This invention relates generally to controlling provision of media at a plurality of output devices.
Many public places have been incorporating an increasing number of television or other video devices throughout their spaces to provide multiple sources of entertainment or information. For example, in a bar setting, multiple televisions are placed throughout the establishment such that patrons may watch a variety of programming, such as various sporting events, at the same time. Similarly, restaurants will include televisions to provide television content or other background visual effects, depending on the time and situation for its patrons. For instance, a restaurant may want to provide the ability to watch certain programming on a weekend while providing a visual background such as the image of a fire to enhance the ambiance of the space during late evening hours.
With the proliferation of televisions and other video or multimedia devices throughout such public places and private settings, venue operators may struggle with managing the output on all of the devices and managing the increasing number of possible media sources such as cable provided media, satellite media, online media, and the like. Typically, each television will be connected to a single media source, such as cable or a satellite receiver, and each television or media control box will have separate controllers such as hand-held remote controls to control the channel or output. If a remote controller is lost or confused for a remote controller for another television or media source box, it becomes difficult to change a channel at the request of a patron or according to a manager's wishes.
It is also possible that an establishment may have many more televisions than media sources. In such a case, multiple televisions are typically connected to a single media source. Although each television may be separately controlled, it is possible that all of those televisions must show the same programming from the media source thereby reducing the entertainment options for the establishment's patrons. The proliferation of high definition media also makes for a degraded quality of the television display when multiple televisions are pulling media signals from a single source. To address this problem, multiple set top boxes may be introduced to the system, further complicating control of the displays. Alternatively, a source converter box may be used in conjunction with a switch, but control of the switch and connecting the televisions to the media signals is not readily provided for in prior systems, thereby requiring expert configuration of the cabling and the switch when changes in the programming displayed on the venue's televisions is desired. Traditional multimedia systems also typically do not provide for controlling and displaying online or dedicated media content.
These environments also limit the ability to track and determine the number of people watching certain media or programming. It is becoming increasingly common for people to watch sporting events and other televised events or shows at public establishments or larger scale private gatherings instead of in their homes. The ability to track how many people are watching such events is therefore decreased. Also, in the case where an establishment has agreed to display a certain amount of a given programming type, such statistics are difficult to track, especially in a system with multiple, independently controlled televisions and media sources.
Generally speaking, and in various embodiments, a system and method for controlling and distributing media output at a plurality of output devices is described. In the system and method at least one interface is configured to provide to a user a visual graphical menu of a plurality of options to associate signals from at least one media source with the plurality of media output devices and effect signals to the media output devices such as a plurality of video output devices. A computing device is configured to communicate with the at least one interface and at least one of the media output devices and/or at least one of the media sources to send commands to the media source(s) and/or the media output device(s) to effect a configuration of the source and/or media output device. The computing device receives signals from the interface and associates signals from the at least one media source with the plurality of output devices. The visual graphical menu provides to the user a visual graphical display of the at least one media source and at least some of the plurality of output devices available for association. The visual graphical menu permits the user to select and associate programming from the at least one media source with one or more of the plurality of media devices and distribute one or more of the signals selected from the group consisting of video signals and audio signals to user selected output devices. The system also can include a storage device able to store historical information regarding what information or media programming was shown from the output devices, when the programming was shown, and on which output devices the programming was displayed.
In one approach, the system operates to visually display an array of the plurality of output devices on a menu illustrated on an interface screen and to visually display the media source(s) on the menu illustrated on the interface screen. The system can accept a user input relating to the media source and the plurality of output devices and communicate the user input to a computer device that associates the user input related to the media source and the plurality of output devices to effect a signal from the media source to the output device.
In another aspect, the system for controlling media output from a plurality of media sources to a plurality of video output devices includes at least one interface screen configured to visually illustrate to a user a plurality of media sources and a plurality of video output devices. A computer is configured to communicate with the interface screen, to effect signals to the plurality of the video output devices for example through a switching device, and to communicate with at least one of the group consisting of at least one of the plurality of media sources and at least one of the plurality of video output devices to send commands to at least one of the plurality of media sources and the plurality of video output devices to effect a configuration of the media source(s) and/or the video output device(s) to associate signals effected by the user's selection of media sources with signals effected to the video output devices based upon the user's selection of video output devices on the interface screen.
