Patent ID: 6202210
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A data collection system for use with a home AV network, comprising:a plurality of consumer electronic devices communicatively coupled via an IEEE 1394 based network;a receiver device included in the plurality of devices, the receiver device operable for receiving a broadcast data stream, wherein the broadcast data stream includes an identifier tag describing the identity of the broadcast data stream;an up-stream communications link included in one of the plurality of devices; anda computer system included within one of the plurality of devices, the computer system including a processor coupled to a memory via a bus, the memory storing software which when executed by the processor cause the computer system to implement a method comprising the steps of:querying the plurality of devices included in the home AV network for descriptive information stored within the plurality of devices;monitoring the tag included in the broadcast data stream;determining an identity of the broadcast data stream using the identifier tag; andtransmitting the identity of the broadcast data stream to an external monitor via the up-stream communications link.