Source device change using a wireless home entertainment hub

• US 8,776,147 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• 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): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US11/535,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,842 Days
• Field of Search: 725/80, 725/81, 725/82, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/08 by combining tones G10H1/14, G10H1/16 take precedence; chord G10H1/38
• 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: 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 5/765 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 52/0254 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 registering a device with a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system includes broadcasting by a wireless home entertainment hub a request for a reply from at least one unregistered device. The reply is received from at least one of the unregistered devices and a list of the at least one unregistered device is presented to a user for the purpose of the user selecting a device to register. An indication of the registration of the device selected by the user for registration is stored, and the selected device is removed from the list of unregistered devices after the indication of the registration is stored.

Claims

1. A method of changing, by a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, from presentation of first data corresponding to a first source device to presentation of second data corresponding to a second source device, wherein the first source device is presently transmitting the first data and the first data is being presented by one or more of a plurality of sink devices, the method comprising:

registering a plurality of devices with the wireless home entertainment hub, the plurality of devices including the first source device, the second source device, and the one or more plurality of sink devices;

partitioning the plurality of sink devices into a plurality of zones by assigning each of the plurality of sink devices to one of the plurality of zones when the respective one of the plurality of sink devices is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub;

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

receiving, by the wireless home entertainment hub, a selection of the second source device;

transmitting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, to the second source device an instruction to activate, wherein the one or more of the plurality of the sink devices comprises a first sink device in a first zone changed from presentation of the first data to presentation of the second data in response to an activation of the second source device, the first zone comprising a plurality of first zone sink devices;

transmitting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, to the first source device an instruction to decrement a first reference count upon determining no first zone sink device is currently presenting the first data, wherein the first reference count is an indication of a number of the zones receiving the first data from the first source device; and

transmitting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, to the second source device an instruction to increment a second reference count upon determining no first zone sink device other than the first sink device is currently presenting the second data, wherein the second reference count is an indication of a number of zones receiving the second data from the second source device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the second data from the second source device to the one or more sink devices for presentation of the second data from the second source device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless home entertainment hub, the second data from the second source device; and

transmitting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, the second data to the one or more sink devices for presentation of the second data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub transmits to each of the one or more sink devices at least part of the second data received from the second source device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first source device enters a low power mode when the first reference count indicates no zones are receiving the first data from the first source device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein no zones are receiving the first data from the first source device when the first reference count is zero.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second source devices are wireless devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the plurality of sink devices is a wireless devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing from the first source device to the second source device is initiated by a user based on an instruction received by the wireless home entertainment hub.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing from the first source device to the second source device is initiated based on action on the second source device by a user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the indications of the registrations with each of the plurality of devices are stored in the respective devices.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein registering the plurality of devices prevents the plurality of devices from registering with a different wireless home entertainment hub while simultaneously being registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein registering the plurality of devices permits exchange of the first data and the second data between the plurality of devices and the wireless home entertainment hub, and facilitates direct transfer of the first data and the second data between the plurality of devices in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub and without the first data and the second data being received by and re-transmitted from the wireless home entertainment hub.

14. A method of changing, by a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, from presentation of first data corresponding to a first source device to presentation of second data corresponding to a second source device, wherein the first and second source devices are each registered with the wireless home entertainment hub and the first source device is presently transmitting the first data and the first data is being presented by at least one of a plurality of sink devices, the method comprising:

registering each of the plurality of sink devices with the wireless home entertainment hub;

partitioning the plurality of sink devices into a plurality of zones by assigning each of the plurality of sink devices to one of the plurality of zones when the respective one of the plurality of sink devices is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub;

storing by each of the plurality of sink devices an indication of the registration with the wireless home entertainment hub;

receiving, by a first sink device in a first zone, the first data directly from the first source device, the first zone comprising a plurality of first zone sink devices;

receiving, by the first sink device, one or more instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub to receive the second data transmitted from the second source device and to discontinue receiving the first data transmitted from the first source device;

