Patent Publication Number: US-2011072482-A1

Title: Entertainment Control System and Related Methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation of:
         International Patent Application PCT/US2010/046396, titled Entertainment Control System and Related Methods, filed on Aug. 23, 2010;       

     which claims priority to:
         U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/235,991 titled Wireless Entertainment System Controller, and filed on Aug. 21, 2009; and   U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/376,242, titled Wireless Entertainment System Controller, and filed on Aug. 23, 2010.       

     The disclosures of the referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to entertainment systems, and relates more particularly to entertainment control systems and related methods. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the ever increasing availability of audiovisual devices for home entertainment systems, many users have distributed such audiovisual devices throughout different rooms in their homes. Users are still usually restricted, however, to a main entertainment system location where content sources are located if they want to access and control content therefrom. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for entertainment control systems and related methods that allow users to control content sources located in locations different than the location where the users are watching an the content. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description of examples of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
         FIG. 1  presents a block diagram of an embodiment of an exemplary system for wirelessly controlling an entertainment system. 
         FIG. 2  presents a block diagram of an exemplary transmitter unit of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  presents a block diagram of an exemplary receiver unit of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  presents a flowchart of a method for providing a control system, such as for the entertainment system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus. 
     The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. 
     The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, mechanically or otherwise. Two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant. “Mechanical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include mechanical coupling of all types. The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment, a control system comprises a first unit and a second unit. The first unit comprises a command input configured to receive one or more commands from one or more command devices of a command device array, and a first transceiver configured to transmit one or more encoded commands. The second unit second unit comprises a second transceiver configured to receive the one or more encoded commands from the first transceiver, and a command output configured to output one or more decoded commands to a content source array. The first and second units are separate from each other. The one or more encoded commands correspond to the one or more commands, the one or more decoded commands correspond to the one or more encoded commands, and the content source array comprises one or more content sources. 
     In one embodiment, a control system comprises first and second units. The first unit comprises a command input configured to receive one or more original commands from one or more command devices, a first processing module coupled to the command input and comprising at least one of: a first signal processor to encode the one or more original commands into one or more encoded commands, or a first microcontroller to packetize the one or more encoded commands for RF transmission, a first transceiver coupled to the first processing module to: transmit the one or more encoded commands via RF command signals, and receive a content stream via RF content signals, and a content output coupled between the first transceiver and a monitor to feed the content stream derived from the RF content signals to the monitor. The second unit comprises one or more content source inputs configured to be coupled to one or more content sources and to receive the content stream from the one or more content sources, a second transceiver configured to: receive the one or more encoded commands via the RF signals from the first transceiver, and transmit the content stream to the first transceiver via the RF content signals, a second processing module coupled to the second transceiver and comprising at least one of: a second microcontroller to de-packetize the one or more encoded commands packetized by the first microcontroller, or a second signal processor to decode the one or more encoded commands into one or more decoded commands that mimic the one or more original commands received by the command input of the first unit, and a command output coupled to the second processing module to output the one or more decoded commands to the one or more content sources. The first and second units are separate from each other. 
     In one embodiment, a method for providing a control system comprises providing a first unit to (a) receive one or more original commands from one or more command device, (b) encode the one or more original commands into one or more encoded commands, and (c) transmit the one or more encoded commands. The method also comprises providing a second unit to (a) receive the one or more encoded commands from the first unit, (b) reconstruct the one or more original commands as one or more decoded commands based on the one or more encoded commands, and (c) control with the one or more decoded commands one or more content sources coupled to the second unit. The first and second units are separate from each other. 
     Other examples and embodiments are further disclosed herein. Such examples and embodiments may be found in the figures, in the claims, and/or in the description of the present application. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an embodiment of an exemplary system for wirelessly controlling an entertainment system.  FIG. 1  includes entertainment system  100 , comprising monitor  101 , wireless content delivery system  110 , wireless command device array  120 , and content source array  130 . In some examples, content delivery system  110  may be referred to as a control system. Entertainment system  100  is merely exemplary and is not limited to the embodiments presented herein. Wireless content delivery system  110  is coupled to and in electronic communication with monitor  101 . Wireless content delivery system  110  is coupled also to and in electronic communication with content source array  130 . Additionally, wireless content delivery system  110  is in wireless communication with wireless command device array  120 . In operation, wireless entertainment system  100  is configured to transmit high definition video over household distances with little to no perceptible loss of video quality. 
