Automatic channel generation for home network systems

• US 6,931,593 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grooters, Brandon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Detwiler, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/575,767
• Time in Patent Office: 1,912 Days
• Field of Search: 345/730, 345/733, 345/734, 345/735, 345/736, 345/737, 345/738, 345/739, 345/740, 345/970, 715716-719, 715/727, 715733-738, 715/740, 715/744, 715/760, 715/764, 715/765, 715/810, 709/208, 709/217, 710/1, 710 8- 19
• US Class Current: 715/717
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances

Abstract

An automatic channel generator and a method for generating a channel based upon the utilization of a device and activities occurring on the device. A device is connected to a local network hub, which may be integral to an information appliance. The information appliance is capable of searching the Internet for data associated with media being delivered by a device on the local network system. The aggregates of content can be collected automatically, and its presentation may be customized by a user.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

(a) an information appliance having a graphical user interface and capable of retrieving content via a worldwide network; and

(b) a first device capable of being operably connected with said information appliance, said first device comprises at least one of the following;

a television, a cable box, a satellite receiver, a CD player, a DVD player, a radio tuner, a video game player, a VCR, and a security system;

wherein said information appliance creates a device channel upon detection of said first device and analyzing an audiovisual media delivered by said first device and automatically creating a media sub-channel to said device channel in a format acceptable to a user, said device channel comprising information associated with said first device and content retrieved from said worldwide network relating to said first device, said media sub-channel comprising information associated with said audiovisual media and content retrieved from said worldwide network relating to said audiovisual media, said device channel and media sub-channel being accessible for display via said graphical user interface, said audiovisual media comprises at least one of the following;

audio content, musical content, video content, photographical content, and a video game.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said worldwide network is the Internet.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second device capable of being operably connected to said information appliance.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said graphical user interface comprises a second device channel for said second device.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device channel comprises an aggregation of content comprising at least one of the following:

information regarding the manufacturer of said first device, products available for said first device, instructions for utilization of said first device, and information relating to activities occurring on said first device.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said media sub-channel and said device channel are updated upon subsequent utilization of said first device.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information appliance is configured to create the device channel in response to detecting the initial presence of said first device.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said information appliance is configured to create the media sub-channel in response to analyzing the audiovisual media delivered by said first device.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first device is configured to be capable of making a detection of an audiovisual media event and communicating the detection to the information appliance.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said information appliance is capable of analyzing the audiovisual media delivered by said first device and automatically creating the media sub-channel in response to the detection of the audiovisual media event.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the audiovisual media event comprises placement of the audiovisual media into the first device.

12. A method of automatically generating channels, comprising the steps of:

(a) configuring an information appliance suitable for searching a worldwide network;

(b) formatting said information appliance to include a graphical user interface;

(c) detecting a connection of a first device to said information appliance;

(d) creating a device channel upon detection of said first device;

(e) analyzing audiovisual usage on said device; and

(f) searching said worldwide network for information associated with said first device and an audiovisual media delivered by said first device, said first device comprises at least one of the following;

a television, a cable box, a satellite receiver, a CD player, a DVD player, a radio tuner, a video game player, a VCR, and a security system;

wherein said information appliance automatically places information associated with audiovisual media delivered by said first device and content retrieved from said worldwide network relating to said audiovisual media into a media sub-channel of said device channel acceptable to a user for display via said graphical user interface, said media sub-channel including additional sub-channels, each of said additional sub-channels containing information related to said media sub-channel, said audiovisual media comprises at least one of audio, video, music, a video game, and photography.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said worldwide network is the Internet.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a second device capable of being operably connected to said information appliance.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said graphical user interface comprises a second device channel for said second device.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said device channel comprises an aggregation of content comprising at least one of the following:

information regarding the manufacturer of said first device, products available for said first device, instructions for utilization of said first device, and information relating to activities occurring on said first device.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said media sub-channel and said device channel are updated upon subsequent utilization of said first device.

18. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising creating the device channel in response to detecting the initial presence of said first device.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising creating the media sub-channel in response to analyzing the audiovisual media delivered by said first device.

20. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first device is configured to be capable of making a detection of an audiovisual media event and communicating the detection to the information appliance.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said information appliance is capable of analyzing the audiovisual media delivered by said first device and automatically creating the media sub-channel in response to the detection of the audiovisual media event.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the audiovisual media event comprises placement of the audiovisual media into the first device.

23. A program of instructions storable on a medium readable by an information appliance capable of enabling the information appliance to execute steps for generating a plurality of channels, the steps comprising:

(a) analyzing an audiovisual media delivered by a first device operably connected to an information appliance, said first device comprises at least one of the following;

a television, a cable box, a satellite receiver, a CD player, a DVD player, a radio tuner, a video game player, a VCR, and a security system;

(b) searching a worldwide network for information associated with said first device and audiovisual media delivered by said first device;

(c) creating a graphical user interface; and

(d) organizing information associated with said device and content retrieved from said worldwide network into a device channel, and further organizing audiovisual media and content retrieved from said worldwide network relating to said audiovisual media into a media sub-channel of said device channel in a format acceptable to a user for display via said graphical user interface, said media sub-channel including links to web sites which relate to said audiovisual media, wherein said audiovisual media comprises at least one of audio, video, music, video games, and photography.

24. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein said worldwide network is the Internet.

25. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a second device capable of being operably connected to said information appliance.

26. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 25, wherein said graphical user interface comprises a second device channel for said second device.

27. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein said device channel comprises an aggregation of content comprising at least one of the following:

information regarding the manufacturer of said first device, products available for said first device, instructions for utilization of said first device, and information relating to activities occurring on said first device.

28. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein said media sub-channel and said first device channel are updated upon subsequent utilization of said first device.

29. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first device is configured to be capable of making a detection of an audiovisual media event and communicating the detection to the information appliance.

30. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 29, wherein said information appliance is capable of analyzing the audiovisual media delivered by said first device and automatically creating the media sub-channel in response to the detection of the audiovisual media event.

31. The program of instructions as claimed in claim 29, wherein the audiovisual media event comprises placement of the audiovisual media into the first device.