Home network component controlling data and function of another home network component

• US 8,606,896 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• 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: Jing, Xiangpeng, Patil, Abhishek P., Liu, Aixin, Nguyen, Djung
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mesa, Joel
• Application Number:
  US12/575,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20110085082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/226
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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 configured for inputting signals to the processor;

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

discover each component in the home network;

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

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

the user component configured for 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 configured for receiving back over the home network a service output from the service component representing a result of executing the service, the service output being configured for being presented on the user component, wherein in response to selecting the service component from the user component, the user component is configured to present a list of services provided by the 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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user component is configured to present 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 is configured to present 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 1, 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.

5. The system of claim 4, 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.

6. The system of claim 1, 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.

7. The system of claim 1, 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.

8. The system of claim 1, 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.

9. The system of claim 1, 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.

10. System comprising:

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

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

discover components in the home network;

at least one processor being configured for publishing to the home network services provided by the respective component, at least one processor being configured for receiving information indicating services published by components in the network other than the processor receiving information;

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

the user component configured for 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 configured for receiving back over the home network a service output from the service component representing a result of executing the service, the service output being configured for being presented on the user component, wherein the service component is a game console and the user component is configured to control the game console to download a computer game for play on the game console under control of the user component, wherein in response to selecting the service component from the user component, the user component is configured to present a list of services provided by the 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.

11. 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 components in the home network;

at least one processor publishing to the home network services provided by the respective component, at least one 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, wherein the service component is a game console and the user component controls the game console to schedule play of an online computer game, wherein in response to selecting the service component from the user component, the user component is configured to present a list of services provided by the 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.