Multi-Media Center for Computing Systems

Abstract

Various “media-components” are provided in a “multi-media center.” In modular architecture, a module-controller communicates with media-modules provided for various media-components. A media-module can include or obtain data pertaining to a particular media-component, identify media-player(s), and access information related to their media. However, the media-modules are isolated from each other, and the module-controller effectively controls output generated in response to user input. A user interface library is provided for the media-modules. Media-modules can obtain a template or other tools from the library and construct their user interface (e.g., menus). Media-modules can also identify a media-player that can be initiated in response to user input. Subsequently, the media-controller forwards user input to the media-player.

1 . A method, implemented by a computing system, of providing a multi-media center that includes a plurality of media-components, said method comprising:
 configuring a plurality of media-modules for the multi-media center, wherein the plurality of media-modules represents a media-component in the multi-media-center, wherein each of the plurality of media-components includes at least one of digital media and an application program configured to access digital media;   initiating a module-controller configured to communicate with each of the plurality of media-modules;   receiving by the module-controller an input associated with the multi-media center;   identifying at least one of the plurality of media-modules to generate a response to the input received by the module-controller;   forwarding the input to the identified media-module; and   receiving, at the module-controller, a response to the input as determined by the identified media-module.   
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media-modules do not directly communicate with each other, and wherein the plurality of media-modules can be dynamically removed or added to the multi-media center. 
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises:
 determining whether to forward the input to another module that is not one of the plurality of media-modules.   
   
   
       4 . A computing system for providing a multi-media center that includes a plurality of media-components each including digital media, said computing system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a plurality of media-modules, wherein said media-modules include a first media-module that can receive input and generate output; and   a module-controller configured to communicate directly with each of said plurality of media-modules, wherein said module-controller can further operate to:
 receive input associated with said multi-media center; 
 forward said input to a first media-module; 
 process and generate an output, by said first media-module, in response to said input; 
 receive said output from said first media-module in response to said input; and 
 perform at least one operation based on said output, wherein said at least one operation is controlled by the module-controller, 
 wherein said plurality of media-modules do not communicate with each other or with a multi-media center user and do not control said output. 
   
   
   
       5 . A computer readable medium including at least executable computer program modules stored therein for a multi-media center that includes a plurality of media-components, wherein each of said plurality of media-components includes digital data, said computer readable medium comprising:
 computer program code for determining, based on a plurality of media-modules that each respectively represent at least one media-component, a central-user-interface that is used to access the plurality of media-components provided by the multi-media center;   computer program code for receiving input associated with the central-user-interface;   computer program code for determining whether to forward the input to one of the media-modules; and   computer program code for forwarding the input to a first media-module of the plurality of media-modules when the determining determines to forward the input by one of the media-modules,   wherein the plurality of media-modules are isolated from each other and do not directly communicate with each other or with a multi-media center user, but communicate with a module-controller.   
   
   
       6 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:
 computer program code for determining which one of the media-modules is to receive the input when the determining determines to forward the input to one of the media-modules;   computer program code for generating, by the first media-component, a first output after associated with the input; and   computer program code for performing, based on the first output, at least a first operation in response to the input associated with the central-user-interface.   
   
   
       7 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the first media-module includes or can obtain data that is output by the first media-module as the first output. 
   
   
       8 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 7 ,
 wherein the data pertains to a menu for the media-module,   wherein the first output is the menu, and   wherein the first operation is displaying the menu as a part of the central-user-interface.   
   
   
       9 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 7 ,
 wherein the first media-module accesses a library to obtain a template for the menu; and   wherein the first media-module fills the template with the data included in or obtained by the first module.   
   
   
       10 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the output identifies a first media-player, and   wherein the first operation initiates the first media-player.   
   
   
       11 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:
 computer program code for determining whether to process the input by a media-player capable of presenting media; and   computer program code for processing the input by a media-player when the computer program code for determining determines to process the input by a media-player.   
   
   
       12 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the computer program code for determining of whether to process the input by a media-player is performed prior to the computer program code for forwarding. 
   
   
       13 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 5 ,
 wherein each one of the media-modules includes or can obtain information that can be used to generate a main menu for the media-modules, and   wherein the central-user-interface includes each of the main menu for the media-modules.   
   
   
       14 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 13 ,
 wherein at least one of the media-modules includes or can obtain information that can be used to generate one or more submenus for the at least one media-module, and   wherein the central-user-interface includes the one or more submenus for the at least one media-module.   
   
   
       15 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the information includes a number of menu or submenu items, icons, or streaming video. 
   
   
       16 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the module-controller comprises:
 computer program code for receiving the input;   computer program code for sending the input to the first media-module;   computer program code for receiving output from the first media-module in response to the input; and   computer program code for performing at least one operation based on the output.   
   
   
       17 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one operation initiates a media-player to present media. 
   
   
       18 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 16 ,
 wherein the at least one operation facilitates display of the output on a display,   wherein the module-controller sends the output to a menu-window for display,   wherein the module-controller forwards the input to a main window, and   wherein main window determines whether to process the input.   
   
   
       19 . A computer readable medium as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said computer readable medium further comprises:
 computer program code for determining by the main window whether to process the input; and   computer program code for determining by the main window a media-module to process the input when the main window determines not to process the input.   
   
   
       20 . A method, implemented by a computing system, of providing a multi-media center that includes a plurality of media-components which each includes digital data and program code to access the digital data, said method comprising:
 determining, based on a plurality of media-modules that each respectively represent at least one media-component, a central-user-interface that is used to access the plurality of media-components provided by the multi-media center;   receiving input associated with the central-user-interface;   determining whether to forward the input to one of the media-modules; and   forwarding the input to a first media-module of the plurality of media-modules when the determining determines to forward the input by one of the media-modules,   wherein the plurality of media-modules are isolated from each other and do not directly communicate with each other or with a multi-media center user, but communicate with a module-controller.   
   
   
       21 . A computing system for providing a multi-media center that supports digital media, said computing system comprising:
 a plurality of media devices, wherein said media devices include a first media device that can receive input and generate output; and   a centralized controller configured to communicate directly with each of said plurality of media devices, wherein said centralized controller is configured to:
 receive input associated with said multi-media center; 
 determine a first media device of said plurality of media device to receive the input; 
 forward the input to said first media device; and 
 process and generate an output, by said first media device, in response to the input. 
   
   
   
       22 . A computing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of media devices communicate with each other by way of said centralized controller. 
   
   
       23 . A computing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said centralized controller is further configured to:
 receive the output from said first media device in response to the input; and   perform at least one operation based on the output, wherein the at least one operation is controlled by the centralized controller.   
   
   
       24 . A computing system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the at least one operation being performed comprises presenting media data