Abstract: In one embodiment, a general-purpose wireless mobile device having a touch-sensitive screen and executing a remote control application is used to remotely control a vehicle (e.g., a marine vessel). The general-purpose wireless mobile device communicates via a wireless network with an interface (e.g., a server) that is coupled to an electronic control system of the vehicle (e.g., the vessel). In operation, environmental information and/or system status information is collected through the electronic control system, propagated to the interface (e.g., server), and then sent over the wireless network to the wireless mobile device. Similarly, control input is sent over the wireless network to the interface (e.g., server), which passes the information to the electronic control system, which in turn issues appropriate control signals to the vehicle subsystems (e.g., marine subsystems) to control the motion of the vehicle (e.g., the vessel).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a programmable multimedia controller controls electronic devices, including display devices. A remote control communicates with the programmable multimedia controller. An on screen display is displayed on a selected one of the display devices. The on screen display enables the selected one of the display devices to function as a virtual telephone that is user-operable to initiate outgoing telephone calls and to answer incoming telephone calls. When an outgoing telephone call or incoming telephone call is in progress, the on screen display shows text or graphics related to the outgoing telephone call or the incoming telephone call. The on screen display is overlaid on another video signal which is already being displayed on the selected one of the display devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a configuration application executing on a tablet computer or smartphone presents a configuration user interface on a touch screen for configuring a home automation system of a structure. A plurality of components of the home automation system that have wireless capabilities are detected. The configuration application receives an indication of a zone of the structure within which each component is located, the indication provided by the user dragging a representation of each component to a location provided in the configuration user interface. Based on the indication of the zone of the structure in which each component is located and the type of each component, automatically generate one or more user interface screens for accessing and controlling the components in each zone, where the automatically generated user interface screens are displayable during use of the home automation system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a configuration application executing on a tablet computer or smartphone presents a configuration user interface on a touch screen for configuring a home automation system of a structure. A plurality of components of the home automation system that have wireless capabilities are detected. Component profile information for the detected components is obtained. The configuration application prompts a user of the tablet computer or smartphone to indicate a zone of the structure within which each component is located. Based on the component profile information and the indications of the zone of the structure in which each component is located, one or more services available in each zone are determined and one or more user interface screens are automatically generated for accessing and controlling the services, wherein the automatically generated user interface screens are displayable on the tablet computer or smartphone or another tablet computer or smartphone.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a programmable multimedia controller that is capable of interfacing with and controlling audio, video, telephony or heating ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) devices. A first mobile device and a second mobile device of a same type are configured to communicate with the programmable multimedia controller. The first mobile device obtains a first copy of a sharable device configuration including data for rendering a user interface usable to control the programmable multimedia controller. It stores the first copy of the sharable device configuration and thereby is considered a master device with respect to other devices of the same type. The second mobile device obtains a second copy of the sharable device configuration for use on the second mobile device from the master device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided to configure a home multimedia system. Software executing on a controller or other device access component profiles describing attributes of components, one or more zone configurations that indicate components that are present in one or more zones, and one or more connection configurations that indicates how components that are present in the one or more zones are interconnected. The software applies a set of predefined service rules to the data structures to generate workflows for possible services, wherein each service rule defines one or more components and one or more interactions required for providing a corresponding service, and each workflow indicates how one or more of the components that are present in the one or more zones interact to provide a service. Executable forms of the workflows are generated, and executed to provide services to a user.

Abstract: A docking station adapted to receive a touch-sensitive portable control device for communication with a programmable multimedia controller is provided. The docking station has a dedicated, wired redundant communication path coupling the docking station to the programmable multimedia controller for providing effective communication in the absence of wireless or unreliable wireless communications. The docking station is configured to receive signals from the portable control device and to bi-directionally transmit signals to and from said programmable multimedia controller. The portable control device has both wireless and wired compatibility, which includes a touch sensitive user interface configured with configuration information for allowing a user to make selections and enter settings regarding components interfaced with the programmable multimedia controller. The docking station converts the user entered signals into IP messages suitable for transfer over the dedicated, wired redundant communication path.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a virtual room-based user interface includes one or more virtual rooms. Each virtual room is rendered from one or more images captured of a corresponding physical room of a structure, and includes depictions of one or more light fixtures within the physical room, one or more furnishings within the physical room and one or more boundaries of the physical room. A user selects a particular depiction of a particular light fixture within a particular virtual room. In response, a state of the particular light fixture within the corresponding physical room is changed. Also, appearance of the particular virtual room is updated such that the depiction of the particular light fixture shows the particular light fixture with the changed state and the depictions of the one or more boundaries or the one or more furnishings show lighting effects resulting from the changed state.

