Systems and methods for providing dual-control functionality in a networked digital media device

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for providing dual control functionality in a networked digital media device. In overview, a networked digital media device advertises a standard digital media device, which is discoverable and controllable by a standard control device in accordance with a standard media control protocol (also referred to as a Device Control Protocol, or DCP). The networked digital media device also advertises a non-standard digital media playback device, the non-standard device being discoverable and controllable by a non-standard control device in accordance with a non-standard media control protocol. These two devices are manifested in the same device hardware, essentially allowing the device to implement dual-control such that it is able to be controlled both as a standard device and a non-standard device.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method performed by a networked digital media device for providing dual-control functionality, the method including the steps of:
 advertising a standard digital media playback device, the standard digital media playback device being discoverable and controllable by a standard control device in accordance with a standard media control protocol;   (ii) advertising a non-standard digital media playback device, the non-standard device being discoverable and controllable by a non-standard control device in accordance with a non-standard media control protocol;   (iii) receiving, in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol, a first control signal;   (iv) being responsive to the first control signal for adopting a first state corresponding to the first control signal;   (v) receiving, in accordance with the standard media control protocol, a second control signal;   (vi) being responsive to the second control signal for adopting a second state corresponding to the second control signal,   (vii) being responsive to a timeout condition, or a third control signal indicative of an instruction to adopt a dormant state, for identifying a fourth state related to the first state; and   (viii) selectively adopting the fourth state;   wherein the standard digital media playback device and the non-standard digital media playback device share common hardware.   
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the standard and non-standard devices are embedded devices of a root device. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the standard digital media playback device and the non-standard digital media playback device are each advertised in accordance with a common open connectivity protocol. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 3  wherein the common open connectivity protocol is UPnP. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the standard media control protocol is compliant with the UPnP AV standard. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the non-standard multimedia protocol provides control access to one or more advanced services. 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 6  wherein the one or more advanced services relate to group and/or zone interoperability, or to surround sound functionality. 
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the non-standard device is an embedded services device for encapsulating one or more non-standard UPnP services. 
     
     
       9. A method according to  claim 8  wherein the one or more non-standard UPnP services relate to group and/or zone interoperability, or to surround sound functionality. 
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the networked digital media device is a virtual device representative of a networked media system including by a plurality of distributed hardware devices. 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 1  wherein a control signal received in accordance with the standard media control protocol is prioritised over a control signal received in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 1  wherein a control signal received in accordance with the standard media control protocol is temporarily prioritised over one or more control signals received in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 1  including receiving, in accordance with the standard media control protocol, the third control signal. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the networked media playback device is a networked speaker subsystem unit. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 14  wherein the networked media playback device is a wireless speaker subsystem unit. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 15  wherein the common hardware includes a network device for receiving streamed media data, a processor for rendering that streamed media data, and an analogue output for providing analogue data based on the rendering of the streamed media data. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 1  wherein the networked media device is media server. 
     
     
       18. A networked digital media device for providing dual-control functionality, the device being configured to:
 (i) advertise a standard digital media playback device, the standard digital media playback device being discoverable and controllable by a standard control device in accordance with a standard media control protocol;   (ii) advertise a non-standard digital media playback device, the non-standard device being discoverable and controllable by a non-standard control device in accordance with a non-standard media control protocol;   (iii) receive, in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol, a first control signal;   (iv) in response to the first control signal, adopt a first state corresponding to the first control signal;   (v) receive, in accordance with the standard media control protocol, a second control signal;   (vi) in response to the second control signal, adopt a second state corresponding to the second control signal;   (vii) in response to a timeout condition, or a third control signal indicative of an instruction to adopt a dormant state, identify a fourth state related to the first state; and   (viii) selectively adopt the fourth state;   wherein the standard digital media playback device and the non-standard digital media playback device share common hardware of the networked digital media device.   
     
     
       19. A media playback unit including:
 a networking interface for connecting to a computer network over which streamed media data is transported for rendering at distributed locations; and   one or more processors configured for:
 carrying out a discovery process on the computer network for allowing mutual discovery of the device, none or more complementary devices, and none or more complimentary multimedia systems; 
 advertising a standard digital media playback device, the standard digital media playback device being discoverable and controllable by a standard control device in accordance with a standard media control protocol; and 
 advertising a non-standard digital media playback device, the non-standard device being discoverable and controllable by a non-standard control device in accordance with a non-standard media control protocol; 
 receiving, in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol, a first control signal; 
 being responsive to the first control signal for adopting a first state corresponding to the first control signal; 
 receiving, in accordance with the standard media control protocol, a second control signal; 
 being responsive to the second control signal for adopting a second state corresponding to the second control signal; 
 being responsive to a timeout condition, or a third control signal indicative of an instruction to adopt a dormant state, for identifying a fourth state related to the first state; and selectively adopting the fourth state. 
   