     Wireless content delivery system  110  includes a wireless transmitter device unit  111  and a wireless receiver device  112 . In the present example, wireless receiver dongle  113  is coupled to and in electrical communication with wireless receiver device  112 , although there can be also examples where wireless receiver dongle  113  is integrated within receiver device  112 . The present example also comprises wireless blaster dongle assembly  115 , comprising wireless blaster units  116 - 119  and blaster cable splitter  114  coupled to and in electrical communication with transmitter device  111  and each associated wireless blaster unit(s)  116 - 119 , but there can be examples where blaster dongle assembly  115  may be integrated as part of transmitter device  111 . 
     Wireless command device array  120  includes one or more wireless command devices  121 - 125  (e.g., remote control devices associated with the content sources of content source array  130 ). In the present example, wireless command device  121  is specifically associated with wireless transmitter device  111  and wireless receiver device  112 , and each of wireless command devices  122 - 125  are paired or affiliated with an associated or different one of the content sources (see below) within content source array  130 . Examples of devices that may function as wireless command devices  122 - 125  include an RMT-V501A video/DVD combo IR remote available from Sony Corporation of Japan, RM-Y 199 TV remote also available from Sony Corporation of Japan, a standard cable IR remote available from a cable provider, such as, from Time Warner Cable of New York, N.Y., a standard satellite IR remote, such as from DIRECTV Group of El Segundo, Calif., and the like. Content source array  130  does not include wireless blaster units  116 - 119 . 
     Content source array  130  includes one or more content sources in the present example, like satellite TV receiver set-top box  131 , such as one provided by DIRECTV Group of El Segundo, Calif., a cable TV set-top box  132 , such as one provided by Time Warner Cable of New York, N.Y., a DVD player  133 , such as an SLV-300D available from Sony Corporation of Japan, a video game console  134 , such as a PlayStation®3 available from Sony Corporation of Japan, and the like. 
     In the present embodiment, wireless content delivery system  110  of wireless entertainment system  100  is implemented to comprise wireless video transmitter (TX unit)  111 , wireless receiver unit  112 , wireless receiver dongle  113 , and wireless blaster dongle assembly  115 . In the present example, wireless receiver dongle  113  is configured to receive commands from wireless command device array  120  via infrared (IR) input signals, while wireless blaster dongle assembly  115  is configured to send IR output signals to the content sources of content source array  130 . There can be other embodiments, however, where receiver unit  112  may communicate with wireless command array via non-infrafed signals, such as via radio frequency (RF) signals. Similarly, there can be embodiments where transmitter device  111  may communicate with content source array via non-infrared signals, like RF signals. 
     In the present embodiment, video &amp; audio signals from content sources  131 - 134  in content source array  130  can be selected at transmitter unit  111  and sent via RF or other wireless signals to receiver unit  112 . At receiver  112 , the received video/audio signals are then passed via a video and/or audio connector and displayed on monitor  101 . In the present example, the video and/or audio connector can comprise a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector, a digital visual interface (DVI) connector, a component video connector, a coaxial video connector, and the like. Monitor  101  can comprise a television, such as a high definition television (HDTV). Further to the embodiment, a user may operate an IR remote control, such as wireless command device  121  of wireless command device array  120 , which is associated with transmitter unit  111 , to instruct transmitter unit  111  to select one of the content sources  131 - 134  for sourcing video and/or audio content to monitor  101  via transmitter unit  111  and receiver unit  112 . 
