Apparatus and method for configuring, networking and controlling unique network-capable devices

Abstract

Configuring a control session comprises receiving a request to execute an input/output application from a content control application executing on a mobile control device and receiving a request from at least one other mobile control device to participate in the control session. Configuring the control session also includes aggregating a plurality of real-world connectable processing nodes into an application session set of processing nodes by allocating at least one function required by the input/output application for execution on each processing node in the set of processing nodes, wherein the set of processing nodes is determined based on processing requirements of the input/output application.

1 . An apparatus for connecting an entertainment device to a network comprising:
 a connector, wherein the connector is connected to the entertainment device;   a processor electrically connected to the connector, the processor executing an application for controlling content presented on the entertainment device, said application configured by a server;   memory electrically connected to the processor;   a transceiver electrically connected to the processor, said transceiver connected to the network;   wherein the transceiver distinguishes the messages from the server destined for the apparatus from messages destined to other similar apparatuses on the network.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the connector is an HDMI connector. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the connector is an audio connector. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the network is a wireless network. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the wireless network is an IEEE 802.11 network. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the wireless network is a Bluetooth network. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is designated as a guest device by the server. 
     
     
         8 . A method for connecting an entertainment device to a network comprising:
 connecting a client device to the entertainment device using a media interface port;   executing an application on the client device, the application controlling the content presented on the entertainment device;   configuring the application from a server;   monitoring the network for messages destined to a plurality of client devices for messages destined to the client device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the media interface port is an HDMI port. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the media interface port is an audio port. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the network is a wireless network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the wireless network is an IEEE 802.11 network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the wireless network is a Bluetooth network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the client device is designated as a guest device by the server. 
     
     
         15 . A network node comprising:
 a connection means, wherein the connection means connects the node to an entertainment device;   a processor means electrically connected to the connection means, the processor means executing an application means for controlling content presented on the entertainment device, said application means configured by a server;   a transceiver electrically connected to the processor means, said transceiver connected to the network;   wherein the transceiver distinguishes the messages from the server destined for the apparatus from messages destined to other similar nodes on the network.   
     
     
         16 . The network node of  claim 15  wherein the network is a wireless network. 
     
     
         17 . The network node of  claim 16  wherein the wireless network is an IEEE 802.11 network. 
     
     
         18 . The network node of  claim 16  wherein the wireless network is a Bluetooth network. 
     
     
         19 . The network node of  claim 15  wherein the node is designated as a guest device by the server. 
     
     
         20 . The network node of  claim 15  wherein the message is parsed into meaningful information by a decoding means.