Abstract:
Described herein are various techniques for remotely controlling the presentation of multimedia data contained within a multiplex signal by various devices on a local area network. According to one aspect, a method is provided that allows for controlling the presentation of multimedia data being delivered to one or more devices on a local area network. Control is provided through the steps of receiving at least a portion of a multiplex signal at a control device, determining at the control device the one or more logical channels contained within the multiplex signal, detecting the presence of a controllable device on the local area network, receiving at least a portion of the multiplex signal at the controllable device, and transmitting instructions from the control device to the controllable device that instructs the controllable device to present to a user at least one type of multimedia data associated with one or more of the logical channels of the multiplex signal. According to another aspect, a mobile device is provided that communicates wirelessly over a local area network and includes at least one interface for displaying information and accepting input from a user. Furthermore, the mobile device receives a wireless multiplex signal that comprises one or more logical channels of multimedia data, and issue instructions to at least one multimedia device on the network indicating what multimedia data to consume by instructing the multimedia device to tune into one or more logical channels of the multiplex signal.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/089,407 filed on Aug. 15, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to the field of digital communication systems and, more specifically, to techniques for enabling a broadcast server to provide access between wireless communication devices for ubiquitous multimedia. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Several radio technologies such as UWB, WiFi enable wireless personal area networks over which wireless communication devices communicate and interoperate. Typically, broadcast networks provide access to wireless communication devices using a variety of multimedia signaling formats. 
         [0006]    There is therefore a need for techniques for enabling communication between wireless communication devices operating over diverse networks for ubiquitous multimedia. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present invention describes various techniques for remotely controlling the presentation of multimedia data by various devices on a local area network, wherein the multimedia data is contained within one or more logical channels of a multiplex signal received by the controlling device as well as the various devices on the local area network being remotely controlled. 
         [0008]    According to one aspect of the invention, a method of controlling the presentation of multimedia data that is being delivered to one or more devices on a local area network is disclosed. According to this method, at least a portion of a multiplex signal is received at a control device, the multiplex signal comprising one or more logical channels representing one or more types of multimedia data that originates from one or more sources on a network. The control device determines the one or more logical channels contained within the multiplex signal and detects the presence of a controllable device on the local area network, which also receives at least a portion of the multiplex signal at the controllable device. The control device then transmits instructions to the controllable device that instructs the controllable device to present to a user at least one type of multimedia data associated with one or more of the logical channels of the multiplex signal. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the invention, a mobile device is provided that includes at least one processor, at least one modem configured to communicate wirelessly over a local area network, and at least one interface to display information and at least one interface to accept input from a user. Furthermore, the mobile device is configured to receive a wireless multiplex signal comprising one or more logical channels of multimedia data, and issue instructions to at least one multimedia device on the local area network that indicates what multimedia data to consume by instructing the multimedia device to tune into one or more logical channels of the multiplex signal. 
         [0010]    According to a third aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided that is capable of controlling the presentation of multimedia data that is being delivered to one or more devices on a local area network. Included in the apparatus are means for receiving at least a portion of a multiplex signal that includes one or more logical channels representing one or more types of multimedia data that originates from one or more sources on a network, as well as means for determining the one or more logical channels contained within the multiplex signal, means for detecting the presence of a controllable device that is on the local area network and which is capable of receiving at least a portion of the multiplex signal, and means for transmitting instructions to the controllable device that instruct the controllable device to present to a user a particular type of multimedia data associated with one or more of the logical channels of the multiplex signal. 
         [0011]    Various other aspects and embodiments of the disclosure are described in further detail below. 
         [0012]    The summary is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present disclosure, which these and additional aspects will become more readily apparent from the detailed description, particularly when taken together with the appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  shows a high-level block diagram of a wireless communication device communicating in a first system using wireless/cellular communications standards and, alternately, a picoFLO system. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1B  shows a high-level block diagram of a picoFLO system and wireless communication systems serving wireless communication devices. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1C  shows a high-level block diagram of a wireless communication device. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1D  shows a block diagram of a Universal Multimedia Modem. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a high-level block diagram of a picoFLO system. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of a picoFLO network in a picoFLO system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of a picoFLO server with a universal multimedia modem. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a flowchart of a process for registration in the picoFLO network. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  shows a picoFLO multiplex channel for a picoFLO network. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6B  shows a picoFLO multiples channel for the picoFLO network of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7A  shows a cellular phone remotely controlling a monitor in the picoFLO network of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 7B  shows a cellular phone generating a remote control command. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7C  shows the terminal receiving data from the picoFLO multiplex channel of  FIG. 6B . 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of a process for a picoFLO node remotely controlling a picoFLO terminal or another picoFLO node. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  shows a block diagram of a picoFLO node of a home network accessing other nodes or terminals in the home network from a remote picoFLO network. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures, except that suffixes may be added, when appropriate, to differentiate such elements. The images in the drawings are simplified for illustrative purposes and are not necessarily depicted to scale. 
