System and method for social television management of smart homes

1. A method for controlling a home ambience using a smart home controller in communication with at least one home device and with a client terminal, the method comprising:

a) determining, by the client terminal, media content being input to a media renderer;

b) selecting, by the client terminal, a desired home ambience in accordance with the determined media content and in accordance with a stored personal preference of a user;

c) automatically selecting, by the client terminal, at least one command according to the desired home ambience; and

d) sending, by the client terminal, the at least one command to the smart home controller, thereby causing the smart home controller to instruct the at least one home device to operate according to the desired home ambience.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting of the desired home ambience comprises automatically selecting the desired home ambience.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting of the desired home ambience comprises displaying a confirmation request to the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting of the desired home ambience comprises (i) displaying multiple possible ambience options, and (ii) receiving from the user a selection of one of the multiple possible ambience options that is to be the desired home ambience.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media renderer is packaged within the client terminal.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media renderer is separate from the client terminal.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one home device includes a specific home device that is selected from the group consisting of: a light, an air-conditioner, a window shade, a water boiler, a coffee maker, an oven, a stove, a microwave, a pop-corn maker, a phone, a washing machine and a dishwasher.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one home device includes a specific home device that is noisy, and the sending of the at least one command causes the smart home controller to instruct the specific home device to stop activity, adjust activity, pause activity, or delay commencement of activity.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media renderer is selected from the group consisting of a television, a tablet, a smartphone, a personal computer and a laptop.

10. A client terminal for controlling a home comprising:

a) a processor operable to monitor media content played by a media renderer;

b) a smart home interface operable to connect with a smart home controller, wherein the smart home controller is in communication with at least one home device;

c) a smart home ambience management software application executable by the processor, which when executed by the processor carries out the following steps:

i) determine media content being input to the media renderer;

ii) select a desired home ambience in accordance with the determined media content and in accordance with a stored personal preference of a user;

iii) automatically select at least one command according to the desired home ambience; and

iv) send the at least one command to the smart home controller, thereby causing the smart home controller to instruct the at least one home device to operate according to the desired home ambience.

11. A method for controlling a home ambience using a smart home controller in communication with at least one home device and with a first client terminal associated with a first member of a social group, the method comprising:

a) receiving, by the first client terminal, input from a second client terminal which is in communication with the first client terminal via a network external to the home and is associated with a second member of the social group or from a remote central unit which is in communication with the first client terminal via a network external to the home;

b) selecting, by the first client terminal, a desired home ambience in accordance with the received input;

c) automatically selecting, by the first client terminal, at least one command according to the desired home ambience; and

d) sending, by the first client terminal, the at least one command to the smart home controller, thereby causing the smart home controller to instruct the at least one home device to operate according to the desired home ambience.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selecting of the desired home ambience comprises automatically selecting the desired home ambience.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selecting of the desired home ambience comprises displaying a confirmation request to the first member of the social group.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selecting of the desired home ambience comprises (i) displaying multiple possible ambience options to the first member of the social group, and (ii) receiving from the first member of the social group a selection of one of the multiple possible ambience options that is to be the desired home ambience.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one home device includes a specific home device that is selected from the group consisting of: a light, an air-conditioner, a window shade, a water boiler, a coffee maker, an oven, a stove, a microwave, a pop-corn maker, a phone, a washing machine and a dishwasher.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one home device includes a specific home device that is noisy, and the sending of the at least one command causes the smart home controller to instruct the specific home device to stop activity, adjust activity, pause activity, or delay commencement of activity.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the receiving of the input comprises receiving the input from the second client terminal.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the receiving of the input comprises receiving the input from the remote central unit.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the input from the remote central unit is based on an input received by the remote central unit from the second client terminal.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the input from the remote central unit is generated based on data selected from the group consisting of: data about media content currently played by a media renderer associated with the first member of the social group, data about a personal preference of the first member of the social group, data about content viewing history of the first member of the social group, data about a physical setting of the first member of the social group, data related to the social group, and any combination thereof.