System and method for optimized appliance control

A switching device, comprising:

• a plurality of audio/video (AV) ports;
• a network interface;
• and
• a switch circuit that is operable to selectively connect any one of a plurality of source devices, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of AV ports, to a sink device that is connected to another one of the plurality of AV ports, the switching device being configured to:
• process an activity request received via the network interface;
• retrieve a one or more data elements from a matrix that defines for the activity request desired equipment states for the one or more of the plurality of source devices, the switching device, and the sink device;
• and
• use the one or more data elements to cause the switching device to perform a one or more actions to place at least one of the one or more of the plurality of source devices and the sink device into the desired equipment states and to place a one of the one or more of the plurality of source devices and the sink device into communication via use of the switching device:
• wherein at least one of the one or more actions is determined at least in part in response to a video stream originating from the one of the one or more of the plurality of source devices being detected at a one of the plurality of AV ports of the switching device.

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory containing computer-readable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, is configured to perform operations in a switching device comprising a plurality of audio/video (AV) ports and a switch circuit that is operable to connect any one of a plurality of source devices, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of AV ports, to a sink device that is connected to another one of the plurality of AV ports, the operations comprising:
• processing an activity request received via an interface of the switching device;
• retrieving a one or more data elements from a matrix that defines for the activity request desired equipment states for the one or more of the plurality of source devices, the switching device, and the sink device;
• and
• using the one or more data elements to cause the switching device to perform a one or more actions to place at least one of the one or more of the plurality of source devices and the sink device into the desired equipment states and to place a one of the one or more of the plurality of source devices and the sink device into communication via use of the switching device;
• wherein at least one of the one or more actions is determined at least in part in response to a video stream originating from the one of the one or more of the plurality of source devices being detected at a one of the plurality of AV ports of the switching device.