Patent Abstract:
A method of calibrating a home entertainment system containing a wireless home entertainment hub using a calibration device comprises obtaining a registration from at least one sink device in the home entertainment system. A first instruction is transmitted to the calibration device to begin receiving a calibration signal emitted from the at least one sink device, where the calibration device is a wireless device. A second instruction is transmitted to the at least one sink device to emit the calibration signal. A representation of the calibration signal emitted from the at least one sink device is received from the calibration device. The representation of the calibration signal is analyzed. One or more indications of adjustments to parameters of the sink device based on results from the analyzing is transmitted to each of the sink devices.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/624,755, entitled Presentation of Data on Multiple Display Devices Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Jan. 19, 2007, Attorney Docket No. TPL-012-1, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/563,486, entitled Inventory of Home Entertainment System Devices Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Nov. 27, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-010-1, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/470,862, entitled Data Presentation Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Sep. 7, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-1, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0002]    This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled Presentation of Still Image Data on Display Devices Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed ______, 2007, Attorney Docket No. TPL-012-3, U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled Data Presentation by User Movement in Multiple Zones Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed ______, 2007, Attorney Docket No. TPL-012-4, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/470,872, entitled Control of Data Presentation Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Sep. 7, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-2; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/470,879, entitled Data Presentation from Multiple Sources using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Sep. 7, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-3; U.S. application Ser. No. 11/470,895, entitled Control of Data Presentation from Multiple Sources Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Sep. 7, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-4, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/535,211, entitled Device Registration Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Sep. 26, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-5; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/535,216, entitled User Directed Device Registration Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Sep. 26, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-6; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/535,232, entitled Source Device Change using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Sep. 26, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-7; U.S. application Ser. No. 11/563,366, entitled Control of Access to Data Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Nov. 27, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-8; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled Remote Control Operation Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed ______, 2007, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-9; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled Audio Control Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed ______, 2007, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-10; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled Power Management Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed ______, 2007, Attorney Docket No. TPL-009-11; U.S. application Ser. No. 11/563,520, entitled Connecting a Legacy Device into a Home Entertainment System Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Nov. 27, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-010-2; U.S. application Ser. No. 11/563,530, entitled Data Presentation in Multiple Zones Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Nov. 27, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-010-3 and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/563,503, entitled Control of Data Presentation in Multiple Zones Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, filed Nov. 27, 2006, Attorney Docket No. TPL-010-4, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0003]    The following detailed description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which there is shown one or more of the multiple embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the various embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings. 
         [0004]    In the Drawings: 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a system diagram of a home entertainment system according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a use-case diagram of a wireless home entertainment hub in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a sequence diagram of user-initiated automatic registration in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a sequence diagram of manual device registration in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram of source activation in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a sequence diagram of direct source to sink transmission of data within the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a sequence diagram of transmission of data directed by the wireless home entertainment hub within the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is a sequence diagram of operation of a remote control in accordance with the wireless home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is a system diagram of an audio/visual receiver used to connect speakers to the wireless home entertainment hub of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0014]      FIG. 10  is a system diagram of a wireless network interface box used to connect non-wireless enabled devices to the wireless home entertainment hub of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0015]      FIG. 11  is a system diagram of a multiple display device configuration in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0016]      FIG. 12  is a system diagram of an implementation of using multiple display devices for a wide-angle display in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0017]      FIG. 13  illustrates a series of exemplary user interface display device screens for registering devices in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0018]      FIG. 14  illustrates a series of exemplary user interface display device screens for registering speakers in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0019]      FIG. 15  illustrates a series of exemplary user interface display device screens for showing missing devices in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0020]      FIG. 16  a sequence diagram of an audio calibration procedure using the wireless home entertainment hub in accordance with the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0021]      FIG. 17  a sequence diagram of re-directing program content by the wireless home entertainment hub based on movement of a user within the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         [0022]      FIG. 18  a sequence diagram of re-directing voice-over-IP data by the wireless home entertainment hub based on movement of a user within the home entertainment system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference letters are employed for designating the same elements throughout the several figures. 
         [0024]    The words “right”, “left”, “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the home entertainment system and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
         [0025]    Unified Modeling Language (“UML”) can be used to model and/or describe methods and systems and provide the basis for better understanding their functionality and internal operation as well as describing interfaces with external components, systems and people using standardized notation. When used herein, UML diagrams including, but not limited to, use case diagrams, class diagrams and activity diagrams, are meant to serve as an aid in describing the embodiments of the present invention, but do not constrain implementation thereof to any particular hardware or software embodiments. Unless otherwise noted, the notation used with respect to the UML diagrams contained herein is consistent with the UML 2.0 specification or variants thereof and is understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0026]    An exemplary home entertainment system (HES)  100  including wirelessly connected devices in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Interactions between the various wireless devices in the HES  100  and a user  120  are coordinated by a wireless home entertainment hub (WHEH)  102 . It is understood by those skilled in the art that a wireless device in the HES  100  may contain an external wire for the purpose of supplying power to the wireless device. 
         [0027]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , devices in the HES  100  can broadly be classified into two categories: source devices  122  and sink devices  124 . Source devices  122  transmit data within the HES  100 . Source devices  122  include, but are not limited to, DVD players  104 , digital video recorders (DVR) (not shown), set-top boxes (STB)  106  (e.g., cable or satellite channel tuners), gaming consoles  108  (e.g. Xbox®, PlayStation®), CD players or other audio playback devices (e.g., MP3 player) (not shown). It is understood by those skilled in the art that external data can be introduced into the HES  100  for transmission by one or more of the source devices  122  by various means, such as optical fiber, co-axial cable, or a satellite dish system connected to the STB  106 . Sink devices  124  receive the transmitted data within the HES  100 , sometimes converting a signal into an audible or visible stimulus. Sink devices  124  include, but are not limited to, speakers  110 , audio/visual receivers (AVR)  145  (see  FIG. 9 ), and display devices  112  such as an HDTV or other television, monitor, or display screen or mechanism. 
