Digital living network alliance (DLNA) enabled portable electronic devices, DLNA management consoles and related methods of operating DLNA enabled portable electronic devices
View Patent ↗Digital living network alliance (DLNA) enabled portable electronic devices are provided that include a DLNA device circuit and a DLNA management console circuit. The DLNA device circuit is configured to attach the portable electronic device to an existing DLNA network having at least one existing DLNA management console so as to allow the portable electronic device to be a source for data on the existing DLNA network. The DLNA management console circuit is configured to enable the portable electronic device to operate as a portable management console for the existing and/or a new DLNA network. Related management consoles and methods of operating DLNA enabled portable electronic devices are also provided.
1. A digital living network alliance (DLNA) enabled portable electronic device, comprising:
a DLNA device circuit configured to attach the portable electronic device to an existing DLNA network having at least one existing DLNA management console so as to allow the portable electronic device to be a source for data on the existing DLNA network; and
a DLNA management console circuit configured to enable the portable electronic device to operate as a portable management console for the existing and a new DLNA network.
2. The DLNA enabled portable electronic device of claim 1 :
wherein the DLNA device circuit is further configured to transmit a request to the existing management console requesting that the portable electronic device be attached to the existing DLNA network as a DLNA device; and
wherein the DLNA management console circuit is further configured to transmit a request to the existing management console requesting that the portable electronic device be given rights to act as a secondary management console for the existing DLNA network once the portable electronic device has been attached to the existing DLNA network as a DLNA device.
3. The DLNA enabled portable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the existing DLNA network is managed from the existing management console and/or the secondary management console.
4. The DLNA enabled portable electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the DLNA management console circuit is further configured to attach to the existing DLNA network from a location remote from the existing DLNA network and manage the existing DLNA network from the remote location.
5. The DLNA enabled portable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the DLNA management console circuit is configured to attach to the existing DLNA network from the remote location over the Internet using a wireless network and a DLNA proxy.
6. The DLNA enabled portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the DLNA management console circuit is configured to define the new DLNA network including the DLNA enabled portable electronic device, wherein the DLNA management console circuit comprises the portable management console for the new DLNA network.
7. The DLNA enabled portable electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the DLNA management console is further configured to receive requests to attach to the new DLNA network from additional DLNA enabled devices.
8. The DLNA enabled portable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the DLNA management console circuit is further configured to manage and/or monitor the new DLNA network.
9. The DLNA enabled portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the DLNA device circuit is configured to temporarily or permanently attach the portable electronic device to the existing DLNA network and/or the new DLNA network.
10. A management console for a digital living network alliance (DLNA) network, comprising:
an device attachment circuit configured to receive requests from a DLNA enabled portable electronic device to attach the DLNA enabled portable electronic device to the DLNA network associated with the DLNA management console so as to allow the portable electronic device to be a source for data on the DLNA network; and
a portable management console circuit configured to provide rights to the DLNA enabled portable electronic that allow the DLNA portable electronic device to operate as a portable management console for the DLNA network.
11. The management console of claim 10 , wherein the management console is included in the DLNA enabled portable electronic device.
12. The management console of claim 11 , wherein the portable management console circuit is further configured to allow the DLNA enabled portable electronic device to attach to the DLNA network from a location remote from the DLNA network and manage the DLNA network from the remote location.
13. The management console of claim 11 , wherein the portable management console circuit is configured to define a new DLNA network including the DLNA enabled portable electronic device, wherein the portable management console comprises the management console for the new DLNA network.
14. The management console of claim 13 , wherein the portable management console circuit is further configured to receive requests to attach to the new DLNA network from additional DLNA enabled devices.
15. A method of operating a digital living network alliance (DLNA) enabled portable electronic device in a DLNA network, comprising:
attaching the portable electronic device to an existing DLNA network having at least one existing DLNA management console so as to allow the portable electronic device to be a source for data on the existing DLNA network; and
enabling the portable electronic device to operate as a portable management console for the existing and a new DLNA network.
16. The method of claim 15 :
wherein attaching further comprises transmitting a request to the existing management console requesting that the portable electronic device be attached to the existing DLNA network as a DLNA device; and
wherein enabling further comprises transmitting a request to the existing management console requesting that the portable electronic device be given rights to act as a secondary management console for the existing DLNA network once the portable electronic device has been attached to the existing DLNA network as a DLNA device.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising managing the existing DLNA network from the existing management console and/or the secondary management console from a local and/or remote location.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein enabling further comprises defining the new DLNA network including the DLNA enabled portable electronic device, wherein the portable management console comprises a management console for the new DLNA network.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving requests to attach to the new DLNA network from additional DLNA enabled devices.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising managing and/or monitoring the new DLNA network using the portable management console.