         [0029]    The appended drawings illustrate exemplary configurations of the disclosure and, as such, should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure that may admit to other equally effective configurations. Correspondingly, it has been contemplated that features of some configurations may be beneficially incorporated in other configurations without further recitation. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Abbreviations 
       [0030]    The following abbreviations apply to the description provided below: 
         [0031]    PDA: Personal Digital Assistant 
         [0032]    PC: Personal Computer 
         [0033]    FLO: Forward Link Only 
         [0034]    picoFLO: Pico or local broadcast system based on FLO 
         [0035]    MLC: Media Logical Channel 
         [0036]    CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access 
         [0037]    GSMC: Global System for Mobile Communications 
         [0038]    WiMax: Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access 
         [0039]    WiFi: Wireless Fidelity 
         [0040]    UWB: Ultra Wideband 
         [0041]    UMB: Ultra Mobile Broadband 
         [0042]    UBM: Universal Broadcast Modem 
         [0043]    LTE: Long Term Evolution 
         [0044]    LAN: Local Area Network 
         [0045]    WLAN: Wireless Local Area Network 
         [0046]    IR: Infrared 
         [0047]    USB: Universal Serial Bus 
         [0048]    TM3: Terrestrial Mobile Multimedia Multicast 
         [0049]    COTS: Commercial Off-The-Shelf 
         [0050]    DVB-H: Digital Video Broadcasting-Handhelds 
         [0051]    ISDB-T: Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial 
         [0052]    OFDMA: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access 
         [0053]    TDD: Time Division Duplex 
         [0054]    FDD: Frequency Division Duplex 
         [0055]    CDD: Code Division Duplex 
         [0056]    DRM: Digital Rights Management 
         [0057]    UMM: Universal Multimedia Modem 
         [0058]    PN: Pseudo Noise 
         [0059]    STB: Set Top Box 
         [0060]    DVR: Digital Video Recording 
         [0061]    MAC: Media Access Control 
         [0062]    picoLC: picoFLO Logical Channel 
         [0063]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any configuration or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other configurations or designs. Hereafter, the terms “core”, “engine”, “machine”, “processor” and “processing unit”, as well as the terms “frame” and “picture” are used interchangeably. 
         [0064]    The techniques described herein may be used in various devices and systems for wireless and wired communications or computing, in personal electronics apparatuses, handsets, and the like. An exemplary use of these techniques for wireless communications is described below. 
         [0065]      FIG. 1C  shows a block diagram of a configuration of a wireless communication device  100 , which incorporates elements of the present disclosure and may be used in a wireless communication system  150  ( FIG. 1A ).  FIG. 1C  will be described in combination with  FIG. 1A , where  FIG. 1A  shows a high-level block diagram of the wireless device  100  communicating in a first wireless communication system  150  using wireless/cellular communications standards and, alternately, a picoFLO system  160 . The wireless device  100  may, for example, be a cellular phone (i.e., handset), a video game console, a PDA, a laptop computer, or a video or audio/video enabled device, and the wireless communication system  150  may be a CDMA system or a GSMC, among other wireless communication systems. 
         [0066]    The wireless device  100  generally includes an antenna  102 , a receiver  104 , a transmitter  106 , a digital section  110 , a display unit  130 , and a main memory  140 . Bi-directional communications with a respective base station (not shown) of the wireless communication system  150  are provided via receive and transmit paths. In the receive path, signals transmitted by a base station (not shown) are received by the antenna  102  and provided to the receiver  104 . The receiver  104  demodulates the received signals and forwards demodulated signals for further processing to the digital section  110 . In the transmit path, the transmitter  106  acquires from the digital section  110  data to be transmitted, generates a carrier signal modulated by the data, and forwards the modulated carrier signal to the antenna  102  for transmitting to the base station (not shown). 
         [0067]    The digital section  110  illustratively comprises a modem processor  112 , a video processor  114 , a controller/processor  116 , a display processor  118 , an Advanced RISC (reduced instruction set computer) Machine/digital signal processor (ARM/DSP)  122 , a graphics processing unit (GPU)  124 , an internal memory  126 , an internal bus  120 , and an external interface  128 . In operation, elements of the digital section  110  are administered by the controller/processor  116 . 
         [0068]    The modem processor  112  performs processing (e.g., modulation/demodulation) of data provided by the receiver  104  or directed to the transmitter  106 . The video processor  114  performs processing such as encoding/decoding, or codec, operations for video bitstreams (e.g., still or motion images) produced by video applications such as a camcorder, video playback, video conferencing, and the like. Correspondingly, the display processor  118  facilitates rendering of the decoded images on the display unit  130  of the wireless device  100 . 
         [0069]    The Universal Multimedia Modem (UMM) is an integrated multi-radio multi-format or multi-codec device or platform. The modem consists of transmitters, receivers and transceivers for various long-range wireless communication services capable of serving wide area networks, as well as various short range wireless communication services capable of establishing local area networks. These wireless communication services include but are not restricted to FLO, 3 G (1×/EV-DO, WCDMA/UMTS, GSM/GPRS), UWB, WiFi or WLAN (802.11x). The codec supports a variety of audio-visual coding formats including but not restricted to H.264, MPEG-1/2/4, H.263, SVC; AAC, HE-AAC, AMR, EVRC etc. In addition, the UMM supports picoFLO air interface and picoFLO coding formats. 
         [0070]    The modem processor  112  may include or interface with a UMM  113  to communicate short range broadcast or multicast in a picoFLO system  160 , as will be described later. The UMM  113  is configured to allow the wireless device  100  to perform remote controlling of picoFLO terminals or other picoFLO nodes in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure via a universal remote control application (URC APP)  142  that may be stored in memory  140  or downloaded from a communications server. The URC APP  142  provisions remote control functionality through the wireless device  100  such that it may be a universal remote control device within a picoFLO system and achieve ubiquitous multimedia. 