receiving, by the first sink device, the second data directly from the second source device, wherein an instruction to decrement a first reference count is transmitted from the wireless home entertainment hub to the first source device upon determining no first zone sink device is currently presenting the first data and an instruction to increment a second reference count is transmitted from the wireless home entertainment hub to the second source device upon determining no first zone sink device other than the first sink device is currently presenting the second data, wherein the first reference count is an indication of a number of the zones receiving the first data from the first source device and the second reference count is an indication of a number of the zones receiving the second data from the second source device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sink devices includes a plurality of wireless speakers for presenting audio data.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sink devices includes a display device for displaying video data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the display device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more instructions comprises a single instruction broadcast to the at least one of the plurality of sink devices.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more instructions comprises a separate instruction transmitted to each of the at least one of the plurality of sink devices.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second source devices are wireless devices.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sink devices is a wireless device.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication of the registration is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein registering each of the plurality of sink devices prevents each of the plurality of sink devices from registering with a different wireless home entertainment hub while simultaneously being registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein registering each of the plurality of sink devices allows direct transfer of the first data and the second data between the plurality of sink devices and the first and second source devices, respectively, both registered with the wireless home entertainment hub, in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub and without the first data and the second data being received by and re-transmitted from the wireless home entertainment hub.

25. A method of changing, by a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, from presentation of first data corresponding to a first source device to presentation of second data corresponding to a second source device, wherein the first source device is presently transmitting the first data and the first data is being presented by at least one of a plurality of sink devices, the method comprising:

registering each of the plurality of sink device devices with the wireless home entertainment hub;

partitioning the plurality of sink devices into a plurality of zones by assigning each of the plurality of sink devices to one of the plurality of zones when the respective one of the plurality of sink devices is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub;

storing by each of the plurality of sink devices an indication of the registration with the wireless home entertainment hub;

receiving, by a first sink device in a first zone, the first data from the first source device, the first data from the first source device being transmitted via the wireless home entertainment hub, the first zone comprising a plurality of first zone devices; and

receiving, by the first sink device, the second data from the second source device, the second data from the second source device being transmitted via the wireless home entertainment hub, wherein the second data from the second source device is received by the first sink device after a request for a change from the first source device to the second source device is received by the wireless home entertainment hub, an instruction to decrement a first reference count is transmitted from the wireless home entertainment hub to the first source device when the second data is received by the first sink device and upon determining no first zone sink device is currently presenting the first data, wherein the first reference count is an indication of a number of the zones receiving the first data from the first source device,

wherein an instruction to increment a second reference count is transmitted from the wireless home entertainment hub to the second source device upon determining no first zone sink device other than the first sink device is currently presenting the second data, wherein the second reference count is an indication of a number of the zones receiving the second data from the second source device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sink devices includes a plurality of wireless speakers for presenting audio data.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sink devices includes a display device for displaying video data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the display device.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the request is initiated by a user.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one of the plurality of sink devices is a wireless device.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the indication of the registration is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein registering each of the plurality of sink devices prevents each of the plurality of sink devices from registering with a different wireless home entertainment hub while simultaneously being registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein registering each of the plurality of sink devices allows direct transfer of the first data and the second data between the plurality of sink devices and the first and second source devices, respectively, both registered with the wireless home entertainment hub, in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub and without the first data and the second data being received by and re-transmitted from the wireless home entertainment hub.

