VoIP interface using a wireless home entertainment hub

• US 8,704,866 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Technology Patents & Licensing Incorporated
• Inventors: Igoe, Patrick T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONG, MICHAEL HYUN
• Application Number:
  US11/930,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,365 Days
• Field of Search: 725/80, 725/133, 348/14.01, 348/14.04
• US Class Current: 348/14.04
• 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 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 : Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• 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 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 of presenting program content to a user moving in a multiple zone home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub comprises causing program content to be presented to a user using a first set of sink devices in a first zone, where each sink device of the first set of sink devices is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub. An indication that the user is in a second zone of the home entertainment system is received. The program content is caused to be presented to the user using a second set of sink devices in the second zone, where each sink device of the second set of sink devices is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

Claims

1. A method of using devices in a home entertainment system including a wireless home entertainment hub for processing voice over IP (VoIP) data, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of incoming VoIP data corresponding to one or more entities at the wireless home entertainment hub;

alerting a user of the incoming VoIP data by presenting a visual alert on each of a plurality of display devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub, wherein each of the plurality of display devices are assigned to a plurality of zones associated with the home entertainment system;

receiving an instruction from the user to process the incoming VoIP data from the one or more entities;

presenting voice data from the incoming VoIP data using one or more sink devices in a first zone associated with the home entertainment system, the one or more sink devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub;

receiving voice data from the user using a microphone in the first zone associated with the home entertainment system;

detecting a movement of the user from the first zone to a second zone associated with the home entertainment system; and

in response to detecting the movement of the user from the first zone to the second zone, presenting the voice data from the incoming VoIP data using one or more sink devices in the second zone, wherein detection of the movement is based on a comparison of signal intensities corresponding to the user'"'"'s voice at a plurality of respective microphones in different zones of associated with the home entertainment system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming VoIP data includes at least one of voice data and video data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting video data from the incoming VoIP data on a display device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

receiving user video data using a video capture device associated with the home entertainment system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the incoming VoIP data is received from a PC connected to the Internet and registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein alerting the user of the incoming VoIP data comprises:

presenting an audible tone using one or more speakers registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective microphones are included in devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein presentation of audio program content being presented to the user is suspended during the processing of the incoming VoIP data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice data received from the user is transmitted to the one or more entities using a source device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting entity video data from the VoIP data on a display device in the first zone, wherein the display device is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

transferring the entity video data from the VoIP data to a display device in the second zone of the home entertainment system in response to the movement of the user from the first zone into the second zone.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein presentation of video program content being presented to the user on the display device is suspended during the processing of the incoming VoIP data.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the video data from the incoming VoIP data is displayed on a section of the display device superimposed on video program content being presented on the display device to the user.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the video capture device is a web camera associated with a PC registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein the incoming VoIP data is used to establish a conference call between the user and two or more of the entities.

14. A method of using devices in a home entertainment system including a wireless home entertainment hub for processing voice over IP (VoIP) data, the method comprising:

presenting a visual alert for incoming VoIP data corresponding to one or more entities on each of a plurality of display devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub, wherein each of the plurality of display devices are assigned to a plurality of zones associated with the home entertainment system;

receiving an instruction from a user in a first zone of associated with the home entertainment system to initiate processing of VoIP data to the one or more entities;

initiating the transmission of the VoIP data to the one or more entities;

receiving an indication that the VoIP data is accepted by at least one of the entities;

presenting voice data from incoming VoIP data corresponding to the at least one entity using sink devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

receiving user voice data using a microphone in the first zone associated with the home entertainment system;

detecting a movement of the user from the first zone to a second zone associated with the home entertainment system; and

in response to detecting the movement of the user from the first zone to the second zone, presenting the voice data from incoming VoIP data using one or more sink devices in the second zone, wherein detection of the movement is based on a comparison of signal intensities corresponding to the user'"'"'s voice at a plurality of respective microphones in different zones of the home entertainment system.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

presenting video data from incoming VoIP data on a display device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving user video data using a video capture device associated with the home entertainment system.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein processing of the VoIP data to the one or more entities is performed by a PC connected to the Internet and registered with the wireless home entertainment hub.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

presenting entity video data from the VoIP data on a display device in the first zone, wherein the display device is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

transferring the entity video data from the VoIP data to a display device in the second zone of the home entertainment system in response to the movement of the user from the first zone into the second zone.

19. A method of using devices in a home entertainment system including a wireless home entertainment hub for processing voice over IP (VoIP) data, the method comprising:

presenting a visual alert in response to incoming VoIP data corresponding to an entity on each of a plurality of display devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub, wherein each of the plurality of display devices are assigned to a plurality of zones associated with the home entertainment system;

initiating in a first zone of the home entertainment system a VoIP call session associated with a user;

transmitting entity voice data from the incoming VoIP data to a sink device in the first zone registered with the wireless home entertainment hub;

receiving user voice data using a microphone associated with the first zone of the home entertainment system; and

transferring the incoming VoIP data to sink devices in a second zone of the home entertainment system in response to a movement of the user from the first zone into the second zone, wherein detection of the movement of the user is based on a comparison of signal intensities corresponding to the user'"'"'s voice at a plurality of respective microphones in different zones of the home entertainment system.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

presenting entity video data from the VoIP data on a display device in the first zone, wherein the display device is registered with the wireless home entertainment hub; and

transferring entity video data from the incoming VoIP data to a display device in the second zone of the home entertainment system in response to the movement of the user from the first zone into the second zone.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein initiating includes receiving an instruction at the wireless home entertainment hub from the user to process the incoming VoIP data after presentation of the visual alert.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the initiating includes initiation of a transmission of VoIP data from the user to an entity.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the entity voice data is automatically transferred to the second zone by the wireless home entertainment hub in response to the movement of the user from the first zone into the second zone.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein each zone of the home entertainment system includes at least one microphone used to receive voice data for processing the VoIP data.