         [0071]    The GPU  124 , in combination with the ARM/DSP  122 , facilitates graphics processing operations for the wireless device  100 . The GPU  124  may be compliant, for example, with a document “OpenGL Specification, Version 1.0,” Jul. 28, 2005, which is publicly available. This document is a standard for 2D vector graphics suitable for handheld and mobile devices, such as cellular phones and other referred to above wireless communication apparatuses. Additionally, the GPU  124  may also be compliant with OpenGL2.0, OpenGL ES2.0, or D3D9.0 graphics standards. 
         [0072]    Functional elements of the digital section  110  may be fabricated as or include application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), RISCs, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), micro-controllers or microprocessors, among other types of integrated circuits. 
         [0073]    Raw video bitstreams received or transmitted by the wireless device  100  are generally compressed using video coding techniques compliant with one or more of industry-adapted video compression and communication standards. In one embodiment, the raw video bitstreams are compliant with at least one MPEG/VC-1/H.264 standard. Decoding of MPEG/VC-1/H.264-compliant video bitstreams includes texture decoding in macroblocks of the respective frames and, in particular, determining of quantized coefficient data of the macroblocks. 
         [0074]    Certain configurations described herein can be implemented using MediaFLO™ video coding for delivering real-time video services in TM3 systems using the FLO Air Interface Specification, “Forward Link Only (FLO) Air Interface Specification for Terrestrial Mobile Multimedia Multicast”, published as Technical Standard TIA-1099, which is fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
         [0075]    The techniques described herein provision ubiquitous multimedia. Ubiquitous multimedia refers to the presence, availability and access to multimedia data or content at anytime, anywhere (or nearly anywhere). The ubiquitous multimedia is effectuated in part based on techniques for provisioning a remote control mode of a wireless (communication) device  100 . 
         [0076]    The term picoFLO refers to a short range broadcast, multicast or unicast using FLO physical and media access control (MAC) layers. A picoFLO network refers to a digital home automation system in which short range broadcast, multicast or unicast communications selectively take place between multimedia sources within the picoFLO network. A picoFLO system refers to a plurality of picoFLO networks interconnected via broadband networks or other networks and infrastructure. A picoFLO node (e.g. cell phone, pocket PC, laptop, etc.) has onboard multimedia processors and is adapted to receive picoFLO data within a picoFLO network and system and consume the data or forward data to a picoFLO terminal(s) and picoFLO server. A picoFLO terminal is a playback device adapted to receive data within a picoFLO network and consume the data within the device. (e.g. displays, speakers, TV, etc.) A pico FLO logical channel is similar to FLO logical channels or MLCs with extensions for added functionality required by picoFLO as described here. 
         [0077]      FIG. 1A  shows a high-level block diagram of a wireless device  100  communicating in a first wireless communication system  150  using wireless/cellular communication standards and, alternately, a picoFLO system  160  (shown in phantom). The wireless device  100  is operable to communicate with two separate systems using different protocols and different functionalities. For example, if the wireless device  100  is a cellular phone, the primary functionality of the wireless device  100  is carryout phone calls and uses long range communications to communicate with the system  150 . The wireless device  100  may include other functionality provided to cellular phones, laptops, etc., such as, without limitation, email and video capabilities. The wireless device  100  is operable as a universal remote control (URC) within the picoFLO system  160 . In one aspect, as a universal remote control, the wireless device  100  may extend its audio and visual capabilities by controlling nearby picoFLO terminals or picoFLO nodes with a display monitor and/or speakers to display or audibly output communications of the wireless device  100  or other multimedia sources (picoFLO nodes) within the system  160 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 2  shows a high-level block diagram of a picoFLO system  200 . The picoFLO system  200  comprises a plurality of picoFLO networks  210   1 ,  210   2 , . . .  210   N  each having one or more multimedia sources ( FIG. 3 ) some of which have data multiplexed via a picoFLO air interface  408  ( FIG. 4 ). In order to enable true universal connectivity between multimedia sources, the plurality of picoFLO networks  210   1 ,  210   2 , . . .  210   N  are connected (via wired or wireless medium such as cable modem, WLAN/LAN) to existing broadband backbone networks  220  and thus the picoFLO networks  210   1 ,  210   2 , . . .  210   N  can communicate with each other allowing access to multimedia data anywhere, anytime. Note that DRM issues can be resolved by using secure access to preferred picoFLO networks  210   1 ,  210   2 , . . .  210   N  through known security methods (e.g. key management, DRM, encryption, etc.). 
         [0079]    Each of the picoFLO networks  210   1 ,  210   2 , . . .  210   N  is a digital home (or office) network with a service area having a limited air range or footprint (cell boundary). In one configuration, the limited air range or footprint may be limited to a residence or office. 
         [0080]    The concept of the picoFLO system  200  may be extended to be compatible with other fixed and mobile broadband networks such as WiFi, WiMax, UWB and UMB and LTE. Unlike MediaFLO™ communications within a broadcast network, the picoFLO system  200  may enable communication of audio-visual or multimedia data in simplex and duplex modes. The picoFLO system  200  can be configured to operate as TDD or FDD or CDD. The CDD may not be restricted to a PN code as in CDMA. 