In yet another aspect, a method of distributing signals from at least one media source to a plurality of video output devices includes visually displaying an array of the plurality of output devices on a menu illustrated on an interface screen and visually displaying the at least one of the media source on the menu illustrated on the interface screen. The method also includes accepting a user input relating to the at least one of the of media source and the plurality of output devices and communicating the user input to a computer device that associates the user input related to the media source and the at least one of the plurality of output devices to effect a signal from the media source to the output device. A command signal may be communicated from the computer device to at least one of the group consisting of the at least one media source and at least one of the plurality of video output devices to effect a configuration of one of the media source(s) and/or video output devices to effect the signal from the media source to the output device
So configured, the system may provide a variety of menus for associating media content or programming with certain output devices, such as televisions. A user may then use the menus at one or more conveniently placed interfaces to control all of the televisions in the establishment, thereby reducing or eliminating the need to use separate controls to control the televisions or media sources. The system also can track display data, for example, to maintain programming display data for the establishment or to confirm that certain media is being displayed for a given amount of time. These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the following detailed description.
The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the system and method for controlling media at a plurality of output devices described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to
The output device 110 may be any device able to play or display media content. Non-limiting examples include televisions, video display devices, projection systems, and the like. A computing device 120 is configured to communicate with the interface(s) 105 and at least one of the group consisting of at least one media source 115 and at least one of the media output devices 110. The computing device 120 is configured to receive signals from the interface(s) 105 and associate signals from the at least one media source with the plurality of output devices 110. The visual graphical menu provided by the interface(s) 105 provides to the user a visual graphical display of the at least one media source and the plurality of output devices available for association, thereby permitting the user to select and associate a media source with one or more of the plurality of media devices and distribute video signals and audio signals to user selected output devices 110.
The interface 105 may be provided in a number of forms. For example, the interface 105 may comprise a touch screen or touch screen monitor such that a user can merely tap to select elements or tap and drag elements on the touch screen to allow the user to interact with the system 100. By another approach, the interface 105 may include a computing device interface such as a video monitor for a personal computer with a screen and a pointing device, such as a mouse, to allow the user to provide inputs to and read information from the system 100. By still another approach, the interface 105 may comprise portable communication devices such as phones, personal digital assistants, and the like. Other methods of interacting with a computerized system are known or may be created in the future and may be incorporated into or comprise the interface 105 and need no further discussion herein.
The visual graphical menu 200 provided by the interface 105 and computing device 120 can provide any number of display options to the user. For example, the visual graphical menu may include one or more of the following graphical displays: a floor plan comprising a representation of at least some of the output devices 110, a listing of available media sources 115 and a floor plan 210 comprising a representation of at least some of the output devices 110 such that the computing device 120 associates user selected output devices 110 on the floor plan 210 with media sources 115 visually illustrated on the graphical menu, a floor plan 210 comprising a graphic representation of at least one of the output devices 110 that is at least similar to a graphic representation of a media source 115 to visually associate the at least one of the output devices 110 with a media source 115, a listing 310 of output devices 110, a listing 410 of groups 420 of output devices 110, a program listing, a network listing, a station listing 510, a listing 235 of available media sources, a listing of available media sources at a plurality of times, a listing 520 of available programming at a plurality of times, a plurality of images relating to available programming on a guide 505, a plurality of images relating to available programming on a guide 505 at a plurality of times, a plurality 710 of thumbnails 715 comprising images representing media sources. Other versions of the visual graphical menu may be displayed by the interface 105.
The floor plan approach to the visual graphical menu 200 will be described with reference to
By another approach, the visual graphical menu may include a listing 310 of output devices 110, shown for example in
In any of the above approaches, the computing device 120 may be configured to sort the media source listing 235. A single media source indication in the media source listing 235 may also be selected, for example through a double tap on a touch screen, to view further details regarding the media source 115. In one example, details regarding the media being provided by the specific media source 115 are shown to the user in response to selection including program name, program description, and control buttons to trigger various functions as may be used for the selected media source 115. One of the functions may include a guide button that when selected triggers a listing of programs, networks, or stations currently available through that cable source, and the user may then select a different program, network, or station to be provided by the cable television media source.
