U.S. patent application number 14/259834 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-29 for mobile device controlled dynamic room environment using a cast device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.. Invention is credited to Jianxiu Hao, Jian Huang, Gaurav D. Mehta, Gong Zhang.
Application Number | 20150312648 14/259834 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54336038 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150312648 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhang; Gong ; et
al. |
October 29, 2015 |
MOBILE DEVICE CONTROLLED DYNAMIC ROOM ENVIRONMENT USING A CAST
DEVICE
Abstract
A mobile device analyzes data associated with media handled by a
cast device connected to a display device. The mobile device causes
control signals to be sent, via the one or more communication
interfaces, to one of multiple different devices in a room to
change an operational parameter associated with the one of the
multiple different devices.
Inventors: |
Zhang; Gong; (Waltham,
MA) ; Huang; Jian; (Sudbury, MA) ; Mehta;
Gaurav D.; (Brookline, MA) ; Hao; Jianxiu;
(Acton, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. |
Basking Ridge |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Verizon Patent and Licensing
Inc.
Basking Ridge
NJ
|
Family ID: |
54336038 |
Appl. No.: |
14/259834 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/8186 20130101;
H04N 21/6131 20130101; H04N 21/4126 20130101; H04N 21/44008
20130101; H04N 21/4131 20130101; H04N 21/4122 20130101; H04N
21/43615 20130101; H04N 21/4183 20130101; H04N 21/8586
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/81 20060101
H04N021/81; H04N 21/41 20060101 H04N021/41 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: receiving, at a mobile device, data
associated with certain media; analyzing, by the mobile device, the
data associated with the certain media, wherein the certain media
comprises audio or video media and wherein analyzing the data
comprises recognizing a content of speech within the audio or video
media; determining, by the mobile device, at least one parameter
associated with one or more devices in a room environment to change
based on the analysis; and sending, from the mobile device, control
signals to the one or more devices to cause the at least one
parameter to be changed.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the
certain media comprises the certain media in streaming form and
further comprising: streaming, from the mobile device to a cast
device, the certain media for media playback.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the
certain media comprises an address associated with the certain
media and the certain media in streaming form and further
comprising: sending, from the mobile device to a cast device, the
address for retrieval and playback of the certain media by the cast
device.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with certain
media comprises the certain media in streaming form.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data identifies one or more
characteristics of the certain media determined by a cast
device.
6. (canceled)
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting, by the
mobile device, the one or more devices from among a plurality of
room devices in the room environment, wherein determining the at
least one parameter associated with the one or more devices to
change comprises: selecting the at least one parameter associated
with the one or more devices based on results of the analysis.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signals to the one or
more devices comprise at least one of: control signals to increase
or decrease a brightness of a device comprising a light; control
signals to change a color of a device comprising a light; control
signals to change air temperature of a device comprising an air
conditioning unit; and control signals to change a volume or
quality of sound of a device comprising a speaker.
9. A portable electronic device, comprising: a first wireless
communication interface configured to: download, via a source in an
external network, a room environment application, send a request to
receive media from a network media source in the external network,
and receive, responsive to the request, data associated with the
requested media, wherein the requested media is streamed from the
network media source subsequent to receiving the request; a second
wireless communication interface configured to communicate via a
wireless local area network (LAN) or a wireless personal area
network (PAN); and a processing unit configured to execute the
downloaded room environment application to: analyze, subsequent to
sending the request to receive the media from the network media
source and subsequent to the requested media being streamed from
the network media source, the data associated with the requested
media, wherein the requested media comprises audio or video media
and wherein analyzing the data associated with the requested media
comprises: identifying actions occurring within a scene of the
video media, identifying movement within a scene contained in the
video media, or recognizing a content of speech within the audio or
video media, and cause control signals to be sent, via the second
wireless communication interface, to one of multiple different room
devices within a room environment to change an operational
parameter associated with the one of the multiple different room
devices based on the analysis of the data associated with the
requested media.
