US 2013/0212615 A1 · GATEWAY REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION

Abstract

A gateway is communicatively coupled between content source devices for a home entertainment network and playout devices included in the network, the gateway making use of available user, system, and other preferences of for example, respective control devices in the home entertainment network to enable controlled access of content in the network. For example, a personalized remote control device communicates with a gateway, either directly or indirectly, in a home entertainment network such that a user associated with the personalized remote control can interact personally with the gateway to modify viewing content in accordance with the specifications, preferences, and requirements for that particular user. As such, an entertainment device in communication with the personalized remote control device in the home network can be personalized for a user without the need to program and reprogram each and every entertainment device to a user's respective specifications, preferences, and requirements.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for controlled content distribution in a content distribution network including a gateway communicatively connected to one or more content playout devices, the method comprising:

receiving at the gateway a request for content from a control device in communication with at least one playout device, the request including at least an identification of a user associated with the control device from which the request was sent;
comparing the user identification with at least one stored profile for at least one of the user and the network to determine whether to process the request for content;
determining which content playout device of the one or more content playout devices is associated with the control device sending the request for content ;
generating a set of preferences based on the at least one stored profile for at least one of the determined content playout device, the user, and the network, wherein the set of preferences are available to the gateway;
and
when a determination is made to process the request for content, delivering content to the content playout device, the content being defined in accordance with the set of preferences.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gateway remote control system and method of operation

Life of this patent

Gateway remote control system and method of operation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15