     In the present embodiment, a user may operate a remote control, such as wireless command device  121  of wireless command device array  120 , which is affiliated with transmitter unit  111  and receiver unit  112 , to instruct transmitter unit  111  to select a desired one of content sources  131 - 134  of content source array  130  for sourcing content for monitor  101 . Receiver unit  112  then converts the user&#39;s instructions within the received IR signal to RF or other wireless signals and passes the converted instructions to transmitter unit  111 . In the same or other embodiments, a user may operate one or more remote controls, such as wireless command devices  122 - 125  of wireless command device array  120 , which are affiliated with video/audio equipment of content source array  130 , to control a functionality of one or more of content sources  131 - 134  of content source array  130  via receiver nit  112 . Receiver unit  112  then converts the user&#39;s instructions within the received IR signal to an RF signal and passes the converted instructions via the RF signal to transmitter unit  111 , which processes the received instruction. Transmitter unit  111  passes the processed instruction via a wire to wireless IR blaster dongle assembly  115 , which passes the processed instruction to wireless floater units  116 - 119  via another wire, and wireless blaster units  116 - 119  blasts or transmits the processed instruction via an IR signal to be received by video/audio equipment of content source array  130 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram  200  of an embodiment of exemplary wireless transmitter unit  111  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the internal architecture of transmitter unit  111 . Transmitter unit  111  in  FIG. 2  is merely exemplary and is not limited to the embodiments presented herein. In  FIG. 2 , transmitter unit  111  includes content source input array  210 , input processing array  220 , video/audio digitizer circuit  230 , digital video multiplexer circuit  240 , signal processor  250 , microcontroller  260 , and transceiver  270  that includes antenna  275 . In the present example, signal processor  250  is configured to process IR commands or signals, and transceiver  270  is configured to transmit and receive RF signals. 
     In  FIG. 2 , content source input array  210  is coupled to and in communication with input processing array  220  and signal processor  250 . Input processing array  220  is coupled to and in communication with video/audio digitizer circuit  230  and digital video multiplexer circuit  240 . Video/audio digitizer circuit  230  is coupled to and in communication with digital video multiplexer circuit  240 . Signal processor  250  is coupled to and in communication with microcontroller  260 . Digital video multiplexer circuit  240  is coupled to and in communication with transceiver  270 . Microcontroller  260  is coupled to and in communication with transceiver  270 . Microcontroller  260  additionally is coupled to and provides control signals  261 - 264  to components (detailed below) of input processing array  220  and digital video multiplexer circuit  240 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , content source input array  210  includes HDMI input  211 , HDMI input  212 , component video input  213 , component video input  214 , audio input  215 , audio input  216 , command output  217  and command input  218 . In some examples, command output  217  can be coupled to a blaster dongle assembly  115  and or blaster units  116 - 119 . Input processing array  220  includes HDMI receiver  221 , analog video multiplexer  223  and analog audio multiplexer  225 . HDMI receiver  221  includes an input and an output. The input of HDMI receiver  221  is coupled to and in electrical communication with HDMI input  211  and HDMI input  212  of content source input array  210 . The output of HDMI receiver  221  is coupled to and in electrical communication with digital video multiplexer circuit  240 . Analog video multiplexer  223  includes an input and an output. The input of analog video multiplexer  223  is coupled to and in electrical communication with component video input  213  and component video input  214  of content source input array  210 . The output of analog video multiplexer  223  is coupled to and in electrical communication with video/audio digitizer circuit  230 . Analog audio multiplexer  225  includes an input and an output. The input of analog audio multiplexer  225  is coupled to and in electrical communication with audio input  215  and audio input  216 . The output of analog audio multiplexer  225  is coupled to and in electrical communication with video/audio digitizer circuit  230 . Signal processor  250  includes an input in electrical communication with and coupled to command input  218  and an output in electrical communication with and coupled to command output  217  of content source input array  210 . 