         [0081]    In order to extend the scope and application of the picoFLO system  200  further, when included with the multiple connectivity protocols, the picoFLO system  200  may make use of various other radio protocols and multimedia codecs and graphics engines (i.e. GPU  124 ) employed in a readily available wireless device (i.e. wireless device  100 ) to enable seamless multimedia. Thus, the URC APP  142  may interface with and make use of the various other radio protocols and multimedia codecs and graphics engines (i.e. GPU  124 ). 
         [0082]      FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of a picoFLO network  310  for use in a picoFLO system  300 . The picoFLO network  310  comprises a picoFLO server  325  and one or more picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  communicating over a picoFLO multiplex channel  600 B ( FIG. 6B ) within the picoFLO network  310 . The picoFLO server  325  can be hosted (or co-hosted) in a STB and communicates with the broadband networks  320 . The picoFLO network  310  further comprises one or more picoFLO terminals  360  and  370 . The one or more picoFLO terminals  360  and  370  and the one or more picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  are equipped with UMMs  380 . picoFLO nodes and picoFLO terminals may also be referred to as picoFLO receivers. 
         [0083]    A picoFLO node may be a communication device such as a cell phone, pocket PC, laptop and the like which is capable of receiving picoFLO data from a picoFLO network or picoFLO server. A picoFLO node is also capable of consuming received data within the device or further forwarding the data to a picoFLO terminal or another picoFLO node. A picoFLO terminal may be a device capable of receiving data from a picoFLO network, either from the server or a picoFLO node and consuming the data within the device. Examples of picoFLO terminals are displays, speakers, TV etc. 
         [0084]    The picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  receive multimedia data and related metadata (other forms of data) from the picoFLO server  325 . The picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  consume (playback or store) received data based on the primary capabilities of the node. For example, devices with display/speakers can playback content upon request while storage devices such as a DVR can store received data for future consumption/re-broadcast. The picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  are operable to configure, via a universal remote control function, a picoFLO terminal via the UMMs  380  when the node is within proximity to the picoFLO terminal. Furthermore, one or more of the picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  are operable to configure a picoFLO node via the UMMs  380  when the two picoFLO nodes are within proximity of the other. 
         [0085]      FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of a picoFLO server  400  with a universal multimedia modem (UMM)  410 . The picoFLO server  400  may be fixed and may be powered by a public utility company through a wall socket. Thus, the picoFLO server  400  should not have any limiting power constraints. The server  400  includes high performance processors  402  and has Internet/high-speed broadband connectivity modem  412  for connection to existing broadband backbone networks  320  (e.g. Internet). The server  400  further includes a storage media  404  and a registration module  406  for registering picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  and/or picoFLO terminals  360  and  370 . The storage media  404  may be sufficiently to enable the picoFLO server to support DVR functionality. The storage media  404  may be internal to the server  400  or external and connected to the server via a high speed interface. Nonetheless, additional storage in an external storage media may also be employed. The server  400  may also include a COTS or general purpose processor board with a fast bus. The server  400  further comprises a picoFLO air interface  408  having a picoFLO multiplex channel generator  409  and a UMM  410 . The operation of the picoFLO air interface  408  will be described in relation to  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
         [0086]    In one configuration, the picoFLO server  400  may receive multimedia data from the picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  using wireless personal area network communications such as UWB. The picoFLO server  400  may also receive broadcast data (e.g. MediaFLO). The picoFLO server  400  compiles index information for each category of data or node. The picoFLO server transmits data, which includes multimedia data, over picoFLO logical channels which may correspond to one of physical or MAC layer channels. The index information can be transmitted in co-located or independent channels or picoFLO logical channels with primary data. Furthermore, the picoFLO server  400  may transcode the multimedia data into picoFLO formats. 
         [0087]    The UMM  410  may be embedded in the server or made available on a dongle via a medium to high speed wired or wireless interface. An example form factor for the dongle is similar to a memory stick with a USB interface. The UMM  410  includes a picoFLO receiver (Rx)  414  and picoFLO transmitter (Tx)  416  and a UMM  418 . The UMMs for the picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  and the picoFLO terminals  360  and  370  are generally the same as or similar to the UMM  410 . However, when a UMM  410  is coupled to one or more picoFLO terminals  360  and  370  only the receiver (Rx)  414  is enabled and the transmitter (Tx)  416  may be disabled, such as after registration. The transmitter is on for registration and is disabled AFTER registration as described above. In another embodiment, the picoFLO server may perform polling of the available pFLO receivers in the network to establish registration or re-establish communications. 
         [0088]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the UMM  380 , coupled to the one or more picoFLO terminals  360  and  370 , is constructed and arranged to be configured and/or controlled by other picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 . The UMM  380 , coupled to the one or more picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350 , may be constructed and arranged to be configured and/or controlled by other picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350 . The UMM  380  is similar to the UMM  410 . The primary difference between a picoFLO terminal and a picoFLO node is that the terminal is a playback device without the need for an onboard processor. For example, picoFLO terminal  360  is a display monitor and picoFLO terminal  370  is speakers. 