10. (canceled)
11. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the data
associated with the requested media comprises the requested media
in streaming form and wherein the processing unit is further
configured to execute the room environment application to: receive,
via the first wireless communication interface, the requested media
from the network media source, and stream, from the portable
electronic device to a cast device, the requested media for media
playback.
12. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the
processing unit is further configured to execute the room
environment application to: send, via the first or second wireless
interface, to a cast device, an address for retrieval and playback
of the requested media by the cast device.
13. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the data
associated with the requested media comprises the requested media
in streaming form.
14. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the data
identifies one or more characteristics of the requested media
determined by a cast device.
15. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the
processing unit is further configured to execute the room
environment application to: select the one of the multiple
different room devices from among a plurality of room devices
currently residing in the room environment, wherein the processing
unit is further configured to execute the room environment
application to: select the operational parameter associated with
the one of the multiple different room devices based on results of
the analysis.
16. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the control
signals to the one of the multiple different room devices comprise
at least one of: control signals to increase or decrease a
brightness of a device comprising a light; control signals to
change a color of a device comprising a light; control signals to
change air temperature of a device comprising an air conditioning
unit; or control signals to change a volume or quality of sound of
a device comprising a speaker.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing
instructions executable by at least one processor, the
computer-readable medium comprising: one or more instructions for
receiving data associated with certain media; one or more
instructions for analyzing the data associated with the certain
media, wherein the certain media comprises audio or video media:
one or more instructions for identifying room devices currently
residing in a room environment; one or more instructions for
selecting one or more current room devices from the identified
current room devices based on the analysis; one or more
instructions for selecting parameters of the selected one or more
current room devices to be controlled based on the analysis; one or
more instructions for determining target values for the selected
parameters of the selected one or more current room devices based
on the analysis; one or more instructions for populating a database
with the determined target values for the selected parameters of
the selected one or more current room devices; and one or more
instructions for retrieving the determined target values for the
selected parameters of the selected one or more current room
devices from the database and causing control signals to be sent to
the selected one or more current room devices to cause the selected
parameter to be changed based on the determined target values.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17,
wherein the data associated with the certain media comprises the
certain media in streaming form and further comprising: one or more
instructions for causing the certain media to be streamed to a cast
device for media playback.
19-20. (canceled)
21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17,
wherein the control signals to be sent to the selected one or more
current room devices comprise at least one of: control signals to
increase or decrease a brightness of a device comprising a light;
control signals to change a color of a device comprising a light;
control signals to change air temperature of a device comprising an
air conditioning unit; or control signals to change a volume or
quality of sound of a device comprising a speaker.
22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17,
wherein the data associated with the certain media comprises an
address associated with the certain media and the certain media in
streaming form and further comprising: one or more instructions for
cause the address to be sent to a cast device for retrieval and
playback of the certain media by the cast device.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises one
of a computer having wireless capability, a cellular telephone, or
a personal digital assistant (PDA) having wireless capability.
24. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first
wireless communication interface and the second wireless
communication interface are different communication interfaces.
25. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the portable
electronic device comprises one of a computer having wireless
capability, a cellular telephone, or a personal digital assistant
(PDA) having wireless capability.
26. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the received
data, associated with the requested media, does not include control
or instructional data associated with controlling the operational
parameter of the one of the multiple different room devices.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Cast devices, such as Chromecast or Airplay devices,
typically plug into a port of a television (TV). A mobile
application executed on a mobile device, such as a smartphone,
tablet, or laptop, sends a user's favorite TV shows, movies, music
and other media content to the TV via the cast device. While the
media content is streaming to the TV via the cast device, the user
can continue to use the mobile device as a second screen device for
searching, browsing, or other user activity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIGS. 1-3 depict an exemplary network environment in which
different implementations enable a mobile device to dynamically
control a room environment based on media content being delivered
to a display device by a cast device;
[0003] FIG. 4 is a diagram that depicts exemplary components of a
device that may correspond to the mobile device, the cast device,
and/or the display device of FIGS. 1-3;
[0004] FIG. 5 depicts exemplary implementations for controlling
parameters of a room device of FIGS. 1-3 based on a media/media
data analysis performed by the mobile device of FIGS. 1-3;
[0005] FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary data structure that may be
stored in a memory or storage device of the mobile device or the
cast device of FIGS. 1-3; and
[0006] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary
process for controlling operational parameters associated with
devices in a room environment based on the content of media
delivered to a display device via a cast device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0007] The following detailed description refers to the
accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different
drawings may identify the same or similar elements. The following
detailed description does not limit the invention.
