Control of data presentation from multiple sources using a wireless home entertainment hub

• US 9,233,301 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Igoe, Patrick T
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US11/470,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20080068152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,414 Days
• Field of Search: 725/74, 725/78, 725 80- 82, 725/85
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/327 using wireless networks, e.g. Wi-Fi® or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• 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 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08

Abstract

A method for controlling presentation of data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system includes obtaining a registration for a plurality of source devices and for one or more sink devices. A first indication that a first source device from the plurality of source devices has become active is received at the wireless home entertainment hub. A second indication that a second source device from the plurality of source devices has become active is received. A first instruction is transmitted to at least one of the sink devices to receive data from the first active source device. A second instruction is transmitted to at least one of the sink devices to receive data from the second active source device. A first indication is transmitted to the first active source that at least one sink device is ready to receive data, and a second indication is transmitted to the second active source that at least one sink device is ready to receive data.

Claims

1. A method to control presentation of information through a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

obtaining a registration of a plurality of source devices;

obtaining a registration of a plurality of sink devices;

performing error checking during the registration of the plurality of source and sink devices by comparing a list of capabilities received from the plurality of source and sink devices with a list of expected capabilities stored in the wireless home entertainment hub;

storing an indication of the registrations in response to a determination that the list of capabilities matches the list of expected capabilities;

receiving, at the wireless home entertainment hub, a first indication that a source device from the plurality of source devices has become active;

determining a first subset of the plurality of sink devices, wherein the first subset comprises multiple sink devices that are not needed for presentation of content from the active source device based on presentation capabilities of sink devices in the first subset;

transmitting an instruction to sink devices in the first subset to enter into a low power mode;

determining a second subset of the plurality of sink devices, wherein the second subset comprises multiple sink devices that are needed for presentation of content from the active source device based on presentation capabilities of sink devices in the second subset;

transmitting an instruction to sink devices in the second subset to receive data from the active source device; and

transmitting an indication to the active source device that the second subset of sink devices is ready to receive data.

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sink devices include a display device for presenting video data to a user.

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 plurality of source devices are wireless devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sink devices are wireless devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a source device becomes active based on an instruction received from the wireless home entertainment hub.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a source device becomes active based on an action on a respective source device by a user.

9. A method to receive information to be presented by a sink device from a source device, the method comprising:

obtaining a registration of the sink device with a wireless home entertainment hub;

performing error checking during the registration of the sink device by comparing a list of capabilities of the sink device with a list of expected capabilities stored in the wireless home entertainment hub;

storing an indication of the registration in response to a determination that the list of capabilities matches the list of expected capabilities; and

receiving, at the sink device, an instruction from the wireless home entertainment hub to enter into a low power mode based on the sink device being included in a subset of a plurality of sink devices with presentation capabilities that are not needed for presentation of content from an active source device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sink device is a wireless speaker for presenting audio data to a user.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the sink device is a display device for presenting video data to a user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the display device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the sink device is a wireless device.

14. A wireless home entertainment hub to control presentation of information, the wireless home entertainment hub comprising:

a memory to store registration information of a plurality of source devices and a plurality of sink devices in response to performing error checking during registration of the plurality of source and sink devices by comparing a list of capabilities received from the plurality of source and sink devices with a list of expected capabilities stored in the wireless home entertainment hub to determine functionality and command codes of the plurality of source and sink devices;

a receiver to receive indications of activity of at least one source device of the plurality of source devices;

a processor to determine a first subset and a second subset of the plurality of sink devices, wherein the first subset comprises multiple sink devices that are not needed for presentation of content from at least one active source device based on presentation capabilities of sink devices in the first subset and the second subset comprises multiple sink devices that are needed for presentation of content from the at least one active source device based on presentation capabilities of sink devices in the second subset; and

a transmitter to transmit an instruction to sink devices in the first subset to enter into a low power mode, an instruction to sink devices in the second subset to receive data from the at least one active source device and an indication to the at least one active source device that the second subset of sink devices is ready to receive the data.

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

16. The wireless home entertainment hub of claim 14, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a remote control unit.