Home media network

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method is described. The method includes receiving a request at a control module from a first remote device to access media data from a storage management module and determining that a first user is requesting access to the data based upon a first remote identification (ID). The method further includes opening a second stream between the playback module and the storage management module and receiving the data at the playback module.

1 . A home media network comprising:
 a first device configured to acquire and store digital media content;   a transmission medium coupled to the first device; and   a second device coupled to the transmission medium, wherein the second device is configured to control the playback and display of the digital media content.   
     
     
         2 . The home media network of  claim 1  wherein the second device is configured to determine that a first network user is requesting to access digital media content stored at the first device based upon a first remote identification (ID) corresponding to the first network user. 
     
     
         3 . The home media network of  claim 2  wherein the second device is configured to determine that a second network user is requesting to access digital media content based upon a second remote identification (ID) corresponding to the second network user. 
     
     
         4 . The home media network of  claim 2  further comprising a third device coupled to the transmission medium, wherein the third device is configured to determine that the first network user is requesting to access digital media content based upon the first remote ID corresponding to the first network user. 
     
     
         5 . The home media network of  claim 4  wherein the first, second and third devices are set-top boxes. 
     
     
         6 . The home media network of  claim 4  wherein the first and second devices are set-top boxes and the third device is a personal digital assistant (PDA). 
     
     
         7 . The home media network of  claim 4  wherein the first and second devices are set-top boxes and the third device is a personal computer. 
     
     
         8 . The home media network of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a display device coupled to the second device; and   an audio device coupled to the second device.   
     
     
         9 . The home media network of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a device interface coupled to the transmission medium; and   a digital device coupled to the device interface.   
     
     
         10 . The home media network of  claim 9  wherein the digital device a digital video disk (DVD). 
     
     
         11 . The home media network of  claim 1  wherein the first device comprises:
 a media acquisition module configured to acquire digital media content from a source coupled to an external network; and   a storage management module configured to catalog digital media content received from the media acquisition module.   
     
     
         12 . The home media network of  claim 11  wherein the storage management module comprises:
 an application program interface (API);   a business objects module;   a storage API;   a database API; and   a relational database.   
     
     
         13 . The home media network of  claim 11  wherein the media acquisition module comprises:
 an application program interface (API);   a content acquisition module; and   a code update module.   
     
     
         14 . The home media network of  claim 11  wherein the first device further comprises:
 a media playback module; and   a media control module.   
     
     
         15 . The home media network of  claim 14  wherein the media playback module comprises:
 a frame buffer;   a video decoder;   a video abstraction module;   a media player; and   an application program interface (API).   
     
     
         16 . The home media network of  claim 14  wherein the first client device further comprises:
 an input abstraction module;   a user interface renderer;   remote control input/output (I/O);   an application infrastructure; and   one or more applications.   
     
     
         17 . The home media network of  claim 1  wherein the second device comprises:
 a media playback module; and   a media control module.   
     
     
         18 . The home media network of  claim 17  wherein the media playback module comprises:
 a frame buffer;   a video decoder;   a video abstraction module;   a media player; and   an application program interface (API).   
     
     
         19 . The home media network of  claim 17  wherein the first client device further comprises:
 an input abstraction module;   a user interface renderer;   remote control input/output (I/O);   an application infrastructure; and   one or more applications.   
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request at a control module from a first remote device to access media data from a storage management module;   determining at the control module that a first user is requesting access to the data based upon a first remote identification (ID);   opening a data stream between a playback module and the storage management module; and   receiving the data at the playback module.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising processing the request at the control module after the request is received at the control module. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 analyzing the user information at the control module in order to determine whether the first user is to be granted access to the data; and   accessing a database at the storage management module.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising displaying the data at a display device coupled to the playback module. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein determining that a first user is requesting access to the data based upon a remote ID comprises:
 receiving remote control data from the first remote control device;   extracting the first remote ID from the remote control data; and   accessing an index table that correlates the first remote ID with the first user.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 receiving a second request at the control module from a second remote device to access the media data from the storage management module;   determining at the control module that a second user is requesting access to the data based upon a second remote ID;   opening a second data stream between the playback module and the storage management module; and   receiving the data at the playback module.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein determining that a second user is requesting access to the data based upon a remote ID comprises:
 receiving remote control data from the second remote control device;   extracting the second remote ID from the remote control data; and   accessing an index table that correlates the second remote ID with the second user.