By yet another approach, the program, station, and/or network listings may be provided without the indicators of the output devices 110. Examples of programming include the shows available from a media source 115. Example networks include ABC, NBC, and other providers of shows or programming, or for online or dedicated sources, the various media streams or content as may be available at a given time. Example stations include local channels such as “channel 2” or “channel 7.” In either approach, the various listings typically show the available programming, stations, or networks for the output devices 110. The various listings may have graphic representations as described above, including color coding, a text description of the media source or program, graphics, lines, icons, or other indication of an association with output devices 110.
By still another approach, a guide may be provided to show information at a plurality of times other than only for the current arrangement. One example guide 500 is shown in
The various listings discussed herein may be sorted in various ways. For example, the preferred stations, networks, and/or programming may be sorted to the top of the list. By another approach, the listing 235 may be sorted by programming topic. For example, as shown in
By a further approach to the guide, an example of which is shown in
So configured, the graphical menu may be used in a variety of ways by the user to control when and what is displayed in a venue using this system. For example, a user may set the system 100 to automatically associate certain media sources or programming with the output devices 110 at a particular time in the future. Should the user request certain programming at a certain time, the system may determine which media source can provide the program if the program is available from multiple media sources 115, such as cable and satellite, or the system can determine which network to display if the program is available from multiple networks from a single media source, such as from a standard definition network and a high definition network.
With reference again to
By one approach, the software for controlling the associations between the media sources 115 and the output device 110 includes a routing table that is configured during the set up and the installation of the system. For instance, a venue can be mapped in advance including a description of the media sources 115 and the output devices 110 available at the venue. The routing table prepared in software reflects this map. For example, the routing table can include information including whether certain output devices 110 can accept certain types of video such as component or high definition video or whether certain media sources can provide multiple outputs. The routing table may include information regarding the configuration of the switching device 135. A second software module includes a logic system that uses the routing table to provide the visual graphic menu to the user via the interface 105 appropriate for the venue and to process inputs from the user to affect association of a signal from a media source 110 with particular output devices 110. Such software running on the computing device 120 and its processor is readily developed by those skilled in the art to perform such functions. Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that such a processor can comprise a fixed-purpose hard-wired platform or can comprise a partially or wholly programmable platform. All of these architectural options are well known and understood in the art and require no further description here.
Additional, optional features as may be included with the system 100 include where the computing device 120 is configured to disable at least one of the media sources 115 such that the disabled media sources are not available to the user to be associated with an output device 110. In this manner, certain sources may be made unavailable for association or display on the output devices 110. In another example, the box for a media source 115 may be malfunctioning such that the bad signal from the device is blocked and not able to be associated with the output devices 110. In a similar manner, certain programming or networks may be blocked so as to not be available. For example, certain networks may carry programming or content that a certain venue may not wish to be displayed, and the venue manager may therefore block such channels or programming to restrict access to the content.
In one approach to blocking, the locked media sources, networks, programming, or stations are not provided to the user as an option for use when associating content with the output devices 110. By another approach, the media source 115, programming, networks, or stations may be displayed to the user with an indication that the source is unavailable. Should a user attempt to associate or display blocked content, the user may be provided with an indication, such as a noise and/or a visual cue, that the blocked content is unavailable or unchangeable. Although the blocking is described as being applied through the computing device 120 such that the computing device will not allow display of the blocked content through control of the media sources 115, the computing device 120 when configured to communicate with the output devices 100 can apply the blocking at the output device 110 where the output device 110 contains a blocking feature.
Another option includes where the computing device 120 is configured to lock at least one of the media sources 115 to a particular network or station such that a locked indication is provided to a user via the at least one interface 105 when the user attempts to change a locked media source 115. By this approach, a particular media source 115, such as a particular cable or satellite box, may act as a dedicated source for a particular network. For example, a sports bar may desire to have a dedicated source 115 for a particular sports-dedicated network. In another example, a facility catering to financial professionals may wish to lock certain output devices 110 to a network providing only market data or other financial information. Should a user attempt to change the channel for that media source 115, the user may be provided with a noise and/or visual cue that the media source 115 is locked. The locked indication may include a prompt for the user to check with management regarding the user-requested change, or the locked indication may ask for a security code to change the locked status of the media source.