         [0028]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that a PC  114  can act as a source device  122  and/or a sink device  124  within the HES  100 . The PC  114  can act ad an audio and/or a video source transmitting data from, for example, a CD, DVD, stored music and video media, or data accessed from the Internet. The PC  114  can also act as a sink device  124  displaying video and audio data from, for example, the DVD player  104  or STB  106 . 
         [0029]    The HES  100  may also utilize a remote control  118  and a calibration device  116 , discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0030]    The WHEH  102  facilitates the transfer of data between the source and sink devices in the HES  100 , as well as coordinates the interaction between the user  120  and the source and sink devices  122 ,  124 . For example, referring to  FIG. 2 , the WHEH  102  may perform a register devices use-case, change source use-case, direct audio and video signal use-case, program remote use-case, control volume use-case, and calibrate system use-case, which are described in more detail below. Within the HES  100 , the WHEH  102  controls the flow of data, information and other “traffic” by recognizing the devices within the HES  100 , tracking their current status (e.g., active, standby, etc.), directing the transfer of data between devices, etc. In addition, the WHEH  102  provides a central controller for the HES  100  that allows a user  120  to operate the HES  100  in an efficient manner through interaction with the WHEH  102 , which then subsequently provides instructions to the other devices in the HES  100  to perform the function requested by the user  120 . Such interactions with the WHEH  102  by the user may be performed through with a visual user interface presented on the screen of the display device  112 . Alternately, the remote control  118  may include a display screen, such as an LCD, to present the user with a visual interface to the WHEH  102 . 
         [0031]    The WHEH  102  includes one or more wireless transceiver units to facilitate the wireless transfer of data between the source and sink devices  122 ,  124  using wireless communication standards described below, a memory for storing data and other information generally used in the operation of the HES  100 , and a processor for executing the instruction sets for the functions of performed by the WHEH  102 , including the use-cases listed above. The WHEH  102  may exist as a standalone unit or it may be integrated into another device. For example, the WHEH may be included in the display device  112  or the remote control  118 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the WHEH  102  can act as a source device  122  and/or a sink device  124  in the HES  100 . For example, the WHEH  102  may receive data (i.e., acts as a sink unit) from a source unit currently transmitting data in the HES  100 , and process and transmit that data (i.e., acts as a source unit) to other sink devices in the HES  100  for presentation to a user  120 . 
         [0032]    Ultra-wide band technology (UWB) utilizing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or a direct sequence communication system may be used for the wireless communication between the WHEH  102  and the source and sink devices  122 ,  124  in the HES  100 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that a number of other wireless commutation standards, including Bluetooth and various WiFi standards, can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of multiple embodiments of the present invention for transfer of data between devices within the HES  100 . In one embodiment, more than one wireless standard may be utilized within the HES  100  to facilitate data transfer between the devices. For example, the WHEH  102  and source and sink devices  122 ,  124  may each contain a UWB transceiver for transfer of audio and/or video data and a WiFi transceiver for transferring operation instructions. 
         [0033]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 2-4 , audio and video devices in the HES  100  can be registered with the WHEH  102 . The registration creates a unique association between devices and the WHEH  102  such that registered devices belonging to the HES  100  are controlled by WHEH  102 , and cannot simultaneously be registered with a different home entertainment system or another wireless home entertainment hub operating in a nearby proximity, such as in a neighboring apartment or household. 
       User-Initiated Automatic Registration 
       [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the user  120  initiates the registration procedure. The WHEH  102  sends a request for any unregistered device to respond. The WHEH  102  request may include a unique identifier for the WHEH  102 , such as a WHEH ID number. A device response includes a unique device identifier, such as a device ID number. Referring to  FIG. 13 , a list of responding devices  160  is presented to the user  120 , and the user  120  selects the device that is to be registered with WHEH  102 . The WHEH  102  sends a registration instruction to the selected device and the registration is stored on both the device and the WHEH  102 . Once a registration has been established 162, the device is removed from the list  164 , and the registration process is repeated for the remaining unregistered devices within the HES  100  that have responded to the WHEH  102 . 
         [0035]    In an alternate embodiment, the registration procedure is accomplished automatically between the WHEH  102  and unregistered devices. For example, the WHEH  102  may periodically broadcast a request for any unregistered devices to report. In addition to replying with the device ID number, an unregistered device can respond with a list of its capabilities so that the WHEH  102  can determine the functionality of the device (i.e., if it is a DVD player, DVR, STB, etc.) before sending a registration instruction. Alternately, the unregistered device can respond with its make and model number from which the WHEH  102  can determine the functionality of the device using an internal database of devices and also obtain any necessary command codes for the device, 
         [0036]    Alternatively, the user  120  may initiate the broadcast for unregistered sources instead of having the WHEH  102  perform a periodic broadcast for unregistered sources. For example, when a user  120  adds a new component or device to the HES  100 , a request to find unregistered sources may be initiated, such that once the request is initiated, the remaining registration procedure proceeds automatically as discussed above. 
         [0037]    In an alternate embodiment, the WHEH  102  may automatically recognize and register all devices in the HES  100 . For example, a user  120  may purchase a set of coordinated devices for wireless HES  100  including, for example, a display, set of multi-channel speakers, a DVD player  104 , and a WHEH  102  (which may be a discreet device or contained in one of the system devices, such as the display or remote control). Each of these coordinated devices may contain a coordinated ID that is recognizable by the WHEH  102 . Additionally, the speakers may be labeled with their intended position within the HES  100  (e.g., front left, middle right) to aid the user  120  in their correct placement. Upon placement and power-up, without any additional actions by the user  120 , the WHEH  102  automatically registers the coordinated devices based on their coordinated ID&#39;s that have been set by the device manufacturer. 
