Abstract:
An automatic channel generator and a method for generating a channel based upon the utilization of a device and activities occurring on the device. A device is connected to a local network hub, which may be integral to an information appliance. The information appliance is capable of searching the Internet for data associated with media being delivered by a device on the local network system. The aggregates of content can be collected automatically, and its presentation may be customized by a user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to generation of content channels, and more specifically to the automatic generation of content channels based upon the audiovisual media being delivered on a network system. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Home entertainment systems and home control systems are well known in the art. Typically, a home entertainment system includes a television, a video playing device such as a video cassette recorder (VCR) or a digital video disc (DVD) player, a radio tuner, a compact disc (CD) player, a set of speakers, and a means for controlling the functionality of the home entertainment system. Furthermore, a home control system may also be incorporated into a home network, and include control of a security device and various light fixtures. 
   In both a typical home entertainment system and a home control system, each device of the respective systems works independently of the other devices and may be related to the other only in that each are connected to a central controller. Thus, if a consumer desired to listen to music played on a CD player, then the user enables the CD function of the controller, and places a particular CD into the CD player. However, other devices included within the home entertainment system would neither be aware of, nor be in communication with, these other devices. 
   Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) are available through various cable companies and satellite providers. EPGs provide users with the ability to determine when a particular program is scheduled to air, along with information regarding the program. However, although EPGs may provide information regarding programs being broadcast by a cable or satellite company, they are unable to provide information regarding the availability of certain CDs, DVDs, videotapes, radio stations, or the like, that may be accessible by the home network. It would be beneficial if a user could gain access to information regarding the various sources of media available on the user&#39;s home network. 
   The ability to retrieve and collect information from a worldwide network is also well known. For example, if a consumer wishes to find information regarding an artist from a particular CD, then the user can access the Internet and retrieve such information. This information may include other works produced by the artist, as well as various options for purchasing such works. However, it may be inconvenient for a user to access the Internet every time the user desired additional information regarding an artist from a particular CD, or an actor from a particular movie. Thus, making such information automatically available to the user would be a desirable feature. 
   Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an apparatus and method for automatically generating content channels based upon the audiovisual media being delivered on a particular device of a local network system. Further, it would be advantageous to provide an apparatus and method for automatically generating channels relating to the specific devices connected to a local network system. Yet another desirable advantage would be to allow a user to modify and organize the channels in conformity with the user&#39;s preferences. These and other features and advantages are also made available by the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a novel apparatus and method for automatically generating content channels associated with audiovisual media delivered on devices of a local network system. The apparatus and method includes integration of an information appliance, such as a personal computer, and various devices, into a local network system. The information appliance and network are designed to interact with the various devices being connected to, and the various sources of audiovisual media being played on, the network. The user interface of the present invention allows for the user to modify and organize the channels based upon the user&#39;s preferences. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The numerous objects and advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of an information appliance of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram representing a preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram representing exemplary functions of the present invention managed by an information appliance of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart representing an exemplary process of generating a home entertainment channel and a home control channel; 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart representing a preferred procedure for generating channels relating to devices connected to a network system; 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram representing exemplary components necessary to generate channels relating to the audiovisual media being delivered through a device on a network system; 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart representing a preferred procedure for producing channels relating to the audiovisual media being delivered through a device on a network system; 
       FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary process of generating channels relating to a DVD movie; and 
       FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary organization of the content that may be generated by a preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a hardware system in accordance with the present invention is shown. The hardware system shown in  FIG. 1  is generally representative of a preferred hardware architecture of an information appliance  100  of the present invention. A controller, for example, a processing system  102 , controls the information appliance  100 . The processing system  102  includes a central processing unit such as a microprocessor or microcontroller for executing programs, performing data manipulations and controlling the tasks of the information appliance  100 . Communication with the processing system  102  may be implemented through a message or system bus  110  for transferring information among the devices of the information appliance  100 . The system bus  110  may include a data channel for facilitating information transfer between storage and other peripheral devices of the information appliance  100 . The system bus  110  further provides the set of signals required for communication with processing system  102  including a data bus, address bus, and control bus. The system bus  110  may comprise any state of the art bus architecture according to promulgated standards, for example industry standard architecture (ISA), extended industry standard architecture (EISA), Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), peripheral device interconnect (PCI) local bus, standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) including IEEE 488 general-purpose interface bus (GPIB), IEEE 696/S-600, and so on. Furthermore, the system bus  110  may be compliant with any promulgated industry standard. For example, the system bus  110  may be designed in compliance with any of the following bus architectures: Industry Standard Architecture (ISA), Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA), Micro Channel Architecture, Peripheral Device Interconnect (PCI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), Access bus, IEEE P6394, Apple Desktop Bus (ADB), Concentration Highway Interface (CHI), Fire Wire, Geo Port, or Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), as examples. 
