Data presentation using a wireless home entertainment hub

• US 8,935,733 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• 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): Featherstone, Mark D
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US11/470,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,050 Days
• Field of Search: 725 80- 82, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153
• US Class Current: 725/81
• 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 for presenting data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system includes obtaining a registration for one or more source devices and for one or more sink devices. An indication is received at the wireless home entertainment hub that one of the source devices has become active. Data is received from the active source device. One or more sink devices are selected to receive the data from the active source device, and the data is transmitted to one or more of the sink devices.

Claims

1. A method for presenting data in a home entertainment system, the method comprising:

registering one or more source devices and one or more sink devices with a wireless home entertainment hub;

storing, by the wireless home entertainment hub, an indication of a registration of the wireless home entertainment hub with a respective source device only when it is determined that a list of capabilities received from the respective source device matches a list of expected capabilities;

storing, by the wireless home entertainment hub, an indication of a registration of the wireless home entertainment hub with a respective sink device only when it is determined that a list of capabilities received from the respective sink device matches the list of expected capabilities;

receiving, by the wireless home entertainment hub, an indication that one of the source devices has become active based on the source device transmitting data to a first registered sink device in a first zone;

transmitting an instruction to the active source device to increment an internal reference count based on transmitting to the first registered sink device in the first zone, the internal reference count representing a total number of zones receiving data from the active source device;

selecting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, a second registered sink device to receive the data from the active source device;

transmitting an instruction to the active source device to transmit the data to the second registered sink device; and

transmitting an instruction to the active source device to increment the internal reference count if the second registered sink device is in a zone different than the first zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sink devices include a plurality of wireless speakers for presenting audio data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sink devices include a display device for presenting video data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the display device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more source devices are wireless devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sink devices are wireless devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the second registered sink device comprises:

determining which of the one or more registered sink devices is needed to present the data transmitted from the active source device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indications of the registrations with each of the one or more source devices and the one or more sink devices are stored in the respective source devices and sink devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration prevents the one or more source devices and the one or more sink devices from being registered with a different wireless home entertainment hub.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the registration allows direct transfer of data between the one or more source devices and the one or more sink devices in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub.

11. A method for receiving data for presentation by a sink device in a first zone of a plurality of zones, the method comprising:

registering a first sink device in the first zone with a wireless home entertainment hub;

storing at the first sink device in the first zone an indication of a registration of the first sink device in the first zone with the wireless home entertainment hub only when a list of capabilities of the first sink device matches a list of expected capabilities stored in the wireless home entertainment hub;

sending an indication to the wireless home entertainment hub that the first sink device in the first zone is ready to receive data; and

receiving the data from an active source device, the active source device concurrently transmitting the data to a second sink device, the active source device comprising an internal reference count representing a total number of zones receiving data from the active source device and incremented if the second sink device is in a zone different than the first zone.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

presenting the data to a user.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first sink device in the first zone is a wireless speaker for presenting audio data.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first sink device in the first zone is a display device for displaying video data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the display device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first sink device in the first zone is a wireless device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the indication of the registration is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the registration prevents the sink device in the first zone from being registered with a different wireless home entertainment hub.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the registration allows direct transfer of data between the sink device in the first zone and the active source device in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub.

20. A method for transmitting data from a source device, the method comprising:

registering the source device with a wireless home entertainment hub;

storing at the source device an indication of a registration of the source device with the wireless home entertainment hub only when a list of capabilities of the source device matches a list of expected capabilities stored in the wireless home entertainment hub;

transmitting an indication to the wireless home entertainment hub that the source device has become an active source device based on the active source device transmitting data to a first registered sink device in a first zone;

receiving an instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub to increment an internal reference count based on transmitting to the first registered sink device in the first zone, the internal reference count representing a total number of zones receiving data from the active source device;

receiving an indication from the wireless home entertainment hub that a second registered sink device is ready to receive the data;

transmitting the data to the second registered sink device; and

receiving an instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub to increment the internal reference count based on transmitting the data to the second registered sink device if the second registered sink device is in a zone different than the first zone.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the active source device is a wireless device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the indication of the registration is stored in the wireless home entertainment hub.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the registration prevents the active source device and one or more sink devices from being registered with a different wireless home entertainment hub.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the registration allows direct transfer of data between the active source device and one or more sink devices in response to receiving instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub.

27. The wireless home entertainment hub of claim 22, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a remote control.

25. A wireless home entertainment hub for controlling presentation of data in a home entertainment system, the wireless home entertainment hub comprising:

a memory configured to store an indication of a registration between the wireless home entertainment hub and a respective source device only when a list of capabilities received from the respective source device matches a list of expected capabilities stored at the wireless home entertainment hub;

the memory further configured to store an indication of a registration between the wireless home entertainment hub and a respective sink device only when a list of capabilities received from the respective sink device matches the list of expected capabilities stored at the wireless home entertainment hub;

a receiver configured to receive an indication of activity from an active source device of one or more source devices, the indication of activity based on the active source device'"'"'s transmission of data to a first registered sink device in a first zone;

a transmitter configured to transmit an instruction to the active source device to increment an internal reference count based on transmissions to the first registered sink device in the first zone, the internal reference count representing a total number of zones that receive data from the active source device;

the transmitter further configured to transmit an instruction to the active source device to transmit the data to a second registered sink device;

the transmitter further configured to transmit an instruction to the active source device to increment an internal reference count based on the active source device'"'"'s transmission of the data to the second registered sink device if the second registered sink device is in a zone different than the first zone; and

a processor configured to facilitate transfer of the data between the active source device and one or more sink devices in response to reception of the indication of activity from the active source device.

