Control of data presentation in multiple zones using a wireless home entertainment hub

• US 8,607,281 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Porto Vinci Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Igoe, Patrick T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): OKEKE, ONYEDIKA C
• Application Number:
  US11/563,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,570 Days
• Field of Search: 725/78, 725 80- 81
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• 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 21/440209 for formatting on an optical medium, e.g. DVD
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of presenting program data in a multiple zones of a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub includes obtaining a registration of a plurality of source device and sink devices at the wireless home entertainment hub. An assignment of a zone corresponding to each sink device of the plurality of sink devices is stored. A first selection of a first source device and a first zone for presentation of a first set of program data from the first source device is received. A first instruction to the first source device to transmit the first set of program data is transmitted, and a second instruction to a first subset of sink devices in the first zone to receive program data from the first source device is transmitted.

Claims

1. A method of presenting program data in multiple zones of a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

obtaining by the wireless home entertainment hub a registration with each of a plurality of source devices and each of a plurality of sink devices, the registrations establishing wireless communication between each of the plurality of source devices and the wireless home entertainment hub and wireless communication between each of the plurality of sink devices and the wireless home entertainment hub;

storing by the wireless home entertainment hub indications of the registrations with each of the plurality of source devices and the plurality of sink devices;

automatically partitioning by the wireless home entertainment hub the plurality of sink devices into a plurality of zones based on locations of the plurality of sink devices included in the home entertainment system;

storing by the wireless home entertainment hub an assignment of one of the plurality of zones for each sink device of the plurality of sink devices;

receiving by the wireless home entertainment hub a first selection of a first source device and a first zone for presentation of a first set of program data from the first source device;

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a first instruction to the first source device to transmit the first set of program data;

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a second instruction to a first subset of sink devices assigned to the first zone to receive the first set of program data directly from the first source device; and

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a third instruction to the first source device to increment an internal reference count upon determining no sink devices in the first zone other than the first subset of sink devices presenting the first set of program data, the internal reference count representing a current number of zones receiving data from the first source device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving by the wireless home entertainment hub a second selection of a second source device and a second zone for presentation of second set of program data from the second source device, wherein the first source device is concurrently transmitting the first set of program data directly to the first subset of sink devices assigned to the first zone in the home entertainment system;

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a fourth instruction to the second source device to transmit the second set of program data;

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a fifth instruction to a second subset of sink devices of the plurality of sink devices assigned to the second zone to receive the second set of program data directly from the second source device; and

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a sixth instruction to the second source device to increment the internal reference count upon determining no sink devices in the second zone other than the second subset of sink devices presenting the second set of program data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first source device and the second source device are the same device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first zone and the second zone are the same zone.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first subset of sink devices and the second subset of sink devices are the same subset of sink devices.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first subset of sink devices includes a video sink device and one or more audio sink devices.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein more than one of the plurality of source devices are transmitting data to the first subset of sink devices in the first zone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a display device in the first zone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a display device in a different zone.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the assignment of the zone for each of the plurality of sink devices is determined based on a location of the respective sink device in the home entertainment system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of zones are partitioned based on identifying clusters of the sink devices.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a respective location of each of the sink devices is derived by the wireless home entertainment hub.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the indications of the registrations with each of the plurality of source devices and each of the plurality of sink devices are stored in the respective source devices and the respective sink devices.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the registrations prevent each of the plurality of source devices and each of the plurality of sink devices from being registered with a different wireless home entertainment hub.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the registrations allow for direct transfer of data between the plurality of source devices and the plurality of sink devices in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub.

13. A method of presenting program data by a source device in multiple zones of a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

obtaining by the source device a registration with the wireless home entertainment hub;

storing by the source device an indication of the registration with the wireless home entertainment hub;

receiving by the source device a first indication that one or more sink devices in a first zone of the home entertainment system are listening for a transmission from the source device that includes the program data based on a first selection for presentation of the program data in the first zone;

storing by the source device the first indication that the one or more sink devices in the first zone of the home entertainment system are listening for the transmission from the source device that includes the program data;

incrementing an internal reference count, representing a number of zones receiving the program data from the source device, in response to receiving the first indication from the wireless home entertainment hub;

transmitting by the source device the program data directly to the one or more sink devices in the first zone in response to receiving the first indication from the wireless home entertainment hub;

receiving by the source device a second indication that one or more devices in a second zone of the home entertainment system are listening for the transmission from the source device including the program data based on a second selection for presentation of the program data in the second zone;

storing by the source device the second indication that the one or more sink devices in the second zone of the home entertainment system are listening for the transmission from the source device that includes the program data;

incrementing the internal reference count in response to receiving the second indication from the wireless home entertainment hub; and

transmitting by the source device the program data directly to the one or more sink devices in the second zone in response to receiving the second indication from the wireless home entertainment hub;

wherein the first and second zones are based on an automatic partitioning by the wireless home entertainment hub of a plurality of sink devices into a plurality of zones using respective locations of each of the plurality of sink devices included in the home entertainment system, each of the plurality of sink devices having a registration with the wireless home entertainment hub.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