         [0089]    The multimedia data or content  608 A, includes one or more streams of audio and video data. Some channels may carry audio data only or combinations of one or more audio streams for different languages corresponding to a video stream. The picoFLO terminal may consume only one of audio or video streams. For example, in the case of a display monitor, it may receive and consume only the video stream from a picoFLO logical channel and in the case of speakers, only audio streams from the picoFLO logical channel may be consumed. In the case of TV, both audio and video streams may be received by the picoFLO terminal and consumed. The audio streams corresponding to a video stream may be transmitted in the same or separate picoFLO logical channels that the video stream is transmitted in. 
         [0090]    The picoFLO system  300  employs UMMs  380  and  410  which provide the high level of integration required for seamless connectivity and multimedia access. The server  325  communicates to the one or more picoFLO terminals  360  and  370  and the one or more other picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  within the picoFLO network  310  via the UMMs  380  and  410  through the picoFLO air interface  408 . The picoFLO air interface protocol is an extended version of the FLO format. The server  400  is further operable to receive mobile TV content via MediaFLO, DVB-H or ISDB-T using a UBM  418  in the UMM  410  which may be further distributed to picoFLO terminals or nodes. 
         [0091]      FIG. 5  show a flowchart of a process for registration in the picoFLO network. The process  500  begins at block  502  where a determination is made whether a picoFLO terminal or picoFLO node is on. If the determination is “NO,” the process  500  loops back to the beginning. However, if the determination is “YES,” then the picoFLO terminal or picoFLO node is registered with the server  400  at block  504 . The process  500  may be carried out at least in part by the registration module  406 . The registration module  406  would generate a registered list of currently registered picoFLO terminals and/or picoFLO nodes. The picoFLO air interface  408  would use the registered list when generating the picoFLO multiplex channel  600 A or  600 B ( FIG. 6A  or  6 B). 
         [0092]    When a picoFLO node  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  becomes active in the picoFLO network  310 , the node initiates (real-time) transfer of data to the picoFLO server  325 . The picoFLO server  325  could initiate communications with the picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  in a manner similar to those during initial setup. 
         [0093]    The picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  or the universal remote controller (URC) can communicate with the picoFLO server  325  to obtain from the system configuration files, in memory, of the picoFLO server  325  the active set of picoFLO terminals  360  and  370  or picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350 . 
         [0094]    Returning again to  FIG. 3 , the picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  are operable to transmit over a UWB or other short range/broadbands stored content to the server  325 . The picoFLO nodes  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  comprise a cellular phone, a laptop, a Pocket PC, a cable box, and a digital camera, respectively. For example, when picoFLO node  350  (e.g. a digital camera) with a UMM  380  receives a trigger from the server  325 , the picoFLO node  350  will transmit index information (list of files, size, time stamp, etc.) and files to the server  325  in an uplink. The server  325  then re-broadcasts the node&#39;s index information in a picoFLO logical channel allocated for the picoFLO node  350  (e.g. a digital camera) via the picoFLO air interface  408 . Hence the server  325  generates a larger multiplex channel  600 A that may also include the channels available from the mobile TV broadcast channels (NOT SHOWN) and a picoFLO logical channel for each picoFLO node  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  345  and  350  registered with the picoFLO server  325  at any current time (registered list). Each channel in the picoFLO multiplex channel  600 A or  600 B is assigned a picoLC. (The picoLC assignment can be static or quasi-static or dynamic). 
         [0095]      FIG. 6A  shows a picoFLO multiplex channel for a picoFLO network. The picoFLO multiplex channel  600 A is transmitted by the picoFLO server  325 . The picoFLO multiplex channel  600 A includes various multimedia content from multiple sources (nodes) available in the picoFLO network  310 . The picoFLO multiplex channel  600 A comprises MediaFLO MLCs  602 A to forward mediaflo service and a plurality of the logical channels (picoLC)  604 A and  610 A used for communication of data from the picoFLO nodes. Each picoLC  604 A and  610 A includes an index interval  606 A and  612 A, respectively, and a multimedia content portion  608 A and  614 A, respectively. Each index interval incorporates index information associated with the file or multimedia content in the multimedia content portion  608 A and  614 A. The picoLCs  604 A and  610 A are assigned based on those picoFLO nodes that are registered and may vary. The multiplex channel  600 A further includes picoLC  650 A for other picoFLO networks. The picoLC  650 A includes an index  652 A and multimedia content  654 A. 
         [0096]    According to one configuration, the picoFLO server  325  transmits the multiplex channel  600 A as a broadcast. As a result, every picoFLO node and picoFLO terminal on the network and in communication with the picoFLO server  325  will receive the multiplex channel  600 A. Yet, according to another configuration, the picoFLO server  325  transmits the multiplex channel  600 A as a multicast, thereby directing the multiplex channel  600 A to just select picoFLO nodes and picoFLO terminals on the network. 
         [0097]      FIG. 6B  is a specific example of a picoFLO multiplex channel  600 B. The picoFLO multiplex channel  600 B comprises MediaFLO MLCs  602 B, a camera picoLC  606 B, a cable box picoLC  610 B, a pocket PC picoLC  614 B, a laptop picoLC  618 B, a cellular phone picoLC  622 B and a picoLC  626 B for other picoFLO networks. The each picoLC  606 B,  610 B,  614 B,  618 B,  622 B and  626 B includes an index interval  604 B,  608 B,  612 B,  616 B,  620 B and  624 B, respectively, followed by related multimedia content. This index in the index interval  604 B,  608 B,  612 B,  616 B,  620 B and  624 B may be created by the picoFLO server based on the received media data from each picoFLO node (through media categorization techniques such as MPEG-7) or exists in the picoFLO node and also sent to the picoFLO server along with the media data. 