[0008] FIGS. 1-3 depict different implementations of an exemplary
network environment 100 in which a mobile device dynamically
controls a room environment based on media content being delivered
by a cast device to a display device. Network environment 100 may
include a cast device 105, a mobile device 110, a room environment
115, a network 130, and a wireless network 135. As further shown in
FIG. 1, room environment 115 may include a display device 120 and
one or more room devices 125-1 through 125-n.
[0009] Cast device 105 may include a device, such as a Chromecast
or Airplay device, that plugs into a port of display device 120 and
which plays digital media (e.g., streamed audio, video or image
content) on display device 120. Cast device 105 may receive media
content, or an address (e.g., link) to retrieve the media content,
from mobile device 110 so that cast device 105 may stream the media
content to display device 120. The media content may include, for
example, television (TV) shows, movies, music and/or other video,
audio or image media content. Cast device 105 may include wired or
wireless communication interfaces for communicating with display
device 120, mobile device 110, network 130 and/or wireless network
135. In alternative embodiments, cast device 105 may be omitted
from network environment 100, and, instead, display device 120 may
include a SmartTV that performs functions described herein as being
performed by cast device 105. In still further alternative
embodiments, cast device 105 may also be omitted from network
environment 100 and, instead, the functions described herein as
being performed by cast device 105 may be performed by a set-top
box (STB) (connected to display device 120 and further connected to
network 130), or by a dongle connected to display device 120. In
these alternative embodiments, display device 120 and mobile device
110 may be connected within a same Wi-Fi network.
[0010] Mobile device 110 may include a portable electronic device,
having wireless communication capabilities, that may communicate
with wireless network 135, network 130, cast device 105 and/or room
devices 125-1 through 125-n. Mobile device 110 may include, for
example, a laptop, palmtop or tablet computer having wireless
capability; a cellular telephone (e.g., a "smart" phone); or a
personal digital assistant (PDA) having wireless capability. Mobile
device 110 may be carried and operated by a user 150, who may be
located within, or outside of, room environment 115 (shown outside
in FIGS. 1-3). User 150 may use mobile device 110 for additional
functions other than control of operational parameters associated
with room devices 125 of room environment 115. For example, user
150 may use mobile device 110 for web browsing. Mobile device 110
may execute a room environment application that implements the room
device control process of FIG. 7 (below). The room environment
application may be downloaded from a source in network 130.
[0011] Display device 120 may include a device having audio, video
and image displaying capabilities. Display device 120 may include,
for example, a TV or monitor. Display device 120 may include a port
for connecting to cast device 105. In some implementations, display
device 120 may additionally, or alternatively, include a sound
system device that connects to one or more room devices 125 that
each includes a speaker.
[0012] Room devices 125-1 through 125-n may include devices located
within room environment 115. Each of room devices 125-1 through
125-n may have an internal device control unit, or an external
device control unit, to which mobile device 110 can send respective
control signals 155-1 through 155-n via, for example, Wi-Fi or
BlueTooth, to control operational parameters of room devices 125-1
through 125-n. Though not depicted in FIGS. 1-3, one or more of
room devices 125-1 through 125-n may connect to network 130 and/or
wireless network 135. Room devices 125-1 through 125-n may include,
for example, an air conditioning unit, a fan, an audio speaker, a
light, or a hot tub.
