System and method for utilizing environment information in UPnP audio/video

• US 8,903,980 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2013
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Inventors: Hyvarinen, Mikko A., Kaarela, Kari, Parkkinen, Jukka, Koistinen, Kirmo
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs, Lashonda
• Application Number:
  US13/900,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20130254273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/228, 709/250, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 455/412.1, 455/503
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

An environment variable for use cases such as UPnP AV use cases. The environment variable of the present invention is used to store the physical location of the user. For example, the environment variable can be used to identify a particular location as being a user'"'"'s living room, kitchen, etc. The information stored in the environment variable can be used to enhance the user experience of the digital home or other environment by minimizing the number of manual selections that the user has to make in order to initiate a use case such as playing music in a bedroom or watching movies in a living room. The environment variable is used to trigger a change of a profile and select the devices needed to implement different use scenarios.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining with a processor, a location of a UPnP device in a UPnP environment;

selecting, based on the location, at least one of a first and second profiles, wherein the first profile comprises first settings associated with a first device in a first location and the second profile comprises second settings associated with a second device in a second location, the selected one of a first and second profiles associated with the determined location; and

automatically implementing at least one setting associated with the selected profile for the UPnP device for use within the UPnP environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a location further comprises:

receiving location information from one or more media renderers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving location information from one or more media renderers comprises receiving an environment variable, the environment variable identifying the location of the media renderer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a location comprises

receiving user input, the user input identifying the location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

the selected profile settings comprises user preferences for exhibiting media on one or more devices within the UPnP environment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein

the user preferences include a volume level at which the media is to be exhibited.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the user preferences identify a set of preferences associated with each of one or more devices in the UPnP environment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein

the selected profile settings identify a device in the UPnP environment for exhibiting media.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected UPnP profile settings comprises priority information associated with one or more devices in the UPnP environment.

10. A mobile device comprising:

a memory operable to store at least a first and second profiles, wherein the first profile comprises first settings associated with a first device in a first location and the second profile comprises second settings associated with a second device in a second location; and

a processor operable to;

determine the location of the mobile device in a UPnP environment;

select, based on the location, at least one of the first and second profiles, the selected profile associated with the determined location; and

automatically implement at least one setting associated with the selected profile for the mobile device for use within the UPnP environment.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the processor is operable to determine a location by receiving the location from one or more media renderers.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the processor is operable to receive the location from one or more media renderers by receiving an environment variable, the environment variable identifying the location of the media renderer.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the processor is operable to determine a location by receiving user input, the user input identifying the location.

14. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the selected profile settings comprise user preferences for exhibiting media on devices within the UPnP environment.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the user preferences include a volume level at which the media is to be exhibited.

16. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the user preferences identify a set of preferences associated with each of one or more devices in the UPnP environment.

17. The mobile device claim 10, wherein

the selected profile settings identify a device in the UPnP environment for exhibiting media.

18. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the selected profile settings comprise priority information associated with one or more devices in the UPnP environment.