Patent ID: 12218778

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates generally to computer ecosystems including aspects of consumer electronics (CE) device networks such as but not limited to home entertainment networks. A system herein may include server and client components which may be connected over a network such that data may be exchanged between the client and server components. The client components may include one or more computing devices including game consoles such as Sony PlayStation® or a game console made by Microsoft or Nintendo or other manufacturer, extended reality (XR) headsets such as virtual reality (VR) headsets, augmented reality (AR) headsets, display devices such as portable televisions (e.g., smart TVs, Internet-enabled TVs), portable computers such as laptops and tablet computers, and other mobile devices including smart phones and additional examples discussed below. These client devices may operate with a variety of operating environments. For example, some of the client computers may employ, as examples, Linux operating systems, operating systems from Microsoft, or a Unix operating system, or operating systems produced by Apple, Inc., or Google, or a Berkeley Software Distribution or Berkeley Standard Distribution (BSD) OS including descendants of BSD. These operating environments may be used to execute one or more browsing programs, such as a browser made by Microsoft or Google or Mozilla or other browser program that can access websites hosted by the Internet servers discussed below. Also, an operating environment according to present principles may be used to execute one or more computer game programs.

Servers and/or gateways may be used that may include one or more processors executing instructions that configure the servers to receive and transmit data over a network such as the Internet. Or a client and server can be connected over a local intranet or a virtual private network. A server or controller may be instantiated by a game console such as a Sony PlayStation®, a personal computer, etc.

Information may be exchanged over a network between the clients and servers. To this end and for security, servers and/or clients can include firewalls, load balancers, temporary storages, and proxies, and other network infrastructure for reliability and security. One or more servers may form an apparatus that implement methods of providing a secure community such as an online social website or gamer network to network members.

A processor may be a single- or multi-chip processor that can execute logic by means of various lines such as address lines, data lines, and control lines and registers and shift registers.

Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged, or excluded from other embodiments.

“A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B, C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together.

Referring now toFIG.1, an example system10is shown, which may include one or more of the example devices mentioned above and described further below in accordance with present principles. The first of the example devices included in the system10is a consumer electronics (CE) device such as an audio video device (AVD)12such as but not limited to a theater display system which may be projector-based, or an Internet-enabled TV with a TV tuner (equivalently, set top box controlling a TV). The AVD12alternatively may also be a computerized Internet enabled (“smart”) telephone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a head-mounted device (HMD) and/or headset such as smart glasses or a VR headset, another wearable computerized device, a computerized Internet-enabled music player, computerized Internet-enabled headphones, a computerized Internet-enabled implantable device such as an implantable skin device, etc. Regardless, it is to be understood that the AVD12is configured to undertake present principles (e.g., communicate with other CE devices to undertake present principles, execute the logic described herein, and perform any other functions and/or operations described herein).

Accordingly, to undertake such principles the AVD12can be established by some, or all of the components shown. For example, the AVD12can include one or more touch-enabled displays14that may be implemented by a high definition or ultra-high definition “4K” or higher flat screen. The touch-enabled display(s)14may include, for example, a capacitive or resistive touch sensing layer with a grid of electrodes for touch sensing consistent with present principles.

The AVD12may also include one or more speakers16for outputting audio in accordance with present principles, and at least one additional input device18such as an audio receiver/microphone for entering audible commands to the AVD12to control the AVD12. The example AVD12may also include one or more network interfaces20for communication over at least one network22such as the Internet, an WAN, an LAN, etc. under control of one or more processors24. Thus, the interface20may be, without limitation, a Wi-Fi transceiver, which is an example of a wireless computer network interface, such as but not limited to a mesh network transceiver. It is to be understood that the processor24controls the AVD12to undertake present principles, including the other elements of the AVD12described herein such as controlling the display14to present images thereon and receiving input therefrom. Furthermore, note the network interface20may be a wired or wireless modem or router, or other appropriate interface such as a wireless telephony transceiver, or Wi-Fi transceiver as mentioned above, etc.

