Techniques for configuring and remotely controlling a multimedia system

An apparatus for configuring and remotely controlling a system comprising:

• a computer-readable medium storing a system configuration which is based, at least in part, on information collected from a user using speech synthesis and speech recognition,
• said system configuration including information representing at least one zone that corresponds with at least one room in a physical structure,
• said system configuration including information identifying at least one physical component which represents at least a part of said system, said at least one physical component being located in or associated with said at least one room, and
• said system configuration including information about at least one function which said at least one physical component is capable of performing, and about at least one command which said at least one physical component recognizes;
• a cell phone having a name service search service configured to discover said system, said cell phone configured to transmit a name service discovery request and a name service registration request to said system,
• wherein said cell phone is enabled to remotely control said system after a name service registration service transmits a name service registration confirmation to said cell phone.

A method of configuring and remotely controlling a system, the method comprising the steps of:

• creating a system configuration which is based, at least in part, on information collected from a user using speech synthesis and speech recognition, said system configuration including information representing at least one zone that corresponds with at least one room in a physical structure;
• including in said system configuration information identifying at least one physical component which represents at least a part of a system, said at least one physical component being located in or associated with said at least one room;
• including in said system configuration information about at least one function which said at least one physical component is capable of performing, and about at least one command which said at least one physical component recognizes;
• using a remote device to discover said system through a name service and to register with said system through said name service;
• and
• using said registered remote device to control said system.

An apparatus for configuring and remotely controlling a system comprising:

• a computer-readable medium storing a system configuration which is based, at least in part, on information collected from a user using speech synthesis and speech recognition,
• said configuration including information representing at least one zone that corresponds with at least one room in a physical structure,
• said configuration including information identifying at least one physical component which represents at least a part of said system, said at least one physical component being located in or associated with said at least one room, and
• said configuration including information about at least one function which said at least one physical component is capable of performing, and about at least one command which said at least one physical component recognizes;
• a remote device having a name service search service configured to discover said system, said remote device configured to transmit a name service discovery request and a name service registration request to said system;
• wherein said remote device is enabled to remotely control said system after a name service registration service transmits a name service registration confirmation to said remote device.