Device constellation management

• US 7,603,385 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sinclair, Michael, Horvitz, Eric, Frank, Alexander, Baribault, Gregory, Forbes, Scott C., Panabaker, Ruston John David
• Primary Examiner(s): LeRoux; Etienne P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Witzenburg; Bruce A
• Application Number:
  US11/561,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/2, 707/10, 707/100, 707/104.1, 709/204, 709/205, 709/207, 709/220, 709/221, 709/238, 709/243, 709/248
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for managing a plurality of devices in a federated network and a sub-network within the federated network. The devices in the sub-network may have a functional capability of performing a function associated with the federated network. For example, the federated network may include devices for providing data content such as media content and the sub-network may include devices for controlling the presentation of the data content. In addition, a constellation of devices is provided that may share data content such as media data. At least some of the devices in the constellation may form a sub-network.

Claims

1. A method of managing a plurality of devices in a federated network comprising:

forming a federated network comprising a plurality of devices; and

federating a sub-network of devices within the federated network comprising at least a portion of the plurality of devices, wherein the devices in the sub-network of devices have a capability of performing a function associated with the federated network and the function associated with the federated network comprises control of play of media data, and wherein the media data is initially played on a first device in the plurality of devices; and

in response to the first device moving to within a predetermined distance of a second device in the plurality of devices, automatically beginning play of the media data on the second device and discontinuing play of the media data on the first device;

wherein play of the media data provides the media data to a user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sub-network comprises at least one device of the plurality of devices, the at least one device including a functional capability corresponding to a function of the sub-network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the devices in the federated network not included in the sub-network of devices lack the capability of performing the function associated with the federated network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming the sub-network of devices includes:

receiving a message from a device in the plurality of devices, the message including an indication of capabilities of the device; and

selecting the device for the sub-network based on the message.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of selecting the device includes:

comparing the indicated capability of the device in the message with the function associated with the federated network;

determining a match between the indicating capability of the device and the function associated with the federated network; and

selecting the device for the sub-network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the devices in the federated network share content.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein only the devices in the sub-network perform the function.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein media data is provided by the first device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein play of the media data continues on the second device while the first device is within the predetermined distance of the second device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the sub-network of devices includes the first device.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the devices in the plurality of devices receive metadata corresponding to the media data.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device controls the playing of the media data after the first device moves to within the predetermined distance of the second device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second device is outside of the sub-network of devices.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of federating a sub-network of devices includes forming at least a first plurality of sub-networks of devices and a second plurality of sub-network of devices, each of the devices in each of the first and second pluralities of sub-networks of devices comprising devices selected from the plurality of devices of the federated network.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein a first sub-network of devices contains a first function and a second sub-network of devices contains a second function, and

wherein each of the first and second sub-networks of devices federates independently.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device controls an audible play volume of the media data on the second device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device controls a play balance of the media data on the second device.

18. A constellation of devices configured to enable devices to automatically join the constellation, wherein the devices participate in the constellation according to their capabilities as communicated within the constellation, and the constellation comprises first and second devices wherein the first device is configured to a) play and control media data, b) federate with the second device, c) and in response to the federation and the first device moving to within a predetermined distance of the second device, transfer play of the media data to the second device and discontinue play of the media data on the first device and control play of the media data on the second device;

and

wherein play of the media data provides the media data to a user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first device is configured to control an audible play volume of the media data on the second device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first device is configured to control a play balance controls a play balance of the media data on the second device.