Multimedia home network computer

• US 7,734,155 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Murase, Isao, Hanson, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendmagegn; Girumsew
• Application Number:
  US10/885,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20050125082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 386/125, 700/19, 700/65, 700/1, 369/6, 369/7, 369/30.05, 369/30.19, 369/47.12
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2541 Blu-ray discs; Blue laser DVR discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A home entertainment network has a computer with a multi-DVD changer which holds plural DVDs onto which content from an hard disk drive (HDD) can be transferred for storage. Also, DVD content can be ripped to the HDD, and multiple copies of home videos and photographs on the HDD can be made onto several disks simultaneously.

Claims

1. A home entertainment system, comprising:

at least a first video monitor;

at least one computer communicating with the first video monitor,

at least one disk changer holding multiple optical disks; and

at least one hard disk drive (HDD) associated with the computer, content from the HDD being automatically transferred to at least one optical disk in the disk changer upon determination that a predetermined data storage condition in the HDD has been met, a user interface being presented on the video monitor permitting a user to browse content on disks in the disk changer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first video monitor is a TV monitor, and the computer includes a computer monitor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the TV monitor is a high definition TV (HDTV) monitor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the optical disks include at least some DVDs.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer can be controlled to copy content on the HDD onto plural optical disks substantially simultaneously.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor can display a browse disks screen usable by a person manipulating a remote control device to scroll through titles of content stored on optical disks in the disk changer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is connectable to the Internet and the computer facilitates accessing the Internet to download metadata pertaining to at least one title on at least one optical disk in the disk changer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computer automatically accesses the Internet using at least in part at least one identification of at least one optical disk in the disk changer to download metadata pertaining to the optical disk.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor can display an index disks screen usable by a person manipulating a remote control device to automatically index content contained in the optical disks in the disk changer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer can be controlled to cause content from plural optical disks to be substantially simultaneously copied onto the HDD.

11. A home entertainment system, comprising:

at least one TV;

at least one portable computer communicating with the TV;

at least one disk changer communicating with the computer, the disk changer holding multiple optical disks;

means for automatically downloading, from the Internet to the system, metadata pertaining to at least one video content stored on at least one optical disk in the disk changer; and

at least one hard disk drive (HDD) associated with the computer, content from the HDD being automatically transferred to at least one optical disk in the disk changer if a predetermined data storage condition in the HDD has been met.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the TV is a high definition TV (HDTV).

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the optical disks include at least some DVDs.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer can be controlled to copy content on the HDD onto plural optical disks substantially simultaneously.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer can cause a display of a browse disks screen to be presented, the browse disks screen being usable by a person manipulating a remote control device to scroll through titles of content stored on optical disks in the disk changer.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the TV can display an index disks screen usable by a person manipulating a remote control device to automatically index content contained in the optical disks in the disk changer.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer can be controlled to cause content from plural optical disks to be substantially simultaneously copied onto the HDD.

18. An entertainment system comprising:

at least one portable computer;

at least one HDTV wirelessly communicating with the computer;

at least one disk changer communicating with the computer, the disk changer configured to hold plural optical disks, at least some optical disks being DVDs; and

at least one hard disk drive (HDD) communicating with the computer, wherein the computer can be controlled to cause content from plural optical disks in the disk changer to be substantially simultaneously copied onto the HDD.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein content from the HDD is automatically transferred to at least one optical disk in the disk changer if a predetermined data storage condition in the HDD has been met.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer can be controlled to copy content on the HDD onto plural optical disks substantially simultaneously.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of:

the computer, and the HDTV, can display a browse disks screen usable by a person manipulating a remote control device to scroll through titles of content stored on optical disks in the disk changer.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer is connectable to the Internet and the computer facilitates accessing the Internet to download metadata pertaining to at least one title on at least one optical disk in the disk changer.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer automatically accesses the Internet using at least in part at least one identification of at least one optical disk in the disk changer to download metadata pertaining to the optical disk.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the HDTV under control of the computer can display an index disks screen usable by a person manipulating a remote control device to automatically index content contained in the optical disks in the disk changer.