In addition to the foregoing, the AVD12may also include one or more input and/or output ports26such as a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port or a universal serial bus (USB) port to physically connect to another CE device and/or a headphone port to connect headphones to the AVD12for presentation of audio from the AVD12to a user through the headphones. For example, the input port26may be connected via wire or wirelessly to a cable or satellite source26aof audio video content. Thus, the source26amay be a separate or integrated set top box, or a satellite receiver. Or the source26amay be a game console or disk player containing content. The source26awhen implemented as a game console may include some or all of the components described below in relation to the CE device48.

The AVD12may further include one or more computer memories/computer-readable storage media28such as disk-based or solid-state storage that are not transitory signals, in some cases embodied in the chassis of the AVD as standalone devices or as a personal video recording device (PVR) or video disk player either internal or external to the chassis of the AVD for playing back AV programs or as removable memory media or the below-described server. Also, in some embodiments, the AVD12can include a position or location receiver such as but not limited to a cellphone receiver, GPS receiver and/or altimeter30that is configured to receive geographic position information from a satellite or cellphone base station and provide the information to the processor24and/or determine an altitude at which the AVD12is disposed in conjunction with the processor24.

Continuing the description of the AVD12, in some embodiments the AVD12may include one or more cameras32that may be a thermal imaging camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, an IR sensor, an event-based sensor, and/or a camera integrated into the AVD12and controllable by the processor24to gather pictures/images and/or video in accordance with present principles. Also included on the AVD12may be a Bluetooth® transceiver34and other Near Field Communication (NFC) element36for communication with other devices using Bluetooth and/or NFC technology, respectively. An example NFC element can be a radio frequency identification (RFID) element.

Further still, the AVD12may include one or more auxiliary sensors38that provide input to the processor24. For example, one or more of the auxiliary sensors38may include one or more pressure sensors forming a layer of the touch-enabled display14itself and may be, without limitation, piezoelectric pressure sensors, capacitive pressure sensors, piezoresistive strain gauges, optical pressure sensors, electromagnetic pressure sensors, etc. Other sensor examples include a pressure sensor, a motion sensor such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, cyclometer, or a magnetic sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an optical sensor, a speed and/or cadence sensor, an event-based sensor, a gesture sensor (e.g., for sensing gesture command). The sensor38thus may be implemented by one or more motion sensors, such as individual accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers and/or an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that typically includes a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers to determine the location and orientation of the AVD12in three dimension or by an event-based sensors such as event detection sensors (EDS). An EDS consistent with the present disclosure provides an output that indicates a change in light intensity sensed by at least one pixel of a light sensing array. For example, if the light sensed by a pixel is decreasing, the output of the EDS may be −1; if it is increasing, the output of the EDS may be a +1. No change in light intensity below a certain threshold may be indicated by an output binary signal of 0.

The AVD12may also include an over-the-air TV broadcast port40for receiving OTA TV broadcasts providing input to the processor24. In addition to the foregoing, it is noted that the AVD12may also include an infrared (IR) transmitter and/or IR receiver and/or IR transceiver42such as an IR data association (IRDA) device. A battery (not shown) may be provided for powering the AVD12, as may be a kinetic energy harvester that may turn kinetic energy into power to charge the battery and/or power the AVD12. A graphics processing unit (GPU)44and field programmable gated array46also may be included. One or more haptics/vibration generators47may be provided for generating tactile signals that can be sensed by a person holding or in contact with the device. The haptics generators47may thus vibrate all or part of the AVD12using an electric motor connected to an off-center and/or off-balanced weight via the motor's rotatable shaft so that the shaft may rotate under control of the motor (which in turn may be controlled by a processor such as the processor24) to create vibration of various frequencies and/or amplitudes as well as force simulations in various directions.

A light source such as a projector such as an infrared (IR) projector also may be included.

In addition to the AVD12, the system10may include one or more other CE device types. In one example, a first CE device48may be a smart speaker assembly or other device and may not have a video display. Or, the first CE device48may include a computer game console that can be used to send computer game audio and video to the AVD12via commands sent directly to the AVD12and/or through the below-described server. A second CE device50may include similar components as the first CE device48. In the example shown, the second CE device50may be configured as a remote control (RC) for the AVDD12. Or, the second CE device50may be configured as a computer game controller manipulated by a player or a head-mounted display (HMD) worn by a player. The HMD may include a heads-up transparent or non-transparent display for respectively presenting AR/MR content or VR content (more generally, extended reality (XR) content). The HMD may be configured as a glasses-type display or as a bulkier VR-type display vended by computer game equipment manufacturers.

