Data Presentation from Multiple Sources Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub

Abstract

A method of managing a power state of devices in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub comprises obtaining a registration of a plurality of devices, where the plurality of devices includes at least one sink device and at least one source device. A selection of one of the source devices is received for presentation of program content to a user in the home entertainment system. A subset of the at least one sink device is determined for presentation of the program content to the user based on the selection of the source device. Each sink device in the subset of the at least one sink device is ensured to be active.

1 . A method for presenting data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, the method comprising:
 (a) obtaining a registration for a plurality of source devices;   (b) obtaining a registration for one or more sink devices;   (c) receiving at the wireless home entertainment hub a first indication that a first source device has become active;   (d) receiving a second indication that a second source device has become active;   (e) receiving data from the first active source device;   (f) receiving data from the second active source device;   (g) mixing the data received from the first active source device and the second active source device;   (h) selecting at least one of the sink devices to receive the mixed data; and   (i) transmitting the mixed data to at least one of the sink devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sink devices include a plurality of wireless speakers for presenting audio data to a user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sink devices include a display device for presenting video data to a user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the display device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source devices are wireless devices. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sink devices are wireless devices. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source devices become active based on an instruction received from the wireless home entertainment hub. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source devices become active based on action on the respective source device by a user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sink device selected in step (h) is selected based on choosing the one or more sink devices needed to present the mixed data. 
     
     
         10 . A method for presenting data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving at the wireless home entertainment hub a first indication that a first source device has become active, wherein the first source device is a wireless device;   (b) receiving a second indication that a second source device has become active, wherein the second source device is a wireless device;   (c) receiving data from the first active wireless source device;   (d) receiving data from the second active wireless source device;   (e) mixing data received from the first active wireless source device and the second active wireless source device;   (f) selecting at least one wireless sink device to receive the mixed data; and   (g) transmitting the mixed data to at least one of the wireless sink devices.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sink devices include a plurality of wireless speakers for presenting audio data to a user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sink devices include a wireless display device for displaying video data to a user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the wireless display device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the source devices become active based on an instruction received the wireless home entertainment hub. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the source devices become active based on action on the respective source device by a user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sink device selected in step (f) is selected based on choosing the one or more sink devices needed to present the mixed data. 
     
     
         17 . A wireless home entertainment hub for controlling presentation in a home entertainment system comprising:
 a memory for storing registration information for a plurality of source devices and one or more sink devices, data from a first source, data from a second source, and mixed data;   a receiver for receiving indications of activity of a plurality of source devices, data from a first active source device, and data from a second active source device;   a mixer for mixing data received from the first active source device and the second active source device to create mixed data;   a transmitter for transmitting the mixed data to at least one of the sink devices; and   a processor configured to facilitate transfer of the data between the sources devices and the sink devices in response to indications of activity of at least two the source devices.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a display device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in a remote control unit