         [0038]    The wireless HES  100  may perform an error checking during the registration of the source and sink devices to make sure that the device being registered matches the type of device being requested for registration. The WHEH  102  can compare the list of capabilities received from the device during the registration with a list of expected capabilities stored in the WHEH  102 . If the capabilities in the device reply match the expected capabilities of the WHEH  102 , an indication of the registration is stored in the WHEH  102  and the device. If the capabilities and expected capabilities do not match, the registration is not stored and may be re-initiated. 
       Manual Registration 
       [0039]    The registration may also be performed manually by the user  120  (see  FIG. 4 ). The user  120  initiates a registration procedure by pressing a registration actuator on the WHEH  102 . Examples of actuators include buttons, touch pads, touch screens, or any other actuating assembly recognized by those skilled in the art. The user  120  presses a registration actuator on a selected source unit which sends a signal to the WHEH  102  that a registration should be stored with this unit. If the WHEH  102  is unable to determine the functionality of the source (e.g., DVR, DVD, etc), the user  120  may manually assign the functionality of the source to complete the registration. For example, if the user  120  selects the registration actuators on the WHEH  102  and the DVD player  104 , the WHEH  102  may cause “DVD registered” to be displayed if the selected source is recognized as a DVD player  104  by the WHEH  102 . If the selected source is not recognized, the WHEH  102  may prompt the user  120  to select the type of source device from a list. Thus, in this case, the user  120  may select “DVD” in order to complete the registration. This process is repeated until all the unregistered sources have been registered with the WHEH  102 , or similarly if a new source is added into an existing system. In other embodiments, the user  120  may initiate registration from a source device  122 , a sink device  124 , a remote control  118 , or over a network. 
       Multi-Instance Device Registration 
       [0040]    For device types where multiple instances of the device exist within the system  100  (e.g., speakers  110 ), a number of approaches can be used to identify each device&#39;s specific role. For speakers  110 , the role of each speaker can be pre-identified by the manufacturer (e.g., “front-right”, “subwoofer”, etc.). The user-initiated automatic registration procedure described above could be used to register the speakers  110  with the WHEH  102  since the speaker  110  could identify itself, for example, as the front left speaker, during the registration process. Alternatively, each speaker  110  could have a physical input that the user  120  could set to indicate the speaker&#39;s role (e.g. “front-left”, “back-right-surround”). In another embodiment, the WHEH  102  could use one or more microphones within the HES  100  to elicit position and frequency response information, or the HES  100  could use other position detection technologies understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0041]    In another embodiment, each speaker  110  could have a registration actuator to be activated in response to a WHEH  102  prompt for a speaker playing a specific role. For instance, the WHEH  102  could prompt the user  120  for the front-left speaker and the user  120  could activate the registration actuator. Alternately, the user  120  may initiate the registration procedure by activating a registration actuator on the WHEH  102 . The user  120  then presses a registration actuator on a speaker  110  and identifies the functionality of that speaker  110  within the audio system  100 . For example, at the time of registration, the user  120  identifies the selected speaker as the left front, the repeats for right front, continuing until all the speakers  110  have been identified and registered. In one embodiment, the WHEH  102  may prompt the user  120  with a list or graphic display of speaker positions available as shown in  FIG. 14 . The user  120  first selects the speaker  110  to be registered and then presses the registration actuator on the selected speaker. In an alternate embodiment, the WHEH  102  may first prompt the user  120  to enter the number of speakers to be registered with the WHEH  102  and then select the appropriate speaker configuration to match. For example, if only four speakers  110  are selected, the WHEH  102  would not present the user  120  with a Dolby® Digital 7.1 speaker configuration, but a four speaker list of left and right front, and left and right rear. 
         [0042]    After device registration is complete, the WHEH  102  may compare the list of source devices  122  and sink devices  124  registered with the WHEH  102  to a list of possible types of source devices  122  and sink devices  124  that can be registered with the WHEH  102 . Using the display device  112 , the WHEH  102  may present to the user  120  a list of device types that are missing from the HES  100 . The user  120  can indicate whether one or more of the listed device types are present in the HES  100 , indicative of an error in the registration procedure. These devices can then be registered with the WHEH  102  using any appropriate method described above. For example, after registering all the detected devices in a HES  100 , the WHEH  102  determines that a gaming console  108 , a DVR, and a subwoofer are missing device types within the HES  100 . A list of these missing device types is displayed on the HDTV. The user  120  inputs that the subwoofer is present in the HES  100 . After the subwoofer is successfully registered, the user  120  is presented with a list of gaming console  108  and DVR as the missing device types. Referring to  FIG. 15 , in one embodiment, the WHEH  102  may present the user with a list of devices missing in the HES  100  based on requirements to fully support playback of program content. For example, if a DVD program contains a 5 channel audio track, but only two speakers, front left and front right, are registered with the WHEH  102 , the WHEH  102  may display an indication to the user  120  that a rear left, rear right, center channel and subwoofer may be added to the HES  100  to enhance the audio experience of the user  120 . 
         [0043]    Once the WHEH  102  has determined a list of missing device types, the WHEH  102  may then cause advertisements for the missing devices to be displayed to the user  120  on the display device  112 . The advertisements may be generic advertisements for the missing device type or may be sponsored advertisements for a specific brand of the missing device. Advertisements may be stored on the WHEH  102  or received from programming channels accessible using the STB  106 . Alternately, the advertisements may be retrieved from a computer network (e.g. the Internet) through a direct connection of the WHEH  102  to the computer network or via a PC  114  connected to the computer network and registered with the WHEH  102 . For example, the WHEH  102  determines that no DVR is registered with the WHEH  102 . The WHEH  102  transmits an advertisement for a DVR stored in the WHEH  102  to the display device  112  for presentation to the user  120  just after the user  120  has initiated the entertainment session and before displaying the requested programming. Alternately, the WHEH  102  may insert advertisements into the programming by replacing an advertisement from the programming stream with an advertisement for the missing device or device type. For example, if a gaming console  108  is determined to be missing, the WHEH  102  may detect an advertisement for a gaming console  108  on a programming channel received on the STB  106 . The WHEH  102  stores the advertisement for the gaming console  108  and replaces advertisements in the regular programming stream with the stored advertisement for a gaming console  108 . 
