System and method for remotely controlling network resources

Abstract

A personal network may be established by interconnecting a plurality of satellites as part of the personal network. Each satellite may be configured to communicate with one or more other satellites. On any given one of the plurality of satellites, data indicating a connectivity status for the one or more other satellites is automatically received, and information indicating a capability of the one or more other satellites is automatically received. The given satellite may be configured to enable at least one other corresponding satellite in the plurality of satellites to be made available for use, so that a capability of the at least one other corresponding satellite is made available for the given satellite.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method for operating a first device, the method being implemented by one or more processors of the first device and comprising:
 operating the first device as part of a personal network, the personal network including a plurality of devices that access a plurality of media resources, each of the plurality of media resources being provided on or through at least one of the plurality of devices;   operating an application that enables a user to selectively operate the first device as a remote control for controlling one or more other devices of the personal network;   responsive to user input detected through the application operating as the remote control, operating the first device in (i) selecting a media resource of the plurality of media resources, (ii) generating an output corresponding to the selected media resource on the first device, and (iii) streaming, over one or more networks, data corresponding to the selected media resource to a second device, so as to cause a media output from the streamed data on the second device while generating the output on the first device; and   wherein the first device and the second device are separated from one another across one or more networks.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the output corresponding to the selected media resource and the media output from the streamed data each include a first audio and/or video. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a roaming device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second device is a television. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising operating the application to enable the user to selectively operate the first device as the remote control for controlling multiple other devices of the personal network at the same time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising performing one or more operations for streaming data corresponding to the selected media resource to a third device, so as to cause another media output from the streamed data on the third device while generating the output on the first device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media resources includes a media library that is collectively stored on one or more of the plurality of devices. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media resources includes an online media service. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media resources include one or more of a cable media feed, a satellite media feed, broadcast media, or a live streaming resource delivered from the World Wide Web. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more networks includes at least one of a cellular network or a wireless fidelity network. 
     
     
         11 . A computer memory that stores instructions for operating a first device, the computer memory including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the first device, cause the first device to perform operations comprising:
 operating the first device as part of a personal network, the personal network including a plurality of devices that access a plurality of media resources, each of the plurality of media resources being provided on or through at least one of the plurality of devices;   operating an application that enables a user to selectively operate the first device as a remote control for controlling one or more other devices of the personal network;   responsive to user input detected through the application operating as the remote control, operating the first device in (i) selecting a media resource of the plurality of media resources, (ii) generating an output corresponding to the selected media resource on the first device, and (iii) streaming, over one or more networks, data corresponding to the selected media resource to a second device, so as to cause a media output from the streamed data on the second device while generating the output on the first device; and   wherein the first device and the second device are separated from one another across one or more networks.   
     
     
         12 . The computer memory of  claim 11 , wherein the output corresponding to the selected media resource and the media output from the streamed data each include a first audio and/or video. 
     
     
         13 . The computer memory of  claim 11 , wherein the first device is a roaming device. 
     
     
         14 . The computer memory of  claim 13 , wherein the second device is a television. 
     
     
         15 . The computer memory of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first device to perform operations comprising:
 operating the application to enable the user to selectively operate the first device as the remote control for controlling multiple other devices of the personal network at the same time.   
     
     
         16 . The computer memory of  claim 15 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first device to perform operations comprising:
 performing one or more operations for streaming data corresponding to the selected media resource to a third device, so as to cause another media output from the streamed data on the third device while generating the output on the first device.   
     
     
         17 . The computer memory of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of media resources includes a media library that is collectively stored on one or more of the plurality of devices. 
     
     
         18 . The computer memory of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of media resources includes an online media service. 
     
     
         19 . The computer memory of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of media resources include one or more of a cable media feed, a satellite media feed, broadcast media, or a live streaming resource delivered from the World Wide Web. 
     
     
         20 . The computer memory of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more networks includes at least one of a cellular network or a wireless fidelity network. 
     
     
         21 . A first device comprising:
 a memory that stores a set of instructions;   one or more processors that access the set of instructions to:   operate the first device as part of a personal network, the personal network including a plurality of devices that access a plurality of media resources, each of the plurality of media resources being provided on or through at least one of the plurality of devices;   operate an application that enables a user to selectively operate the first device as a remote control for controlling one or more other devices of the personal network;   responsive to user input detected through the application operating as the remote control, operate the first device in (i) selecting a media resource of the plurality of media resources, (ii) generating an output corresponding to the selected media resource on the first device, and (iii) streaming, over one or more networks, data corresponding to the selected media resource to a second device, so as to cause a media output from the streamed data on the second device while generating the output on the first device; and   wherein the first device and the second device are separated from one another across one or more networks.   
     
     
         22 . The first device of  claim 21 , wherein the output corresponding to the selected media resource and the media output from the streamed data each include a first audio and/or video. 
     
     
         23 . The first device of  claim 21 , wherein the first device is a roaming device. 
     
     
         24 . The first device of  claim 23 , wherein the second device is a television. 
     
     
         25 . The first device of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more processors access the instructions to enable the user to selectively operate the first device as the remote control for controlling multiple other devices of the personal network at the same time. 
     
     
         26 . The first device of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more processors access the instructions to perform one or more operations for streaming data corresponding to the selected media resource to a third device, so as to cause another media output from the streamed data on the third device while generating the output on the first device. 
     
     
         27 . The first device of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of media resources includes a media library that is collectively stored on one or more of the plurality of devices. 
     
     
         28 . The first device of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of media resources includes an online media service. 
     
     
         29 . The first device of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of media resources include one or more of a cable media feed, a satellite media feed, broadcast media, or a live streaming resource delivered from the World Wide Web. 
     
     
         30 . The first device of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more networks includes at least one of a cellular network or a wireless fidelity network.