[0013] Network 130 may include one or more different types of
networks including, for example, a Public Switched Telephone
Network (PSTN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network
(WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), an intranet, the
Internet, or a cable network (e.g., an optical cable network).
Wireless network 135 may include a satellite network, a Public Land
Mobile Network (PLMN), or a wireless LAN or WAN (e.g., Wi-Fi). In
one implementation, wireless network 135 may be replaced by a
wireless network access point (e.g., a wireless router) that
connects to network 130, and mobile device 110 may communicate
directly with network 130 via the wireless network access point,
avoiding the use of wireless network 135.
[0014] The configuration of network components of network
environment 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 (and FIGS. 2-3 below) is for
illustrative purposes. Other configurations may be implemented.
Therefore, network environment 100 may include additional, fewer
and/or different components that may be configured in a different
arrangement than those depicted in FIGS. 1-3. For example, network
environment 100 may include any number of mobile devices 110, room
environments 115, display devices 120, and/or cast devices 105.
Though not shown in FIGS. 1-3, participants, other than user 150,
may be present in room environment 115 during playback of media at
cast device 105 and display device 120. Each of the participants
may, or may not, have a mobile device 110 of their own for
controlling one or more room devices 125 in room environment
115.
[0015] In the implementation depicted in FIG. 1, mobile device 110
may receive content media 140 from a media source in network 130
and may then forward the content media 140 to cast device 105 for
streaming to display device 120. As shown in FIG. 1, content media
140 may be delivered to mobile device 110 via network 130 and
wireless network 135. Upon receipt of content media 140, mobile
device 110 may perform a media analysis 145 upon the content media
140, and may further forward content media 140 to cast device 105
via, for example, a wireless connection. Upon receipt, cast device
105 may stream content media 140 to display device 120. Based on
the results of the media analysis 145, mobile device 110 may send
one or more control signals 155-1 through 155-n to respective ones
of room devices 125-1 through 125-n in room environment 115 to
change operational parameters associated with the room devices 125.
For example, if a room device 125 includes a light, mobile device
110 may send a control signal to room device 125 that increases or
decreases the intensity of the light based on the media content
analyzed at mobile device 110.
[0016] In the implementation depicted in FIG. 2, content media 140
may be delivered via network 130 to mobile device 110 and to cast
device 105, without any intervening forwarding of content media 140
via mobile device 110 to cast device 105 as in the implementation
of FIG. 1. In the implementation of FIG. 2, mobile device 110 may
provide a link to media to cast device 105, and cast device 105,
using the link, may obtain content media 140 from a media source
(e.g., a content provider) via network 130. Mobile device 110 may
also obtain the same content media 140 from the media source via
network 130 and wireless network 135. Upon receipt of content media
140 via network 130, cast device 105 may stream content media 140
to display device 120.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, upon receipt of content media 140,
mobile device 110 may perform a media analysis 145 upon the content
media 140. Based on the results of the media analysis 145, mobile
device 110 may send one or more control signals 155-1 through 155-n
to respective ones of room devices 125-1 through 125-n in room
environment 115 to change operational parameters associated with
the room devices 125. For example, if a room device 125 includes an
air conditioning or heating unit, mobile device 110 may send a
control signal to room device 125 that increases or decreases the
temperature of the air circulated through room device 125.
[0018] In the implementation depicted in FIG. 3, cast device 105 or
display device 120 may, based on content media 140 streamed via
network 130, provide media data 160 to mobile device 110. The media
data 160 may include data that identifies particular
characteristics of content media 140 that mobile device 110 may use
in an analysis. Mobile device 110 may provide an address (e.g., a
link) for the media to cast device 105, and cast device 105, using
the link, may obtain content media 140 from a content provider 130
via network 130.
[0019] Upon receipt of content media 140 via network 130, cast
device 105 may stream content media 140 to display device 120. Cast
device 105 may additionally extract specific characteristics from
content media 140 and provide those characteristics as media data
160 to mobile device 110. Alternatively, upon receipt of content
media 140 from cast device 105, display device 120 may extract the
specific characteristics from content media 140 and provide those
characteristics as media data 160 to mobile device 110.