In the example shown, only two CE devices are shown, it being understood that fewer or more devices may be used. A device herein may implement some or all of the components shown for the AVD12. Any of the components shown in the following figures may incorporate some or all of the components shown in the case of the AVD12.

Now in reference to the afore-mentioned at least one server52, it includes at least one server processor54, at least one tangible computer readable storage medium56such as disk-based or solid-state storage, and at least one network interface58that, under control of the server processor54, allows for communication with the other illustrated devices over the network22, and indeed may facilitate communication between servers and client devices in accordance with present principles. Note that the network interface58may be, e.g., a wired or wireless modem or router, Wi-Fi transceiver, or other appropriate interface such as, e.g., a wireless telephony transceiver.

Accordingly, in some embodiments the server52may be an Internet server or an entire server “farm” and may include and perform “cloud” functions such that the devices of the system10may access a “cloud” environment via the server52in example embodiments for, e.g., network gaming applications. Or the server52may be implemented by one or more game consoles or other computers in the same room as the other devices shown or nearby.

The components shown in the following figures may include some or all components shown in herein. Any user interfaces (UI) described herein may be consolidated and/or expanded, and UI elements may be mixed and matched between UIs.

FIG.2illustrates a home entertainment network200over which one or more appliances202such as one or more display devices such as a TV with a video display204and speakers206communicate with one or more networked devices208such as a smart speaker that may be embodied by a digital assistant, it being understood that the networked device208shown may be other than a speaker and may be, for example only, a digital voice assistant, a computer game component such as a console or controller, or in general other device with computer network connectivity capability, generally referred to as an “internet of Things” (IoT) device. Similarly, the appliance202may be implemented by an IoT device other than a TV, for example, a refrigerator or other appliance. In the disclosure below, for simplicity the appliance202may be referred to as the example display device, it being understood that a display device such as a TV is an example of a controlled appliance.

In the example shown, the display device202includes one or more of the components of the AVDD12shown inFIG.1and/or other components such as an IR receiver210for receiving IR commands, one or more microphones212for receiving sonic signals, and processing circuitry214such as one or more processor with attendant computer storage devices.

The networked device208may include one or more microphones216, one or more IR transmitters218, and processing circuitry220such as one or more processor with attendant computer storage devices. The networked device208is configured to communicate with the display device202over the computer network200using, e.g., IoT communication principles that may employ an RF-based transmitter221such as an IEEE 802.15.1 transmitter (such as Bluetooth™), an IEEE 802.15.4 transmitter (such as ZigBee™), or an IEEE 802.3 transmitter (Ethernet).

Note that a hand-held remote control (RC)222may also be provided that may not include IP communication capability, and that instead is used to communicate commands to the display device202using IR or RF signaling. In the latter case, the non-IP RF remote may be paired to the display device202and send information below the IP layer, such as the network interface layer or data link layer, to the display device.

FIG.3illustrates that the display device202may include, in addition to the processing circuitry214and display204, IR circuitry300for processing signals from the IR transmitter218of the networked device208as well as from the RC222, sending signals to the processing circuitry214. The display device202also may include a network stack302for communicating over the network200, which may be wired and/or wireless and which is described further below in reference toFIG.7.

WithFIGS.2and3in mind, turn now toFIG.4. Commencing at block400, the display device202is placed in a low power mode, sometimes referred to as a sleep mode. This may be done, by way of non-limiting examples, automatically after a period of time of inactivity or lack of input commands or in response to a signal from another device such as the RC222or networked device208shown inFIG.2.