         [0044]    The presentation of the advertisement may be repeated for a predetermined length of time (e.g. for 4 weeks) or until the missing device is registered with the WHEH  102 . The insertion of advertisements for missing devices or device types may also be limited to a range of dates and/or times. For example, advertisements for gaming consoles  108  may be presented to the user  120  from the middle of November until the end of December to correspond to a holiday shopping season. Alternately, the insertion of the advertisements may be based on an identification of the user by the WHEH  102 . 
       Source Selection 
       [0045]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 2 ,  5 - 7 , in addition to coordinating the registration of device within the HES  100  as described above, the WHEH  102  is also used to coordinate and/or control the state of the source and sink devices and the transfer of data from the source devices to sink devices during typical operation of the HES  100 . Device states (also referred to as modes) may include “on”, “off”, “active”, “low power”, “standby”, etc. Data may include instructions, audio/video programming, or any other information generally passed between or among source/sink devices. Some examples of typical operations that are common in the general utilization of the HES  100  by the user  120  are a request or action by the user  120  to activate a source (e.g., start watching programming from a cable broadcast) or initiate a change from one source device to another (e.g., discontinue watching programming from a cable broadcast to watching a movie on the DVD player). The request to activate a source device or to change from one source device to another can be accomplished in a several ways. The user may initiate the action though the use of the remote control  118 , or interact directly with a source device. For example, when a user inserts a DVD into the DVD player  104 , it automatically causes the WHEH  102  to activate the DVD player  104  (or initiate a source change as described below if another source is already active in the HES  100 ). In either case, once the request has been made by the user  120 , the WHEH  102  completes the process as described below. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5 . is sequence diagram showing the selection of a source device  122  by the WHEH  102  in one embodiment of the HES  100 . When a source device is activated, it begins transmitting data to the HES  100 . The instruction to activate also causes an internal reference count within the source device to increment by one, where the reference count represents the current number of zones (described in more detail below) that are receiving data from the source device For example, if the source device, currently in standby mode, is activated, its reference count increases to one. After a user  120  initiates a request to change to a new source, the WHEH  102  instructs the current active source device to decrement its internal reference count by one. When the active source device internal reference count is zero, the source device may stop transmitting and enter a low power or stand-by mode. If the internal reference count is not zero, the source device continues to transmit since there are other devices still listening to its transmission. The WHEH  102  then instructs the newly selected source unit to activate, including increasing its internal reference count by one, and the newly selected source device begins transmitting data to the HES  100 . The sink devices may receive the transmitted data directly from the current active source or from the WHEH  100 , both described below. In an alternate embodiment, a list of the sink devices  124  in one or more zones of the HES  100  that are listening for data from the source device  122  is stored in the source device  122 . Sink devices  124  are added or removed from the list as directed by the WHEH  102 . When there are no sink devices on the list, the source device may stop transmitting and enter a low power or stand-by mode. 
       Direct Source to Sink Data Transmission 
       [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , after a source activation or change is initiated within the HES  100  as described above, the WHEH  102  broadcasts to all sink units, or those that are relevant, an instruction to discontinue receiving and transmitting data from the previously active source and begin receiving the transmitted data from the newly selected source, where the activities in  FIG. 6 . labeled “transmitvideo( )” and “transmitAudio( )” represent a continuous stream of data from the source device  122  to the sink devices  124 . This instruction from the WHEH  102  may be broadcast as a single instruction to all units (i.e., a common instruction recognizable by any device in the HES  100 ) or may be a distinct instruction sent to each of the sink units. Audio and/or video data from the current active source device is transmitted directly to the relevant sink devices as instructed by the WHEH  102 . For example, the display device  112  and speaker  110  receive and present the video data and audio data, respectively, from the current active source device. In one embodiment, the newly selected source device that has been activated in the HES  100  may transmit one or more instructions directly to the sink units to begin receiving and presenting the data from the newly selected source and discontinue presenting the data from the previously active source. 
       Source to Sink Data Transmission Through the WHEH 
       [0048]    In an alternate embodiment, the sink units in the HES  100  receive data from the wireless home entertainment hub (see  FIG. 7 ). The WHEH  102  receives the audio and video data from the current active source device and transmits the audio and video data to the appropriate sink unit. If a source change is initiated within the HES  100  as described above, the sink units may be unaware of a change of source with the HES  100  since they always listen to (i.e., receive data from) the WHEH  102 , and not directly to the active source device. 
         [0049]    In one embodiment, more than one source can be designed as an active source by the WHEH  102 . Data from multiple active sources can be simultaneously presented by the relevant sink devices as described by the two methods above. The WHEH  102  receives the data from the two or more active source devices and transmits the data to the relevant sink devices. The WHEH  102  may process (e.g., mix) the data from the two or more source devices before transmitting. Alternately, the WHEH  102  may instruct the sink devices to listen to and present data transmitted directly from the two or more active sink devices. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , in one embodiment of the present invention, a remote control  118  is used with the HES  100 . The remote control  118  receives actuator assignments based on the currently active source in the HES  100  from the WHEH  102 . For example, if the DVD player  104  is currently the active source, the actuator assignment on the remote control  118  is for the DVD player  104 . When a user  120  activates an actuator on the remote control  118 , the actuator selection is sent directly to the DVD player  104 , which responds with the corresponding activity for that actuator. If the user  120  initiates a source change through the WHEH  102  as described above, (e.g. from the DVD player  104  to the set-top tuner), then the WHEH  102  sends a new actuator assignment to the remote control  118  for the set-top tuner. Actuators activated on the remote control  118  by a user  120  now cause an activity in the set-top box instead of the DVD player  104 . This method of operation of the remote control  118  is referred to a “dumb” remote. The functionality of the actuators on the remote control is controlled by the WHEH  102  based on the current active source in the HES  100 . The remote does not need to store any information about past or present states of the HES  100  or registration information between the devices in the HES  100 . 