Yet another option includes where the computing device 120 is configured to lock at least one of the media sources 115 to at least one output device 110 such that a locked indication is provided to a user via the at least one interface 105 when the user attempts to change a locked output device 110. By this approach, a particular media source 115 may be locked to a particular output device 110. For example, certain output devices 110 may be locked into displaying data from a DVD player. Should a user attempt to change the media source 115 association for that output device 110, the user may be provided with a noise and/or visual cue that the output device 110 is locked. By one approach, the locked indication may include a prompt for the user to check with management regarding the user-requested change, or the locked indication may ask for a security code to change the locked status of the output device 110. Depending on the venue's preferences, the computing device 120 may be configured to allow a user to override a locked indication. So configured with any one or more of the above optional configurations for the computing device 120, the system 100 provides the establishment's management with increased control over the media provided in the establishment.
With reference again to
The system 100 may also optionally include an output device controller 130 in communication with the computing device 120 to facilitate communication between the computing device 120 and the media sources output devices 110. The output device controller 130 is configurable to be in communication with at least one of the plurality of output devices 110 to detect and control at least one operating state of the output device(s) 110. The output device controller 130 allows for control of the output device 110, for example, to change a channel on the output device 110, to change an input setting for the output device 110, to change the on/off state of the output device 110, control display settings for the output device 110, and the like. The output device controller 130 is in communication with the output devices 110 by any known means including, for example, serial communication, infra-red communication, and the like. So configured, the states of the output devices 110 may be collected and analyzed by the computing device 120 to provide additional functionality and control to a user. The input device controller 125 and the output device controller 130 may comprises physically distinct elements as shown in
The system 100 may optionally include a switching device 135. The switching device 135 typically includes a plurality of inputs 140 configured to receive media signals from media sources and a plurality of outputs 145 configured to provide media signals. The switching device 135 is controlled by the computing device 120 to associate certain of the plurality of inputs 140 with certain of the plurality of outputs 145. So configured, the switching device 135 more readily allows the system 100 to switch the media sources 115 to be associated with different output devices 110. For example, without a switching device 135, the system 100 typically will have each output device 110 connected to a particular media source 115 or as many sources 115 as the output device 110 has inputs, and the system 100 can control the displayed channels or programming that are available through the media sources 115 connected to the output device 110. The output device 110, however, in such a configuration cannot readily be connected to additional media sources 115.
The switching device 135 in one approach comprises a dynamically controlled switch that allows the output device 110 to receive media content from any media sources 115 connected to the switching device 135. In one such approach, the switching device 135 includes inputs 140 able to receive video information in each of composite video form, S-video form, and component video form. The method can be expanded to high definition content such as is carried in the so called high-definition multimedia interface (“HDMI”) format. Such switching devices 135 are commercially available and controllable by software run on either the computing device 120 and/or the switching device 135 such that the computing device 120 in combination with the switching device 135 can route the video signals to output devices 110 connected to the switching device 135 outputs 145.
By another approach, the switching device 135 may comprise a scalable switch system for connecting a plurality of output devices 110 to at least one media source including an array of input connectors configured to receive media signals and a first array of first jumper connections electrically connected to the array of input connectors such that at least one input connector of the array of input connectors electrically connects to a first jumper connection and the input connector connected to the first jumper connection is electrically connected to a termination resistance when the first jumper connection for the input connector is in a first jumper configuration. This configuration of the switching device 135 also includes an array of output connectors configured to provide media signals and a second array of second jumper connections configured to electrically connect one of at least two input connectors to an output connector of the array of output connectors. Such a switching device 135 may also include a switching circuit in communication with the first array of jumper connections, the second array of jumper connections, and the array of output connectors. A controller circuit is in communication with the switching circuit to control a switching configuration of the switching circuit to associate signals received at the input connectors with certain of the output connectors.
This approach to the switching device may be configured where the array of input connectors comprises a first sub-array of input connectors configured such that each of the first sub-array of input connectors connects to one output connector of the array of output connectors regardless of a jumper configuration of the first array of jumper connections. The array of input connectors may include a second sub-array of input connectors wherein the second array of jumper connections for the switching device each connect one of the output connectors to the second sub-array of input connectors or the first sub-array of input connectors depending on a jumper configuration of the second array of jumper connections.