   Additionally, the information appliance  100  includes a memory  104 . In one embodiment, memory  104  is provided on SIMMs (Single In-line Memory Modules), while in another embodiment, memory  104  is provided on DIMMs (Dual In-line Memory Modules), each of which plugs into suitable sockets provided on a motherboard holding many of the other devices shown in  FIG. 1 . Memory  104  includes standard DRAM (Dynamic Random-Access Memory), EDO (Extended Data Out) DRAM, SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), or other suitable memory technology. Memory  104  may also include auxiliary memory to provide storage of instructions and data that are loaded into the memory  104  before execution. Auxiliary memory may include semiconductor based memory such as read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM) erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory (block oriented memory similar to EEPROM). 
   The information appliance  100  further includes a network connection device or a network interface  106 . The network interface  106  communicates between the information appliance  100  and a remote device, such as external devices, networks, information sources, or host systems that administer a plurality of information appliances. For example, host systems such as a server or information handling system, may run software controlling the information appliance  100 , serve as storage for an information appliance  100 , or coordinate software running separately on each information appliance  100 . The network interface  106  may provide or receive analog, digital, or radio frequency data. The network interface system  106  preferably implements industry promulgated architecture standards, including Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232) promulgated by the Electrical Industries Association, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) standards, Ethernet IEEE 802 standards (e.g., IEEE 802.3 for broadband and baseband networks, IEEE 802.3z for Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.4 for token passing bus networks, IEEE 802.5 for token ring networks, IEEE 802.6 for metropolitan area networks, 802.66 for wireless networks, and so on), Fibre Channel, digital subscriber line (DSL), asymmetric digital subscriber line (ASDL), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), integrated digital services network (ISDN), personal communications services (PCS), transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), serial line Internet protocol/point to point protocol (SLIP/PPP), and Universal Serial Bus (USB), as examples. For example, the network interface system  106  may comprise a network adapter, a serial port, parallel port, printer adapter, modem, universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) port, etc., or use various wireless technologies or links such as an infrared port, radio-frequency (RF) communications adapter, infrared transducers, or RF modem. 
   The information appliance  100  further includes a display system  112  for connecting to a display device  114 . The display system  112  may comprise a video display adapter having all of the devices for driving the display device, including video random access memory (VRAM), buffer, and graphics engine as desired. The display device  114  may comprise a liquid-crystal display (LCD), or may comprise alternative type of display technologies, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) display, gas or plasma display, or employ flat-screen technology. 
   An information appliance  100  may further include an input/output (I/O) system  116  for =connecting to one or more/devices  118 ,  120 , and up to N number of I/O devices  122 . Input/output system  116  may comprise one or more controllers or adapters for providing interface functions between one or more of I/O devices  118 – 122 . For example, input/output system  116  may comprise a serial port, parallel port, network adapter, printer adapter, radio-frequency (RF) communications adapter, universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) port, etc., for interfacing between corresponding I/O devices such as a mouse, joystick, trackball, trackpad, trackstick, infrared transducers, printer, modem, RF modem, bar code reader, charge-coupled device (CCD) reader, scanner, compact disc (CD), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD), video capture device, touch screen, stylus, electroacoustic transducer, microphone, speaker, etc. It should be appreciated that modification or reconfiguration of the information appliance  100  of  FIG. 1  by a person of ordinary skill in the art would not depart from the scope or the spirit of the present invention. 