26. The wireless home entertainment hub of claim 25, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a display device.

28. The wireless home entertainment hub of claim 25, wherein the indication of each of the registrations is stored in a respective memory of each of the one or more source devices and each of the one or more sink devices.

29. The wireless home entertainment hub of claim 25, wherein the registration prevents the one or more source devices and the one or more sink devices from being registered with a different wireless home entertainment hub.

30. The wireless home entertainment hub of claim 29, wherein facilitating the transfer of the data between the one or more source devices and the one or more sink devices includes at least one of exchange of data between the one or more source devices and the one or more sink devices through the wireless home entertainment hub, and direct transfer of data between individual ones of the one or more source devices and individual ones the one or more sink devices in response to receipt of instructions from the wireless home entertainment hub.

31. A home entertainment system comprising:

a wireless home entertainment hub;

at least one wireless source device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub, wherein the at least one wireless source device is configured to transmit data for presentation to a user; and

at least one wireless sink device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub, wherein the at least one wireless sink device is configured to receive the data and the wireless home entertainment hub is configured to facilitate direct transfer of the data between the at least one wireless source device and the at least one wireless sink device;

wherein an indication of registration of each of the at least one wireless sink device and the at least one wireless source device with the wireless home entertainment hub is stored in a memory of the wireless home entertainment hub and in a respective memory of each of the at least one wireless source device and the at least one wireless sink device only when a respective list of capabilities received from each wireless source device and each wireless sink device matches a list of expected capabilities stored at the wireless home entertainment hub;

wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is configured to receive an indication of activity from the at least one wireless source device, the indication of activity based on the at least one wireless source device'"'"'s transmission of data to a first registered wireless sink device in a first zone;

wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is further configured to transmit an instruction to the at least one wireless source device to increment an internal reference count based on transmissions to the first registered sink device in the first zone, the internal reference count representing a total number of zones that receive data from the active source device;

wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is further configured to transmit an instruction to the at least one wireless source device to transmit the data to a second registered wireless sink device; and

wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is further configured to transmit an instruction to the at least one wireless source device to increment an internal reference count based on the at least one wireless source device'"'"'s transmission of the data to the second registered wireless sink device if the second registered sink device is in a zone different than the first zone.

32. The home entertainment system of claim 31, further comprising:

a wireless display device containing the wireless home entertainment hub.

33. The home entertainment system of claim 31, further comprising:

a remote control containing the wireless home entertainment hub.

34. The home entertainment system of claim 31, wherein the at least one wireless sink device includes a plurality of wireless speakers for presenting audio data.

35. The home entertainment system of claim 31, wherein the at least one wireless sink device includes a display device for presenting video data.

36. The home enterainment system of claim 31, wherein the at least one wireless source device includes a DVD player.

37. The home entertainment system of claim 31, wherein the at least one wireless source device includes a CD player.

38. The home entertainment system of claim 31, wherein the at least one wireless source device includes a set-top box.

39. The home entertainment system of claim 31, wherein the registration prevents the at least one wireless source device and the at least one wireless sink device from being registered with a different wireless home entertainment hub.

40. A method for presenting data in a home entertainment system, the home entertainment system including a 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:

registering each of the plurality of wireless devices with the wireless home entertainment hub to establish wireless communication between each of the plurality of wireless devices and the wireless home entertainment hub;

storing, by the wireless home entertainment hub, indications of the registrations of the wireless home entertainment hub with each of the plurality of wireless devices at the wireless home entertainment hub only when a respective list of capabilities received from each of the plurality of wireless devices matches a list of expected capabilities;

detecting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, that one of the wireless source devices has become an active wireless source device based on the active wireless source device transmitting data to a first wireless sink device in a first zone;

transmitting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, an instruction to the active wireless source device to increment an internal reference count based on transmitting to the first wireless sink device in the first zone, the internal reference count representing a total number of zones receiving data from the active source device;

selecting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, a second wireless sink device to receive the data from the active wireless source device;

transmitting, by the wireless home entertainment hub, an instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub to the active source device to send the data to the second wireless sink device; and

transmitting an instruction to the active wireless source device to increment an internal reference count based on the active wireless source device transmitting the data to the second wireless sink device if the second registered sink device is in a zone different than the first zone.

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

42. The method of claim 40, wherein ultra wide band frequencies are utilized for the wireless communication between the wireless home entertainment hub and the plurality of wireless devices.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub selects at least a different one of the sink devices to receive second data from a different source device upon detecting the different source device has become a different active source device, the at least different one of the sink devices receiving the second data directly from the different active source device without the second data being received by and re-transmitted from the wireless home entertainment hub.