Patent ID: 8627385

Claim:
A system for providing a shared networked peripheral device in a networked multimedia system, the networked multimedia system comprising: a primary device for receiving a plurality of downstream presentations from a communications system, and for providing selected media presentations based on a command signal from a remote device, wherein the primary device includes a processor configured to update an interactive program guide (IPG) that is shared among the primary device and a plurality of remote devices, wherein the IPG is updated to include networked peripheral device information displayed as a networked peripheral device channel, wherein upon receiving a selection of the networked peripheral device channel, the primary device displays a networked peripheral screen displaying a list of media presentations to a display device connected to the remote device, wherein the networked peripheral device is coupled to the primary device, wherein the plurality of remote devices are coupled to the primary device over a home communication network, wherein, at least one of the plurality of remote devices receives a list of peripheral devices connected to the primary device, wherein the list is stored on the primary device, wherein, upon receiving a user selection of one of the list of peripheral devices and the command signal from one of the plurality of remote devices for a selected media presentation, the primary device instructs the selected peripheral device to provide the selected media presentation, wherein the providing the networked peripheral device screen comprises determining a device specifications of the selected peripheral device by the primary device and providing operating commands for the selected peripheral device on the networked peripheral device screen based on the determination of specification, wherein the operating commands for the selected peripheral device are displayed on the networked peripheral device screen, wherein the primary device modulates the selected media presentation to a predetermined frequency and provides the modulated media presentation to the networked multimedia system, wherein the command signal is received at the primary device as a reverse command signal, and wherein the processor at the primary device is configured to process the received reverse command signal to generate control function for the networked peripheral device.