# US 2008/0186979 A1 · Virtual ip-based a/v inputs for universal media servers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186979 A1 - Document ID: US20080186979A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/671,805 - Filed: 2007-02-06 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-06 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Mark A. Kolar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186979A1 ## CPC - H04N 7/181: {for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources} - H04L 12/2838: {Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths (adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24)} - H04L 65/1059: End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication - H04N 7/186: {Video door telephones} - H04N 21/21: Server components or server architectures - H04N 21/23: Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware - H04N 21/4135: {external recorder (interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775)} - H04N 21/4223: Cameras (H04N23/00 takes precedence) - H04N 21/43632: {involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 (high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052)} - H04N 21/43637: {involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth®, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] (arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114)} - H04N 21/64322: {IP} - H04L 2012/2849: {Audio/video appliances} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a universal media server (e.g., a set-top box) has zero or more physical audio and/or video (A/V) inputs configured to receive A/V data, and at least one Internet Protocol (IP) input configured to receive IP data. In particular, the universal media server has one or more virtual A/V inputs, 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 at least one IP input. The universal media server also has at least one A/V output configured to selectively output A/V data according to a selected input of the physical and virtual inputs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A universal media server, comprising: zero or more physical audio and/or video (A/V) inputs configured to receive A/V data; at least one Internet Protocol (IP) input configured to receive IP data; one or more virtual A/V inputs, 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 at least one IP input; and at least one A/V output configured to selectively output A/V data according to a selected input of the physical and virtual inputs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The universal media server as in claim 1, wherein the universal media server is a set-top box. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The universal media server as in claim 1, wherein the zero or more physical A/V inputs are connectable to a device selected from the group consisting of: magnetic media devices; optical media devices; cable television; antenna television; and satellite media receiver devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The universal media server as in claim 1, wherein the one or more virtual A/V inputs receive IP-based A/V data from sources selected from the group consisting of: IP-based cameras; IP-based streaming audio sources; IP-based streaming video sources; and IP-based microphones. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The universal media server as in claim 4, wherein the IP-based A/V data sources are adapted to provide services selected from the group consisting of: video conferences; phone conferences; IP radio stations; IP video stations; video surveillance; and audio surveillance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The universal media server as in claim 4, wherein the IP-based A/V data sources are either wired or wireless IP sources. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The universal media server as in claim 1, further comprising: at least one recording device configured to record A/V data received on the one or more virtual A/V inputs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The universal media server as in claim 7, wherein the recording device is configured to record A/V data based on one or more stimuli. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The universal media server as in claim 8, wherein the stimuli are selected from the group consisting of: configurable timers; manual selection; motion detection; sound detection; and selection of particular programming times. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The universal media server as in claim 1, wherein a particular virtual A/V input is configured to correspond to a particular IP address, wherein selection of the particular virtual A/V input for the A/V output results in an output of A/V data sourced from an IP-based A/V source device corresponding to the particular IP address. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The universal media server as in claim 10, wherein the particular virtual A/V input is configured to correspond to a particular universal resource locator (URL) that references the particular IP address. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The universal media server as in claim 1, further comprising: at least one IP output configured to selectively output IP data corresponding to the A/V data from the physical and virtual inputs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The universal media server as in claim 12, wherein the IP output is addressable by an IP address. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The universal media server as in claim 13, wherein the A/V data output by the IP output is accessible to IP-based receiver devices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The universal media server as in claim 14, wherein the IP-based receiver devices are selected from the group consisting of: personal computers (PCs); wireless handheld computing devices; IP-capable televisions; and IP-capable phones. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The universal media server as in claim 1, wherein the at least one IP input is configured to receive wired IP-based A/V inputs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The universal media server as in claim 1, wherein the at least one IP input is configured to receive wireless IP-based A/V inputs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The universal media server as in claim 1, wherein the A/V output is configured to output A/V data to a television. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 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.