Such a switching device can be configured in a variety of ways to handle the various media source 115 and output device 110 configurations as different venues may present. For instance, the first array of first jumper connections and the second array of second jumper connections can be configured to electrically connect the second sub-array of input connectors to the output connectors and such that the first sub-array of input connectors and the second sub-array of input connectors have a termination resistance (or do not have a termination resistance) and are connected to output connectors. In another example, the first array of first jumper connections and the second array of second jumper connections can be configured to electrically connect the first sub-array of input connectors to the output connectors and such that each of the first sub-array of input connectors have a termination resistance (or do not have a termination resistance) and are connected to at least two output connectors.
Depending on the configurations of the array of the jumper connectors, a termination resistance can be matched to the input connectors in accordance with the needs of a given media system. For example, the first jumper connectors in the first array can provide electrical connections for the input connectors with a termination resistance that is preselected and about the same for more than one of the the input connectors.
Similarly, certain of the input connectors may be arranged via the jumper connections made by the jumper connectors to be available to connect to one or more output connectors. For example, the second array of second jumper connectors can be configured to route media signal received at the first array of input connectors to any of the first, second, and/or third arrays of output connectors.
This switching device is also scalable in that multiple switching devices may be interconnected such that the switching system of interconnected switching devices is able to receive more distinct media signals from media sources than a single switching device and/or output more distinct media signals than a single switching device. By variously configuring the jumper connectors, one can join together multiple scalable switch devices in one system to provide multiple arrangements suitable for various numbers of media sources and output devices. For example, in one configuration, inputs to the first scalable switch can be associated with outputs of multiple interconnected scalable switches. In one such configuration, two scalable switching devices are joined together to provide double the number of output connectors as compared to the number of input connectors. One scalable switch device will be connected so that its input connectors are connected to a termination resistance while a second scalable switch device is configured such that its input connectors do not connect to a termination resistance. By connecting the media inputs in parallel between the two sets of input connectors provided by the two switch devices, the output connectors available for the multiple media sources is doubled. Additional such configurations of the scalable switching devices can provide a variety of connections between multiple media sources and multiple output devices.
The hardware used to create the jumper connectors configuration allows the switching device to be manufactured for a much reduced cost as compared to switching devices that are otherwise commercially available. Additionally, through configuration of the jumper connectors, multiple switching devices may be banded together for use on a single system to provide scalability to a variety of potential uses. The software used to control the various switching devices described herein is readily developed by those skilled in the art. Such switching devices are further described in the co-owned application titled Scalable Switch Device and System, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/176,150, filed Jul. 18, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if rewritten entirely herein.
A storage device 170 may be included in communication with the computing device 120 wherein the computing device 120 is configured to store on the storage device 170 information relating to the media output at the plurality of output devices 110. The storage device 170 may comprise any element able to store information such as a hard disk, flash memory, and the like such that the system 100 is able to store information to enhance the functionality of the system 100. For example, the information relating to the media output may include a listing of programming previously displayed on the plurality of output devices 110. The listing of programming can include a listing of when particular networks or stations of particular media sources 115 were displayed on which output devices 110. By another approach, the information may include a history of associations between media sources 115 and output devices 110. Such information may correspond to data to track how many televisions displayed certain programming. By another approach, the information may be used to determine whether certain programming or media sources 115 have been shown for a certain amount of time as may be required in certain arrangements between an establishment and media provider. For example a media provider may require that certain media sources or programming be displayed for a minimum amount of time or at certain times. The storage device 170 can store the display information to confirm the programming usage. Such information may also be available for uploading to other systems should the system 100 be configured to connect to a network 180 such as the Internet. The network connection may be a wired or wireless connection as is known in the art.
To collect such programming information, the system 100 may store the associations between media sources 115 and output devices 110 as controlled by the computing device 120. By another approach, the storage device 170 may store information relating to the configuration of the switching device 135, the media sources 115, and the output devices 110 to accurately determine what programming was actually displayed on the output devices 110 at a given time.
By another approach, the storage device 170 may also be configured to store information relating to preferred media sources 115. For example, the system 100 in such an approach may include software providing the ability for a user to designate certain media sources as preferred media sources such that these sources are given preferred listing in the guide or are automatically associated with certain output devices 110 before receiving other instructions from the user.
By still another approach, the storage device 170 may be configured to store information relating to programming to be displayed in the future. For example, a user may configure the system 100 to automatically associate certain media sources or programming with the output devices 110 at a particular future time, and these settings may be stored in the storage device 170 for the use of the computing device 120 in such a configuration.
