System And Method For Controlling Home Network Devices Using Multicast Enabled Remote Controls

Abstract

A system, method, and article of manufacture for controlling home network devices using a multicast enabled remote control. The system includes a plurality of home network devices capable of receiving and/or transmitting multicast input and/or output signals and a home gateway to receive audio/video signals generated outside of the home and to transform the audio/video signals into multicast output signals. The system also includes a multicast enabled remote control to detect, aggregate, store and display all audio/video multicast output signals on the multicast enabled remote control, to enable a user to redirect an audio/video multicast output signal to one or more of the plurality of home network devices capable of receiving multicast input signals, and to control the plurality of home network devices capable of receiving and/or transmitting multicast input and/or output signals.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A household-related apparatus capable of being used, at least in part, in at least one household in association, at least in part, with control of household devices, the apparatus being capable, when the apparatus is in operation, of communicating, at least in part, with at least one service provider and at least one cellular telephone device, the household devices being capable of comprising household audio and/or video (audio/video) devices and at least one household appliance, the at least one household appliance and the household audio/video devices being capable of being comprised, at least in part, in the at least one household, the household-related apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   storage capable of storing, at least in part, instructions that are capable of being executed, at least in part, by the processor;   the instructions when executed, at least in part, by the processor resulting in the household-related apparatus being capable of performing operations comprising:
 receiving, at least in part, at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream from at least one of the household audio/video devices; 
 transmitting, at least in part, the at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream for receipt, at least in part, by at least one recipient device that is capable of being external to the at least one household, the at least one recipient device being capable of being selected, at least in part, for the receipt, at least in part, of the at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream based at least in part upon at least one user request to be received, at least in part, via the at least one cellular telephone device; 
 receiving, at least in part, certain data, the certain data being capable of being for receipt, at least in part, by at least one other of the household audio/video devices; 
 transmitting, at least in part, the certain data for use, at least in part, by the at least one other of the household audio/video devices; 
   wherein:
 the at least one service provider comprises at least one telephone service provider; 
 the at least one cellular telephone device is capable, when the at least one cellular telephone device is in operation, of receiving, at least in part, at least one additional user request associated, at least in part, with remote control, at least in part, of the at least one household appliance; 
 the at least one household appliance is capable of comprising:
 at least one household lighting-related device; 
 at least one household security-related device; and/or 
 at least one household heating/cooling-related device; 
 
 the at least one of the household audio/video devices is capable of being associated, at least in part, with at least one camera; 
 the at least one audio-related stream and/or the at least one video-related stream are to be transmitted, at least in part, via the at least one service provider, for the receipt, at least in part, by the at least one recipient device; 
 the certain data are to be received, at least in part, by the at least one other of the household audio/video devices, via the at least one service provider. 
   
     
     
         20 . The household-related apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one household appliance comprises a plurality of household appliances; and   the cellular telephone device is capable, at least in part, of remotely controlling, at least in part, when the cellular telephone device is in the operation, the plurality of household appliances.   
     
     
         21 . The household-related apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one cellular telephone device is capable, at least in part, when the at least one cellular telephone device is in the operation, of programming the at least one household appliance to operate in accordance, at least in part, with pre-set time intervals.   
     
     
         22 . The household-related apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one household appliance is also capable of comprising at least one water temperature-related device.   
     
     
         23 . The household-related apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 at least one additional of the household audio/video devices is capable of receiving, at least in part, digital photograph data for display.   
     
     
         24 . The household-related apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream are capable of comprising at least one multicast stream.   
     
     
         25 . The household-related apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one other of the household audio/video devices is capable of being selected, at least in part, based, at least in part, upon at least one other request to be received, at least in part, via the at least one cellular telephone device.   
     
     
         26 . The household-related apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one camera comprises at least one household security surveillance camera.   
     