         [0098]    The index interval  604 B includes an index of the contents of the camera&#39;s still images and/or video associated with digital camera data in the camera picoLC  606 B. The index interval  608 B may contain TV guide information or a forwarded DVR list associated with cable TV information in the cable box picoLC  610 B. The index intervals  616 B and  620 B may includes an index or guide of data associated with the multimedia content from a registered laptop (e.g. picoFLO node  335 ) and a registered cellular phone (e.g. picoFLO node  330 ) in the picoLCs  618 B and  622 B, respectively. The index interval  624 B may contain an index or guide to data from other picoFLO networks in the picoLC  626 B. The index interval  612 B may also contain an index or guide of data associated in the pocket PC channel  614 B. 
         [0099]      FIG. 7A  shows a cellular phone  702  remotely controlling a monitor  708  in the picoFLO network  310  of  FIG. 3 . The cellular phone  702  (i.e. picoFLO node  330 ) has embedded or coupled thereto a UMM  704 . The UMM  704  is operable to be in wireless communication with UMM  706  embedded or coupled to monitor  708  (i.e. picoFLO terminal). The cellular phone  702  executes instructions via the URC APP  142  ( FIG. 1C ) to display a remote control selection user interface (RC-SUI)  710 . The RC-SUI  710  provides the cellular phone  702  with a list of currently registered picoFLO terminals and picoFLO nodes and a field for highlighting or selecting a respective registered picoFLO terminal or picoFLO node in which to remotely control. Here the list includes monitor entry  712 , speaker entry  714 , cable box entry  716  and laptop entry  718 . In this example, the monitor entry  712  is shown highlighted. The RC-SUI  710  also includes a select button  719  to place a selection. Nonetheless, other means for providing a user with a user interface (UI) in which to control a plurality of picoFLO nodes or picoFLO terminals may be provided. For example, a designated key on the keypad or icon on a display of the cellular phone  702  may be used to automatically select an entry via key assignment. 
         [0100]      FIG. 7B  shows a cellular phone generating a remote control command. In this example, a monitor was selected to be controlled. A remote control command user interface (RCC-UI)  740  is provided to allow the cellular phone  702  to generate a remote control command to the monitor  708  via the URC APP  142 . The RCC-UI  740  would allow the user to select which picoLC in the picoFLO multiplex channel  600 B the UMM  706  should tune to or receive. In this example, the user has selected a camera entry  742  which is a registered picoFLO node. Other entries include cable box  744 , Laptop  746  and cellular phone  748 , all of which are currently registered picoFLO nodes. A Select button  750  is provided. However, other means of selecting available options may be used such as via key assignment on a keypad of the cellular phone  702   
         [0101]      FIG. 7C  shows the terminal (monitor) receiving data from the picoFLO multiplex channel  700 . After, the UMM  706  receives the remote control command (instructions to cause the UMM  705  to receive or re-tune to a particular picoLC). In one configuration, the UMM  706  would receive a unicast signal from UMM  704  when receiving remote control commands. Thus, the UMM  706  is tuned to receive the unicast signal. The remote control command then instructs the UMM  706  to re-tune to or receive the index information in  722  and related camera data in the picoLC  724  so that camera data can be received and consumed. 
         [0102]      FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of a process for a picoFLO node remotely controlling a picoFLO terminal or another picoFLO node. The process  800  will be described in combination with  FIGS. 7A-7C . The process  800  begins with block  802  where a picoFLO node (e.g. cellular phone  702 ) determines whether a particular picoFLO terminal (e.g. monitor  708 ) or other picoFLO node is currently registered. If the particular picoFLO terminal (e.g. monitor  708 ) or other picoFLO node is not registered, the process loop back to the beginning. However, if the determination is “YES,” the picoFLO node (e.g. cellular phone  702 ) can then remotely control the picoFLO terminal (or other picoFLO node). At block  803 , a picoFLO terminal or picoFLO node is selected. The picoFLO node (e.g. cellular phone  702 ) generates and sends a remote control command via the UMM  704  to the UMM  706  connected to the picoFLO terminal (i.e. monitor  708 ) at block  804 . The remote control command may be representative of a signal to cause the picoFLO terminal to re-tune, select or receive a particular node&#39;s channel. At block  806 , the UMM  706  of the picoFLO terminal will re-tune to the designated node channel  724 . At block  808 , the picoFLO terminal will receive the node&#39;s picoLC  724 . Prior to receiving the data of the node&#39;s picoLC  724 , the UMM  706  may receive the index interval  722 . Block  810 A,  810 B or  810 C are shown in parallel to indicate that any one of the terminals or nodes being remotely controlled would consume the data content in the received node&#39;s channel  724 . 
         [0103]    After the picoFLO terminal is re-tuned and receiving a selected multimedia content, the picoFLO terminal can subsequently be controlled to re-tune to something else such as in the middle of receiving the original selected multimedia content via a handshaking operation. The handshaking operation requires periodic updates of the picoFLO configuration information such as from the picoFLO server. 
