At&t Intellectual Property I, LP

Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation

Apple Inc.

At&t Delaware Intellectual Property Corporation, Inc.

Stefan Olsson

John Blake Slemmer

Barrett Morris Kreiner

Kevin Kleinfelter

Andre D Jarboe

Joseph L Aultman, Sr

Chris Parsons

James A Nichols

Stephan P Zimba

Methods, systems, and products control presentation of media content within a networked environment of multiple devices. Interaction rules are used to determine which ones of the devices interact with each other. Further rules may define what media content is playable by each one of the devices in the networked environment.

Parental control in a networked environment

Content control in a networked environment

Devices and methods are disclosed for establishing interaction among electronic devices of an environment. The device has a transmitter, receiver, memory for storing interaction rules, and a processor for learning the interaction rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. The device also includes components for performing the device specific functions and a state sensor for determining the logical or physical state of the device. Methods involve observing at one or more devices change of state activity among the plurality of devices through receiving a change of state message that is transmitted to the one or more devices. A set of rules are learned at the one or more devices based upon observing the change of state activity. The learned set of rules are then applied at the one or more devices to automatically control changes of state of devices within the plurality of devices.

Learning device interaction rules

Methods, systems, and products aggregate and distribute changes of state between devices. A plurality of devices communicates with an aggregator. The plurality of devices sends their respective changes of state to the aggregator. The aggregator queries a set of interaction rules to determine how the change of state is disseminated among the plurality of devices.

Device for aggregating, translating, and disseminating communications within a multiple device environment

Devices and methods are disclosed for controlling content within a device environment through interaction among electronic devices of the environment. The device has a transmitter, receiver, memory storing interaction rules and content rules and a processor for implementing the interaction rules and content rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. Methods involve obtaining content information of the media about to be played and comparing the content information to the content rules stored at a device. An instruction about playback of the media content is generated. Methods may also involve seeking rights information for media content and determining whether rights information exists for identified media content in response to the request. When rights information does exist for the identified media content, a message is sent that includes the rights information.

Content control in a device environment

Aggregator devices and methods are disclosed for establishing device interaction in an environment containing other electronic devices and the aggregator device. The aggregator device has a transmitter, receiver, memory storing interaction rules, and a processor for implementing the interaction rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. The methods involve transmitting a message to the aggregator from a first device, referencing rules of device interaction for the environment, and then according to the rules of device interaction, transmitting a message from the aggregator to a second device. The rules of device interaction may include instructions that are to be transmitted from the aggregator in response to the aggregator receiving change of state messages from devices of the environment.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling network facilities with data storage capability. A data connection is established to a storage device. Customer-defined electronic data is communicated to the storage device via the data connection. At least some of the electronic data may be managed according to a service level agreement.

Storage-enabled facilities

Devices and methods are disclosed for establishing device interaction among electronic devices of a device environment and a notification device interfaced with the user. Notification devices allow the user to communicate directly with the device environment, such as by entering information in a mobile phone that has a wireless connection to the environment. A device of the environment has a first transmitter and receiver for communicating with other devices, such as a notification device within the environment. In the instance where a notification device is located remotely, the device of the environment may also include a second transmitter and receiver for communicating with the remotely located notification device through a remote communications transport. A memory stores interaction rules and translation rules, and a processor implements the interaction rules and translation rules to establish interaction with the notification device. Methods may involve detecting a change of state at a device and then communicating with the notification device in accordance with the interaction rules and translation rules thereafter. Methods may also involve directing a message from a notification device to a device of the environment, such as through the remote communication transport, and then communicating from the device of the environment to additional devices.

Notification device interaction

Devices and methods are disclosed for establishing device interaction among electronic devices of a device environment and a notification device interfaced with the user. Notification devices allow the user to communicate directly with the device environment, such as by entering information in a mobile phone that has a wireless connection to the environement. A device of the environment has a first transmitter and receiver for communicating with other devices, such as a notification device within the environment. In the instance where a notification device is located remotely, the device of the environment may also include a second transmitter and receiver for communicating with the remotely located notification device through a remote communications transport. A memory stores interaction rules and translation rules, and a processor implements the interaction rules and translation rules to establish interaction with the notification device. Methods may involve detecting a change of state at a device and then communicating with the notification device in accordance with the interaction rules and translation rules thereafter. Methods may also involve directing a message from a notification device to a device of the environment, such as through the remote communication transport, and then communicating from the device of the environment to additional devices.

Growing community of inventors

Birmingham, AL, United States of America

Stefan Olsson