34. A wireless home entertainment hub to change from presentation of first data corresponding to a first source device to presentation of second data corresponding to a second source device in a home entertainment system, wherein the first source device is presently transmitting the first data and the first data is being presented by at least one of a plurality of sink devices, the wireless home entertainment hub comprising:

a memory configured to store indications of registrations with each of a plurality of devices including the first source device, the second source device, and the plurality of sink devices,

the memory further configured to store an indication of the first source device presently transmitting data, and a zone assignment for each of the plurality of sink devices, wherein the zone assignment for each of the plurality of sink devices indicates one of a plurality of zones to which the respective one of the plurality of sink devices is assigned, wherein a first zone comprises a plurality of first zone sink devices;

a receiver configured to receive a selection of the second source device;

a transmitter configured to transmit to the second source device an instruction to activate, wherein a first sink device in the first zone changes from presentation of the first data to presentation of the second date in response to an activation of the second source device;

the transmitter further configured to transmit to the first source device an instruction to decrement a first reference count upon determining no first zone sink device is currently presenting the first data and to transmit to the second source device an instruction to increment a second reference count upon determining no first zone sink device other than the first sink device is currently presenting the second data, wherein the first reference count is a current number of the plurality of zones receiving the first data from the first source device and the second reference count is a current number of the plurality of zones receiving the second data from the second source device; and

a processor configured to facilitate the change from presentation of the first data to presentation of the second data.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a display device.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a remote control device.

37. The wireless home entertainment hub of claim 34, wherein the indications of registrations with each of the plurality of devices are stored in a memory of the respective devices.

38. The wireless home entertainment hub of claim 34, wherein the indications of registrations prevent the plurality of devices from registering with a different wireless home entertainment hub while simultaneously being registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

39. A method of changing, by a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, from presentation of first data transmitted by a first wireless source device to presentation of second data transmitted by a second wireless source device, wherein the first wireless source device is presently transmitting the first data and the first data is being presented by at least one of a plurality of wireless sink devices, the home entertainment system including the wireless home entertainment hub and a plurality of wireless devices, the plurality of wireless devices including the first and second wireless source devices and the at least one of a plurality of wireless sink devices, the method comprising:

registering each of the plurality of wireless devices with the wireless home entertainment hub, the registration establishing wireless communication between each of the plurality of wireless devices and the wireless home entertainment hub;

partitioning the plurality of wireless sink devices into a plurality of zones by assigning each of the plurality of wireless sink devices to one of the plurality of zones when the respective one of the plurality of wireless sink devices is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub;

detecting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, an activation of the second wireless source device for the presentation of the second data;

transmitting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, a first instruction to a first wireless sink device in a first zone to stop receiving the first data from the first wireless source device, the first zone comprising a plurality of first zone wireless sink devices;

transmitting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, a second instruction to the first wireless sink device to receive the second data directly from the second wireless source device;

transmitting an indication to the second wireless source device that the first wireless sink device is ready to receive the second data; and

transmitting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, to the first wireless source device an instruction to decrement a first reference count upon determining no first zone wireless sink device is currently presenting the first data and transmitting to the second wireless source device an instruction to increment a second reference count upon determining no first zone wireless sink device other than the first wireless sink device is currently presenting the second data, wherein the first reference count is an indication of a number of the zones receiving the first data from the first wireless source device and the second reference count is an indication of a number of zones receiving the second data from the second wireless source device, wherein each zone of the plurality of zones contains at least one of the plurality of wireless sink devices.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein an indication of the registration with each of the plurality of wireless devices is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub and each respective wireless devices, the registration preventing each of the plurality of wireless devices from registering with a different wireless home entertainment hub while being simultaneously registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

41. The method of claim 39, 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 39, wherein the second wireless source device begins transmitting the second data in response to receiving the indication from the wireless home entertainment hub, and the at least one of the plurality of wireless sink devices receives the second data directly from the second wireless source devices in response to the instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the registration permits exchange of the first data and the second data between the plurality of wireless devices and the wireless home entertainment hub, and facilitates direct transfer of the first data and the second data between the plurality of wireless devices in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the first wireless source device enters a low power mode when the first reference count is zero, indicating none of the plurality of wireless sink device devices are presently receiving the first data from the first source device.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein the activation of the second wireless source device is detected in response to receiving a power on indication from an active source device based on a direct action of the second source device by a user.