Responsive to the low power mode, the display204is deenergized at block402and the network stack302/network connectivity302is deenergized in whole or in part at block404. For example, only the most energy-consuming elements of the network stack302may be deenergized as discussed further below in reference toFIG.7or the entire network stack302may be deenergized. The result in either case is that the display device202in the low power mode saves power. However, as indicated by block406, the IR circuitry300shown inFIG.3remains energized in the low power mode, so that IR commands received by the display device202, including IR commands to wake up (i.e., enter a full power mode) can be received and processed. Also, in some implementations, if desired the microphone212of the display device202may remain energized in the low power mode.

FIG.5illustrates a first technique for waking up the display device202that does not depend on network connectivity with the networked device208. Commencing at block500, the networked device208(such as a smart speaker) receives a command, e.g., a voice command or other mode of input command, to energize the display202. In response, the networked device202transmits, at block502, an IR command to the display device202to enter the high-power mode in which the display device202energizes, at block504, the display204shown inFIG.2as well as the network stack/network communication components302shown inFIG.3. Thereafter, in the high-power mode, the display device202communicates with the networked device208over the network200shown inFIG.2. For example, within a short period of time such as a second or two after sending the command to enter the high-power mode, the networked device208may send an IP-based discovery message to the display device202to poll the display device202to establish IP communication between the networked device and display device.

FIG.6illustrates a second technique for waking up the display device202that does not depend on network connectivity with the networked device208. Commencing at block600, the networked device208(such as a smart speaker) receives a command, e.g., a voice command, to energize the display202. In response, the networked device202transmits, at block602, a sonic command such as a brief chirp to the display device202to enter the high-power mode in which the display device202energizes, at block604, the display204shown inFIG.2as well as the network stack/network communication components302shown inFIG.3. Thereafter, in the high-power mode, the display device202communicates with the networked device208over the network200shown inFIG.2. For example, within a short period of time such as a second or two after sending the command to enter the high-power mode, the networked device208may send an IP-based discovery message to the display device202to poll the display device202to establish IP communication between the networked device and display device.

Note that in some embodiments, the entire IP interface and software stack may not be unpowered in the low power mode, but only partially powered such that packets may be received and buffered in the IP interface or the lower physical (Phy) layers of the stack. However, the processing circuitry214when configured as a system on a chip (SOC) is deenergized in the low power mode so that processing of the packets is stopped in the low power mode because the relatively power-hungry SOC is asleep until the IR command is received.

FIG.7illustrates this further. InFIG.7, an example stack is shown that may be used as the network stack302shown inFIG.3. From the bottom up, the network stack includes a physical layer700on top of which is a link layer702such as an Ethernet layer. On top of the link layer702is a network layer704such as an IP layer, and on top of that is transport layer706such as a transmission control protocol (TCP) layer. On top of the transport layer706is an application layer708such as a hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) layer.

In the low power mode of the display device202, one or more of these components of the stack may be deenergized to save power. In the low power mode, all of the components shown inFIG.7may be deenergized. In other embodiments, in the low power mode the physical layer700and link layer702remain energized, but the network layer704, transport layer706, and application layer708are deenergized.

In this latter case, low power communication between the networked device208and display device202for purposes of causing the display device202to enter the high-power mode from the low power mode may be effected by a non-IP RF wakeup signal.FIG.8illustrates a third technique for waking up the display device202that does not depend on IP network connectivity with the networked device208. Commencing at block800, the networked device208(such as a smart speaker) receives a command, e.g., a voice command, to energize the display202. In response, the networked device202transmits, at block802, a non-IP RF command such as an Ethernet command or Bluetooth or ZigBee command to the display device202to enter the high power mode in which the display device202energizes, at block804, the display204shown inFIG.2as well as all of the network stack/network communication components302shown inFIG.3that were not energized in the low power mode. This communication is possible when, for example, the physical layer700and link layer702inFIG.7remain energized in the low power mode even though the network layer704, transport layer706, and application layer708are deenergized in the low power mode.

Thereafter, in the high-power mode, the display device202communicates with the networked device208over the network200shown inFIG.2. For example, within a short period of time such as a second or two after sending the command to enter the high-power mode, the networked device208may send an IP-based discovery message to the display device202to poll the display device202to establish IP communication between the networked device and display device.

While the particular embodiments are herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.