Virtual ip-based a/v inputs for universal media servers

A method, comprising:

• configuring zero or more physical audio and/or video (A/V) inputs to receive A/V data on a universal media server (UMS);
• configuring at least one Internet Protocol (IP) input to receive IP data on the UMS;
• configuring one or more virtual A/V inputs on the UMS, each virtual A/V input corresponding to an IP-based A/V source device having a corresponding IP source address and configured to receive IP-based A/V data from the IP-based A/V source device on the IP input;
• and
• selectively outputting A/V data according to a selected input of the physical and virtual inputs.

Software encoded in one or more computer-readable media and when executed operable to:

• receive Internet Protocol (IP) data on an IP input of a universal media server (UMS);
• configure one or more virtual audio and/or video (A/V) inputs to receive A/V data on the UMS, each virtual A/V input corresponding to an IP-based A/V source device having a corresponding IP source address and configured to receive IP-based A/V data from the IP-based A/V source device on the IP input;
• and
• selectively output A/V data according to a selected input of the virtual inputs and zero or more physical A/V inputs of the UMS.