     
         27 . A method implemented, at least in part, using a household-related apparatus, the apparatus being capable of being used, at least in part, in at least one household in association, at least in part, with control of household devices, the apparatus being capable, when the apparatus is in operation, of communicating, at least in part, with at least one service provider and at least one cellular telephone device, the household devices being capable of comprising household audio and/or video (audio/video) devices and at least one household appliance, the at least one household appliance and the household audio/video devices being capable of being comprised, at least in part, in the at least one household, the method comprising:
 executing, at least in part, by a processor of the household-related apparatus, instructions stored, at least in part, in storage of the household-related apparatus, the instructions when executed, at least in part, by the processor resulting in the household-related apparatus being capable of performing operations comprising:
 receiving, at least in part, at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream from at least one of the household audio/video devices; 
 transmitting, at least in part, the at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream for receipt, at least in part, by at least one recipient device that is capable of being external to the at least one household, the at least one recipient device being capable of being selected, at least in part, for the receipt, at least in part, of the at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream based at least in part upon at least one user request to be received, at least in part, via the at least one cellular telephone device; 
 receiving, at least in part, certain data, the certain data being capable of being for receipt, at least in part, by at least one other of the household audio/video devices; 
 transmitting, at least in part, the certain data for use, at least in part, by the at least one other of the household audio/video devices; 
   wherein:
 the at least one service provider comprises at least one telephone service provider; 
 the at least one cellular telephone device is capable, when the at least one cellular telephone device is in operation, of receiving, at least in part, at least one additional user request associated, at least in part, with remote control, at least in part, of the at least one household appliance; 
 the at least one household appliance is capable of comprising:
 at least one household lighting-related device; 
 at least one household security-related device; and/or 
 at least one household heating/cooling-related device; 
 
 the at least one of the household audio/video devices is capable of being associated, at least in part, with at least one camera; 
 the at least one audio-related stream and/or the at least one video-related stream are to be transmitted, at least in part, via the at least one service provider, for the receipt, at least in part, by the at least one recipient device; 
 the certain data are to be received, at least in part, by the at least one other of the household audio/video devices, via the at least one service provider. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the at least one household appliance comprises a plurality of household appliances; and   the at least one cellular telephone device is capable, at least in part, of remotely controlling, at least in part, when the at least one cellular telephone device is in the operation, the plurality of household appliances.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the at least one cellular telephone device is capable, at least in part, when the at least one cellular telephone device is in the operation, of programming the at least one household appliance to operate in accordance, at least in part, with pre-set time intervals.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the at least one household appliance is also capable of comprising at least one water temperature-related device.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 at least one additional of the household audio/video devices is capable of receiving, at least in part, digital photograph data for display.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream are capable of comprising at least one multicast stream.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the at least one other of the household audio/video devices is capable of being selected, at least in part, based, at least in part, upon at least one other request to be received, at least in part, via the at least one cellular telephone device.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the at least one camera comprises at least one household security surveillance camera.   
     
     
         35 . Non-transitory computer-readable storage storing instructions that are capable of being executed, at least in part, by a processor of a household-related apparatus, the apparatus being capable of being used, at least in part, in at least one household in association, at least in part, with control of household devices, the apparatus being capable, when the apparatus is in operation, of communicating, at least in part, with at least one service provider and at least one cellular telephone device, the household devices being capable of comprising household audio and/or video (audio/video) devices and at least one household appliance, the at least one household appliance and the household audio/video devices being capable of being comprised, at least in part, in the at least one household, the instructions when executed, at least in part, by the processor resulting in the household-related apparatus being capable of performing operations comprising:
 receiving, at least in part, at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream from at least one of the household audio/video devices;   transmitting, at least in part, the at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream for receipt, at least in part, by at least one recipient device that is capable of being external to the at least one household, the at least one recipient device being capable of being selected, at least in part, for the receipt, at least in part, of the at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream based at least in part upon at least one user request to be received, at least in part, via the at least one cellular telephone device;   receiving, at least in part, certain data, the certain data being capable of being for receipt, at least in part, by at least one other of the household audio/video devices;   transmitting, at least in part, the certain data for use, at least in part, by the at least one other of the household audio/video devices;   wherein:
 the at least one service provider comprises at least one telephone service provider; 
 the at least one cellular telephone device is capable, when the at least one cellular telephone device is in operation, of receiving, at least in part, at least one additional user request associated, at least in part, with remote control, at least in part, of the at least one household appliance; 
 the at least one household appliance is capable of comprising:
 at least one household lighting-related device; 
 at least one household security-related device; and/or 
 at least one household heating/cooling-related device; 
 
 the at least one of the household audio/video devices is capable of being associated, at least in part, with at least one camera; 
 the at least one audio-related stream and/or the at least one video-related stream are to be transmitted, at least in part, via the at least one service provider, for the receipt, at least in part, by the at least one recipient device; 
 the certain data are to be received, at least in part, by the at least one other of the household audio/video devices, via the at least one service provider. 
   