         [0051]    In an alternate embodiment, a “smart” remote may be used in conjunction with the HES  100 . The smart remote learns and stores the system configuration, i.e., what source and sink devices are registered with the WHEH  102 . It also learns and stores the current state of the system, i.e., what sources and sinks are active. In addition, the smart remote stores the actuator assignments in an internal memory and may store system status information along with device registration information. When a user  120  requests a source change using the remote, the WHEH  102  activates the new source as describe above, and the functionality of the remote control  118  is switched to controlling the newly active source without any input from the WHEH  102  to re-assign the actuators as described in the dumb remote case above. In one embodiment, the WHEH  102  may be contained in the smart remote instead of the display device  112 . 
         [0052]    A handheld mobile device, such as cellular phone or personal digital assistant, can use appropriate wireless capabilities to communicate with a WHEH  102 , obtain information to build and present a user interface, and serve as a remote control  118  for the HES  100 . In addition, the capabilities of the HES  100  may be used to enhance the functionality of the handheld mobile device. For example, when a cellular phone is active the remote control  118 , the active display device  112  may display CallerID information or other information generally presented on the cellular phone display to the user  120  during an incoming telephone call. 
         [0053]    The WHEH  102  may respond to voice commands. A user  120  can perform some or all of the functionality of the remote control  118  by using simple audible commands. For example, to change the STB to channel  21 , the user  120  might say “Channel  21 ” and the WHEH  102  sends the corresponding instruction to the STB to complete the channel change, or use the command “Volume Up” increase the system volume, where the WHEH  102  send instructions to the active sink unit to increase volume. 
         [0054]    In one embodiment, the WHEH  102  may respond to physical gestures made by the user  120  with the remote control  118 . A user can provide instructions to the WHEH  102  corresponding to a predetermined set of physical motions of the remote. The remote control  118  may include a motion sensing system that can relay motion information in up to 3-dimensions to the WHEH  102 . Additionally, the WHEH  102  or remote control  118  may include directional sensors to determine the orientation of the remote control relative to the HES  100  or sense rotation. Such motion sensing systems and directional sensors are understood by those skilled in the art. For example, a user wishing to switch from watching the DVD player to the STB  106  may simply point the remote at the STB  106 , actuating an actuator on the remote control  118  to select a programming channel. Alternately, channel selection may be accomplished by a quick series of left or right motions of the remote control, each left or right motion decrementing or incrementing, respectively, the channel displayed by the STB  106 . Volume control may be accomplished, for example, by a vertical motion of the remote control  118  directed at the display device  112  or speakers  110 . In this manner, the volume of each speaker can be adjusted independently of the other speakers. In one embodiment, gestures may be used to move presentation of video content from one display device to another, engage picture-in-picture functionality, or perform other manipulations. 
       Power Management 
       [0055]    At startup of an entertainment session, a user  120  may direct a power-on message to the WHEH  102 , via a remote control  118  or perhaps via an actuator on the WHEH  102  or device containing WHEH  102  functionality. The WHEH  102  can then retrieve input from the user  120  regarding the capabilities required for the session and send activation messages to appropriate devices. 
         [0056]    In another embodiment, a source device  122  can send a broadcast message to the sink devices  124  in the home entertainment network indicating required presentation capabilities. Required devices can activate themselves and unneeded devices can enter a low-power state. For example, all devices in the system are in a lower power mode. The user inserts a DVD into the DVD player  104  which causes the DVD to become active. The WHEH  102  detects the activity of the DVD player  104  and instructs the display device  112  and speakers  110  to activate. Alternately, the display device  112  and speakers detect the activity of the DVD player  104  directly and activate. 
         [0057]    In one embodiment, upon indication from the active source device of the required audio output channels, the WHEH  102  sends signals to the audio sink devices to indicate whether or not they should remain active. For instance, upon indication of a Dolby® Digital 2.1 program, the WHEH  102  may communicate to the side and rear speakers that they may enter a low power mode. Similarly, when an audio-only program is indicated, for example from the CD player, the WHEH  102  can communicate to the video display device  112  that it may enter a low power non-display state. 
         [0058]    Devices in the HES  100  may contain low-powered radios (i.e., transceivers) that poll for activity or constantly monitor for WHEH  102  messages during a low-power device state. Wireless radios conforming to the “ZigBee” standards can be used in some embodiments. “Bluetooth” or “WiFi” radios can be used in other embodiments. Modes of “UWB” can also be used to detect communications during low-power operations. 
       Volume Control 
       [0059]    Volume control, including system muting, can be accomplished in multiple ways. 
         [0060]    In one embodiment, all active audio sink devices may individually detect that the remote control  118  has transmitted an instruction to change the volume. For instance, the eight speakers of a 7.1 surround sound system each detect a “volume up” instruction transmitted from the remote control  118 . Each speaker then increases the gain on its internal amplifier, thereby driving the speaker to higher volume. Alternatively, the WHEH  102  can detect an instruction from the remote control  118  requesting a volume change and transmit to all the audio sink devices one or more instructions to change their volume. 
       System Calibration 
       [0061]    For calibration of the HES  100 , a wireless calibration device  116  may be placed at a typical viewing and/or listening position  121  (e.g., near or on a chair or couch that a user  120  would sit to view the television) of the HES  100  by the user  120  (see  FIG. 1 ). Referring to  FIG. 16 , for audio calibration, the WHEH  102  can direct a calibration signal to each audio device in sequence or in combination, or each audio device can be directed to generate its own calibration program. A microphone in the wireless calibration device  116  monitors the calibration signals from the audio devices, and can communicate its readings to the WHEH  102  or back to the audio devices in a point-to-point or broadcast mode. Adjustments can then be made to the frequency characteristics, volume, or other parameters to provide a calibrated home theater environment. Similarly, a wireless light sensitive device can be used to monitor a calibration signal from one or more display devices  112  to provide video calibration of the system. In one embodiment, the microphone and light sensitive device may be contained in a single calibration unit. Alternately, the microphone and light sensitive may be contained in separate calibration units. In one embodiment, an actuator on the microphone device can cause the device to communicate with the hub to initiate the calibration sequence. 