         [0104]    As an example, a cellular phone  702  has a relatively small display screen as compared to monitor  708 . Thus, when remotely controlling the terminals or nodes, the cellular phone  702  extends it display to that of the monitor  708 . The cellular phone  702  may extend its audio capability by sending audio to speakers. The speakers may be part of a stereo system or other devices with speakers. 
         [0105]    In one mode of operation, the display of the cellular phone  702  may be extended such to a wireless display. In the picoFLO multiplex channel there is a picoLC (channel) for content of the cellular phone  702 . The picoLC may include pictures or video clips stored in the cellular phone  702  sent to the picoFLO server  325  from the cellular phone  702  and subsequently received by a picoFLO terminal. When the cellular phone  702  uploads its information to the picoFLO server  325  (via a mutual WPAN such as WiFi), the cellular phone  702  acts as any other picoFLO node). However, when the picoFLO server  325  receives and multiplexes the data received from the cellular phone  702 , the picoFLO server  325  allocates one or more (e.g. one for stills, one for video) picoLCs to the cellular phone&#39;s data. 
         [0106]    Any node or terminal, including the cellular phone, that receives the broadcast of the picoFLO multiplex channel from the picoFLO server, can see a reference to the picoLC corresponding to the multimedia data for the cellular phone in a picoFLO guide. Upon selection, the UMM automatically re-tunes to the picoLC for the cellular phone. 
         [0107]    Each of the picoLCs (e.g. camera  724 ) includes multimedia content and an index interval  722  or index preamble. The monitor  708  then displays the preamble and the cellular phone  702  (serving as a universal remote controller) can then select the item/file from the index. In one embodiment, the terminal displays the index from the multiplex corresponding to the picoFLO logical channel it is tuned to. The selection is communicated back to the picoFLO server  325  which in turn requests the camera (picoFLO node  350 ) to transmit the selected file. The camera (picoFLO node  350 ) then streams the file via UWB or another broadband access network to the picoFLO server  325 . Then the file is multiplexed on the picoFLO multiplex channel  700 . There is probably an end-to-end delay of a few 100 milliseconds but it is not observed beyond the selection delay at the monitor  708 . The monitor  708  receives the camera file stream and presents or plays the image or video content. Similarly, other media capable devices such as camera, camcorder, voice recorder, MP3 players, etc., can become picoFLO capable with a UMM dongle or software plug-in. In addition to accessing content from picoFLO terminals or nodes, the content available through the STB or DVR can also be included in the picoFLO multiplex channel  700 . All picoFLO nodes may have access to all multimedia data of other picoFLO nodes. 
         [0108]    Async-Duplex media communications may take place to enable ubiquitous access to multi-media content in a picoFLO network  310 . In one configuration the uplink is a unicast signaling format provided by any existing or future broadband technology (Bluetooth, UWB, Wireless USB, WiFi, etc.) and the downlink signaling format is a broadcast/multicast medium. A unicast is a one to one communication. In a broadcast mode, the signal is transmitted to all the devices in the network, while in a multicast mode, the signal is transmitted to just select devices in the network. The multimedia data from the uplink is available over the picoFLO network  310  with minimum delays (only limited by the MAC in repackaging the uplink data onto a downlink logical channel). If MediaFLO™ were extended, this latency is on average 1 sec. and a max of 2 secs. If a 1 sec. superframe were used, this would enable real-time or quasi real-time access to content—i.e. anytime, anywhere. 
         [0109]      FIG. 9  shows a block diagram of a picoFLO node (i.e. cellular phone)  930  of a home picoFLO network  910   1  accessing other picoFLO nodes or picoFLO terminals in the home network  910   1  from a remote picoFLO network  910   2 . In order to enable remote access, the home picoFLO network  910   1  is accessible over the broadband networks  920  (e.g. Internet) when the picoFLO servers  925   1  and  925   2  are connected to the broadband backbone networks  920 . In a remote picoFLO network  910   2 , picoFLO node  930  (cellular phone) could pull up any home media—images, video—at your friends house (remote picoFLO network  910   2 ) by accessing the picoFLO server  925   1  at home via the picoFLO server  925   2  and broadband network  920 . Thus, the other networks channel may be tuned to receive and consume multimedia content from the home picoFLO network  910   1  in the remote picoFLO network  910   2 . 
         [0110]    Thus a picoFLO node (i.e. cellular phone)  930  becomes a universal remote control for all media capable devices in a picoFLO system  900  and is capable of controlling and configuring all picoFLO nodes and picoFLO terminals in a picoFLO system  900 . A picoFLO node (i.e. cellular phone)  930  with a UMM can function as a true universal remote control and can control any device at home in a digital home automation environment or elsewhere and thus provides ubiquitous multimedia access. 
         [0111]    The a picoFLO node (i.e. cellular phone)  930  is a terminal that has a processor that can re-tune itself whereas a terminal is typically quasi-statically configured to tune to a particular picoLC in the picoFLO multiplex channel and can be re-tune using a picoFLO node. For example, the universal remote controller (i.e. cellular phone)  930 , contacts the picoFLO server to request service. Any picoFLO node or terminal may be required to be “subscribed” to the picoFLO server. If not, during an initial setup of the picoFLO system, the picoFLO server and its nodes and terminals are configured using system parameters of the picoFLO system such as the server ID, physical channel (frequency) of operation of the system, version of the picoFLO server, etc. on the server side and node/terminal ID, version of the picoFLO node/terminal, etc. on the node/terminal side. 
