Systems and methods for a universal media server with integrated networking and telephony
Systems and methods for creating a Universal Media Server (UMS) and associated Digital Media Renders (DMRs) are disclosed. This system provides functions such as in-home wired or wireless network for media distribution with PVR functions from a distributed archive while at the same time including functions such as an answering machine, voice recorder, voice over IP gateway, firewall, NAT, DHCP, and security monitoring. A variety of advanced features and functions are also disclosed.
1 . A digital media recorder comprising:
an input for receiving media streams;
at least two storage devices for storing the received media streams;
a processor for providing redundant storage of the received streams in the storage devices;
an output for connecting to a device capable of rendering the media streams; and
a means for specifying user preferences for storing the received media streams in the storage devices.
2 . The digital media recorder of claim 1 , wherein user preferences for storing the received media streams comprise one or more of: (i) storage priority; (ii) level of redundancy; and (iii) access privileges.
3 . The digital media recorder of claim 1 , wherein at least two storage devices are in the digital media recorder's chassis.
4 . The digital media recorder of claim 1 , wherein media streams are received over a telephone line.
5 . The digital media recorder of claim 4 , wherein stored media streams include voice-mail messages.
6 . The digital media recorder of claim 5 further comprising means for customizing storage preferences of a received media stream based on a caller ID number.
7 . The digital media recorder of claim 6 further comprising means for displaying a message on an output device when a phone call is received.
8 . The digital media recorder of claim 6 further comprising means for displaying an image on an output device when a phone call is received.
9 . The digital media recorder of claim 1 , wherein media streams are received from a video camera
10 . The digital media recorder of claim 9 further comprising means for sending a media stream received from a video camera to an output device when the video camera detects motion.
11 . The digital media recorder of claim 1 , wherein the processor is connected to the storage devices over a computer network.
12 . The digital media recorder of claim 11 , wherein the computer network is the Internet.
13 . The digital media recorder of claim 1 further comprising a remote control device operated by human voice commands.
14 . The digital media recorder of claim 13 further comprising means for processing human voice commands.
15 . The digital media recorder of claim 11 , wherein the device capable of rendering the media is connected to the digital media recorder over the computer network
16 . The digital media recorder of claim 15 , wherein the device capable of rendering media comprises a networking hub.
17 . The digital media recorder claim 15 , wherein the device capable of rendering media comprises a videophone.
18 . The digital media recorder of claim 15 , wherein the device capable of rendering media comprises a voice over internet protocol telephone.