Remote management of DLNA system

1. An IPMI Compatible Digital Media Controller (DMC), comprising:

a processor;

a network interface controller; and

a memory containing a firmware configured

to be, when executed at the processor, in communication with a plurality of digital media devices in a local DLNA network, wherein the plurality of digital media devices comprises at least one digital media renderer (DMR) and at least one digital media server (DMS);

to receive an IPMI message from a remote management device through the network interface controller; and

to execute, in response to the IPMI message, an DLNA operation of the DMR or DMS.

2. The IPMI Compatible DMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware further comprises:

a DMC module to manage or perform management functions on one or more of the plurality of digital media devices according to a DLNA protocol;

a network interface configured to receive and transmitting an IPMI message embedded in an IP packet to and from the remote management device;

an IPMI message module configured to process the incoming IPMI message from, and outgoing IPMI message to the remote management device;

a DLNA interface for receiving and transmitting the DLNA communication through the DLNA communication link;

a digital media device database configured to store property information of the plurality of digital media devices;

a digital media content database configured to store an inventory and the property information of digital media contents of the at least one DMS available to be rendered with the at least one DMR; and

a SDR configured to store inventory information of the plurality of digital media devices.

3. The IPMI Compatible DMC of claim 2 , wherein the firmware further comprises a DLNA interface in communication with the plurality of digital media devices in accordance with the DLNA communication protocol;

wherein the DMC module is configured to

determine the DLNA operation based on an IPMI command and a UUID of a target digital media device extracted from the IPMI message; and

instruct the DLNA interface to invoke a corresponding DLNA action at the target digital media device.

4. The IPMI Compatible DMC of claim 1 , wherein the remote management device comprises a user interface configured to

present management operation options to a user; and

receive management requests from the user, wherein each of the management requests includes data for constructing an IPMI message in accordance with the IPMI communication protocol, the IPMI message including at least an IPMI OEM command, a digital media device number of a selected digital media device, and a related command value.

5. The IPMI Compatible DMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware is configured to

receive a DLNA response message encapsulated in at least one network packet from the plurality of digital media devices through the DLNA interface and a DLNA communication link between the IPMI Compatible DMC and the local DLNA network;

generate an IPMI response message; and

send the IPMI response message back to the remote management device.

6. The IPMI Compatible DMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware is configured to

associate each of the at least one DMR with a respective universal unique identification (UUID) in accordance with the DLNA protocol;

maintain a record of the association of the UUID and the DMR; and

determine the target digital media device by examining the record with the UUID.

7. The IPMI Compatible DMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware is configured to

associate each of the at least one DMS with a respective UUID in accordance with the DLNA protocol;

maintain a record of the association of the UUID and the DMS; and

maintain a record of the digital media contents in the DMS by the UUID.

8. The IPMI Compatible DMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware is configured to

provide communication access for communicating with the plurality of digital media devices;

interpret IPMI messages; and

perform the DLNA operation directed to the plurality of digital media devices, wherein the DLNA operation is requested by an IPMI OEM command.

9. The IPMI Compatible DMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware is configured to dynamically discover inventory and property information of the plurality of digital media devices.

10. The IPMI Compatible DMC of claim 1 , wherein the firmware further comprises an IPMI message interface in communication with the network interface controller in accordance with IPMI protocol.

11. An IPMI Compatible Digital Media Controller (DMC) implemented method for managing a DLNA system having a DLNA interface and a plurality of digital media devices, comprising:

receiving a DLNA system management request at a user interface of a remote management device;

constructing an IPMI message containing the DLNA management request to an IPMI Compatible DMC by an IPMI application program;

extracting the DLNA management request embedded in the IPMI message at an IPMI message module;

forwarding the DLNA management request to a DMC module;

translating the DLNA management request into DLNA actions at the DMC module;

sending the DLNA actions, by the DLNA interface, to the plurality of digital media devices; and

executing the DLNA actions at the plurality of digital media devices.

12. The IPMI Compatible DMC implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of digital media devices comprises at least one digital media renderer (DMR) and at least one digital media server (DMS).

13. The IPMI Compatible DMC implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the IPMI Compatible DMC comprises:

a processor;

a network interface controller; and

a memory containing a firmware, when executed at the processor, configured to,

be in communication with the plurality of digital media devices in a local DLNA network;

receive an IPMI message from a remote management device through a network interface controller; and

execute, in response to the IPMI message, an DLNA operation by the plurality of digital media devices.

14. The IPMI Compatible DMC implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving response information from the plurality of digital media devices at the DLNA interface;

sending the response information to the DMC module and the IPMI message module of the IPMI Compatible DMC;

constructing an IPMI response message at the IPMI message module;

sending the IPMI response message to the IPMI application program; and

displaying the response information in the IPMI response message at the user interface of the remote management device.

15. The IPMI Compatible DMC implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:

providing communication access for communication between the user interface to the IPMI message module according to the IPMI protocol; and

providing communication access for communication between the DMC module and the plurality of digital media devices according to the DLNA protocol.

16. The IPMI Compatible DMC implemented method of claim 11 , further comprising:

dynamically discovering the plurality of digital media devices;

storing the device information of the discovered digital media devices in a digital media device database and a sensor data record (SDR) on the IPMI Compatible DMC;

receiving browsing digital media content request from the user interface;

retrieving digital media content information on the at least digital media server by the DLNA interface; and

storing the digital media content information retrieved in a digital media content database on the IPMI Compatible DMC.

17. A non-transitory computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor of an IPMI Compatible Digital Media Controller (DMC), cause the processor to

receive a DLNA system management request at a user interface of a remote management device;

construct an IPMI message containing the DLNA management request to an IPMI Compatible DMC by an IPMI application program;

extract the DLNA management request embedded in the IPMI message at an IPMI message module;

forward the DLNA management request to a DMC module;

translate the DLNA management request into DLNA actions at the DMC module;

send the DLNA actions, by the DLNA interface, to the plurality of digital media devices; and

execute the DLNA actions at the plurality of digital media devices.

18. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to

receive response information from the plurality of digital media devices at the DLNA interface;

send the response information to the DMC module and the IPMI message module of the IPMI Compatible DMC;

construct an IPMI response message at the IPMI message module;

send the IPMI response message to the IPMI application program; and

display the response information in the IPMI response message at the user interface of the remote management device.

19. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to

provide communication access for communication between the user interface to the IPMI message module according to the IPMI protocol; and

provide communication access for communication between the DMC module and the plurality of digital media devices according to the DLNA protocol.

20. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to

dynamically discover the plurality of digital media devices;

store the device information of the discovered digital media devices in a digital media device database and a sensor data record (SDR) on the IPMI Compatible DMC;

receive browsing digital media content request from the user interface;

retrieve digital media content information on the at least digital media server by the DLNA interface; and

store the digital media content information retrieved in a digital media content database on the IPMI Compatible DMC.