[0020] Upon receipt of media data 160, mobile device 110 may
perform a media data analysis 165 upon the media data 160. Based on
the results of the media data analysis 165, mobile device 110 may
send one or more control signals 155-1 through 155-n to respective
ones of room devices 125-1 through 125-n in room environment 115 to
change operational parameters associated with the room devices 125.
For example, if a room device 125 includes audio speakers, mobile
device 110 may send a control signal to room device 125 that
increases or decreases the volume of the audio generated by the
speakers.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a diagram that depicts exemplary components of a
device 400. Mobile device 110, cast device 105 and display device
120 may each have the same or similar components in a same or
similar configuration to that shown in FIG. 4. Device 400 may
include a bus 410, a processing unit 420, a main memory 430, a read
only memory (ROM) 440, a storage device 450, an input device(s)
460, an output device(s) 470, and a communication interface(s) 480.
Bus 410 may include a path that permits communication among the
elements of device 400.
[0022] Processing unit 420 may include one or more processors or
microprocessors, or processing logic, which may interpret and
execute instructions. Main memory 430 may include a random access
memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that may
store information and instructions for execution by processing unit
420. ROM 440 may include a ROM device or another type of static
storage device that may store static information and instructions
for use by processing unit 420. Storage device 450 may include a
magnetic and/or optical recording medium. Main memory 430, ROM 440
and storage device 450 may each be referred to herein as a
"tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium."
[0023] Input device 460 may include one or more mechanisms that
permit an operator (or user) to input information to device 400,
such as, for example, a keypad or a keyboard, a display with a
touch sensitive panel, voice recognition and/or biometric
mechanisms, etc. Output device 470 may include one or more
mechanisms that output information to the operator, including a
display, a speaker, etc. Communication interface(s) 480 may include
a transceiver that enables device 400 to communicate with other
devices and/or systems. For example, communication interface(s) 480
may include wired or wireless transceivers for communicating via
networks 130 or 135. Communication interface(s) 480 may include a
cellular network transceiver, a BlueTooth transceiver, and/or a
Wi-Fi transceiver.
[0024] The configuration of components of device 400 illustrated in
FIG. 4 is for illustrative purposes only. Other configurations may
be implemented. Therefore, device 400 may include additional, fewer
and/or different components, or differently arranged components,
than those depicted in FIG. 4.
[0025] FIG. 5 depicts exemplary implementations for controlling
parameters of a room device 125 based on a media/media data
analysis performed by mobile device 110. As depicted in FIG. 5,
room device 125 may include an internal device control unit 500, an
external device control unit 510 connected externally and directly
to room device 125 (e.g., via a port such as a Universal Serial Bus
(USB) port), and/or an external device control unit 520 connected
externally and via a power cord 530 to a power outlet 540. As
described with respect to FIGS. 1-3 above, mobile device 110 may
perform an analysis 145 of media or media data and, based on the
analysis, may generate one or more control signals 155 for
controlling operational parameters associated with room device 125.
If room device 125 includes internal device control unit 500,
mobile device 110 may send one or more control signals to control
unit 500 and, based on the one or more control signals, control
unit 500 may control instructed operational parameters of room
device 125. If room device 125 includes external device control
unit 510, mobile device 110 may send one or more control signals to
control unit 510 and, based on the one or more control signals,
control unit 510 may send instruction signals via an input port to
room device 125 to control one or more operational parameters. If
room device 125 has a power cord 530 that connects to power outlet
540 via external device control unit 520, then mobile device 110
may send one or more control signals to control unit 520 and, based
on the one or more control signals, control unit 520 may control
the power supplied to room device 125 from power outlet 540. For
example, control unit 520 may decrease the power supplied to room
device 125, or turn off the supply of power from power outlet 540
entirely.