   Although an exemplary information appliance of the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be recognized that elements thereof may be altered by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One of the embodiments of the invention may be implemented as sets of instructions resident in the memory  104  of one or more information appliances configured generally as described in  FIG. 1 . Until required by the information appliance, the set of instructions may be stored in another readable memory device, for example in a hard disk drive or in a removable memory such as an optical disk for utilization in a CD-ROM drive, a floppy disk for utilization in a floppy disk drive, a floptical disk for utilization in a floptical drive, or a personal computer memory card for utilization in a personal computer card slot. Further, the set of instructions may be stored in the memory of an information handling system and transmitted over a local area network or a wide area network, such as the Internet, when desired by the user. Additionally, the instructions may be transmitted over a network in the form of an applet that is interpreted or compiled after transmission to the computer system rather than prior to transmission. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the physical storage of the sets of instructions or applets physically changes the medium upon which it is stored electrically, magnetically, chemically, physically, optically, or holographically so that the medium carries computer readable information. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram representing devices of an exemplary embodiment of the system  200  of the present invention is shown. A network hub or network  210  interconnects an information appliance  205  with various devices. In is understood that in an alternative embodiment, the network hub  210  and the information appliance  205  may be one in the same, and may perform the functions of both elements. In other words, the information appliance may function as the network hub, and the various devices will be connected to the information appliance  205 . In another alternative embodiment, the network may be a mere interconnection of HAVi compliant devices, in which case there would be no “physical” network hub. Rather, the network would be comprised of the various devices, wherein each device contributes to the functionality of the network. If a central controller is incorporated, then such a controller would be viewed as the network hub or network  210 . Accordingly, the network  210  enables interconnection between a variety of devices. Devices may be operably connected to the network  210 . In an exemplary embodiment, a communications link to the Internet  220 , a television  230 , a video game player  240 , a DVD player  250 , a CD player  260 , a radio tuner  270 , and a home control device  280 , are all types of devices which may be connected to a network and be utilized in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. With respect to a television  230 , it should be recognized that television broadcasts received by antenna, cable, and satellite may be incorporated within the present invention. The list of devices shown in  FIG. 2  connected to a network  210  is not exclusive and other devices may be connected to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary block diagram representing the functions  300  managed by an information appliance  310  is shown. The information appliance  310  may comprise a device enumeration function  320 , an appliance channel list  330  that includes a device category list  340 , and a graphical user interface  350 . The information appliance  310  may be capable of displaying an appliance channel list  330  of all resources available on the network. The channel list  330  comprises channels representing various devices, and each device channel comprises further sub-channels that provide additional information relating to content available via the device. A service interface  360  may be implemented, similar to HAVi protocol, which provides information regarding the specifications of the device, information about the manufacturer, and maintenance tips for longer durability for the device, to the network. When a channel is created or enhanced, the service interface  360  provides the network with the appropriate information regarding a new device that has been added, or an existing device that has been content modified. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the information appliance  310  is a personal computer, and a “web browser type” software program, or a “network interface” software program is implemented to provide the user with a pull down menu listing various channels relating to the various sources connected to the information appliance  310  or network, such as an Internet connection or a CD player. Thus, if a user clicked on the “Internet” channel, the various sub-channels presented could include items such as sports, business, shopping, search engines, etc. Within each of these sub-channels could be links to web sites that fall under the various topics, such as links for ESPN.com or CNNSI.com under the “sports” sub-channel. In addition, the user would have additional channels for each of the various devices connected to the network, including channels for a DVD, CD, VCR, cable, video games, etc. Thus, if a user were to purchase a HAVi-compatible radio tuner and connect it to the HAVi-compatible network, the system of the present invention would automatically generate a “radio tuner” channel. In addition, if the user were to manually pre-set a list of favorite radio stations onto the radio tuner, this information would automatically be generated as sub-channels under the “radio tuner” channel on the network interface program. In a further embodiment, if the user is listening to digital music via the “cable” channel, such music is frequently designated with the name of the artist and song. The user could set up parameters on the “cable” channel&#39;s “digital music” sub-channel&#39;s “80&#39;s music” sub-sub-channel, such that the system would automatically search the Internet for biographical information on the artist, and add a link for purchasing the artist&#39;s CD, and place this data as a sub-sub-sub-channel, designated by artist. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary flow chart of a process  400  of generating a home entertainment channel and home control channel automatically by the system of the present invention is shown. The system of the present invention must automatically check the devices connected to a network and automatically detect the addition of a new device  410 . At this point, the device may be classified  420 . If a type of home entertainment device is detected by the information appliance in step  430 , a DVD player for example, a home entertainment channel may be created to a list of standard channels available on the information appliance in step  440 . Further, if a home control device is detected by the information appliance in step  450 , a home control channel may be added to a list of standard channels available on the information appliance in step  460 . Examples of home control devices include but are not limited to light fixtures, switches, and home security devices. 
