Multi-Media Center for Computing Systems

• US 20100223553A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas Madden
• Original Assignee: Thomas Madden
• Inventors: Madden, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/778,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20100223553A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Various “media-components” are provided in a “multi-media center.” In modular architecture, a module-controller communicates with media-modules provided for various media-components. A media-module can include or obtain data pertaining to a particular media-component, identify media-player(s), and access information related to their media. However, the media-modules are isolated from each other, and the module-controller effectively controls output generated in response to user input. A user interface library is provided for the media-modules. Media-modules can obtain a template or other tools from the library and construct their user interface (e.g., menus). Media-modules can also identify a media-player that can be initiated in response to user input. Subsequently, the media-controller forwards user input to the media-player.

Claims

1. A method, implemented by a computing system, of providing a multi-media center that includes a plurality of media-components, said method comprising:

configuring a plurality of media-modules for the multi-media center, wherein the plurality of media-modules represents a media-component in the multi-media-center, wherein each of the plurality of media-components includes at least one of digital media and an application program configured to access digital media;

initiating a module-controller configured to communicate with each of the plurality of media-modules;

receiving by the module-controller an input associated with the multi-media center;

identifying at least one of the plurality of media-modules to generate a response to the input received by the module-controller;

forwarding the input to the identified media-module; and

receiving, at the module-controller, a response to the input as determined by the identified media-module.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of media-modules do not directly communicate with each other, and wherein the plurality of media-modules can be dynamically removed or added to the multi-media center.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether to forward the input to another module that is not one of the plurality of media-modules.

4. A computing system for providing a multi-media center that includes a plurality of media-components each including digital media, said computing system comprising:

at least one processor;

a plurality of media-modules, wherein said media-modules include a first media-module that can receive input and generate output; and

a module-controller configured to communicate directly with each of said plurality of media-modules, wherein said module-controller can further operate to;

receive input associated with said multi-media center;

forward said input to a first media-module;

process and generate an output, by said first media-module, in response to said input;

receive said output from said first media-module in response to said input; and

perform at least one operation based on said output, wherein said at least one operation is controlled by the module-controller,

wherein said plurality of media-modules do not communicate with each other or with a multi-media center user and do not control said output.

5. A computer readable medium including at least executable computer program modules stored therein for a multi-media center that includes a plurality of media-components, wherein each of said plurality of media-components includes digital data, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for determining, based on a plurality of media-modules that each respectively represent at least one media-component, a central-user-interface that is used to access the plurality of media-components provided by the multi-media center;

computer program code for receiving input associated with the central-user-interface;

computer program code for determining whether to forward the input to one of the media-modules; and

computer program code for forwarding the input to a first media-module of the plurality of media-modules when the determining determines to forward the input by one of the media-modules,

wherein the plurality of media-modules are isolated from each other and do not directly communicate with each other or with a multi-media center user, but communicate with a module-controller.

6. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for determining which one of the media-modules is to receive the input when the determining determines to forward the input to one of the media-modules;

computer program code for generating, by the first media-component, a first output after associated with the input; and

computer program code for performing, based on the first output, at least a first operation in response to the input associated with the central-user-interface.

7. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 6, wherein the first media-module includes or can obtain data that is output by the first media-module as the first output.

8. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 7,

wherein the data pertains to a menu for the media-module,

wherein the first output is the menu, and

wherein the first operation is displaying the menu as a part of the central-user-interface.

9. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 7,

wherein the first media-module accesses a library to obtain a template for the menu;

and

wherein the first media-module fills the template with the data included in or obtained by the first module.

10. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 6,

wherein the output identifies a first media-player, and

wherein the first operation initiates the first media-player.

11. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for determining whether to process the input by a media-player capable of presenting media; and

computer program code for processing the input by a media-player when the computer program code for determining determines to process the input by a media-player.

12. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the computer program code for determining of whether to process the input by a media-player is performed prior to the computer program code for forwarding.

13. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 5,

wherein each one of the media-modules includes or can obtain information that can be used to generate a main menu for the media-modules, and

wherein the central-user-interface includes each of the main menu for the media-modules.

14. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 13,

wherein at least one of the media-modules includes or can obtain information that can be used to generate one or more submenus for the at least one media-module, and

wherein the central-user-interface includes the one or more submenus for the at least one media-module.

15. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the information includes a number of menu or submenu items, icons, or streaming video.

16. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the module-controller comprises:

computer program code for receiving the input;

computer program code for sending the input to the first media-module;

computer program code for receiving output from the first media-module in response to the input; and

computer program code for performing at least one operation based on the output.

17. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one operation initiates a media-player to present media.

18. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 16,

wherein the at least one operation facilitates display of the output on a display,

wherein the module-controller sends the output to a menu-window for display,

wherein the module-controller forwards the input to a main window, and

wherein main window determines whether to process the input.

19. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 18, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for determining by the main window whether to process the input; and

computer program code for determining by the main window a media-module to process the input when the main window determines not to process the input.

20. A method, implemented by a computing system, of providing a multi-media center that includes a plurality of media-components which each includes digital data and program code to access the digital data, said method comprising:

determining, based on a plurality of media-modules that each respectively represent at least one media-component, a central-user-interface that is used to access the plurality of media-components provided by the multi-media center;

receiving input associated with the central-user-interface;

determining whether to forward the input to one of the media-modules; and

forwarding the input to a first media-module of the plurality of media-modules when the determining determines to forward the input by one of the media-modules,

wherein the plurality of media-modules are isolated from each other and do not directly communicate with each other or with a multi-media center user, but communicate with a module-controller.

21. A computing system for providing a multi-media center that supports digital media, said computing system comprising:

a plurality of media devices, wherein said media devices include a first media device that can receive input and generate output; and

a centralized controller configured to communicate directly with each of said plurality of media devices, wherein said centralized controller is configured to;

receive input associated with said multi-media center;

determine a first media device of said plurality of media device to receive the input;

forward the input to said first media device; and

process and generate an output, by said first media device, in response to the input.

22. A computing system as recited in claim 21, wherein said plurality of media devices communicate with each other by way of said centralized controller.

23. A computing system as recited in claim 21, wherein said centralized controller is further configured to:

receive the output from said first media device in response to the input; and

perform at least one operation based on the output, wherein the at least one operation is controlled by the centralized controller.

24. A computing system as recited in claim 23, wherein the at least one operation being performed comprises presenting media data