     
     
         36 . The storage of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the at least one household appliance comprises a plurality of household appliances; and   the at least one cellular telephone device is capable, at least in part, of remotely controlling, at least in part, when the at least one cellular telephone device is in the operation, the plurality of household appliances.   
     
     
         37 . The storage of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the at least one cellular telephone device is capable, at least in part, when the at least one cellular telephone device is in the operation, of programming the at least one household appliance to operate in accordance, at least in part, with pre-set time intervals.   
     
     
         38 . The storage of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the at least one household appliance is also capable of comprising at least one water temperature-related device.   
     
     
         39 . The storage of  claim 35 , wherein:
 at least one additional of the household audio/video devices is capable of receiving, at least in part, digital photograph data for display.   
     
     
         40 . The storage of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the at least one audio-related stream and/or at least one video-related stream are capable of comprising at least one multicast stream.   
     
     
         41 . The storage of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the at least one other of the household audio/video devices is capable of being selected, at least in part, based, at least in part, upon at least one other request to be received, at least in part, via the at least one cellular telephone device.   
     
     
         42 . The storage of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the at least one camera comprises at least one household security surveillance camera.   
     
     
         43 . A household-related apparatus capable of being used in one or more households in association with control of household devices, the apparatus being capable, when the apparatus is in operation, of communicating with at least one service provider and one or more cellular telephone devices, the household devices being capable of comprising household audio and/or video (audio/video) devices and one or more household appliances, the one or more household appliances and the household audio/video devices being capable of being comprised, at least in part, in the one or more households, the household-related apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   storage capable of storing, at least in part, instructions that are capable of being executed, at least in part, by the processor;   the instructions when executed, at least in part, by the processor resulting in the household-related apparatus being capable of performing operations comprising:
 receiving one or more audio-related streams and/or one or more video-related streams from one or more of the household audio/video devices; 
 transmitting the one or more audio-related streams and/or one or more video-related streams for receipt by one or more recipient devices that are capable of being external to the one or more households, the one or more recipient devices being capable of being selected for the receipt of the one or more audio-related streams and/or one or more video-related streams based at least in part upon one or more user requests to be received via the one or more cellular telephone devices; 
 receiving certain data, the certain data being capable of being for receipt by one or more other of the household audio/video devices; 
 transmitting the certain data for use by the one or more other of the household audio/video devices; 
   wherein:
 the one or more service providers comprise one or more telephone service providers; 
 the one or more cellular telephone devices are capable, when the one or more cellular telephone devices are in operation, of receiving, one or more additional user requests associated with remote control of the one or more household appliances; 
 the one or more household appliances are capable of comprising:
 one or more household lighting-related devices; 
 one or more household security-related devices; and/or 
 one or more household heating/cooling-related devices; 
 
 one or more of the household audio/video devices are capable of being associated, at least in part, with one or more cameras; 
 the one or more audio-related streams and/or the one or more video-related streams are to be transmitted, at least in part, via the one or more service providers, for the receipt, at least in part, by the one or more recipient devices; 
 the certain data are to be received by the one or more other of the household audio/video devices, via the one or more service providers. 
   
     
     
         44 . The household-related apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein:
 the one or more household appliances comprise a plurality of household appliances; and   the one or more cellular telephone devices are capable of remotely controlling, at least in part, when the one or more cellular telephone devices are in the operation, the plurality of household appliances;   the one or more cellular telephone devices are capable, at least in part, when the one or more cellular telephone devices are in the operation, of programming the one or more household appliances to operate in accordance, at least in part, with pre-set time intervals;   the one or more household appliances are also capable of comprising one or more water temperature-related device.   
     
     
         45 . The household-related apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein:
 one or more additional of the household audio/video devices are capable of receiving, at least in part, digital photograph data for display;   the one or more audio-related streams and/or the one or more video-related streams are capable of comprising one or more multicast streams;   the one or more other of the household audio/video devices are capable of being selected based, at least in part, upon one or more other requests to be received via the one or more cellular telephone devices;   the one or more cameras comprise one or more household security surveillance cameras.