         [0112]    Furthermore, once the picoFLO terminals have been registered with the picoFLO server, the picoFLO terminals may also be configured (quasi-statically) to re-tune to a given picoLC of the picoFLO multiplex channel broadcast by the picoFLO server (e.g. the monitor/TV/display embedded in the refrigerator in the kitchen could, by default, be set to be tuned to the food network channel of the MFLO forwarded program channels in the broadcast of the picoFLO multiplex channel). 
         [0113]    The picoFLO nodes on the other hand, when required (at the control of the picoFLO node) can invoke a picoFLO application, a picoFLO demodulator on the picoFLO node is then initialized and the receiver starts to receive a picoFLO signal. After physical layer acquisition of the picoFLO signal, the picoFLO node then receives the program guide of the picoFLO multiplex channel that the picoFLO server is broadcasting. When the user of the picoFLO node selects a program from the program guide, the picoFLO node starts to receive the picoLC&#39;s for the selected program channel from the picoFLO multiplex channel. 
         [0114]    Some picoFLO nodes can also remotely control terminals in the picoFLO system. The picoFLO node, serving as a remote controller, contacts a picoFLO terminal via any of the available mutual short range wireless networks (WPAN) such as WiFi or Bluetooth. Since the picoFLO terminals and picoFLO nodes are configured as such each with its unique ID in the picoFLO system (during initial setup or via updates on the picoFLO server), the picoFLO node communicates with a picoFLO terminal over WPAN to read the picoFLO configuration information of the picoFLO terminal. (Optionally, the picoFLO node may read specific fields among the configuration settings). Reading a picoFLO configuration information maybe as simple as reading a pre-configured address in memory containing the picoFLO configuration information. The picoFLO node processes the received configuration information, looks up the desired program channel and corresponding picoFLO parameters (such as picoLC) and updates the picoFLO configuration information for the picoFLO terminal. For example, the update may include a copy of the information received from the picoFLO terminal. The picoFLO node then writes the modified configuration information to the (or different) pre-configured address in memory of the picoFLO terminal. The picoFLO terminal is setup to read this picoFLO configuration information from the pre-configured memory location on a periodic basis and apply the information to the picoFLO receiving application. This application may be part of the UMM and stored in the memory available in the UMM. The next time the picoFLO terminal updates its configuration, the picoFLO terminal begins to receive the re-tuned program channel. 
         [0115]    The method of data exchange between the picoFLO node and picoFLO terminal for retuning described above is a simplistic approach. There are several other similar methods possible that are unicast communication protocols. In one configuration, the universal remote control protocol does not have to be restricted to unicast communications between a picoFLO node and a picoFLO terminal. For a picoFLO terminal such as a digital picture frame that does not have a user interface (UI) (makes the device cumbersome, lowers aesthetic value, etc), picoFLO nodes can behave as their UI through the remote control protocol. Additionally, an unicast/memory reconfiguration may be based on data exchange. 
         [0116]    The URC APP  142  is just another application among several others on the cellular phone. Hence the cellular phone can function as the URC while receiving one of the picoLC&#39;s or program channel from the picoFLO server. The cellular phone can display (or play on speakers for associated or audio only programs) the program being viewed on its embedded display while displaying the picoFLO terminal&#39;s info (program channel, etc.) as overlays on the display. The URC app  142  can be presented as a few lines of text/graphics overlayed on the display or the user can selectively switch to the picoFLO terminal&#39;s program channel to view what is currently being displayed by the picoFLO terminal. 
         [0117]    The URC identifies which files to access at the camera for subsequent display by the picoFLO terminal or monitor using a camera index preamble available at the beginning (typically but can be anywhere and time division multiplexed) of the camera picoLC. 
         [0118]    In exemplary embodiments, the processes may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof in a form of a computer program product comprising one or more computer-executable instructions. When implemented in software, the computer program product may be stored on or transmitted using a computer-readable medium, which includes computer storage medium and computer communication medium. 
         [0119]    The term “computer storage medium” refers herein to any medium adapted for storing the instructions that cause the computer to execute the processes. By way of example, and not limitation, the computer storage medium may comprise solid-sate memory devices, including electronic memory devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, EEPROM, and the like), optical memory devices (e.g., compact discs (CD), digital versatile discs (DVD), and the like), or magnetic memory devices (e.g., hard drives, flash drives, tape drives, and the like), or other memory devices adapted to store the computer program product, or a combination of such memory devices. 
         [0120]    The term “computer communication medium” refers herein to any physical interface adapted to transmit the computer program product from one place to another using for example, a modulated carrier wave, an optical signal, a DC or AC current, and the like means. By way of example, and not limitation, the computer communication medium may comprise twisted wire pairs, printed or flat cables, coaxial cables, fiber-optic cables, digital subscriber lines (DSL), or other wired, wireless, or optical serial or parallel interfaces, or a combination thereof. 
         [0121]    The previous description of the disclosed configurations is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to these configurations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other configurations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the configurations shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.