[0026] FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary data structure 600 that may be
stored in memory 430 or storage device 450 of mobile device 110 or
cast device 105. Data structure 600 may include multiple entries
610, each of which may include a time field 620, an analyzed media
attribute(s) field(s) 630, and controlled device parameter fields
640-1 through 640-m (where m is an integer greater than or equal to
1). Data structure 600 may be associated with an item of media
(e.g., a video). Each item of media analyzed by mobile device 110
may have its own data structure 600. The values stored in the
fields of each entry 610 of data structure 600 may be manually
entered, automatically pre-loaded, or populated based on the
analysis performed by mobile device 110.
[0027] Time field 620 may store a time stamp, or a range of time,
associated with the media corresponding to data structure 600. For
example, mobile device 110 may perform an analysis of the media
over a period of time of 3 minutes, running from five minutes
(00:05:00) from the start of the media to eight minutes (00:08:00)
from the start of the media.
[0028] Analyzed media attribute(s) field(s) 630 may comprise one or
more fields that each stores data indicating a value for an
attribute for the media associated with data structure 600. For
example, if mobile device 110 analyzes the color of the media, then
field(s) 630 may store a determined color RGB value (e.g., red,
green, blue) for the media.
[0029] Controlled device parameter fields 640-1 through 640-m may
each store a target value for controlling a respective operational
parameter of a room device 125. For example, field 640-1 may store
a value indicating "high speed" or "low speed" for instructing room
device 125, that includes a fan, to change its fan speed to a high
speed or a low speed. As another example, field 640-m may store a
specific temperature value for instructing room device 125, that
includes an air conditioning unit, to change its temperature
setting to the temperature value indicated in field 640-m.
[0030] The number, types, and content of the entries and/or fields
in data structure 600 in FIG. 6 are for illustrative purposes.
Other types of data structures having different numbers of, types
of and/or content of, the entries and/or the fields may be
implemented. Therefore, data structure 600 may include additional,
fewer and/or different entries and/or fields than those depicted in
FIG. 6. For example, each controlled device parameter field 640 may
additionally be paired with a room device identifier (ID) field
that identifies a particular room device 125 in room environment
115 whose operational parameter(s) identified in the corresponding
filed 640 is to be controlled.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary
process for controlling operational parameters associated with
devices 125 in a room environment 115 based on the content of media
delivered to a display device via a cast device. The exemplary
process of FIG. 7 may be implemented by mobile device 110. The
exemplary process of FIG. 7 is described below with reference to
FIGS. 1-3. In one embodiment, the exemplary process of FIG. 7 may
be implemented with a delay between the analysis of the media, and
the streaming of the media for playback by cast device 105 and
display device 120. The delay permits the performance of blocks
730, 740 and 750 prior to the streaming of the media for playback
at display device 120.
[0032] The exemplary process may include mobile device 110
requesting selected media (block 700). Mobile device 110 may
request media from a media source (e.g., content server) connected
to network 130. One of alternative blocks 710, 715 or 720 may then
be performed based on a particular one of the implementations of
FIGS. 1-3 being implemented. In the implementation of FIG. 1,
mobile device 110 may receive the delivered media from the content
server and may send the media to the cast device (block 710).
Referring to FIG. 1, media 140 may be delivered (e.g., streamed)
from the content server via network 130 and wireless network 135,
and received at mobile device 110. Mobile device 110 may, in turn,
stream media 140 to cast device 105.
[0033] In the implementation of FIG. 2, mobile device 110 may
receive the delivered media from the media source, and may send an
address associated with the media to the cast device (block 715).
Referring to FIG. 2, media 140 may be delivered (e.g., streamed)
from the media source via network 130 and wireless network 135, and
mobile device 110 may send an address (e.g., a link at the content
server) to cast device 105 such that cast device 105 may obtain the
media from the media source. The media delivered from the content
server may additionally include an address at the media source at
which the media may be obtained from cast device 105.
