Remote control device transaction setup in a home network

Abstract

A technique of using a remote control device to identify a source for transferring content on a home network, a renderer for rendering the content and a pathway within a home network to couple the source to the renderer to transfer the content. The remote control device then transmits control information to the source to set a control parameter value within the source to send the content and transmits control information to the renderer to set a control parameter value within the renderer to receive the content. The commands from the remote configure parameter values associated with a media layer in the source and / or the renderer to initiate a hand-shake to effect the content transfer, so that the source and the renderer need not initiate the hand-shake between themselves.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to communication systems and, more particularly, to delivery of multimedia content across different platforms that are made interoperable through a network, such as a home network.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]Content connectivity in a residence or office environment is becoming more attractive to simplify the way information is controlled and delivered. As more residences are built to accommodate a digital environment (digital home), the prior practice of having many different systems that operate independently from one another is undesirable for a number of reasons. In a typical home, a variety of electrical devices are present, but most of these devices operate independently from one another. For example, a television system that typically includes one or more displays, a digital video recorder (DVR) and / or a digital video disc (DVD) recorder / player, and wh...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

As more residences are built to accommodate a digital environment (digital home), the prior practice of having many different systems that operate independently from one another is undesirable for a number of reasons.

In an existing home, many of these systems operate independently from one another and complications are well noted in trying to bridge content from one system to another.

For example, a digital photo may be readily transferred to a computer from a camera, so that a photo may be printed from a printer connected to the computer, but it is typically not possible to transfer the photo for display onto a television set.

Likewise, a movie that may be played from a DVD player of a notebook computer may be watched on the notebook display, but that same movie cannot be watched on a television set in the home, unless the DVD is transferred to a DVD player connected to the television set or the notebook video output is connect to the television set.

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