Remote Control for Video Media Servers

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for remote control of a media server computer from a controller device, typically a laptop computer, where remote operation of the media server, including the selection of videos and other digital media may be performed from the controller while normal TV programming (cable, satellite, or broadcast) is viewed on the TV. Other embodiments describe background operations performed on the controller device, the media server, or both, such that new videos may be located on the web or locally on the LAN while a current video is playing on the media server and viewed on the TV. Methods are also described for more reliably establishing network connections between the controller and media server, and systems and methods are described for implementing a multi-video display on the media server where videos to be played on the media server are played on and selected by a controller device.

1 . A method for controlling a media server from a remote controller device via a LAN, comprising:
 receiving at an access control function located on a server on the Internet and not on the LAN, the IP address of the media server and network identification information for the LAN, both having been automatically sent from said media server;   receiving at the access control function located on a server on the Internet and not on the LAN, the IP address of the remote controller device and network identification information for the LAN both having been automatically sent from said remote controller device;   determining at said access control function that the media server and the remote controller device are on the same LAN;   transmitting the IP address of the Media Server from the access control function to the remote controller device; and   wherein media is selected to be played on the media server according to media control information transmitted from the remote controller device to the media server via the LAN.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 transmitting the IP address of the remote controller device from the access control function to the Media Server. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein no IP addresses need be entered manually by a user of the remote controller device or a user of the media server in order to establish communication between the remote controller device and the media server. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the IP address of the media server is not discovered by communication between the media server and the remote controller device via the LAN. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the IP address of the remote controller device is not discovered by communication between the media server and the remote controller device via the LAN. 
     
     
         6 . A method for operating a media server to simultaneously play multiple videos on a TV display, comprising:
 receiving at the media server a first group of videos selections as selected by a remote controller device;   simultaneously playing on the TV display a plurality of videos corresponding to the first group of video selections;   wherein the first group of video selections is a subset of a second group of videos;   wherein a plurality of videos are played on the remote controller device corresponding to the second group of videos; and   wherein the number of videos simultaneously played on the remote controller device is greater than the number of videos simultaneously played on the media server.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of videos simultaneously played on the remote controller device are video feeds supplied by a TV network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of videos simultaneously played on the remote controller device relate to the same sporting event. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 selecting a subset of the plurality of videos simultaneously played on the remote controller device to be played on the media server; 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 selecting a subset of the plurality of videos simultaneously played on the remote controller device to replace videos currently being played on the media server. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a remote controller device to cause multiple videos to be simultaneously played on a TV, comprising:
 transmitting to a media server a first group of videos selections as selected using the remote controller device, whereby a plurality of videos corresponding to the first group of video selections are simultaneously played on the TV display;   wherein the first group of video selections corresponds to a subset of a second group of videos;   wherein a plurality of videos are played on the remote controller device corresponding to the second group of videos; and   wherein the number of videos simultaneously played on the remote controller device is greater than the number of videos simultaneously played on the media server.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of videos played on the remote controller device are video feeds supplied by a TV network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of videos played on the remote controller device relate to the same sporting event. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 selecting a subset of the plurality of videos played on the remote controller device to be played on the media server; 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 selecting a subset of the plurality of videos played on the remote controller device to replace videos currently being played on the media server.