Location-based sharing of multimedia control resources

• US 8,213,463 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Noonan, Michael E., Silva, Michael C., Callan, Wilson
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENSAH, PRINCE AKWASI
• Application Number:
  US12/204,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20100054275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 370/532, 370/534, 370/541, 725/105, 725/133, 725/141, 725/143, 725/153, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 370/532
• 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: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

In one embodiment, a multimedia resource is shared among a plurality of devices based upon a physical location of an active wireless endpoint unit within a structure. Devices are associated with corresponding zones within the structure. Each device provides functionality within the device'"'"'s corresponding zone. Using one of a number of techniques, the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit is determined to be within a particular zone. In response, one or more devices associated with the particular zone are provided with access to the multimedia control resources. Access is withheld to one or more other devices associated with another zone that is remote from the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit.

Claims

1. A method for sharing a multimedia control resource among a plurality of devices based upon a physical location of an active wireless endpoint unit within a structure, the method comprising:

associating devices with corresponding zones within the structure, each device to provide functionality within the device'"'"'s corresponding zone;

determining, by a controller, that the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit is within a first zone;

in response to the determining, providing one or more devices associated with the first zone with access to the multimedia control resource; and

withholding access to the multimedia control resource from one or more other devices associated with a second zone that is remote from the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit,

where the multimedia control resource comprises special-purpose circuitry and/or general-purpose circuitry separate from the active wireless endpoint unit and that is operable to control, switch data to and/or interoperate with the one or more devices associated with the first zone and the one or more other devices associated with the second zone.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit has changed to be within the second zone;

in response to the determining that the physical location has changed, providing the one or more other devices, of the plurality of devices, that are associated with the second zone with access to the multimedia control resource; and

withholding access to the multimedia control resource from the one or more devices, of the plurality of devices, that are associated with the first zone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia control resource is an on-screen display (OSD) processing module that mixes graphics with video images.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the one or more devices associated with the first zone include a video source device and a display device, and the providing comprises:

switching the video source device to an input connection of the OSD processing module; and

switching the display device an output connection of the OSD processing module.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein access to the multimedia control resource is provided by a programmable multimedia controller.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining further comprises:

receiving a short-range wireless signal at the active wireless endpoint unit; and

reading a zone identifier (ID) from the short-range wireless signal, the zone ID identifying the first zone within the structure.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

transmitting, by the active wireless endpoint, a long-range wireless signal that includes the zone ID received in the short-range wireless signal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the long-range wireless signal is a radio frequency (RF) wireless signal.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the reading further comprises reading a wireless bridge ID from the short-range wireless signal and wherein the long range wireless signal is transmitted to a wireless bridge corresponding to the wireless bridge ID.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the short-range wireless signal is an infrared (IR) wireless signal.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the short-range wireless signal is received from a zone beacon associated with the first zone.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining comprises receiving a zone selection from a user operating a user interface element.

13. A system comprising:

a multimedia control resource;

a wireless endpoint unit configured to identify its physical location as within a particular zone within a structure; and

a controller configured to associate each of a plurality of devices within the structure with a corresponding zone in which the device provides functionality, and, in response to the physical location of the wireless endpoint unit being within a first zone, to provide one or more devices associated with the first zone with access to the multimedia control resource, and to withhold access to the multimedia control resource from one or more other devices associated with a second zone that is remote from the physical location of the wireless endpoint unit, where the multimedia control resource comprises special-purpose circuitry and/or general-purpose circuitry separate from the active wireless endpoint unit and that is operable to control, switch data to and/or interoperate with the one or more devices associated with the first zone and the one or more other device associated with the second zone.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to receiving an indication that the physical location has changed to be located with the second zone, provide the one or more other devices associated with the second zone with access to the multimedia control resource, and to withhold access to the multimedia control resource from the one or more devices associated with the first zone.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the multimedia control resource is an on-screen display (OSD) processing module that mixes graphics with video images.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the controller is a programmable multimedia controller.

17. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a zone beacon configured to transmit a short-range wireless signal to the wireless endpoint unit, the short-range wireless signal to include a zone identifier (ID) that indicates a particular zone.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a wireless bridge configured to receive a long-range wireless signal transmitted from the active wireless endpoint, the long-range wireless signal to include the zone ID received in the short-range wireless signal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the long-range wireless signal is a radio frequency (RF) wireless signal.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the short-range wireless signal further includes a wireless bridge ID that identifies the wireless bridge.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the short-range wireless signal is an infrared (IR) wireless signal.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable program instructions for sharing a multimedia control resource among a plurality of devices based upon a physical location of an active wireless endpoint unit within a structure, the program instructions when executed operable to:

associate devices with corresponding zones within the structure;

determine that the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit is within a first zone;

provide one or more devices associated with the first zone with access to the multimedia control resource; and

withhold access to the multimedia control resource from one or more other devices associated with a second zone that is remote from the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit, where the multimedia control resource comprises special-purpose circuitry and/or general-purpose circuitry separate from the active wireless endpoint unit and that is operable to control, switch data to and/or interoperate with the one or more devices associated with the first zone and the one or more other devices associated with the second zone.