       A/V Receiver 
       [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , one or more audio/visual receivers (AVR)  145  or amplifiers can be used to connect the HES  100  to speaker system. The speaker system may be wired  140 , wireless  142  or a combination thereof. For example, the front speakers  142  in a four speaker system may be wirelessly connected  146  to the AVR  145 , while the rear speakers  140  are connected by a wire  148  to the AVR  145 . The AVR  145  is registered with the WHEH  102  and receives audio data from an active source (not shown) or through the WHEH  102 , as described above. The AVR  145  transmits the received audio data to the appropriate speakers  140 ,  142 , either through the wired connection  148  or by wireless communication  146 . It should be noted that if the AVR  145  is configured for use with wireless speakers  142 , these wireless speakers  142  are not registered with the WHEH  102  as described above and do not receive data from the WHEH  102  or source devices  122  in the HES  100 , but instead communicate with the AVR  145  using methods understood by those skilled in the art. 
       Legacy Adaptor 
       [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a home theatre network interface box (HTNIB)  125  may be used to connect “legacy” devices  130  into the HES  100 , including the WHEH  102 . Legacy devices generally include those devices that require hardwire connection for transmission and/or receipt of data and are not wireless enabled (e.g., an analog television connected to a set-top box using coaxial cable), although a wireless device may also be considered a legacy device if the wireless device can not be configured to communicate with the wireless home entertainment hub. The legacy device is connected to the HTNIB  125  using a hardwire connection  128  (e.g. coaxial cable). The HTNIB  125  is capable of being registered with the WHEH  102 , and recognized by the WHEH  102  as the legacy device to which it is connected. The WHEH  102  directs data to and/or from the HTNIB  125  as appropriate to the type of legacy device to which the HTNIB  125  is connected. The HTNIB  125  passes data to and/or from the connected legacy device as required by the current configuration of the HES  100 . If a legacy source device outputs data in either an analog format or a digital format different than that used by the WHEH  102 , the HTNIB  125  can convert the output data into a digital format compatible with transmission between the WHEH  102  and registered devices within the HES  100 . Similarly, if the HTNIB  125  is connected to a legacy sink device, the HTNIB may convert the digital data from the source device into either an analog format or a different digital format compatible with the legacy device. For example, if a video cassette recorder (VCR) is connected to the HTNIB  125 , the WHEH  102  will recognize the NTNIB  125  as a VCR, and when the user  120  selects the source unit VCR, will instruct the sink devices  124  in the HES  100  to listen to the transmission from the NTNIB  125 , which is transmitting the data received from the cable connected to the VCR. One or more HTNIBs  125  could be used in the HES  100  to connect one or more legacy devices. In one embodiment, a single HTNIB  125  could used to connect one or more legacy devices to the HES  100 , wherein the HTNIB  125  contains one or more connections for sink and source devices. Each connection can be uniquely registered with the WHEH  102 . 
       Multi-Zone Operation 
       [0064]    A single WHEH  102  may provide programming to multiple sets of sink devices that are registered with the WHEH  102 . The HES  100  may be partitioned into one or more zones. Each sink device  124  in the HES  100  can be assigned to a zone. Zone assignment may be performed at the time of device registration with the WHEH  102 . Zone assignment or changing zone assignments can also be accomplished at any time after device registration. An example of zone partitions within a HES  100  is that zone  1  includes the display device and 7.1 speaker system in the living room; zone  2  includes a display device in the bedroom; zone  3  includes an AVR  145  connected to speakers in the kitchen; and zone  4  includes a PC  114  in the home office. Multi-zone operation allows users  120  in different partitions of the HES  100  to received data from different source devices  122  registered with the WHEH  102 . For instance, the sink devices in zone  1  are presenting the program from an HD-DVD, while the speakers in the kitchen connected to the AVR  145  in zone  3  are presenting audio from a wireless music storage device that is also registered with the WHEH  102 . Zone assignments can be designed by the user  120 . Alternately, devices can be assigned to a zone in the HES  100  by the WHEH  102  based on determining the location of the device and identifying clusters of device as separate zones. The device locations may be input by the user during or after the time of device registration, or the WHEH  102  may automatically determine the locations of registered devices. 
         [0065]    In one embodiment, the WHEH  102  can receive an audio source signal containing more channels than can be presented in the current HES  100  (e.g., the audio signal is configured for a 7.1 system, but the installed HES  100  utilizes a 5.1 speaker configuration.) The WHEH  102  can process and downmix the audio signal for presentation on the available speaker configuration. As described above, the WHEH  102  may also provide to the user  120  an indication that the audio signal contains more audio channels than the current configuration of the HES  100  can support, and recommend to the user  120  that additional speakers  110  be added to the HES  100  to fully support playback of such audio. 
         [0066]    Programming or program content may include multiple video streams, which may also be referred to as side channels. One or more of the multiple video streams may be presented to the user  120  on the display device  112 , depending on the configuration of the HES  100  (discussed in more detail below). As an example, a user may make a program selection from the offerings of a cable operator by tuning by tuning the STB  106  to “Channel  6 ”. The program content received by the STB  106  from the cable operator may include multiple video streams, including the video stream with the program selection that the user has requested. The video stream with the requested program selection is displayed on the display device  112 . The other video streams also contained in the program content received by the STB  106  may or may not be presented to the user  120 , depending on the configuration of the HES  100 , or preferences of the user  120 . 