in response to the first indication from the wireless home entertainment hub, ensuring that the source device is in an active state.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein incrementing the internal reference count in response to receiving the first indication and incrementing the internal reference count in response to receiving the second indication comprise:

incrementing the internal reference count by one in response to receiving the first indication and incrementing the internal reference count by one in response to receiving the second indication.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the source device becomes active if the reference count is zero prior to incrementing the internal reference count.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the internal reference count is decreased based upon an instruction by the wireless home entertainment hub to stop transmitting the program data to one of the first and second zones.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the source device enters a low power mode when the internal reference count indicates that no zones are receiving the program data from the source device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the internal reference count is zero when no zones are receiving the program data from the source device.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein storing the first indication and the second indication includes adding the one or more sink devices in the first and second zones listening to the program data from the source device to an internal list stored in the source device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a subset of the one or more sink devices are removed from the internal list based upon an instruction by the wireless home entertainment hub to stop transmitting the program data to one of the first and second zones.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the source device enters a low power mode when the internal list indicates that no zones are receiving the program data from the source device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the internal list is empty when no zones are receiving the program data from the source device.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the source device is transmitting the program data to the first zone and the second zone simultaneously.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein different sets of program data are transmitted to the first zone and second zone simultaneously by the source device.

30. The method of claim 13, wherein the indication of the registration is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

34. The method of claim 13, wherein the registration prevents the source device and the one or more sink devices from being registered with a different wireless home entertainment hub.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the registration allows direct transfer of data between the source device and the one or more sink devices in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub.

26. A method of presenting program data in multiple zones of a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

obtaining by a sink device included in a plurality of sink devices a registration with the wireless home entertainment hub;

comparing a list of capabilities of the sink device with a list of expected capabilities stored in the wireless home entertainment hub;

storing by the sink device an indication of the registration with the wireless home entertainment hub based on a match between the list of capabilities of the sink device with the list of expected capabilities stored in the wireless home entertainment hub;

obtaining by the sink device an assignment of a zone in the home entertainment system, wherein the assignment of the zone is based on an automatic partitioning by the wireless home entertainment hub of the plurality of sink devices into a plurality of zones using locations of the plurality of sink devices automatically determined by the wireless home entertainment hub, included in the home entertainment system, each of the plurality of sink devices having a registration with the wireless home entertainment hub;

receiving by the sink device an instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub to receive program data from a source device based on a selection of the zone for presentation of program data from the source device, the source device having a registration with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

receiving by the sink device the program data transmitted directly from the source device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

in response to the instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub to receive the program data, ensuring that the sink device is in an active state.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the assignment of the zone is determined based on a respective location of the sink device in the home entertainment system.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the indication of the registration is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the registration prevents the sink device from being registered with a different wireless home entertainment hub.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the registration allows direct transfer of data between the sink device and the source device in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub.

38. A method for presenting program content to multiple zones of a home entertainment system via a wireless home entertainment hub, the home entertainment system including the wireless home entertainment hub and a plurality of wireless devices, the plurality of wireless devices including one or more wireless source devices and one or more wireless sink devices, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the wireless home entertainment hub, a registration with each of the plurality of wireless devices, the registrations establishing wireless communication between each of the plurality of wireless devices and the wireless home entertainment hub;

assigning, by the wireless home entertainment hub, each of the one or more wireless sink devices to one of a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones being automatically determined by the wireless home entertainment hub based on determining a location of each of the wireless sink devices and partitioning the one or more wireless sink devices into the plurality of zones by identifying clusters of wireless sink devices using the respective determined locations;

receiving by the wireless home entertainment hub a first selection of a first wireless source device and a first zone for presentation of a first set of program content from the first wireless source device;

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a first instruction to the first wireless source device to transmit the first set of program content;

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a second instruction to a first subset of the wireless sink devices assigned to the first zone to receive the first set of program content directly from the first wireless source device; and

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a third instruction to the first wireless source device to increment an internal reference count upon determining no wireless sink devices in the first zone other than the first subset of wireless sink devices presenting the first set of program content, the internal reference count representing a current number of zones receiving the first set of program content from the first wireless source device.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

receiving a second selection of a second wireless source device and a second selection of a second zone for presentation of a second set of program content from the second wireless source device;

transmitting a fourth instruction to the second wireless source device to transmit the second set of program content;

transmitting a fifth instruction to a second subset of the wireless sink devices assigned to the second zone to receive the second set of program content directly from the second wireless source device, wherein the first wireless source device is concurrently transmitting the first set of program content directly to the first subset of wireless sink devices assigned to the first zone in the home entertainment system; and

transmitting by the wireless home entertainment hub a sixth instruction to the second wireless source device to increment the internal reference count upon determining no wireless sink devices in the second zone other than the second subset of wireless sink devices presenting the second set of program content.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the indications of the registrations with each of the plurality of wireless devices are stored in the wireless home entertainment hub and respective wireless devices, the registrations preventing the wireless devices from being registered with a different wireless home entertainment hub.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein ultra wide band frequencies are utilized for the wireless communication between the wireless home entertainment hub and the plurality of wireless devices.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the first set of program content is not received by and re-transmitted from the wireless home entertainment hub.