     
     
       20. A method performed by a networked digital media device for providing dual-control functionality, the method including the steps of:
 (i) advertising a standard digital media playback device, the standard digital media playback device being discoverable and controllable by a standard control device in accordance with a standard media control protocol;   (ii) advertising a non-standard digital media playback device, the non-standard device being discoverable and controllable by a non-standard control device in accordance with a non-standard media control protocol;   (iii) receiving, in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol, a first control signal from a first control device;   (iv) being responsive to the first control signal for adopting a first state corresponding to the first control signal, wherein in the first state the networked digital media device operates as part of a group and/or zone, or surround sound arrangement;   (v) receiving, in accordance with the standard media control protocol, a second control signal from a second control device; and   (vi) being responsive to the second control signal for adopting a second state corresponding to the second control signal, wherein in the second state the networked digital media device ceases operating as part of the group and/or zone or surround sound arrangement and commences rendering of digital media in accordance with data from the second control device,   wherein the standard digital media playback device and the non-standard digital media playback device share common hardware.   
     
     
       21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the standard and non-standard devices are embedded devices of a root device. 
     
     
       22. A method according to claim 20 wherein the standard digital media playback device and the non-standard digital media playback device are each advertised in accordance with a common open connectivity protocol. 
     
     
       23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the common open connectivity protocol is UPnP. 
     
     
       24. A method according to claim 20 wherein the standard media control protocol is compliant with the UPnP AV standard. 
     
     
       25. A method according to claim 20 wherein the non-standard multimedia protocol provides control access to one or more advanced services. 
     
     
       26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the one or more advanced services relate to group and/or zone interoperability, or to surround sound functionality. 
     
     
       27. A method according to claim 20 wherein the non-standard device is an embedded services device for encapsulating one or more non-standard UPnP services. 
     
     
       28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the one or more non-standard UPnP services relate to group and/or zone interoperability, or to surround sound functionality. 
     
     
       29. A method according to claim 20 wherein the networked digital media device is a virtual device representative of a networked media system including by a plurality of distributed hardware devices. 
     
     
       30. A method according to claim 20 wherein a control signal received in accordance with the standard media control protocol is prioritised over a control signal received in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol. 
     
     
       31. A method according to claim 20 wherein a control signal received in accordance with the standard media control protocol is temporarily prioritised over one or more control signals received in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol. 
     
     
       32. A method according to claim 20 wherein the networked media playback device is a networked speaker subsystem unit. 
     
     
       33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the networked media playback device is a wireless speaker subsystem unit. 
     
     
       34. A method according to claim 33 wherein the common hardware includes a network device for receiving streamed media data, a processor for rendering that streamed media data, and an analogue output for providing analogue data based on the rendering of the streamed media data. 
     
     
       35. A method according to claim 20 wherein the networked media device is media server. 
     
     
       36. A networked digital media device for providing dual-control functionality, the device being configured to:
 (i) advertise a standard digital media playback device, the standard digital media playback device being discoverable and controllable by a standard control device in accordance with a standard media control protocol;   (ii) advertise a non-standard digital media playback device, the non-standard device being discoverable and controllable by a non-standard control device in accordance with a non-standard media control protocol;   (iii) receive, in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol, a first control signal from a first control device;   (iv) in response to the first control signal, adopt a first state corresponding to the first control signal, wherein in the first state the networked digital media device operates as part of a group and/or zone, or surround sound arrangement;   (v) receive, in accordance with the standard media control protocol, a second control signal from a second control device; and   (vi) in response to the second control signal, adopt a second state corresponding to the second control signal, wherein in the second state the networked digital device ceases operating as part of the group and/or zone or surround sound arrangement and commences rendering of digital media in accordance with data from the second control device;   wherein the standard digital media playback device and the non-standard digital media playback device share common hardware of the networked digital media device.   
     
     
       37. A media playback unit including:
 a networking interface for connecting to a computer network over which streamed media data is transported for rendering at distributed locations; and   one or more processors configured for:
 carrying out a discovery process on the computer network for allowing mutual discovery of the media playback unit, none or more complementary devices, and none or more complimentary multimedia systems; 
 advertising a standard digital media playback device, the standard digital media playback device being discoverable and controllable by a standard control device in accordance with a standard media control protocol; and 
 advertising a non-standard digital media playback device, the non-standard device being discoverable and controllable by a non-standard control device in accordance with a non-standard media control protocol; 
 receiving, in accordance with the non-standard media control protocol, a first control signal from a first control device; 
 being responsive to the first control signal for adopting a first state corresponding to the first control signal, wherein in the first state the media playback unit operates as part of a group and/or zone, or surround sound arrangement; 
 receiving, in accordance with the standard media control protocol, a second control signal from a second control device; and 
 being responsive to the second control signal for adopting a second state corresponding to the second control signal, wherein in the second state the media playback unit ceases operating as part of the group and/or zone or surround sound arrangement and commences rendering of digital media in accordance with data from the second control device.