Device control apparatus and method

1. An apparatus for distributing media content from hardware input devices to hardware output devices, located remotely from each other, in a home network, the apparatus comprising:

a. a control unit receiving user input and converting the user input to control signals;

b. at least two encoder devices, each coupled to a hardware input device and configured to receive the control signals, at least one of the at least two encoder devices including an infrared transmitter for sending infra red control signals to its respective hardware input device; and

c. at least two decoder devices, each coupled to a hardware output device and configured to receive control signals at least one of the at least two decoder devices including an infrared transmitter for sending infra red control signals to its respective hardware output device;

wherein the control unit couples each encoder device with an appropriate decoder device, and wherein each encoder device digitally encodes an analog audio/video signal from its coupled input device to form an encoded signal and transmits the encoded signal over the home network to its coupled decoder device, and wherein each coupled decoder device translates the encoded signal into a decoded signal suitable for the output device coupled to that coupled decoder device, and wherein at least two of the encoder devices are remote from each other on the home network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one input device is a DVD player.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one input device is a CD player.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one input device is a VCR.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one input device is a stereo.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one decoder device includes an infra-red receiver for receiving user generated command signals from a remote control.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one decoder device displays on-screen graphics on its coupled output device for user interface elements.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the interface elements comprise menus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one output device is a television.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one output device is a display screen.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one output device is a speaker.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the home network is one of a local area network, a wide area network, and a cable network.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the home network is a digital network.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the digital network is wireless.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the digital network is wired.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the digital network is a powerline.

17. A method of distributing media content from hardware input devices to hardware output devices, located remotely from each other, in a home network, the method comprising the steps of:

converting user input to control signals;

transmitting at least two of the control signals to at least two encoder devices and transmitting at least another two of the control signals to at least two decoder devices;

sending infrared control signals from at least one encoder device to a respective hardware input device;

digitally encoding analog audio/video signals from the hardware input devices;

transmitting the encoded signals over the home network to the decoder devices;

translating the encoded signals into decoded signals suitable for the output devices and;

sending infrared control signals from at least one decoder device to a respective hardware output device,

wherein at least two of the encoder devices are remote from each other on the home network.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one encoder device includes an infra-red transmitter for sending control signals to the input device.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one input device is a DVD player.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one input device is a CD player.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one input device is a stereo.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one decoder device includes an infra-red receiver for receiving user generated command signals from a remote control.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one decoder device displays on-screen graphics on at least one output device for user interface elements.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the interface elements comprise menus.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one output device is a television.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one output device is a display screen.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one output device is a speaker.

28. The method of claim 17 wherein the home network is one of a local area network, a wide area network, and a cable network.

29. The method of claim 17 wherein the home network is a digital network.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the digital network is wireless.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the digital network is wired.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the digital network is a powerline.

33. An apparatus for distributing media content from hardware input devices to hardware output devices, located remotely from each other, in a home network, the apparatus comprising:

a. a control unit configured for receiving user input, converting the user input to control signals, and sending the control signals over the home network;

b. one or more encoder devices, each coupled to a hardware input device and configured to receive control signals from the control unit over the home network and each including an infrared transmitter for sending infra red control signals to its respective hardware input device; and

c. one or more decoder devices, each coupled to a hardware output device and configured to receive control signals from the control unit over the home network and each including an infrared transmitter for sending infra red control signals to its respective hardware output device;

wherein the control unit couples each encoder device with an appropriate decoder device, and wherein each encoder device digitally encodes an analog audio/video signal from its coupled input device to form an encoded signal and transmits the encoded signal over the home network to its coupled decoder device, and wherein each coupled decoder device translates the encoded signal into a decoded signal suitable for the output device connected to that coupled decoder device.

34. A method of distributing media content from hardware input devices to hardware output devices, located remotely from each other, in a home network, the method comprising the steps of:

converting user input to control signals at a control unit;

transmitting control signals from the control unit to one or more encoder devices and other control signals from the control unit to one or more decoder devices over the home network,

sending infrared control signals from at least one of the one or more encoder devices to a respective hardware input device;

digitally encoding analog audio/video signals from the hardware input devices by the encoder devices;

transmitting the encoded signals over the home network to the decoder devices;

translating the encoded signals into decoded signals suitable for the output devices by the decoder devices and;

sending infrared control signals from at least one of the one or more decoder devices to a respective hardware output device.