Home automation system and method including remote media access

• US 9,473,324 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cockrell, Roger A., Wollmershauser, Steven Michael, Webster, Thomas S., Wilson, Brian, Raphael, Alison
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, An T
• Application Number:
  US13/532,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20120326835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 340/4.11, 340/4.31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1023 Media gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols

Abstract

A media player device includes a first, a second, and a third interface, and a processor. The first interface communicates with a residential gateway via a wide area network and/or a local area network, and the residential gateway is coupled to a plurality of electronic devices. The second interface communicates directly with at least one of the plurality of electronic devices. The third interface communicates with one or more electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices via the local area network. The processor is configured to selectively transmit a request via the second interface when the media player device is proximate to the first electronic device, via the third interface when the media player device is not proximate to the first electronic device and is within range of the local area network, and via the first interface when the media player device is outside the range.

Claims

1. A media player device, comprising:

a first interface to communicate with a residential gateway via a wide area network, wherein the residential gateway is communicatively coupled to a plurality of electronic devices, wherein the first interface is configured to communicate with a first electronic device of the plurality of devices via the residential gateway, and wherein the first interface is configured to connect to the wide area network via a first wireless protocol;

a second interface to communicate wireless commands directly to the first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices;

a third interface to communicate wireless commands to the first electronic device via a local area network, wherein the third interface connects with the local area network via a second wireless protocol distinct from the first wireless protocol; and

a processor coupled to the first interface, the second interface, and the third interface, wherein the processor is configured to perform operations including;

selectively transmitting a request directly to the first electronic device via the second interface when the media player device is proximate to the first electronic device;

selectively transmitting the request to the first electronic device via the third interface when the media player device is not proximate to the first electronic device and is connected to the local area network;

selectively transmitting the request to the first electronic device via the first interface when the media player device is not proximate to the first electronic device and is disconnected from the local area network;

transmitting a second request to a second electronic device via the first interface, wherein the second electronic device is located in a facility remote to the residential gateway; and

receiving media content to be displayed via a display device coupled to the processor, the media content sent from the second electronic device responsive to the second request.

2. The media player device of claim 1, wherein the second wireless protocol is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11 protocol, and wherein the first wireless protocol is a satellite protocol or a cellular protocol.

3. The media player device of claim 1, wherein the second interface communicates with the first electronic device via a third wireless protocol, and wherein the third wireless protocol is distinct from the first wireless protocol and the second wireless protocol.

4. The media player device of claim 1, further comprising a keypad to receive user input, wherein the keypad comprises a plurality of controls, and wherein a particular control of the plurality of controls is associated with a control function of one of the plurality of electronic devices.

5. The media player device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of controls comprises a play key, a channel control key, an input source select key, a fast forward key, a record key, a next selection key, a previous selection key, or a combination thereof.

6. The media player device of claim 4, wherein the request is generated in response to the user input.

7. The media player device of claim 4, wherein the operations further include selectively transmitting a particular command associated with the control function via the first interface, the second interface, or the third interface to control one of the plurality of electronic devices in response to selection of the particular control of the plurality of controls.

8. The media player device of claim 1, further comprising an audio output coupled to a speaker.

9. The media player device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

sending a user interface to the display device, the user interface including a selectable indicator;

receiving a selection related to the selectable indicator; and

transmitting a particular command via one of the first interface and the second interface to control an electronic device based on the selection.

10. The media player device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electronic devices includes a video storage device, a digital video disk player, a set-top box, a television, or a combination thereof.

11. The media player device of claim 1, wherein the first interface and the third interface comprise a common interface.

16. The media player device of claim 1, further comprising receiving second media content to be displayed via the display device, wherein the second media content is sent from the first electronic device responsive to the request.

17. The media player device of claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

receiving a media content menu from the residential gateway, wherein the media content is selected from the media content menu; and

displaying the media content menu via the display device.

18. The media player device of claim 1, wherein the second interface is an infrared interface or a wireless interface.

12. A method comprising:

sending instructions from a remote control device directly to a first electronic device via a device interface of the remote control device responsive to the remote control device being proximate to the first electronic device;

sending the instructions from the remote control device to the first electronic device using a first wireless protocol via a wireless transceiver and a residential gateway coupled to the first electronic device responsive to the remote control device not being proximate to the first electronic device and being connected to a local area network associated with the residential gateway;

sending the instructions from the remote control device to the first electronic device using a second wireless protocol via the wireless transceiver, the residential gateway, and a wide area network responsive to the remote control device not being proximate to the first electronic device and being disconnected from the local area network, wherein the second wireless protocol is distinct from the first wireless protocol;

sending second instructions from the remote control device to a second electronic device via the wide area network, wherein the second electronic device is located in a facility remote to the residential gateway;

receiving media content to be displayed via a display device;

receiving a media content menu from the residential gateway, wherein the media content is selected from the media content menu; and

displaying the media content menu via the display device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first electronic device includes a security device, a lighting device, or a combination thereof.

14. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving first input at a control device, the first input corresponding to a first command for a first electronic device located within a premises;

sending first instructions corresponding to the first command via a device interface responsive to the control device being proximate to the first electronic device;

sending the first instructions to a local network using a first wireless protocol via a wireless transceiver responsive to the control device not being proximate to the first electronic device and being connected to the local network;

sending the first instructions to the first electronic device using a second wireless protocol via the wireless transceiver and a wide area network responsive to the control device not being proximate to the first electronic device and being disconnected from the local network, wherein the second wireless protocol is distinct from the first wireless protocol;

sending second instructions to a second electronic device via the wide area network, wherein the second electronic device is located in a facility remote to the premises; and

receiving media content to be displayed via a display device, the media content sent from the first electronic device in response to the first instructions.

15. The computer-readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise sending a user interface to the display device, the user interface configured to display selections to control the first electronic device, and wherein the first input is received via the user interface.