         [0067]    Display devices  112  of the HES  100  may also be used as picture displays to show still images, instead of video programming, such as a flat panel LCD display mounted on a wall or free-standing on a table top. Multiple display devices used as picture displays may be placed throughout a home and assigned to zones of the HES  100  as described above. In one embodiment, display devices in the same room of a household may be assigned to different zones of the HES  100 . The user  102  can coordinate the display of still images on the displays in each zone through the WHEH  102 . The user  120  can set up a folder of images on a PC  114  registered with the WHEH  102 , or use a pre-packaged gallery of images stored in the PC  114  or in the WHEH  102 . The WHEH  102  can coordinate the display of the images in the various zones of the HES  100 . The still images may be displayed for an extended period of time, such as favorite painting or landscape, or the displayed image may be changed periodically, such as showing a slideshow of family members. The WHEH  102  may cause the same still image to be displayed in all zones, or have a common theme, such as artist or subject, among all the images displayed in each of the zones. Images may be changed daily, seasonally, or at any predetermined interval. Such changes may be automatic determined by the WHEH  102  or may be manually triggered by the user  120 . 
         [0068]    The HES  100  may also contain more than one display device  112  assigned to the same zone. Each display device  112  is registered with the WHEH  102  using one of the methods described above. The user may choose to designate one of the display devices  112  as the primary display device during or after registration of the display device  112 , or alternately the WHEH  102  may automatically designate one of the display devices  112  as a primary display based on the characteristics of the display device, such a screen size or pixel density, with the other display devices being designated as secondary displays. For example, referring to  FIG. 11 , if a 51″ HDTV  180  and two 32″ HDTV&#39;s  185  are registered with the WHEH  102  and assigned to the same zone, the WHEH  102  may automatically designate the 51″ HDTV  180  as the primary display based on larger screen size, while the 32″ HDTV&#39;s  185  become the secondary displays. Secondary displays can be used to show supplemental program content that is complimentary to the main program content being displayed on the primary display. This supplemental program content may be encoded in the main program stream received from a content service provider, or may be transmitted as a separate program stream or side channel. Some examples of supplemental program content that may be shown on the secondary displays include viewer e-mails during a talk show, stock prices, financial, or other information about a company during a business report directed to that company, still images related to material presented during a documentary, and scores, playing schedules other team information during a sportscast related to that team. The secondary display may also present alternate views of an event during news reporting. For example, the on-location reporter is on the primary screen, while alternate video related to that location is shown on the secondary displays. The secondary display may also be used to display extra program content included on a DVD. For example, bloopers or directors commentary corresponding to the scene of a movie presented on the primary display can be shown on the secondary display. In one embodiment, the primary or secondary displays may be used to display content corresponding to a music program being presenting in the HES  100 . The video content may be video or still images contained on a compact disc or received along with the music stream from a PC  114  or other music channel, such as terrestrial or satellite radio. 
         [0069]    Screen captures from video being presented on the primary display may also be shown on the secondary display. If there is more than one secondary display, previous screen captures can be retained while subsequent screen captures can be shown on a different secondary display until all the secondary displays are displaying a different still image. The next screen capture then replaces the screen capture on the first display. For example, during a sporting event, a replay is being viewed on the primary HD-TV. The user  120  activates an actuator on the remote control  118  to indicate the current frame of the HD-TV display should be stored and displayed on one of the secondary displays. Alternately, the WHEH  102  can automatically initiate a screen capture from the primary display. Using the previous example of a sporting event replay, the WHEH  102  may detect a slow-motion replay in the video stream using methods understood by those skilled in the art and select a frame from the video to display on the secondary display. The frame might be selected based on a still or nearly still video image on primary display, or the frame might be selected based on a repeated showing of the video clip in a short predetermined time interval. As another example of automatic screen capture, a frame may be captured from the primary display at a random or predetermined interval and sent to the secondary displays for presentation to the user  120 . 
         [0070]    The secondary display may also be used to present advertisements concurrent with main program content shown on the primary display. The advertisements may be related to a product currently being featured in the main program content, such as for an automobile or a brand of food or drink. 
         [0071]    The secondary display can present to the user  120  a website corresponding to an Internet address displayed on the primary display. The Internet address may be transmitted along with but separate from the program content and received by the WHEH  102 , which detects the Internet address in the program stream and retrieves the content of the website using a network connection available within the HES  100 . Alternately, the WHEH  102  may derive a web address shown on the primary display through OCR on frames formed from the program content of the main display, or the WHEH  102  may utilize other methods of character recognition understood by those skilled in the art. In one embodiment the user may browse the website presented on the secondary display using the remote control  118 . 
         [0072]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , the HES  100  may contain a number of identical or nearly identical display devices  112  arranged to provide the user  120  with a wide angle video experience. In one embodiment, the display devices  112  may be arranged to completely encircle the user  120  providing a surround video experience. A source device  122  provides program content containing multiple video streams which, when displayed on the multiple display devices  112 , provide a panoramic view of the program content to the user  120 . The WHEH  102  may direct the source device to transmit each of the video streams to the appropriate display device. Alternately, the WHEH  102  may receive the transmission from the source device, and transmit the appropriate video stream to the corresponding display device  112 . In an alternate embodiment, multi-stream video program content may be displayed on a single display device  112  by compositing the video streams by the WHEH  102  for display on a single device. For example, if program content contains data for three separate video streams that can be displayed to form a multi-display program, and the HES  100  contains only one display device, the WHEH  102  can composite the three video streams to be displayed on the one display device  112  in theHES  100 . 
         [0073]    Systems using a WHEH  102  can be supplied in a low-security configuration to ease installation by non-technical users. In an embodiment with higher security, the user  120  can enter a code on one device and confirm the code on another device or on the user interface. In another embodiment, various system components can ship with awareness of unique identifiers of other devices in the system. 
         [0074]    The WHEH  102  may be used to wirelessly connect musical devices. Musical source devices and musical sink devices can be connected to a mixing board containing an advanced embodiment of the WHEH  102 . Musical source devices include, but are not limited to, musical instruments, microphones, effects systems, and amplifiers. Musical sink devices include by are not limited to speakers, and audio monitors. The mixing board acts as both a sink unit and source unit, and is a convenient location for placement of the WHEH  102 . The musical devices are all registered with the WHEH  102  similar to the produce procedure described above for the HES  100 . 