[0034] In the implementation of FIG. 3, mobile device 110 may send
an address associated with the media to the cast device, and may
receive media data from the cast device (block 720). Referring to
FIG. 3, the content server may deliver (e.g., stream) media 140 to
cast device 105 based on an address (e.g., link) received from
mobile device 110. Cast device 105 may extract relevant
characteristics from the obtained media and send the extracted
characteristics as media data 160 to mobile device 110.
[0035] Mobile device 110 may perform an analysis of the content of
the media, or of the media data received from cast device 105
(block 730). Mobile device 110 may perform an analysis that
identifies movement (e.g., an individual running) in the scene if
the media is video; identifies one or more colors in the scene, or
a brightness of the scene, if the media is video or an image(s); or
identifies a sound volume if the media is video or audio. In some
implementations, mobile device 110 may employ more sophisticated
analysis algorithms that can perform image/video analysis to, for
example, identify actions occurring in the scene (e.g., a
quarterback passing a football, a car crashing, etc.). In other
implementations, mobile device 110 may employ speech analysis
algorithms to recognize the content of speech (i.e., what is being
said) when the media is audio or video.
[0036] Mobile device 110 may determine parameter(s) of a selected
room device(s) to change based on the performed analysis (block
740). Mobile device 110 may select more or more room devices 125 in
room environment 115 and may determine which parameter(s) of the
selected devices are to be changed. For example, mobile device 110
may identify room devices 125-1 through 125-n as including a light,
an air conditioning unit, and a set of speakers connected to
display device 120, and may select the light for the changing of
parameters. With the light being selected, mobile device 110 may
change one or more various operational parameters of the light: 1)
on/off; 2) intensity of light (dimness or brightness); or 3) a
strobe effect. As another example, mobile device 110 may select the
air conditioning unit for the changing of parameters. With the air
conditioning unit being selected, mobile device 110 may change one
or more operational parameters of the AC unit: 1) on/off; 2) fan
speed (high or low); or 3) temperature (cold or hot). In one
embodiment, mobile device 110 may index data structure 600 for the
item of media with the current playback time (or time range) and an
analyzed media attribute to identify an entry 610 having a same
time or time range value in time field 620 and a same analyzed
attribute value in field 630. Mobile device 110 may then retrieve
the values from fields 640-1 through 640-m for the identified entry
610 to identify the room devices 125, and the respective
operational parameters for each of the identified room devices,
that are to be changed.
[0037] Mobile device 110 may send control signal(s) to the selected
room device(s) to implement a change(s) in the determine
parameter(s) (block 750). Mobile device 110 may send an appropriate
control signal 155 to a selected room device 125 to cause the room
device 125 to change the selected operational parameter. For
example, mobile device 110 may wirelessly transmit (e.g., via
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) a control signal 155 to a room device 125 that
includes a set of speakers. The control signal 155 may increase the
volume of the set of speakers.
[0038] Blocks 710-750, for an item of requested media, may be
selectively repeated until the media finishes and is no longer
being played back at display device 120. Therefore, the operational
parameters of room devices 125-1 through 125-n in room environment
115 may change throughout media playback based on the analyzed
content of the media.
[0039] The foregoing description of implementations provides
illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.
Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. For
example, while a series of blocks has been described with respect
to FIG. 7, the order of the blocks may be varied in other
implementations. Moreover, non-dependent blocks may be performed in
parallel.
[0040] Certain features described above may be implemented as
"logic" or a "unit" that performs one or more functions. This logic
or unit may include hardware, such as one or more processors,
microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits, or field
programmable gate arrays, software, or a combination of hardware
and software.
[0041] No element, act, or instruction used in the description of
the present application should be construed as critical or
essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such.
Also, as used herein, the article "a" is intended to include one or
more items. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean
"based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly stated
otherwise.
[0042] In the preceding specification, various preferred
embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying
drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications
and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be
implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the
invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification
and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative
rather than restrictive sense.
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