HOME NETWORK COMPONENT CONTROLLING DATA AND FUNCTION OF ANOTHER HOME NETWORK COMPONENT

• US 20110085082A1
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Patil, Abhishek P., Liu, Aixin, Nguyen, Djung, Jing, Xiangpeng
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/552
• 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: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• 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 21/43615 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

Abstract

Aggregated service and feature sharing is provided in a home network, in which users can freely enjoy not only the shared content, but also the unique features provided by each device anywhere in the network. The service sharing feature allows one device to control and use shared hardware or software functionalities provided by other devices in the network.

Claims

1. System comprising:

at least one user component including a processor and a user input device inputting signals to the processor;

at least one service component communicating with the user component over a home network, the service component including a processor, wherein the processors cooperate to;

discover each component in the home network;

each processor publishing to the home network services provided by the respective component, each processor receiving information indicating services published by components in the network other than the processor receiving information;

the user component receiving user invocation signals to invoke a service of the service component;

the user component receiving user service signals and sending the user service signals over the network to the service component to cause the service component to provide the service in accordance with the user service signals; and

the user component receiving back over the home network a service output from the service component representing a result of executing the service, the service output being presented on the user component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user component presents user interfaces (UI) to permit a user to select, using the user component, a service of the service component and then to invoke and control, by inputting commands to the user component, the service component to execute the service.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user component presents on a display a component screen that lists available discovered components on the network, the user providing input using the component screen to select the service component.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the response to selecting the service component from the user component, the user component presents a list of services provided by service component from which a user can select to cause the service component to execute the service and return results therefrom to the user component over the network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the service component is a wireless telephone and provides a call service, input at the user component being received from an input device associated with the user component to invoke the call service, a sub-menu being caused to appear on the user component instructing the user to manipulate the input device to input a telephone number to the user component which then sends the number to the telephone through the network to cause the telephone to dial the number, the telephone sending back audio data associated with the call over the network for audible or visual presentation thereof on the user component.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the telephone sends back a ring tone which is presented on the user component, a user'"'"'s voice input being received at the user component and sent to the telephone and thence to a wide area telephony network with a called party'"'"'s voice being presented on the user component, such that the call service of the telephone is used through the user component.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the service component is a wireless telephone and provides a “

retrieve position”

service, the user manipulating an input device associated with the user component to select the retrieve position service, the user component in response sending a message to the telephone over the network to report its position as indicated by a position receiver of the telephone, the position being sent from the telephone to the user component for display thereof on the user component.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the service component is a wireless telephone and provides a “

purchase content”

service, the user manipulating an input device associated with the user component to select the purchase content service, a submenu being presented on the user component instructing the user to input to the user component via the input device purchase information, the user component sending the purchase information to the telephone over the home network and in response the telephone transmitting an order for content over a wide area telephony network.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the service component is a wireless telephone and provides a short message text service, the user manipulating an input device associated with the user component to select the text service, a submenu being presented on the user component instructing the user to input to the user component via the input device a phone number and text message using the input device, the information input to the user component being sent over the home network to the telephone which dials the number and sends the message received from the user component.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the service component includes a camera and provides a picture taking service, the user manipulating an input device associated with the user component to select the picture taking service, a submenu being presented on the user component instructing the user to input to the user component via the input device a take picture signal, the take picture signal being sent to the service component to cause the service component to capture an image or a video, images from the service component being sent over the network to the user component for display thereof on the user component.

11. A method comprising:

presenting on a TV content viewable by a user;

enabling the user to input to the TV service control signals to control services provided uniquely by other components communicating with the TV over a home network, the services including at least one of adjusting settings of a component, accessing GPS location information of a telephone, purchasing and downloading music/movies, sending text messages via a telephone, establishing content syncing for all components in a home network from any component in the network a user may choose, turning on/off a camera, taking a picture on a telephone or computer and sending the picture back to the TV for presentation thereof on the TV, remotely retrieving voicemail messages on a telephone.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

causing all components in the network to discover each other;

publishing to the home network services provided by respective components, each component receiving information indicating services published by components in the network other than the component receiving information;

receiving at a user component in the network user invocation signals to invoke a service of a service component in the network;

receiving user service signals and sending the user service signals over the network to the service component to cause the service component to provide the service in accordance with the user service signals; and

receiving back over the home network a service output from the service component representing a result of executing the service, the service output being presented on the user component.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user component presents user interfaces (UI) to permit a user to select, using the user component, a service of the service component and then to invoke and control, by inputting commands to the user component, the service component to execute the service.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user component presents on a display a component screen that lists available discovered components on the network, the user providing input using the component screen to select the service component.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the response to selecting the service component from the user component, the user component presents a list of services provided by service component from which a user can select to cause the service component to execute the service and return results therefrom to the user component over the network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the service component is a wireless telephone and provides a call service, input at the user component being received from an input device associated with the user component to invoke the call service, a sub-menu being caused to appear on the user component instructing the user to manipulate the input device to input a telephone number to the user component which then sends the number to the telephone through the network to cause the telephone to dial the number, the telephone sending back audio data associated with the call over the network for audible or visual presentation thereof on the user component.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the telephone sends back a ring tone which is presented on the user component, a user'"'"'s voice input being received at the user component and sent to the telephone and thence to a wide area telephony network with a called party'"'"'s voice being presented on the user component, such that the call service of the telephone is used through the user component.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the service component is a wireless telephone and provides at least one of:

(a) a “

retrieve position”

service, the user manipulating an input device associated with the user component to select the retrieve position service, the user component in response sending a message to the telephone over the network to report its position as indicated by a position receiver of the telephone, the position being sent from the telephone to the user component for display thereof on the user component;

(b) a “

purchase content”

service, the user manipulating an input device associated with the user component to select the purchase content service, a submenu being presented on the user component instructing the user to input to the user component via the input device purchase information, the user component sending the purchase information to the telephone over the home network and in response the telephone transmitting an order for content over a wide area telephony network;

(c) a short message text service, the user manipulating an input device associated with the user component to select the text service, a submenu being presented on the user component instructing the user to input to the user component via the input device a phone number and text message using the input device, the information input to the user component being sent over the home network to the telephone which dials the number and sends the message received from the user component.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the service component includes a camera and provides a picture taking service, the user manipulating an input device associated with the user component to select the picture taking service, a submenu being presented on the user component instructing the user to input to the user component via the input device a take picture signal, the take picture signal being sent to the service component to cause the service component to capture an image, images from the service component being sent over the network to the user component for display thereof on the user component.

20. Method comprising:

providing plural components in a home network;

providing aggregated service and feature sharing in the home network, in which users can freely enjoy not only the content, but also the unique features provided by each component from a user component anywhere in the network.