Abstract: An integrated multimedia, entertainment, communications and control system. The system is based on a general purpose computer and is capable of interfacing with, controlling or managing a wide variety of audio, video, telecommunications, data communications or other devices. The system includes a programming environment for creating services or user experiences that may incorporate features or functionalities of several devices that are conventionally operated as separate, standalone devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, graphics frames are received, where each graphics frame includes one or more regions where pixels depict graphics that represent an on screen display (OSD) used to interact with a programmable multimedia controller, and a background region where pixels are set to the one or more predetermined colors. Further, video images are received, where at least some of the video images correspond to the plurality of graphics frames. Mixed images are created by mixing the graphics frames and the corresponding video images, the mixing to, where pixels of the graphics frame are not set to the one more predetermined colors, blend a color of at least some of the pixels of the graphics frame with a color of pixels of a corresponding video image, and, where pixels of the graphics frame are set to the one more predetermined colors, pass pixels of the corresponding video image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided to configure and remotely control a system. A system configuration is created based, at least in part, on information collected from a user using speech synthesis and speech recognition. The system configuration includes information representing at least one zone that corresponds with at least one room in a physical structure, information identifying at least one physical component which represents at least a part of the system, information about at least one function which the at least one physical component is capable of performing, and information about at least one command which the at least one physical component recognizes. A cell phone is used to discover the system by transmitting a name service discovery request to the system, which responds with a name service registration confirmation. The cell phone is then used to remotely control the system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, graphical programming is used to configure a system of audio, video, lighting, HVAC and/or security components. Representations of audio, video, lighting, heating, HVAC and/or security components are displayed in a graphical user interface. Each representation corresponds to a physical component that is available for inclusion in the system. A zone map that represents one or more zones is displayed in the graphical user interface. A selected representation of an audio, video, lighting, heating, HVAC or security component is dragged and dropping to a selected zone of the zone map to indicate installation of a selected physical component in the corresponding room. One or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are determined based at least in part on the selected zone of the zone map. Thereafter, an output is provided based on the one or more realized services.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a virtual room-based user interface includes one or more virtual rooms. Each virtual room is rendered from one or more images captured of a corresponding physical room of a structure, and includes depictions of one or more light fixtures within the physical room, one or more furnishings within the physical room and one or more boundaries of the physical room. A user selects a particular depiction of a particular light fixture within a particular virtual room. In response, a state of the particular light fixture within the corresponding physical room is changed. Also, appearance of the particular virtual room is updated such that the depiction of the particular light fixture shows the particular light fixture with the changed state and the depictions of the one or more boundaries or the one or more furnishings show lighting effects resulting from the changed state.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a component library stores representations of audio/video components, the representations of audio/video components corresponding to physical audio/video components that are available for inclusion in a system. A configuration workspace is provided into which a selected plurality of representations of audio/video components from the component library are placed to indicate their inclusion in the system. A drawing tool may be used to draw connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components in the configuration workspace. Further, a configuration compiler may determine one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing based on the selected plurality of audio/video components and the drawn connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components, and may display to the user indications of the one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided to configure and remotely control a system. A system configuration is created based, at least in part, on information collected from a user using speech synthesis and speech recognition. The system configuration includes information representing at least one zone that corresponds with at least one room in a physical structure, information identifying at least one physical component which represents at least a part of the system, information about at least one function which the at least one physical component is capable of performing, and information about at least one command which the at least one physical component recognizes. A cell phone is used to discover the system by transmitting a name service discovery request to the system, which responds with a name service registration confirmation. The cell phone is then used to remotely control the system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, location aware operation is provided using Bluetooth positioning. A Bluetooth-enabled handheld device is operated within a structure. Received Bluetooth signal strengths are measured for a plurality of Bluetooth-enabled transmitter/receiver units dispersed within the structure, where respective ones of the plurality of Bluetooth-enabled transmitter/receiver units are located on separate floors, in separate rooms, or in different portions of a same room. Based on the received Bluetooth signal strengths, a single Bluetooth-enabled transmitter/receiver unit is selected. A location of the selected Bluetooth-enabled transmitter/receiver unit is assigned to the Bluetooth-enabled handheld device. A first electronic device is controlled based on the assigned location. In response to movement by a user of the Bluetooth-enabled handheld device within the structure, a location of a different Bluetooth-enabled transmitter/receiver unit is reassigned to the Bluetooth-enabled handheld device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a configuration application executing on a tablet computer or smartphone presents a configuration user interface on a touch screen for configuring a home automation system of a structure. A plurality of components of the home automation system that have wireless capabilities are detected. Component profile information for the detected components is obtained. The configuration application prompts a user of the tablet computer or smartphone to indicate a zone of the structure within which each component is located. Based on the component profile information and the indications of the zone of the structure in which each component is located, one or more services available in each zone are determined and one or more user interface screens are automatically generated for accessing and controlling the services, wherein the automatically generated user interface screens are displayable on the tablet computer or smartphone or another tablet computer or smartphone.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a user selects a primary component of a multimedia system to be configured in a configuration user interface of a mobile device. The configuration user interface of the mobile device displays a photo-realistic depiction of a back panel of the primary component. The photo-realistic depiction of a back panel includes photo-realistic depictions of connection ports located thereon. The user selects another component to be connected to the primary component. One or more classes of potential connections are determined between the another component and the primary component, and for each class of potential connection, the configuration user interface on the mobile device graphically guides the user to select a particular connection port on the photo-realistic depiction of the back panel of the primary component for the class of potential connection. Based on selections of particular connection ports from the user, a set of configuration data is generated.

Abstract: The forgoing method, system, and apparatus relates to a touch sensitive display for use with a programmable multimedia controller. In the illustrative system, the user may select and designate a video input device to be implemented on a video output display device within the user's network of devices. The media input devices and output devices are selected by the user touching a touch sensitive button located on the display screen. To initiate an action the user touches, drags and drops a media input device button onto one or more video output display device buttons. Furthermore, when the user selects a media input device to be implemented on a video output display device, the user may also select a video signal source to apply to that media input device for a transaction. A live stream of what is playing on a given channel is provided on the screen.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a general-purpose wireless mobile device having a touch-sensitive screen and executing a remote control application is used to remotely control a vehicle (e.g., a marine vessel). The general-purpose wireless mobile device communicates via a wireless network with an interface (e.g., a server) that is coupled to an electronic control system of the vehicle (e.g., the vessel). In operation, environmental information and/or system status information is collected through the electronic control system, propagated to the interface (e.g., server), and then sent over the wireless network to the wireless mobile device. Similarly, control input is sent over the wireless network to the interface (e.g., server), which passes the information to the electronic control system, which in turn issues appropriate control signals to the vehicle subsystems (e.g., marine subsystems) to control the motion of the vehicle (e.g., the vessel).