   In  FIG. 5 , a flow chart representing an exemplary process  500  for creating or modifying channels related to specific devices connected to a local network is shown. A first step  510  may check if new devices have been added to the network. An enumeration of the devices is accomplished by the information appliance in step  520 . The system queries if the device is present in step  525 . If yes, the system may then look up the device type in the device category list of the information appliance in step  530 . The system checks if the device is found within the device category list in step  535 . If the device is found in the list, then a channel is added in step  540 . If a channel already exists, then the system may be programmed to understand that the device was already connected, and can then check to see if any content relating to the device has been modified. If the device is not found in the device category list, then the category list is updated  550 . Then, the next time the flow chart loop is executed, the device will exist in the list and a corresponding channel will be added. If the device is not present in step  525 , i.e., no new device has been added, the process is completed at step  560  for the present execution of the flow chart loop. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the components of the present invention may obtain and display channels  600  relating to the audiovisual media being delivered on a device connected to a network as shown in block diagram form. For example, a DVD movie  610  may be viewed utilizing a DVD player  620 . Both the DVD player  620  and a television  630  may be operably connected to an information appliance  640  that is capable of analyzing the DVD movie  610 . While watching the movie or thereafter, the information appliance  640  may obtain and display information related to the DVD movie and create an audiovisual media sub-channel of a DVD device channel  650 . 
   The present invention is not limited to just DVD movies. The present invention may produce channels relating to the artist or recording label or genre of various storage medium. Also, video games that are played on a video game device may cause the information appliance to generate content relating to the characters within the specific video games. Other types of activities enjoyed through devices which may be operably connected to a network and an information appliance of the present invention may also generate channels without user intervention without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an exemplary process  700  of generating content based upon the audiovisual media being delivered by a device connected to a network is shown. The process may begin at the beginning of an audiovisual media event, step  710 . An example of an event may be the placement of a DVD movie into a DVD player. After an event takes place, a device may notify a service interface of the event in step  720 . The service interface may be a software controlled function, which basically monitors and reports events in relation to the specific device being utilized and the specific content being played or broadcast. The information appliance is then alerted to the notification of the event in step  730 . When an event occurs on a device registered in the network, the system of the present invention will be able to associate the type of device from the information generated by the service interface. 
   Upon determination of the type of device, the information appliance may query the service interface, or the device directly, for additional information in step  740 . When the information appliance  310  receives any additional information, additional predetermined steps, such as an Internet search for related information, may be performed by the information appliance  310  of the present invention in step  750 . The information appliance may then incorporate specific data received during the Internet search and place them into an appropriate data channel  760 . 
