Patent Application
20050022243
The present invention relates generally to content distribution in a home network. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing and distributing media content from a plurality of source devices to a plurality of remotely located display devices within a home network.
There are numerous media services which provide scheduled programs on a viewing device, such as a televison set. There are standard broadcast services which provide channels that can be received by virtually any television tuner through an antenna connector. There are cable services which typically offer packages of preselected channels to consumers and that require a decoder at the televison tuner or on the cable line at an external location. Cable services continuously broadcast scheduled programing through a preselected set of channels which are received through a cable connector on a televison set. There are also a number of pay-per-view services which allow customers to receive scheduled one time program transmissions through the cable network. Other available services include satellite programming which allow consumers to select on demand pay-per-view programs from a set of available programs.
Modern home entertainment systems have available a plurality of electronic devices for display or playback of audio and video programs. Examples includes video laser disc players, video cassette recorders (VCRs), compact disc (CD) players, and similar media sources. These media sources typically output onto television LCD panels, computers, stereo receivers and other output devices.
Users increasingly expect delivery of these media sources and programming services anywhere at any time and desire a convenient system to select media offered from a plurality of content providers. As the number of interoperable electronic devices in the home environment increases, the need arises for a way to distribute media content from a media source device to a remotely located media display device and to allow the devices to interact remotely, such as displaying the output of a DVD player located in a living room on a television located in a bedroom separated by one or more walls.
Most prior art schemes that distribute media content within a home network are relegated to simply downloading digital content off the Internet and displaying it on a personal computer. This scheme restricts access to other media content sources located in the home or to devices that connect the home to external access networks, including TVs, VCRs, set-top boxes, video game consoles and other audio/video devices.
A problem encountered when attempting to distribute analog signals from legacy hardware input sources, such as a DVD player, to remotely located legacy hardware output sources, such as a TV located in a different room, is that the input sources need to be directly connected to the output sources. This configuration limits utilization of input sources and requires additional wiring and components. Legacy hardware switch devices, such as receivers and tuners, can provide switching of media signals. However, these devices work only in an analog domain and are generally limited to devices in close geographic proximity to the switch. Thus these switches do not offer a way to distribute the media content to all areas of the home.
What is needed is a method of and apparatus for distributing media content from a plurality of source devices to a plurality of remotely located display devices within a home network utilizing a plurality of management units.
The present invention discloses an apparatus and method of distributing media content from a plurality of source devices to a plurality of remotely located display devices within a home network. The present invention utilizes a plurality of management units to couple media source devices such as DVD players, CD players, cable/satellite receivers and other content sources with media display devices such as televisions and display screens, utilizing a home network as a conduit for the content distribution. The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of requiring additional wiring and components to connect input devices with output devices. The present invention also overcomes the drawbacks of using legacy hardware switch devices, such as receivers and tuners, to provide switching of media signals.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for managing and distributing media content from a plurality of source devices to a plurality of remotely located display devices within a home network, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first management unit assigned to control a first source stream and a first display stream. The apparatus also comprises a second management unit assigned to control a second source stream and a second display stream, wherein the first source stream and the first display stream are subsequently assigned to the second management unit if the first management unit fails. Alternatively, the second source stream and the second display stream are subsequently assigned to the first management unit if the second management unit fails.
The apparatus can comprise a third management unit assigned to control a third source stream and a third display stream. The third source stream and the third display stream can be subsequently assigned to one of the first management unit and the second management unit if the third management unit fails.
The apparatus can further comprise a plurality of management units, each management unit assigned to control at least one of the source streams and one of the display streams. One of the plurality of management units can be assigned to control each source stream and each display stream if all other of the plurality of management units fail. Preferably, the source streams and the display streams originate in locations remote from each other. Preferably, each source device is associated with one source stream and each display device is associated with one display stream.
Each management unit must “publish” the operations (controls) being undertaken by means of at least one communication channel between the management units. If, for example, the second management unit does not detect a “publication” from the first management unit in a specified amount of time, a failure occurs and the second management unit takes over the operations and controls the requests from a user, with no or minimal interruption perceivable by the user. Thus, the management units can monitor each other's operations in real time and perform “hand-offs” during a failure.
The home network can be a local area network (LAN). The home network can also be a wide area network (WAN). The home network can also be a cable network. Preferably, the home network is a digital network. The digital network can be wireless. The digital network can also be wired. Alternatively, the digital network can be a powerline.
The source devices can be at least one of a DVD player, a CD player, a laser disc player a VCR, a cable receiver and a satellite receiver. The display devices can be at least one of a television, a computer, a stereo receiver, and a display screen. The source devices can include means for establishing a direct transmissions link with each display device for distribution of the media content if the management units fail.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of managing and distributing media content from a plurality of source devices to a plurality of remotely located display devices within a home network, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of assigning to a first management unit control of a first source stream and first display stream. The method also comprises the step of assigning to a second management unit control of a second source stream and a second display stream. The method further comprises the step of subsequently assigning to the second management unit control of the first source stream and the first display stream if the first management unit fails. The method can include the step of subsequently assigning to the first management unit control of the second source stream and the second display stream if the second management unit fails. The method can also include the step of assigning to a third management unit control of a third source stream and a third display stream. The method can also include the step of assigning to a plurality of management units each control of at least one of the source streams and at least one of the display streams.
The management units 120 and 121 manage the distribution of the source streams and the display streams. The management units 120 also couple the source device 173 and 174 with the display devices 170-172 utilizing the network 110 as a conduit for content distribution. In one embodiment, each management unit 120 and 121 can be assigned to control at least one source stream and at least one display stream. In
In accordance with the present invention, each management unit 120 and 121 must “publish” the operations (controls) being undertaken by means of at least one communication channel between the management units 120 and 121. If, for example, the management unit 121 does not detect a “publication” from the management unit 120 in a specified amount of time, a failure occurs and the management unit 121 takes over the operations and controls the requests from a user, witn no or minimal interruption perceivable by the user. Thus, the management units 120 and 121 can monitor each other's operations in real time and perform “hand-offs” during a failure.
A novel feature of the present invention includes the use of more than one management unit to manage the distribution of media content. Each management unit can share storage resources and work in concert to promote robustness and efficiency in delivering content to the user. More specifically and referring to
Another novel feature of the present invention includes the capability of the source devices to distribute content directly to the display devices without sending the content through one of the management units. The management units can continue to control each unit, but the content would flow directly from device to device without impacting the network. For example and referring still to
In accordance with the present invention, each management unit 210 and 211 must “publish” the operations (controls) being undertaken by means of at least one communication channel between the management units 210 and 211. If, for example, the management unit 211 does not detect a “publication” from the management unit 210 in a specified amount of time, a failure occurs and the management unit 211 takes over the operations and controls the requests from a user, with no or minimal interruption perceivable by the user. Thus, the management units 210 and 211 can monitor each other's operations in real time and perform “hand-offs” during a failure.
As an example of how the present invention can be performed, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and
This invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and the details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications can be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This Patent Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of the co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/470,744, filed May 14, 2003, and entitled “DISTRIBUTED MEDIA MANAGEMENT”. The Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/470,744, filed May 14, 2003, and entitled “DISTRIBUTED MEDIA MANAGEMENT” is also hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60470744 | May 2003 | US |
