Learning device interaction rules

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for establishing interaction among electronic devices of an environment. The device has a transmitter, receiver, memory for storing interaction rules, and a processor for learning the interaction rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. The device also includes components for performing the device specific functions and a state sensor for determining the logical or physical state of the device. Methods involve observing at one or more devices change of state activity among the plurality of devices through receiving a change of state message that is transmitted to the one or more devices, A set of rules are learned at the one or more devices based upon observing the change of state activity. The learned set of rules are then applied at the one or more devices to automatically control changes of state of devices within the plurality of devices.

1 . An aggregator device comprising a processor configured to:
 receive a request for access to media content originating via an electronic device;   determine whether the electronic device is permitted to play the media content based on one or more content rules;   in response to determining the electronic device is permitted to play the media content based on the one or more content rules, transmit a message to the electronic device enabling playback of the media content; and   in response to determining the electronic device is not permitted to play the media content based on the one or more content rules, refrain from transmitting the message to the electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The aggregator device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more content rules comprise a number of devices that are permitted to simultaneously access the media content. 
     
     
         3 . The aggregator device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to prevent the first electronic device from accessing the media content upon determining that a number of electronic devices currently accessing the media content is greater than or equal to a second number of electronic devices that are permitted simultaneous access to the media content. 
     
     
         4 . The aggregator device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more content rules comprise media content access rights based upon a selectively changeable indication between a single owned access right and a multiple owned access right. 
     
     
         5 . The aggregator device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more content rules comprise a content rating permitted for access by the electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The aggregator device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to revoke access to the media content based on the electronic device changing location. 
     
     
         7 . The aggregator device of  claim 1 , wherein the media content comprises audio content. 
     
     
         8 . The aggregator device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to send a message to the electronic device to prevent the electronic device from playing the media content in response to determining that electronic device is not permitted play the media content based on the one or more content rules. 
     
     
         9 . The aggregator device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a speaker. 
     
     
         10 . The aggregator device of  claim 9 , wherein the request for access to the media content is based on a voice command of a user of the electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to:
 receive a request for access to media content originating via an electronic device;   determine whether the electronic device is permitted to play the media content based on one or more content rules;   in response to determining the electronic device is permitted to play the media content based on the one or more content rules, transmit a message to the electronic device enabling playback of the media content; and   in response to determining the electronic device is not permitted to play the media content based on the one or more content rules, refrain from transmitting the message to the electronic device.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the one or more rules comprise a number of media rights to the media content; and   the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine whether the electronic device is permitted to play the media content based on whether a number of devices currently permitted access to the media content is less than or equal to the number of media rights.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein, while the electronic device has access to the media content, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor enable simultaneous access to the media content for a plurality of electronic devices up to a maximum number of electronic devices specified by the one or more content rules. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein, after the electronic device has been permitted access to the media content, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine whether the electronic device is playing the media content. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:
 receive a second request from a second electronic device for access to the media content; and   enable the second electronic device to access the media content based on determining the electronic device is not playing the media content.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the request for access to the media content is based on a voice command of a user of the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the electronic device comprises a speaker. 
     
     
         18 . An aggregator device, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a request for access to media content originating via an electronic device; 
 determine whether the electronic device is permitted to play the media content based on media rights associated with the media content; and 
 in response to determining the electronic device is permitted to play the media content based on the media rights, enable playback of the media content at the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         19 . The aggregator device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the electronic device is permitted to play the media content based on the media rights by determining whether the media content is being played back by another electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The aggregator device of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is configured to prevent playback of the media content at the electronic device based on determining that the media content is being played back by the other electronic device when the media rights are indicative of a single electronic device playback right.