Determining state signatures for consumer electronic devices coupled to an audio/video switch

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for automatically determining a state signature for consumer electronic device(s) coupled to a switching device and/or other devices communicatively coupled to the consumer electronic device(s). The state signature is indicative of functional state(s) in which the consumer electronic device(s) are in. Such states include a power state, a proximity state, a communication state, and/or an operational state of the consumer electronic device(s). Based on the state signature(s), the switching device may infer which of the consumer electronic device(s) the user would like to use (or is using) and cause action(s) to be performed. Such actions include automatically switching to the AV port(s) to which such consumer electronic device(s) are connected, transmitting command(s) to such consumer electronic device(s), transmitting a notification message to such consumer electronic device(s), etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a switching device comprising a plurality of audio/video (AV) ports and one or more wireless interfaces, comprising:
 determining state characteristics of a consumer electronic device that is communicatively coupled to the switching device in response to receiving one or more of:
 a video signal received via the first port to determine a playback state of the consumer electronic device, 
 a radio frequency signal received via a first interface of the one or more wireless interfaces, 
 a voice command signal, and 
 network data packets via a second interface of the one or more wireless interfaces; 
   determining a state signature of the consumer electronic device based on the determined state characteristics;   identifying an action to be performed by the consumer electronic device from a plurality of actions based on the determined state signature and a data structure that comprises a state signature-to-action mapping; and   causing the action to be performed with respect to at least one of the switching device or the consumer electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network data packets comprise data packets received via at least one of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second interface is a Wi-Fi interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second interface is a Bluetooth interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action to be performed comprises switching between the plurality of AV ports. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the voice command signal comprises a command to switch between AV ports of the switching device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the consumer electronic device comprises a set-top box, streaming device, Blu-ray device, or video gaming console. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the consumer electronic device is further connected to one of the plurality of AV ports of the switching device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action to be performed comprises:
 identifying a power state of the consumer electronic device;   transmitting a command to the consumer electronic device to toggle the power state of the consumer electronic device; and   automatically switching to an AV port of the plurality of AV ports to which the consumer electronic device is coupled.   
     
     
         10 . A switching device comprising a plurality of audio/video (AV) ports and one or more wireless interfaces, the switching device configured to:
 determine state characteristics of a consumer electronic device that is communicatively coupled to the switching device in response to receiving one or more of:
 a video signal received via the first port to determine a playback state of the consumer electronic device, 
 a radio frequency signal received via a first interface of the one or more wireless interfaces, 
 a voice command signal, and 
 network data packets via a second interface of the one or more wireless interfaces; 
   determine a state signature of the consumer electronic device based on the determined state characteristics;   identify an action to be performed by the consumer electronic device from a plurality of actions based on the determined state signature and a data structure that comprises a state signature-to-action mapping; and   cause the action to be performed with respect to at least one of the switching device or the consumer electronic device.   
     
     
         11 . The switching device of  claim 10 , wherein the network data packets comprise data packets received via at least one of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. 
     
     
         12 . The switching device of  claim 10 , wherein the second interface is a Wi-Fi interface. 
     
     
         13 . The switching device of  claim 10 , wherein the second interface is a Bluetooth interface. 
     
     
         14 . The switching device of  claim 10 , wherein the action to be performed comprises switching between the plurality of AV ports. 
     
     
         15 . The switching device of  claim 10 , wherein the voice command signal comprises a command to switch between AV ports of the switching device. 
     
     
         16 . The switching device of  claim 10 , wherein the consumer electronic device comprises a set-top box, streaming device, Blu-ray device, or video gaming console. 
     
     
         17 . The switching device of  claim 10 , wherein the consumer electronic device is further connected to one of the plurality of AV ports of the switching device. 
     
     
         18 . The switching device of  claim 10 , wherein the action to be performed comprises:
 identifying a power state of the consumer electronic device;   transmitting a command to the consumer electronic device to toggle the power state of the consumer electronic device; and   automatically switching to an AV port of the plurality of AV ports to which the consumer electronic device is coupled.   
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable storage medium having program instructions recorded thereon that, when executed by a processor of a switching device comprising a plurality of audio/video (AV) ports and one or more wireless interfaces, perform a method, the method comprising:
 determining state characteristics of a consumer electronic device that is communicatively coupled to the switching device in response to receiving one or more of:
 a video signal received via the first port to determine a playback state of the consumer electronic device, 
 a radio frequency signal received via a first interface of the one or more wireless interfaces, 
 a voice command signal, and 
 network data packets via a second interface of the one or more wireless interfaces; 
   determining a state signature of the consumer electronic device based on the determined state characteristics;   identifying an action to be performed by the consumer electronic device from a plurality of actions based on the determined state signature and a data structure that comprises a state signature-to-action mapping; and   causing the action to be performed with respect to at least one of the switching device or the consumer electronic device.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the network data packets comprise data packets received via at least one of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.