SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SAVING AND RESTORING SCENES IN A MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM

• US 20100052843A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cannistraro, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,519,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.320
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• 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 21/4532 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 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/035 : Circuits for the digital non-picture data signal, e.g. for slicing of the data signal, for regeneration of the data-clock signal, for error detection or correction of the data signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 : Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system with minimal configuration are provided. The techniques of the present invention can allow the states of the components in the multimedia system to be captured in a scene. Once the scene has been saved, the scene can be restored at a later time. A remote control system for recommending scenes by comparing states of components in the current scene with states of components in saved scenes is also provided. The remote control system can also recommend scenes based on usage patterns. Moreover, the remote control system can allow users to designate one or more saved scenes as favorite scenes.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a user to save states of components comprising:

discovering at least one component operative to be controlled by an electronic device;

receiving a state broadcast from the at least one component, wherein the state comprises software and hardware settings of the at least one component;

detecting a user instruction to save the state; and

saving the state of the at least one component in response to detecting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component includes devices and applications.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein discovering comprises:

receiving at least one identifier based on the internet protocol address of the at least one component broadcast from one or more servers on the at least one component; and

establishing a communications link with the at least one component.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a graphic image with at least one movable portion at least partially reflecting controls of the at least one component; and

enabling the user to control the state of the at least one component by displacing the at least one movable portion.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the user with an option for saving a scene that includes the state of the at least one component.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein providing comprises:

identifying the scene with a label assigned to the scene.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein providing further comprises:

providing the user with an option to delete the at least one component from the scene.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein providing further comprises:

allowing the user to set up the scene in which the state of the at least one component changes with time.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

transmitting remote control commands to change the state of the at least one component;

receiving user instruction to save the scene; and

saving the scene with the changed state of the at least one component.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

replacing a previously saved scene with the scene.

11. A method for allowing a user to restore states of components comprising:

receiving a user instruction to restore a scene that includes the state of at least one component;

retrieving the state of the at least one component from a preference file;

transmitting the state to the at least one component if the at least one component is operative to be controlled;

receiving a user instruction to edit the scene; and

providing options for a user to delete the at least one component from the scene and add a new available component to the scene.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting comprises:

skipping the at least one component if the at least one component is not operative to be controlled.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein transmitting further comprises:

suggesting alternative components to substitute for the at least one component if the at least one component is not operative to be controlled.

14. An electronic device for saving a scene comprising:

memory for saving the scene;

an input mechanism for receiving user inputs; and

a processor operative to;

detect an input received by the input mechanism to save the scene;

create a listing comprising one or more components; and

receive a user selection of components from the listing to include in the scene; and

save the scene to memory, wherein the scene includes states associated with the selected components.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the listing is organized based on one or more criteria.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the listing is organized based on locations of the one or more components.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the listing is organized based on categories of the one or more components.

18. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processor is operative to save the scene as a preference file in a markup language format.

19. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processor is operative to automatically restore the scene at a certain time by transmitting the states to the selected components.

20. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processor is operative to receive a user input to delete at least one of the selected components from the scene.

21. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the processor is operative to receive a user input to add a new available component to the scene.

22. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein the processor, based on the user input to add the new available component to the scene, is operative to provide a listing of components that can be controlled but have not already been included in the scene.

26. The remote control system of claim 22, wherein the processor is operative to receive designation from user input of at least one of the one or more scenes as a favorite scene.

23. An electronic device comprising:

memory for saving one or more scenes; and

a processor operative to;

identify current states of components, wherein the combination of the current states of the components forms a current scene;

determine recommended scenes by comparing the current states of the components to states of components in the one or more scenes; and

provide the recommended scenes to a user.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein the processor is operative to determine the recommended scenes by comparing genre of media playing in the current scene with genre of media playing in the one or more scenes.

25. The remote control system of claim 23, wherein the processor is operative to determine the recommended scenes based on usage patterns.