IP Library Granted Patent US 11,252,463
Granted Patent B2
US 11,252,463 · App. 17/173,700 · Granted Feb 15, 2022

System and method for reconfiguration of an entertainment system controlling device

Inventors: Paul D. Arling (Scottsdale, AZ); Patrick H. Hayes (Mission Viejo, CA)
Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
H04N21/42225H04L12/281H04L12/2809H04N5/765H04N21/4126H04N21/4221H04N21/42204H04N21/42228H04N21/43615H04N21/43632H04N21/44227H04N21/47H04N21/485H04N21/4852H04N21/4882H04L12/282H04N21/41265
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,252,463
App. No.
17/173,700
Granted
Feb 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An entertainment device initiates a configuration process of a controlling device in response to a change in an audio visual entertainment system configuration in which at least one of a plurality devices is connected to the entertainment device as an audio and/or visual source and at least one of the plurality of devices is connected to the entertainment device as an audio and/or visual output destination for the entertainment device.

Claims (35)

1. A media device hub, comprising:

a plurality of High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports;

a first module configured to manage device mappings in a device map, the device map storing an association between a first device that was previously connected to and disconnected from the media device hub, an indicated port of the plurality of HDMI ports to which the first device was at least previously coupled, and a first indicator of the first device;

a second module configured to obtain, upon coupling a media device to the media device hub, a second indicator from the media device coupled to a current port of the plurality of HDMI ports; and

a third module configured to: determine whether the second indicator matches the first indicator; in response to determining that the second indicator matches the first indicator, determine whether the current port is different than the indicated port; and in response to determining that the current port is different than the indicated port, update the device map to indicate the first device as coupled to the current port.

2. The media hub device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a fourth module for providing the updated device map to a controlling device for use by the controlling device in configuring an activity-based command sequence whereby the controlling device will be adapted to transmit a command to the media hub device to at least select the current port for purposes of actively coupling the first device to the media hub device.

3. The media device hub of claim 1 , wherein the first indicator comprises at least one of a device signature or a device identifier.

4. The media device hub of claim 1 , wherein the second module is configured to obtain the first indicator and the second indicator over a first HDMI port and a second HDMI port, respectively.

5. The media device hub of claim 1 , wherein the first device is a source media device configured to provide multimedia content to a sink device.

6. The media device hub of claim 5 , further comprising: a switch circuit that is configured to automatically select the current port in response to a request to retrieve the multimedia content from the first device.

7. The media device hub of claim 1 , wherein the second module is configured to obtain the second identifier during a device discovery process performed between the media device hub and the media device.

8. A method for identifying a coupled device, the method comprising:

managing device mappings in a device map, the device map including a mapping between a first device that was previously coupled to and disconnected from a media device hub, an indicated port among a plurality of High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports to which the first device was at least previously coupled, and a first indicator of the first device;

obtaining, upon coupling a media device to the media device hub, a second indicator from the media device coupled to a current port of the plurality of HDMI ports;

determining whether the second indicator matches the first indicator;

in response to determining that the second indicator matches the first indicator, determining whether the current port is different than the indicated port; and

in response to determining that the current port is different than the indicated port, updating the device map to indicate the first device as coupled to the current port.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first identifier comprises at least one of a device signature or a device identifier.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: obtaining the first identifier and the second identifier over a first HDMI port and a second HDMI port, respectively.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first device is a source media device configured to provide multimedia content to a sink device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: receiving a request to retrieve multimedia content from the first device; and automatically selecting the current port in response to the request to retrieve the multimedia content.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein said obtaining the second indicator comprises: obtaining the second indicator during a device discovery process performed between a media device hub and the media device.

14. A system comprising:

a plurality of High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports; and

one or more processing components to automatically identify a coupled device, the automatic identification of the coupled device performed by:

managing device mappings in a device map, the device map including a mapping between a first device that was previously coupled to and disconnected from the media device hub, an indicated port among the plurality of HDMI ports to which the first device was at least previously coupled, and a first indicator of the first device;

obtaining, upon coupling a media device to the media device hub, a second indicator from the media device coupled to a current port of the plurality of HDMI ports;

determining whether the second indicator matches the first indicator;

in response to determining that the second indicator matches the first indicator, determining whether the indicated port is different than the current port; and

in response to determining that the current port is different than the indicated port, updating the device map to indicate the first device as coupled to the current port.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein: the first indicator comprises a device identifier.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processing components are further configured to: obtain the first indicator and the second indicator over a first HDMI port and a second HDMI port, respectively.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first device is a source media device configured to provide multimedia content to a sink device.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processing components are further configured to: receive a request to retrieve multimedia content from the first device; and automatically select the current port in response to the request to retrieve the multimedia content.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein said obtaining a second indicator comprises: obtaining the second indicator during a device discovery process performed between a media device hub and the media device.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2024
From: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 067417/0402 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2021
From: ARLING, PAUL D.; HAYES, PATRICK H.
To: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 055233/0957 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 16584088 · Sep 26, 2019
Continuation 16381278 · Apr 11, 2019
Continuation 16045309 · Jul 25, 2018
Continuation 15786852 · Oct 18, 2017
Continuation 14167619 · Jan 29, 2014
Continuation In Part 13785015 · Mar 5, 2013
Continuation 12621277 · Nov 18, 2009
Continuation In Part 12569121 · Sep 29, 2009
Related Publication 20210168428A1 · Jun 3, 2021