Control of Data Presentation from Multiple Sources Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub

• US 20080068152A1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• 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: Igoe, Patrick T
• Granted Patent: US 9,233,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• 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 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08

Abstract

A method for controlling presentation of data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system includes obtaining a registration for a plurality of source devices and for one or more sink devices. A first indication that a first source device from the plurality of source devices has become active is received at the wireless home entertainment hub. A second indication that a second source device from the plurality of source devices has become active is received. A first instruction is transmitted to at least one of the sink devices to receive data from the first active source device. A second instruction is transmitted to at least one of the sink devices to receive data from the second active source device. A first indication is transmitted to the first active source that at least one sink device is ready to receive data, and a second indication is transmitted to the second active source that at least one sink device is ready to receive data.

Claims

1. A method for controlling presentation of data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a registration for a plurality of source devices;

(b) obtaining a registration for one or more sink devices;

(c) receiving at the wireless home entertainment hub a first indication that a first source device from the plurality of source devices has become active;

(d) receiving a second indication that a second source device from the plurality of source devices has become active;

(e) transmitting a first instruction to at least one of the sink devices to receive data from the first active source device;

(f) transmitting a second instruction to at least one of the sink devices to receive data from the second active source device;

(g) transmitting a first indication to the first active source that at least one sink device is ready to receive data; and

(h) transmitting a second indication to the second active source that at least one sink device is ready to receive data.

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 a source device becomes active based on an instruction received the wireless home entertainment hub.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a source device becomes active based on action on the respective source device by a user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of step (e) includes an instruction broadcast to the sink units.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of step (e) includes an instruction transmitted to each of sink units.

11. A method for receiving data for presentation by a sink device from a source device in a home entertainment system, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a registration of the sink device with a wireless home entertainment hub;

(b) receiving at the sink device a first instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub to receive data from a first active source device;

(c) receiving a second instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub to receive data from a second active source device;

(e) receiving data from the first active source device;

(f) receiving data from the second active source device; and

(f) mixing at the sink device the data from the first active source device and second active source device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

(g) presenting the mixed data to a user.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

(g) in response to the first instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub to receive data, ensuring that the sink device is in an active state.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the sink device is a wireless speaker for presenting audio data to a user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the sink device is a display device for presenting video data to a user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the display device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the sink device is a wireless device.

18. The method of claim 111 wherein the data received from the first active source device and the second active source device matches the presentation capabilities of the sink device.

19. A wireless home entertainment hub for controlling presentation of data in a home entertainment system, the wireless home entertainment hub comprising:

a memory for storing registration information for a plurality of source devices and one or more sink devices;

a receiver for receiving indications of activity of at least one sink device of the plurality of source devices;

a transmitter for transmitting instructions to at least one of the sink devices to receive data from the active source devices and indications to the active source devices that at least one of the sink devices is ready to receive data; and

a processor configured to facilitate transfer of the data between the source devices and the sink devices in response to indications of activity of at least two of the source devices.

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

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a remote control unit.