Control System for Network of Input Devices with Optimization of the Recording Process Based on the Recording Device

• US 20100014834A1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric US Incorporated (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric US Incorporated (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Flynn, Suni
• Application Number:
  US12/174,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20100014834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more particularly, a control system and uniform user interface for centrally controlling these devices in a manner that appears seamless and transparent to the user. In a one embodiment, the control system optimizes the recording process by limiting the selectable source device and the selectable channels of a source device based on the selected sink or recording device.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing the recording process in a home entertainment system including a television and one or more audio or video devices coupled to the television, wherein the one or more audio or video devices include one or more recording sink devices, comprising the steps of

displaying a first prompt on a display of the television prompting a user to select a recording sink device from the one or more audio or video devices coupled to the television,

preventing selection of one or more signal sources based on the user'"'"'s sink device selection, and

displaying a second prompt on the display of the television prompting the user to select a recording signal source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more signal sources includes one or more of the one or more audio or video devices coupled to the television.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more signal sources includes one or more channels of a signal tuner.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of preventing the selection of one or more signal sources includes removing the one or more signal sources from a list of one or more signal sources included in the second prompt.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of preventing the selection of one or more signal sources includes disabling a selection function for the one or more signal sources preventing selection of the one or more signal sources from a list of one or more signal sources included in the second prompt.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of displaying a second prompt on the display of the television includes displaying a visual indication that the one or more signal sources are not selectable from the list of one or more signal sources included in the second prompt.

7. A home entertainment system comprising

a television,

one or more audio or video devices coupled to the television, wherein the one or more audio or video devices include one or more recording sink devices, and

a control system coupled to the television and the one or more audio or video devices, the control system be configured to display a first prompt on a display of the television prompting a user to select a recording sink device from the one or more audio or video devices coupled to the television and prevent the selection of one or more signal sources based on the user'"'"'s sink device selection.

8. The home entertainment system of claim 7 wherein the control system is further configured to display a second prompt on the display of the television prompting the user to select a recording signal source.

9. The home entertainment system of claim 7 wherein the one or more signal sources includes one or more of the one or more audio or video devices coupled to the television.

10. The home entertainment system of claim 7 wherein the one or more signal sources includes one or more channels of a signal tuner.