     In some embodiments, transmitter unit  111  functions as follows: desired video &amp; audio content from content source input array  210  is selected using the corresponding multiplexer circuits (components of input processing array  220  and/or digital video multiplexer  240 ) controlled by microcontroller  260  to enable corresponding ones of content paths  281 - 284  via control signals  261 - 26  based on user provided input received by microcontroller  260  via command input  218 . The selected content stream  285  is then transmitted via transceiver  270 . In other embodiments, encoded commands  299  can be received by transceiver  270 , such as via RF signals from receiver unit  112  of  FIG. 1 . Encoded commands  299  can be sent to microcontroller  260  for further processing. For example, encoded commands  299  can be de-packetized from their RF transmission form by microcontroller  260 , and can be forwarded as encoded commands  298  to signal processor  250 . Transmitter device  111  can then process encoded commands  298  and/or  299  depending on the type of command. 
     In one example, encoded commands  299  may comprise a functionality command to control a functionality of a content source coupled to an input of content source input array  210 . Encoded commands  299  can be an encoded version of original functionality commands that were sent to receiver unit  112  ( FIG. 1 ) by one of the wireless command devices of wireless command array  120 , where receiver unit  112  encoded the original functionality commands and forwarded them to transceiver  270 . In such examples, the original functionality commands may be regenerated into decoded functionality commands by signal processor  250 , where the decoded functionality commands are configured to mimic the original functionality commands. The decoded functionality commands can be sent by signal processor  250  to command output  217  as part of decoded commands  297 . In the example of  FIGS. 1-2 , blaster dongle assembly  115  can be coupled to command output  217 , and the decoded functionality commands can be sent to one of more of content sources  131 - 134  of content source array  130  via blaster units  116 - 119  of blaster dongle assembly  115 . In some examples, the decoded functionality commands can be used to control functionalities of the content sources of content source array  130 , such as volume, record, play, pause and/or channel changing functionalities, among others. 
     In the same or other examples, encoded commands  299  may comprise a select command to select one or more of content source inputs  211 - 216  for sourcing content to receiver unit  112  via content stream  285  and transceiver  270 . In such examples, the select command in encoded commands  299  may be an encoded version of an original select command that was sent to receiver unit  112  ( FIG. 1 ) by wireless command array  120 , such as from wireless command device  121 , which is affiliated with transmitter unit  111  and receiver unit  112 . When the select command is received as part of encoded commands  299 , microcontroller  260  may execute the select command to enable or disable one or more of content paths  281 - 284  via one or more of control signals  261 - 264  such that content from the desired content source input of content source input array  210  may reach content stream  285  for transmission via transceiver  270 . In some embodiments, microcontroller  260  may execute the select command once the select command has been decoded by signal processor  250 , upon receipt of input selection signal  295  from signal processor  250 . 
     In the same or other embodiments, signal processor  250  may receive commands via command input  218  from an affiliated remote control, such as wireless command device  121  ( FIG. 1 ). If the command received at command input  218  comprises a select command, it can be sent to signal processor  250  as part of original commands  296  so that signal processor can determine which of the content source inputs of content source input array  210  should be routed to content stream  285 , as described above. 