   An example of the process of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 8 . Although in the example a DVD player is shown, this should not be considered limiting the scope of possible implementations. The process  800  may begin when a user inserts a DVD movie into a DVD player in step  810 . The DVD player may notify service interface of a new title in the DVD drive via the network connection in step  820 . Through communication with the service interface, the information appliance  310  may be notified of the new audiovisual media, namely, a new title in the DVD drive in step  830 . The information appliance  310  may try to get extended information regarding the DVD title through the service interface in step  840 . 
   When the information appliance determines the type of device, the information received by the appliance  310  may be related to the DVD channel on the appliance, as per step  850 . It is possible to create pre-built services for each device, as per step  870 . A pre-built service could be a questionnaire, a way to document the viewing of content, and the like. If the device comes with a pre-built service, the pre-built service is added to the DVD channel as a sub-channel in step  890 . If a pre-built service does not exist in step  870 , then the information appliance  310  may perform a predetermined step, such as executing an Internet search for related information which closely matches the data present, as per step  880 . The data received from the Internet search is added to the appropriate sub-channel of the DVD channel in step  890 . 
   For example, the user interface may have a DVD channel. The user watches a James Bond movie. Based upon prior user-defined preferences, this content is listed under the sub-channel for “action” movies. Under this “action movie” sub-channel are the sub-sub-channels that list the various movies previously viewed by the user. Thus, the latest viewing of a James Bond movie adds this new James Bond movie as a sub-sub-channel. Now, the system searches the DVD for related content or the Internet for related content, and then makes this related content available under the movie&#39;s sub-sub-channel as a “related information” sub-sub-sub-channel. 
   Generally referring to  FIGS. 3–8 , in an exemplary embodiment, the system  200  of the present invention monitors and responds to devices and activities that occur on devices and creates or updates channels associated with the devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the system  200  accomplishes the task of responding to activities which occur on a device by utilizing a service interface between the devices. In one embodiment, the service interface may be exposed through a Jini implementation or a HAVi implementation through a Jini-HAVi technology bridge. For example, in a Jini network, a Java interface may be exposed by the device. However, the present invention is not limited to a Jini implementation, as similar home-networking technology exists. Thus, other types of networks may be utilized without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
   When network channels are created or enhanced, they may be organized in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the content may be organized in a genus-species relationship from the system, to a device, to audiovisual media, and then to features or additional information related to the audiovisual media. This is shown in an exemplary fashion in  FIG. 9 . For example, in approach  900 , the system  910 , or home entertainment system, may be considered the genus. A device  920  of a home entertainment system  910  may be a CD player. The device  920  is a channel in the user interface for the system  910 . The audiovisual media  930  of a CD player may be the various CDs stored in a jukebox-type CD player. Each CD is listed as a sub-channel to the CD Player Device channel. Features  940  is a sub-sub-channel of each CD in the sub-channel. For example, the “Bad Boys” sub-channel will have a sub-sub-channel that lists information relating to the group&#39;s concert schedule, which was automatically downloaded by the system via the Internet. 
   Additional devices would be listed as additional channels within the user interface for the system. This type of organization structure may be modified by the user to fit the user&#39;s preferences. The channels may be created and organized by type of audiovisual media, classification of the format, classification by producer, and the like. 
   Yet another advantage of the present invention is the ability to update the content that is generated through the present invention. Turning once again to the viewing of the James Bond movie example described earlier, suppose after viewing the James Bond movie, aggregates of content were generated through the utilization of the present invention. Then, a year after originally viewing the movie, the user watches the program again. The system of the present invention is capable of adding updated content to the sub-sub-channels which was not available when the movie was originally viewed, since the system has been programmed to search the Internet for updated information, and to check to see if the web sites found during the original viewing of the program are still viable. As a result, the channels generated through the utilization of the present invention will always be current such that the user will receive the latest available content. 
   Throughout the description of the present invention, the generation of channels may be one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Channels may include an organized aggregation of content that may be readily accessible to a user, content being any type of information. Further, use of the term channel is not limited to a specific type of content nor a specific organizational structure. Also, the generation of channels relating to audiovisual media includes but is not limited to audio, movies, television, photography, art, video games, music, and the Internet. 
   It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the devices thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.