System and method for retrieving information while commanding operation of an appliance

Abstract

Media rendering system including a remote control device and associated docking station. The remote control device interfaces with a remote server to stream media content for local and/or external playback. The remote control device may interface with a docking station to playback rendered media on one or more entertainment appliances. The portable device preferably has standard remote control capability in order to enable advanced features and functions for media playback.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for causing an appliance to be placed into an operating state appropriate for a rendering of a media stream by the appliance, comprising:
 receiving at a device a communication that functions to indicate to the device that the device is to be used for media rendering purposes with the appliance; and   in response to the device receiving the communication that functions to indicate to the device that the device is to be used for media rendering purposes with the appliance causing the device to automatically transmit at least one command to the appliance wherein the at least one command will cause the appliance to be entered into the operating state appropriate for the rendering of the media stream by the appliance and wherein the operating state appropriate for the rendering of the received media stream by the appliance comprises an input mode operating state of the appliance which allows the media stream, as received by the device, to be communicated to the appliance for rendering by the appliance.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the operating state appropriate for the rendering of the received media stream by the appliance further comprises a powered on operating state of the appliance. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one command is communicated to the appliance via use of a wireless communications protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the wireless communications protocol comprises a radio frequency protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the communication that functions to indicate to the device that the device is to be used for media rendering purposes with the appliance comprises a communication received from a remote control device in communication with the device. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the appliance comprises a television. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the media stream is wirelessly received by the device from a remote server device. 
     
     
         9 . A device adapted to causing an appliance to be placed into an operating state appropriate for a rendering of a media stream by the appliance, comprising:
 an output port for communicating a received media stream to an input port of the appliance;   a processor; and   a memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the device to respond to a communication that functions to indicate to the device that the device is to be used for media rendering purposes with the appliance by automatically transmitting at least one command to the appliance wherein the at least one command will cause the appliance to be entered into the operating state appropriate for the rendering of the media stream by the appliance and wherein the operating state appropriate for the rendering of the received media stream by the appliance comprises an input mode operating state of the appliance which allows the media stream, as received by the device, to be communicated to the appliance for rendering by the appliance.   
     
     
         10 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the operating state appropriate for the rendering of the received media stream by the appliance further comprises a powered on operating state of the appliance. 
     
     
         11 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one command is communicated to the appliance via use of a wireless communications protocol. 
     
     
         12 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the wireless communications protocol comprises a radio frequency protocol. 
     
     
         13 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the communication that functions to indicate to the device that the device is to be used for media rendering purposes with the appliance comprises a communication received from a remote control device in communication with the device. 
     
     
         14 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the appliance comprises a television. 
     
     
         15 . The device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the media stream is wirelessly received by the device from a remote server device.