     In the present example, the commands received by transmitter unit  111 , such as original commands  296  or encoded commands  299 , can comprise an ID code that identifies the command as originating from a wireless command device affiliated with transmitter unit  111  and receiver unit  112 , such as wireless command device  121 . When the commands are received by signal processor  250 , signal processor  250  may determine whether the commands came from the wireless command device affiliated with transmitter unit  111 , such as by comparing the ID code of the command against a look-up table that may be comprised by signal processor  250 . In some examples, if the command comprises a select command, and signal processor  250  recognizes the ID code of the command as originating from an affiliated wireless command device, signal processor  250  can generate input selection signal  295  and pass it to microcontroller  260  for implementation, as described previously. In the same or other examples, if the ID code contained within the command does not match any values within the look-up table, thus signifying that the command is received from a non-affiliated wireless command device, such as one of command devices  122 - 125 , no signal need be sent to microcontroller  260 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram  300  of an embodiment of exemplary receiver device unit  112  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the internal architecture of receiver unit  112 . Receiver unit  112  in  FIG. 3  is merely exemplary and is not limited to the embodiments presented herein. In  FIG. 3 , receiver unit  112  includes interface array  310  that includes HDMI output connector  311  and command input  318 , processing module  356  comprising signal processor  350 , and microcontroller  360 , transceiver  370 , antenna  375 , and HDMI transmitter  380 . In some examples, signal processor  350  can be similar to signal processor  250  ( FIG. 2 ), command input  318  can be similar to command input  218  ( FIG. 2 ), microcontroller  360  can be similar to microcontroller  260  ( FIG. 2 ), transceiver  370  can be similar to transceiver  270  ( FIG. 2 ), and/or antenna  375  can be similar to antenna  275  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     In  FIG. 3 , interface array  310  is coupled to and in communication with signal processor  350  and HDMI transmitter  380 . Signal processor  350  is additionally coupled to and in communication with microcontroller  360 . Microcontroller  360  is additionally coupled to and in communication with transceiver  370  and HDMI transmitter  380 . Transceiver  370  is additionally coupled to and in communication with HDMI transmitter  380 . Signal processor  350  includes an input coupled to and in communication with command input  318  of interface array  310 . HDMI transmitter  380  includes an output coupled to and in communication with HDMI output  311 . Although the present example is configured to provide HDMI output  311 , in the same or other examples other kinds of digital outputs, such as a DVI output, or analog outputs, such as a component video output, can be provided for audio, visual, or audiovisual devices such as monitor  101  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     In some embodiments, receiver unit  112  functions as follows: content signals received at transceiver  370  are sent to HDMI transmitter  380  where they are translated to Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) signals for sending out via HDMI output  311  for display on monitor  101  of  FIG. 1 . In the same or other embodiments, command input  318  can receive an original command, such as via IR signals, from one of wireless command devices  121 - 125  of wireless command device array  120  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Command input  318  passes the received original command to signal processor  350 . In some examples, signal processor  350  may determine whether the original command originated from a wireless command device affiliated with wireless content delivery system  110 , like wireless command device  121 . Signal processor  350  may accomplish this by comparing the ID code of the original command to a look-up table, for example, contained within signal processor  350 , and generating an input selection command signal from the look-up table when there is a match. This input selection command signal may then be passed to microcontroller  360 , which produces an input source selection special packet based on the command signal and passes the input source selection special packet to RF transceiver  370  for transmission to transmitter unit  111 . 
     In the same or other examples, when original command  396  is received and encoded by signal processor  350 , into encoded command  398 . There can be examples where encoded command  398  is then packetized by microcontroller  360  into encoded commands  399  for transmission in RF form via transceiver  370 . Transceiver  360  can then transmit encoded commands  399  to transceiver  270  for receipt as encoded commands  299  ( FIG. 2 ) and for processing as described above with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
     In some examples, signal processor  350  may encode original commands  396  into encoded commands  398  via an algorithm of signal processor  350 . Similarly, signal processor  250  ( FIG. 2 ) may decode encoded commands  298  to generate decoded commands  297  and/or input selection signal  295  via a corresponding algorithm of signal processor  250  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     There can be examples where the algorithm for signal processor  350  may comprise extracting a command carrier frequency and a command envelope from original command  396 . There can be examples where the command carrier frequency can be stored in a frequency register of signal processor  350  once extracted from original command  396 . The frequency register may contain a single word representing the command carrier frequency of original command  396 . In some examples, the command carrier frequency may be of approximately 20 kilohertz (KHz) to approximately 70 KHz. In the same or other examples, the command carrier frequency may list the number of system clocks for each cycle the carrier signal of original command  396 . 
     In the same or other examples, the command envelope of original command  396  may be stored in an envelope register of signal processor  350 . The envelope register may contain a variable FIFO stack of, for example, 128 words, representing the envelope of original command  396 . Each word may represent the duration of a state (high or low) after each transition of the envelope. The command or order encompassed by original command  396  is stored in the command envelope. 
