the set of one or more sink devices to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) receiving an indication from the user that a subset of the set of one or more sink devices are present in the home entertainment system; and

(f) obtaining a registration for the subset of the set of one or more devices corresponding to the missing device types.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the program content includes more audio channels than audio sink devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the program content includes more video channels than display devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

5. The method of claim 1, where the assessment includes obtaining the number of audio channels contained in the program content.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the number of audio channels contained in the program content is compared with the number of audio channels supported by audio sink devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

7. The method of claim 1, where the assessment includes obtaining the number of video channels contained in the program content.

8. A method of detecting missing devices in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a registration of at least one device;

(b) comparing each device of the at least one device with a list of device types, wherein the list of device types is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub;

(c) matching each device of the at least one device with a device type in the list of device types;

(d) determining a set of missing device types from the list of device types corresponding to unmatched device types, wherein the missing device types are not matched with the at least one device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

(e) presenting the set of missing device types to a user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

(f) receiving an indication from the user that one or more devices corresponding to the missing device types are present in the home entertainment system; and

(g) obtaining a registration for the one or more devices corresponding to the missing device types.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one device includes a source device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least on device includes a sink device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the list of device types includes device types with a capability of obtaining a registration with the wireless home entertainment hub.

13. A method of presenting advertisements to a user for devices missing from a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining information about the user;

(b) obtaining a registration of at least one device;

(c) determining a set of devices missing from the home entertainment system; and

(d) presenting advertisements to a user corresponding to one or more missing devices from the set of missing devices.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the set of missing devices is determined based upon an assessment of presentation capabilities of the at least one device to present program content from a source device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the set of missing devices is determined based on matching the at least one device with a list of device types that are capable of obtaining a registration with the wireless home entertainment hub.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one device includes a source device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one device includes a sink device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the information about the user includes at least one e-mail address.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the information about the user is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the information about the user is retrieved by accessing a computer network.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the presenting of step (d) includes displaying the advertisements on a display device.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the presenting of step (d) includes delivering the advertisements to the user in an e-mail.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements are stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements are downloaded from a computer network.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements are obtained from a set-top box.

26. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements include general advertisements for each type of device capable of being registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

27. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements include manufacturer brand specific advertisements for devices capable of being registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

28. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements are presented to the user before presentation of programming requested by the user.

29. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements are substituted for advertisements contained in the programming.

30. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements are presented to the user for a predetermined length of time after the device is detected as missing.

31. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements are presented to a user for missing device types during a predetermined range of dates in a calendar year.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the predetermined range of dates corresponds to an annual peak in consumer spending on devices used in a home entertainment system.

33. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisements are presented to a user for missing device types during a predetermined range of times in a day.