Network-accessible control of one or more media devices

• US 8,359,351 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vulcan SA (Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vulcan SA (Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation)
• Inventors: Istvan, Anthony F., Fleck, Rod G., Budd, Robin, Stark, Korina J. B., Tanumihardja, Marcellino
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYARD, DJENANE M
• Application Number:
  US12/873,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709208-211, 709217-219, 715744-761
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4433 Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64707 for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A content management (CM) system is provided to centrally control operation of one or more connected devices by issuing control requests and/or data requests. In some situations the connected device(s) include devices that control presentation of television programming-related content, such as digital video recorder (“DVR”) devices and media center devices, and in other situations may include other types of media devices and/or other electromechanical (“E/M”) devices that may be centrally controlled, such as E/M devices for home automation that may operate independently or in conjunction with the media devices. In some situations, the CM system communicates with the connected devices via a network and using appropriate protocol(s), and may be accessed remotely via a network so as to allow a user to remotely operate the CM system. The CM system may further control searching, identification, selection, and presentation of pieces of media content by the connected device(s).

Claims

1. A method for enabling a computing device to be remotely accessed to control media device and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the method comprising:

configuring the computing device as a central control point, the computing device capable to generate control requests and data requests related to operation of the media device and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system using a core module of a management system of the computing device;

separating the core module of the management system from a remote graphical user interface of the management system, by using a Web application of a Web server to generate the remote graphical user interface and to make the remote graphical user interface available to a browser of a remote device via a network to allow the browser to render the remote graphical user interface to provide access and use of the management system to a remote user;

providing a Web service of the Web server to allow the remote device to communicate with the core module;

providing a remoting layer to allow the Web application and the Web service to communicate with the core module;

providing a local graphical user interface for simultaneous access and use of the management system by a local user;

suppressing on-screen display of messages on at least one of the media device or the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system that is accessed by the remote user;

receiving a message from at least one of the media device or the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system accessed by the remote user; and

displaying the message via the remote graphical user interface in lieu of the suppressed on-screen display of the messages.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface is usable by the remote device to instruct the core module to generate the control requests and the data requests.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

facilitating communication between the core module and the media device and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system via one or more gateway modules, wherein each of the one or more gateway modules is associated with the media device or the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving via the Web service a user command entered via the graphical user interface; and

transmitting via the remoting layer the user command to the core module.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the Web application displays via the graphical user interface information generated by the core module in association with at least one of the control requests or data requests.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for enabling a computing device that can control media device and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to be remotely accessed, by:

using a computing device as a central control point to provide control requests and data requests related to operation of the media device and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the computing device including a management system having a core module to generate the control requests and data requests to the media device and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system;

separating the core module of the management system from a remote graphical user interface that can be used to interact with the management system,

wherein the remote graphical user interface is provided by Web application and is made available by the Web application to a remote device via a network,

and wherein a remoting layer being is used to allow the core module and the Web application to communicate with each other,

and wherein a Web service being is used to allow the remote device to communicate with the core module through the remoting layer,

and further wherein the Web application and the Web service comprise parts of a Web server, and the web server and the management system comprise parts of the computing device;

in response to remote user input at the remote device that is entered using the remote graphical user interface as presented on the remote device and that is communicated by the remote device to the Web service, providing a remote user access to the management system by providing the remote user input to the core module via the remoting layer and generating a control request or a data request corresponding to the received remote user input;

providing a local graphical user interface for simultaneous access of the management system by a local user;

suppressing on-screen display of messages on at least one of the media device or the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system that is accessed by the remote user;

receiving a message from at least one of the media device or the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system acessed by the remote user; and

displaying the message via the remote graphical user interface in lieu of the suppressed on-screen display of the messages.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is a memory of the computing device.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a response to a control request or a data request from at least one of the media device or the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system through a gateway module of the management system;

sending the response from the gateway module to the core module; and

communicating the response from the core module to the Web application, via the remoting layer, to allow the response to be presented on the graphical user interface accessible by the remote device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the management system further includes a storage unit to store data related to the control requests and data requests, and a data manager to manage communication of data between the core module and the storage unit.

10. A computing system configured to control a plurality of networked devices in an environment, the computing system comprising:

one or more processors and one or more memories; and

a management system that when executed by the one or more processors communicatively couples to;

at least one media device via a first network connection that uses a first communication protocol,

wherein the media device is communicatively coupled to at least one content presentation device, to a lighting system, and to at least one automated wall panel;

at least one computing system via a second network connection that uses a second communication protocol,

wherein the computing system is coupled to a heating ventilation and air conditioning system to allow the computing system to control operation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system; and

at least one drapes device via a third network connection that uses a third communication protocol,

wherein the lighting system, the at least one automated wall panel, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and the at least one drapes device share state information including device status with each other, and

wherein the lighting system, the at least one automated wall panel, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and the at least one drapes device modify their operation based at least in part on the shared state information,

the management system including;

a core module to generate control requests and data requests related to operation of the at least one media device, the computing system, and the at least one drapes device;

multiple gateway modules that each correspond to a different type of networked device,

wherein the multiple gateway modules include first, second, and third gateway modules corresponding respectively to the at least one media device, the computing system, and the at least one drapes device, and

wherein the gateway modules are in communication with the core module to receive the control requests and data requests from the core module, and are further in communication with the core module to provide responses to the control requests and the data requests to the core module; and

first, second, and third communication interfaces respectively included with the gateway modules to provide the control requests and the data requests generated by the core module to the at least one media device, the computing system, and the at least one drapes device via the respective first, second, and third network connections using the respective first, second, and third communication protocols, and to provide responses to the control requests and the data requests to the core module, wherein each of the communication interfaces is associated with the corresponding type of networked device,

wherein the core module and the multiple gateway modules are implemented as computer-executable instructions stored in the one or more memories and executed by the one or more processors.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the management system further includes a graphical user interface that can be used to instruct the core module to generate the control requests and the data requests, and that can further be used to receive from the core module and to present at least some of the responses to the control requests and data requests received from the at least one media device, the computing system, and the at least one drapes device.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein a control request related to operation of the heating ventilation and air conditioning system;

as provided by the management system to the computing system via the second network connection using the second communication protocol or a control request related to operation of the at least one drapes device as provided by the management system to the at least one drapes device via the third network connection using the third communication protocol, is based on context information associated with a control request that is provided by the management system to the at least one media device via the first network connection using the first communication protocol and that is related to operation of the at least one content presentation device, and

wherein the context information is communicated between the at least one media device and the lighting system or the at least one automated wall panel, or between the at least one media device and the computing system, the context information being usable by the management system to determine which control requests related to operation of the lighting system, the at least one automated wall panel, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and the at least one drapes device should be generated to complement operation of the at least one content presentation device.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the lighting system, the at least one automated wall panel, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and the at least one drapes device modify their operation by optimizing their operation based at least in part on the device status of at least one of the lighting system, the at least one automated wall panel, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and the at least one drapes device.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the lighting system, the at least one automated wall panel, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and the at least one drapes device modify their operation by timing their operation based at least in part on the device status of at least one of the lighting system, the at least one automated wall panel, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and the at least one drapes device.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein state information is maintained on the at least one automated wall panel, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and the at least one drapes device, and wherein the management system does not store the shared state information.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the management system is extensible such that an additional gateway module that corresponds to an additional networked device may be added to the management system for use with the additional networked device.