System and method to control media display functions

Abstract

A system includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to perform operations. The operations include receiving a signal from a remote control device. The signal includes address data and a media display function. The operations includes determining, based on the address data, whether to control a media device to perform the media display function or to control each media device of a plurality of media devices to perform the media display function. The operations include, based on a first determination to control the media device, enabling the media device to perform the media display function. The operations include, based on a second determination to control each media device of the plurality of media devices, enabling each media device of the plurality of media devices to perform the media display function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the processor to perform operations including:
 receiving a signal from a remote control device, wherein the signal includes address data and a media display function; 
 determining, based on the address data, whether to control a media device to perform the media display function or to control each media device of a plurality of media devices to perform the media display function; 
 based on a first determination to control the media device, enabling the media device to perform the media display function; and 
 based on a second determination to control each media device of the plurality of media devices, enabling each media device of the plurality of media devices to perform the media display function. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is a component of a particular media device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein enabling the media device to perform the media display function comprises issuing a command at the particular media device to perform the media display function when the particular media device is the media device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein enabling each media device of the plurality of media devices to perform the media display function comprises:
 issuing a command at the particular media device to perform the media display function; and   instructing a second media device of the plurality of media devices to perform the media display function.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the particular media device instructs the second media device to perform the media display function via a media controller. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is a component of a media controller. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein, based on the first determination, the media controller sends a control signal to the media device that causes the media device to perform the media display function. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein, based on the second determination, the media controller sends a control signal to each media device of the plurality of media devices, and wherein the control signal sent to a particular media device of the plurality of media devices causes the particular media device to perform the media display function. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control device is a mobile communication device. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising
 receiving a signal from a remote control device at a media device, wherein the signal includes address data and a media display function;   determining at the media device based on the address data whether the signal is directed to the media device or to a plurality of media devices;   based on a determination that the signal is directed to the media device, performing the media display function; and   based on a determination that the signal is directed to the plurality of media devices:
 determining, at the media device, that the media device is included in the plurality of media devices; and 
 performing the media display function. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, based on the determination that the signal is directed to the plurality of media devices, sending data to a second device of the plurality of media devices, wherein the data causes the second device to perform the media display function. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the media device sends the data to the second device via a media controller. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the remote control device transmits the signal to the plurality of media devices. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the remote control device sends the signal to a particular media device of the plurality of media devices. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the address data indicates to control the media device when the address data is a first value, and wherein the address data indicates to control the plurality of media devices when the address data is a value other than the first value. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the remote control device is a mobile communication device. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform operations including:
 receiving a signal from a remote control device, wherein the signal includes address data and a media display function;   determining whether to control a media device or a plurality of media devices based on the address data;   based on a determination to control the media device:
 determining a location of the remote control device; 
 determining a particular media device to be controlled based on the location of the remote control device; and 
 sending first control data to the particular media device to cause the particular media device to perform the media display function; and 
   based on a determination to control the plurality of media devices, sending second control data to the plurality of media devices, wherein the second control data is adapted to cause the media display function to be performed by each media device of the plurality of media devices.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the address data indicates to control the media device when the address data is a first value, and wherein the address data indicates to control the plurality of media devices when the address data is a value other than the first value. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the second control data is sent to the plurality of media devices via a network connection. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the remote control device is a mobile communication device.