         [0075]    The WHEH  102  may detect and/or identify the specific user or users of the HES  100  through RFID, image capture and analysis, voice recognition, or other personal identification technologies understood by those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the remote control  118  may be equipped with a fingerprint scanner used for identification of the user  120 . The identification of the user  120  can be used to control access to various devices of the HES  100  based on a set of rules customizable for each user of the HES  100  by an authorized user (i.e., parent). For example, access to one or more devices can be denied based on time of day. Similarly, access to certain programming channels can also be denied based on a television program rating system, time of day, or selected channels. For example, users identified as children may not be allowed access to an Xbox® gaming console before 5 PM on weekdays or may not be allowed to view channels showing television programming rated TV-MA (under the US TV Parental Guidelines). 
         [0076]    Characteristics of the HES  100  may be automatically adjusted based on identification of the user  120  by the WHEH  102 . Characteristics of the HES  100  include physical characteristics, such as the height or orientation (e.g. rotation, tilt) of the display device or speakers, and system characteristics, such as volume or equalization of the audio, or channel on the STB  106 . A profile may be stored in the WHEH  102  with information about the characteristics of the HES  100  corresponding to the user  120 . The profile may be set by the user  120  or the WHEH  102  may store the last configuration of the HES  100  for each user  120  and return the HES  100  to that configuration when the user  120  begins an entertainment session. In one embodiment, the profile also contains information about positioning or adjustments of viewing location  121 , such as a couch or chair equipped with automatic adjustment mechanisms understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIG. 17 , the movement of a user  120  in the HES  100  can be monitored by the WHEH  102  using personal identification technologies, such as those described above, so that the programming content presented to the user in one zone of the HES  100  can be automatically re-directed by the WHEH  102  to a different zone in the HES  100  as the user  120  moves into that zone. Personal identification devices located in the different zones of the HES  100  are used to detect the position of the user as the user moves from one zone to another within a zone of the HES  100 . The position information is transmitted to the WHEH  102 . The WHEH  102  then instructs the sink devices in the zone that the user has moved into to start presenting the program content. Thus, after a user  120  initiates an entertainment session in one zone of the HES  100 , the program content from a source device  122  being presented to a user  120  by sink device  124  in a first zone of the HES  100  is directed to an appropriate set of sink devices in a second zone of the HES  102  by the WHEH  102 . If the WHEH  102  detects that no users are present in the first zone, the WHEH  102  may instruct the sink devices in that zone to stop presenting the program content and enter a low power mode. In one embodiment, the WHEH  102  receives program content from a source device  124 , and transmits that programming content to sink devices  124  in the zone where the user is located. For example, in a multi-zone HES  100  equipped with an RFID system, if the evening news is being viewed in the living room zone of the HES  100 , and the user  102  identified using an RFID tag moves into the kitchen zone that includes a display device  112 , the evening news program is automatically directed to the kitchen zone by the WHEH  102  when the RFID system identifies the user  102  in the kitchen zone and transmits the location of the user  102  in that zone to the WHEH  102 . Audio program content can similarly be presented to a user  120  moving into different zones of the HES  100 . 
         [0078]    In one embodiment, the WHEH  102  automatically presents a user  102  with program content based on their location in the HES  100  and viewing and/or listening trends of the user. The WHEH  102  keeps a history of the programming choices of a user for different zones and different times, and can present the user with programming content based on these trends. For example, if a user typically watches a specific weather broadcast every morning around a certain time, the WHEH  102  cause that programming channel to be displayed in the zone that the user is currently located, even if the user has not requested to start an entertainment session to view that program channel. 
         [0079]    The HES  100  may be used as an interface for a voice-over-IP protocol (VoIP). VoIP systems are well understood by those skilled in the art. The VoIP data may be received from a computer network (e.g. the Internet) through a direct connection of the WHEH  102  to the computer network or via a PC  114  connected to the computer network and registered with the WHEH  102 . Referring to  FIG. 18 , when an incoming call is detected by the WHEH  102  or the PC has sent an indication to the WHEH  102  of an incoming call, the WHEH  102  sends an alert to the user  102 . The alert may be a visual indicator on each display device  112  in the HES  100 , and/or and audible tone from the speakers  110 . The user accepts the VoIP call using the remote control device  118  or with a voice command. A microphone contained in one of the devices registered with the WHEH  102  is used as a receiver for voice, and the speakers are used to present voice data to the user  102 . If the caller has webcam or other video capture device, the video data of the VoIP call can be presented in the display device  112 . When alerted to a call, the user  120  may choose to pause or pre-empt the data being presenting in order to show video data from the caller. In one embodiment, the VoIP feature may utilize picture in picture technology for simultaneously displaying video VoIP data and video program content. The caller video can be displayed in a box inside the program content, or alternately, the video call may occupy the main portion of the display, and the program content in the box. For conference calling, split screen may be used to display the video data for each of the callers. In a multi-zone HES  100  configured with multiple receivers, the WHEH  102  may transfer the voice data to sink device  124  in the different zones as the user moves around the HES  100 . Tracking the position of the user may be accomplished through determining which microphone is closest to the user by monitoring relative intensity of the user&#39;s voice at the different microphones located in the HES  100 . If video data accompanies the voice data, the WHEH  102  can direct the video to a display device  112  in user&#39;s current zone. In one embodiment, the a wireless VoIP phone handset is registered with the WHEH  102 , where the handset is used to receive and dial calls in a manner similar to a standard telephone. 
         [0080]    The embodiments of the present invention may be implemented with any combination of hardware and software. If implemented as a computer-implemented apparatus, the present invention is implemented using means for performing all of the steps and functions described above. 
         [0081]    The embodiments of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer useable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the mechanisms of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as part of a computer system or sold separately. 
         [0082]    While specific embodiments have been described in detail in the foregoing detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure and the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular examples and implementations disclosed herein, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8