In an alternate approach described with reference to
Those skilled in the art will recognize and understand that such a system such as the systems 100 and 800 described herein may be comprised of a plurality of physically distinct elements as is suggested by the illustrations shown in
A method 900 of operation for the system 100 for controlling provision of a plurality of media sources 115 to a plurality of output devices 110 will be described with reference to
The system performing the method 900 accepts 930 a user input relating to associating at least one of the plurality of media sources 115 with at least one of the plurality of output devices 110. The input is typically provided at the interface 105, but in another approach, the system 100 may accept the input from a remote location through a wireless or wired connection, typically through a network 180. In either case, the method may include providing to the user a variety ways to provide the input to the system 100. For instance, the system 100 may provide to a user a guide of the plurality of media sources 115 and associated programming from which a user may choose for association and display on certain output devices 110. For example, a user may be able to use a touch screen on which to tap and thereby select a media source 115. The system 100 may then provide an ability for the user to select at least one of the output devices 110 when at least one of the media sources is selected to associate the at least one of the media sources with the selected at least one of the output devices 110. For example, the user may be able to select one media source 115 and then select several output devices 110 to associate that media source 115 with the selected output devices 110.
By another approach, the system 100 provides an ability to select and drag an indication of a media source 115 to an indication of at least one output device 110 to associate the media source 115 with the at least one output device 110. Similarly, the system 100 may provide an ability to select and drag an indication of at least one output device 100 to an indication of a media source 115 to associate the at least one media source 115 with the at least one output device 110. For a system with an overlay or pass-through source, for example, a user may drag a media source 115 onto a representation of the pass-through source on the visual graphic menu such that the pass-through source becomes a separate available source to associate with an output device 110. The media source 115 associated with that particular overlay can be changed in a similar manner by the user. These operations can be performed at the interface 105 using a computing device and mouse, with a touch screen, or by another suitable interface method.
At step 940, at least one of the media sources is provided at one or more of the plurality of output devices 110. The input accepted by the system 100 will typically dictate the provision of media at the output devices 110. For example, with momentary reference to
With reference again to
The method 900 may also optionally include the step 960 of detecting and/or controlling an operating state of at least one of the plurality of media sources. This step may include providing to the user an indication of the operating state of the media sources. Similarly, the method 900 may also optionally include the step 960 of detecting and/or controlling an operating state of at least one of the plurality of output devices 110. The user may be provided an indication of the operating state of the output devices 110. These indications can provide the user with the ability to more easily manage the media content providing devices 115 and output devices 110. For instance, the user may selectively turn on or off certain media sources and/or output devices as necessary, such as at the end or beginning of the day or where certain rooms or areas are not being used such that the televisions in those areas may be turned off.
Another example option for system control includes expanding the control of a system such that systems at multiple venues may be controlled by one or more users located remotely from the venues. With reference to
So configured, the system may provide a variety of user guides for associating media content or programming with certain output devices, such as televisions. A user may then use the guides at one or more conveniently placed interfaces to control all of the televisions in the establishment, thereby reducing or eliminating the need to use separate controls to control the televisions or media sources. The system also can track display data, for example, to maintain data for the establishment or to confirm that certain media is being displayed for a given amount of time.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, systems may be designed having various combinations of the disclosed components and other known components. For instance, one example combination includes at least one interface 105 screen configured to visually illustrate to a user a plurality of media sources 115 and a plurality of video output devices 110 and a computer 120 configured to communicate with the interface 105 screen to effect signals to the plurality of video output devices 110 based upon the user's selection of video output devices 110 on the interface 105 screen. An input device controller 125 communicates with the computer device 120 and the plurality of media sources 115 to control provision of media content provided by the media sources 115 to video output devices 110 and control at least one operating state for the media sources 115. As described above, an output device controller 130 may be included and communicate with the computing device 120 wherein the output device controller 130 is configurable to control at least one state of the output device 110. The output device controller 130 and the input device controller 125 may therefore provide the user the ability to control the state of the devices such as the on/off state, input configuration, display settings, and the like.
Such systems as described herein may also include a guided testing process to confirm the proper operation and connection of the media sources, output devices, and software. The systems may also include reboot/reset features and stored preferred configuration or source to output device associations at start up. Such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 61/052,083, filed May 9, 2008, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61052083 | May 2008 | US |