     Once the command carrier frequency and the command envelope for original command  396  have been encoded as described above, they can be sent as part of encoded commands  399  via transceiver  370  to be received as encoded commands  299  by transceiver  270  of transmitter unit  111  ( FIGS. 1-2 ). Signal processor  250  would then receive the command carrier frequency and the command envelope from encoded command  298 , and would store them in its respective frequency and envelope registers. In some examples, the contents of the frequency and envelop registers may be logically ANDED together to combine the clock and envelope to generate decoded commands  297  that can be sent via command output  217  to content source array  130  ( FIGS. 1-2 ). 
     Continuing with the figures,  FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of method  4000  for providing a control system such as for an entertainment system. In some examples, the control system of method  4000  can be similar to content delivery system  110  ( FIGS. 1-3 ), as described above. In the same or other examples, the control system of method  4000  can be coupled to a content source array similar to content source array  130  ( FIG. 1 ), and/or to audiovisual devices like monitor  101  ( FIG. 1 ). In the same or other examples, the control system of method  4000  can be configured to respond to commands from one or more wireless command devices, such as wireless command devices  121 - 125  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Block  4100  of method  4000  comprises providing a first unit to (a) receive one or more original commands from one or more command devices, (b) encode the one or more original commands into one or more encoded commands, and (c) transmit the one or more encoded commands. In some examples, the first unit can be similar to receiver unit  112  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3 ), the one or more original commands may be similar to original commands  396  ( FIG. 3 ), and the one or more encoded commands may be similar to one or more of encoded commands  398 - 399  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     Block  4100  of method  4000  comprises providing a first unit to (a) receive one or more original commands from one or more command devices, (b) encode the one or more original commands into one or more encoded commands, and (c) transmit the one or more encoded commands. In some examples, the first unit can be similar to receiver unit  112  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3 ), the one or more original commands may be similar to original commands  396  ( FIG. 3 ), and the one or more encoded commands may be similar to one or more of encoded commands  398 - 399  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     Block  4200  of method  4000  comprises providing a second unit to (a) receive the one or more encoded commands from the first unit, (b) reconstruct the one or more original commands as one or more decoded commands based on the one or more encoded commands, and (c) control with the one or more decoded commands one or more content sources coupled to the second unit. In some examples, the second unit can be similar to transmitter unit  111  ( FIGS. 1-2 ), the one or more encoded commands can be similar to one or more of encoded commands  298 - 299  ( FIG. 2 ), the one or more decoded commands can be similar to decoded commands  297  ( FIG. 2 ), and the one or more content sources can be similar to content sources of content source array  130  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     In some examples, the second unit of method  4000  may be also provided to (a) receive a content stream from the one or more content sources, (b) encode the content stream into an encoded content stream, and (c) transmit the encoded content stream to the first unit. In such examples, the first unit of method  4000  may also be provided to (a) decode the encoded content stream into a decoded content stream, and (b) provide the decoded content stream to a monitor coupled to the first unit. There can be examples where the content stream may be similar to content stream  285  ( FIG. 2 ), as received from content source input array  210 , and the encoded content stream may comprise content stream  285  as encoded and/or transmitted by digital video multiplexer or transceiver  270  ( FIG. 2 ). In the same or other examples, the encoded content stream may be received by the first unit, and may be decoded by transceiver  370  and/or HDMI transmitter  380  to be provided to the monitor via HDMI output  311  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     In some examples, some of the blocks of method  4000  can be subdivided into one or more sub-steps. In the same or other examples, one or more of the different blocks of method  4000  can be combined into a single block or performed simultaneously, and/or the sequence of such steps can be changed. For example, block  4100  may be carried out after block  4200 . There can also be examples where method  4000  can comprise further or different steps. Other variations can be implemented for method  4000  without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Although the entertainment control system and related methods herein have been described with reference to specific embodiments, various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Examples of such options and other embodiments have been given in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the description is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting. Other permutations of the different embodiments having one or more of the features of the various figures are likewise contemplated. It is intended that the scope described herein shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. 
     The entertainment control system and related methods discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoing discussion of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment, and may disclose additional embodiments. 
     All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the entertainment control system and related methods claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unless such benefit, advantage, solution, or element is stated in such claims. 
     Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.