Implied media networks

Abstract

A system and/or media network for rendering a media stream from one or more media rendering devices is disclosed. The media network may include one or more configurable peers, each configurable peer configurable as a rendering device, an observer, a processing device, a combination thereof, or the like. The system may be particularly suitable for use in remote locations, to generate a controlled and/or shared meeting topology within an uncontrolled media environment, and/or to generate an intense sound field amongst a group of participants from a collection of associated peers.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A media network for rendering a media stream, comprising:
 a plurality of peers connected via a local area network;   a media service configured to distribute at least a portion of the media stream or a stream derived therefrom over the local area network to one or more of the peers; and   an automatic or semiautomatic configuration service configured to generate a selection criteria based upon one or more network configuration parameters; at least one of the peers selectively configurable as a rendering device for rendering the media stream based upon the selection criteria.   
     
     
         3 . The media network in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the peers is selectively configurable as an observer for assessing a quality criteria for the media stream. 
     
     
         4 . The media network in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the network configuration parameters depend on the quality criteria. 
     
     
         5 . The media network in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the network configuration parameters comprises a location parameter, a social parameter, a capabilities parameter, and/or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The media network in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising a spatially organized group, the spatially organized group defined by a spatially organized zone, one or more of the peers located within a zone defined by the spatially organized group. 
     
     
         7 . The media network in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the peers configured to interact with a user and/or locate a user within a media field. 
     
     
         8 . The media network in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the selection criteria is dependent upon a network topological configuration, proximity between one or more of the peers, proximity between one or more peers and the user, and/or proximity between one or more of the peers and a spatially organized group. 
     
     
         9 . The media network in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the media service comprises a localization algorithm configured to determine a location of one or more of the peers within the media network. 
     
     
         10 . The media network in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising:
 one or more proximity sensors, each proximity sensor configured to generate a location signal; and   a localization algorithm configured to accept one or more of the location signals.   
     
     
         11 . The media network in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein one or more of proximity sensors are selected from a group consisting of a WiFi module, a near field communication module, an infrared sensor, an LED, a microphone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method for rendering a media stream comprising:
 connecting a plurality of peers via a local area network comprising one or more configuration parameters;   distributing at least a portion of the media stream or a stream derived therefrom over the local area network to one or more of the peers;   generating a selection criteria based upon one or more of the configuration parameters;   configuring one or more of the peers as rendering devices for rendering the media stream based upon the selection criteria; and   rendering at least a portion of the media stream with at least one of the rendering devices.