초록 ▼

Subject matter includes a reprogrammer for roving remote controllers that are capable of being used in multiple locations with different devices to be controlled at each location. An exemplary roving remote controller changes control code sets to operate whatever devices are present in a particular

Subject matter includes a reprogrammer for roving remote controllers that are capable of being used in multiple locations with different devices to be controlled at each location. An exemplary roving remote controller changes control code sets to operate whatever devices are present in a particular room. In one implementation, an exemplary multimedia system has reprogrammers for one or more roving remote controllers that adapt to their setting. When a remote controller is moved from a first room to a second room, the program content being controlled in the first room is automatically transferred to the second room.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A multimedia network system, comprising: a hub having access to multimedia content; one or more nodes communicatively coupled with the hub and with respective controllable devices for using parts of the multimedia content, wherein a given node stores code set identifier

The invention claimed is: 1. A multimedia network system, comprising: a hub having access to multimedia content; one or more nodes communicatively coupled with the hub and with respective controllable devices for using parts of the multimedia content, wherein a given node stores code set identifiers capable of identifying code sets for operating the controllable devices coupled with the node; one or more portable remote controllers for communicating with the nodes using one or more active code sets, wherein in response to communicating with a particular node, a portable remote controller changes active code sets to operate the controllable devices communicatively coupled with the particular node; and wherein in response to the portable remote controller moving from a first node to a second node, the hub discontinues providing a multimedia event to the first node and resumes providing the multimedia event to one of the controllable devices communicatively coupled with the second node. 2. The multimedia network system as recited in claim 1, wherein each node has a transmitter and a receiver for two-way communication with a remote controller and each remote controller has a transmitter and a receiver for two-way communication with a node. 3. The multimedia network system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable remote controller changes active code sets by receiving an identifier of a new code set from the particular node. 4. The multimedia network system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable remote controller changes active code sets by receiving a new code set from the particular node. 5. The multimedia network system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable remote controller has a data storage space for storing code sets and changes active code sets by using a code set from the data storage space. 6. The multimedia network system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a unique identifier for each portable remote controller to enable the hub to associate an ongoing multimedia event with a portable remote controller that is being moved from a location of a first node to a location of a second node. 7. The multimedia network system as recited in claim 1, further comprising in response to the portable remote controller being moved from a location of a first node to a location of a second node, changing a multimedia event from occurring on a controllable device coupled with the first node to occurring on a controllable device coupled with the second node. 8. The multimedia network system as recited in claim 7, wherein the multimedia event comprises playback of program content, wherein the playback of program content is paused in response to one of: a pause command being transmitted to the first node, and the portable remote controller leaving the first node; and wherein the playback of program content resumes in response to the portable remote controller transmitting an unpause command to the second node. 9. A method, comprising: sensing a remote controller in a first location; instructing the remote controller to use a first code set to control a first device in the first location; streaming a multimedia event to the first device; sensing the remote controller in a second location; instructing the remote controller to use a second code set to control a second device in the second location; discontinuing streaming the multimedia event to the first device; and resuming the streaming of the multimedia event, wherein the multimedia event is streamed to the second device. 10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the sensing and the instructing are performed by a reprogrammer. 11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the reprogrammer is at least part of a node of a multimedia network. 12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the sensing further comprises receiving an identity signal from the remote controller. 13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the identity signal comprises a unique identifier that identifies the remote controller within the multimedia network. 14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein one of an infrared sensor, a visible light sensor, a radio frequency sensor, a magnetic sensor, or an electrical sensor senses the identity signal. 15. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructing further includes transmitting instructions by one of an infrared transmitter, a visible light transmitter, a radio frequency transmitter, a magnetic field, or an electrical signal. 16. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the first code set comprises at least one instruction that is receivable and executable by the first device. 17. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructing the remote controller to use a second code set further comprises instructing the remote controller to use a second code set stored on the remote controller. 18. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising sending the second code set to the remote controller. 19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein a node of a multimedia network performs the sending. 20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein a node of a multimedia network requests the second code set from a hub of the multimedia network, receives the second code set from the hub, and performs the sending. 21. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the second device is coupled a node of a multimedia network. 22. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising in response to the remote control being moved from a location of a first node of a multimedia network to a location of a second node of the multimedia network, changing a multimedia event from occurring on a controllable device coupled with the first node to occurring on a controllable device coupled with the second node. 23. Nodes for controlling interactions between a hub, one or more controllable devices, and one or more portable remote controllers in a multimedia network system, each node comprising: a database for storing code set identifiers of controllable devices in the location of the node; a receiver for sensing a presence of one of the portable remote controllers; a transmitter for sending an identifier of a control code set to the portable remote controller; and wherein in response to movement of one of the portable remote controllers, the hub sends multimedia content to a sequence of the nodes, wherein the sequence follows the movement of the portable remote controller. 24. A hub of a multimedia network system, comprising: network control logic for controlling transfer of multimedia program content and information about the multimedia program content to and from one or more nodes of the multimedia network system; and a state information store for tracking identities of and multimedia events associated with each of a plurality of portable remote controllers, wherein the state information associates a multimedia event with a particular portable remote controller in response to the particular portable remote controller being moved from a location of a first node to a location of a second node. 25. A remote controller for a multimedia network having nodes, comprising: an identifier to uniquely identify the remote controller as being in a location associated with one of the nodes, wherein the remote controller is capable of being moved from a location of a first node to a location of a second node; in response to being moved from the location of the first node to the location of the second node, a transmitter to send the identifier to the second node, wherein the transmitter is also capable of controlling one or more devices coupled with the second node using one or more code sets; a receiver to receive an instruction from the second node, wherein the instruction informs the remote controller which control code sets to use for devices in the location of the second node; and wherein the multimedia network sends a current part of a multimedia event only to whichever node is in closest proximity to the remote controller, such that the multimedia event that is playing follows the remote controller as the remote controller is moved from one location to a next. 26. The remote controller as recited in claim 25, wherein the second node sends one or more control code sets to the remote controller for controlling the one or more devices coupled with the second node. 27. One or more computer readable media containing instructions that are executable by a computer to perform actions comprising: storing identities and locations of multiple portable remote controllers for operating controllable devices in a multimedia network; associating one or more code sets with the stored identity of each portable remote controller, wherein a code set enables a portable remote controller to operate a device in a location; associating one or more different code sets with the stored identity of a portable remote controller in response to the portable remote controller being moved to a new location, wherein the different code sets control devices in the new location; and in response to the portable remote controller being moved from one new location to the next new location, sending a currently playing part of a multimedia program only to the devices in the current new location. 28. A reprogrammer for a remote controller, comprising: a store of code set identifiers, wherein each code set identifier is associated with a code set to control a device within a control range of the remote controller; a sensor to detect the presence of the remote controller in a detection range of the reprogrammer; a transmitter to send a code set identifier to the remote controller; and wherein in response to the remote controller moving into the detection range, the reprogrammer resumes a multimedia event associated with the remote controller, the reprogrammer resuming the multimedia event on the device. 29. The reprogrammer as recited in claim 28, wherein the reprogrammer receives a code of the code set from the remote controller and controls the device.