Audio-visual system control using a mesh network

• US 8,626,178 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sigma Designs Incorporated
• Inventors: Johansen, Niels Thybo
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, NATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/198,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,960 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/189 Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of a message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention, improved capabilities are described for a home audio-visual system that is at least in part controlled through a mesh network, wherein the home audio-visual system produces at least two effects. Each of the at least two effects may be controlled through separate mesh network nodes responsive to user initiated instructions. Each of the separate mesh network nodes may be adapted to receive the user initiate instructions through a channel management operation. The home audio-visual system may be associated with a channel management operation that is associated with one or more nodes of the mesh network to effect the communication of the information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a home audio-visual system that is at least in part controlled through a mesh network, wherein the home audio-visual system produces at least two effects;

controlling each of the at least two effects through respective separate mesh network nodes responsive to user initiated instructions; and

adapting each of the separate mesh network nodes to receive the user initiated instructions through a channel management operation, and

acknowledging a wake up call with a silent acknowledgement, in which the wake up call from a source node is sent to a node of the home audio-visual system by an intermediate node, and the source node detects transmission of the wake up call by the intermediate node to the home audio visual system without a specific acknowledgement message to the source node,

wherein the home audio-visual system is intermittently powered and wherein the intermittently powered home audio-visual system is adapted to change from a sleep mode to an awake status upon receipt of the wake up call, to receive an instruction to initiate a full power mode, and to acknowledge the wake up call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel management operation involves selecting a communication transmission speed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel management operation involves selecting a communication channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy savings mode of the home audio-visual system draws no external power.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two effects is an audio effect.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two effects is a visual effect.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two effects is a room darkening effect.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two effects is a room illumination effect.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user initiated instruction is adapted to control each of the at least two effects simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a single user initiated instruction is adapted to control each of the at least two effects.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the home audio-visual system includes at least one of a television, a satellite receiver, a cable converter, a VCR, a digital video disc player, a laser disc player, a video accessory, an audio amplifier, an audio tuner, an audio amplifier-tuner combination, a CD player, a DVD player, a high definition DVD player, an audio cassette player, a digital audio tape player, an audio equipment equalizer, a phonograph player, a video component, a streaming media player, an mp3 player, a light, a lamp, a gateway, a modem, or ISDN.

12. A method comprising:

providing a home audio-visual system that communicates information through a mesh network, wherein the home audio-visual system includes one or more electrical devices that produce the information; and

controlling a channel management operation associated with one or more nodes of the mesh network to effect communication of the information,

wherein the home audio-visual system is intermittently powered and wherein the intermittently powered home audio-visual system is adapted to change from a sleep mode to an awake status upon receipt of a wake up call, to receive an instruction to initiate a full power mode, and to acknowledge the wake up call.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information is communicated to a user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the information relates to an audio-visual system setting.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the information relates to metadata.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the information is control information intended to be used by at least one of the one or more electrical devices within the audio-visual system.

17. A method comprising:

providing a media server enabled to control the delivery of a plurality of media content streams to a plurality of electrical devices, wherein the media server is adapted to be controlled through a mesh network node using a mesh network channel management operation;

transmitting a command to the media server through the mesh network node in response to a user initiated instruction input to a hand held remote control;

causing the mesh network node to receive the user initiated command through manipulation of the channel management operation; and

causing the media server to control the delivery of at least one of the plurality of media content streams to at least one of the plurality of electrical devices based on the user initiated command, and

acknowledging a wake up call with a silent acknowledgement, in which the wake up call from a source node is sent to a node of the home audio-visual system by an intermediate node, and the source node detects transmission of the wake up call by the intermediate node to the home audio visual system without a specific acknowledgement message to the source node,

wherein the home audio-visual system is intermittently powered and wherein the intermittently powered home audio-visual system periodically wakes up from a low power or no bower sleep mode upon receipt of the wake up call.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the channel management operation involves selecting a communication transmission speed.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the channel management operation involves selecting a communication transmission speed.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein channel management operation involves performing a silent acknowledgement operation.