Abstract: A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with and control legacy devices, such as consumer electronics, that rely exclusively on infrared (IR) or serial communication protocols. The legacy device bridge also performs a virtualization function that allows legacy devices to be advertised to the network as devices that comply with a packet-based discovery and control protocol, and to be controlled as such. The legacy device bridge is also adapted to probe, deduce and publish information relating to the state of a legacy device to other entities on the network.

Abstract: A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with and control legacy devices, such as consumer electronics, that rely exclusively on infrared (IR) or serial communication protocols. The legacy device bridge also performs a virtualization function that allows legacy devices to be advertised to the network as devices that comply with a packet-based discovery and control protocol, and to be controlled as such. The legacy device bridge is also adapted to probe, deduce and publish information relating to the state of a legacy device to other entities on the network.

Abstract: A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with and control legacy devices, such as consumer electronics, that rely exclusively on infrared (IR) or serial communication protocols. The legacy device bridge also performs a virtualization function that allows legacy devices to be advertised to the network as devices that comply with a packet-based discovery and control protocol, and to be controlled as such. The legacy device bridge is also adapted to probe, deduce and publish information relating to the state of a legacy device to other entities on the network.

Abstract: A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with and control legacy devices, such as consumer electronics, that rely exclusively on infrared (IR) or serial communication protocols. The legacy device bridge also performs a virtualization function that allows legacy devices to be advertised to the network as devices that comply with a packet-based discovery and control protocol, and to be controlled as such. The legacy device bridge is also adapted to probe, deduce and publish information relating to the state of a legacy device to other entities on the network.

Abstract: A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with and control legacy devices, such as consumer electronics, that rely exclusively on infrared (IR) or serial communication protocols. The legacy device bridge also performs a virtualization function that allows legacy devices to be advertised to the network as devices that comply with a packet-based discovery and control protocol, and to be controlled as such. The legacy device bridge is also adapted to probe, deduce and publish information relating to the state of a legacy device to other entities on the network.

Abstract: Managing data in a server system includes providing a plurality of servers, each having an internal gateway/switch that is accessible from outside the server, providing a plurality of virtual servers on at least some of the servers, where each of the virtual servers is accessible by the internal gateway/switch of the corresponding server, and accessing the data using the internal gateway/switch, where the internal gateway/switch determines which particular one of the virtual servers contain the data and then accesses the particular virtual server to provide the data. Managing data in a server system may also include associating portions of the data to tenants of the server system. Each of the servers may maintain a table that correlates tenants with the virtual servers maintained thereby and the internal gateway/switch may use the table to determine which particular one of the virtual servers contains data for a particular tenant.

Abstract: A system and method for anticipating wireless signal loss and providing location based services in view of the anticipated wireless signal loss is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for anticipating wireless signal loss and providing location based services in view of the anticipated wireless signal loss is disclosed.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

Abstract: A system and method for anticipating wireless signal loss and providing location based services in view of the anticipated wireless signal loss is disclosed.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention allows the firmware of one processor in a multi-processor system to be updated even if that processor is unstable due to a corruption of system software. For example, in a system that includes a primary processor and one or more secondary processors, an embodiment of the present invention allows the firmware of a secondary processor to be updated even if that processor is unstable due to a corruption of system software. An embodiment of the present invention also enables a network-based firmware update of a processor or microcontroller in a system, such as a consumer electronics device, wherein the processor or microcontroller requires such updates to occur via a serial port.

Abstract: A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with and control legacy devices, such as consumer electronics, that rely exclusively on infrared (IR) or serial communication protocols. The legacy device bridge also performs a virtualization function that allows legacy devices to be advertised to the network as devices that comply with a packet-based discovery and control protocol, and to be controlled as such. The legacy device bridge is also adapted to probe, deduce and publish information relating to the state of a legacy device to other entities on the network.

Abstract: A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with and control legacy devices, such as consumer electronics, that rely exclusively on infrared (IR) or serial communication protocols. The legacy device bridge also performs a virtualization function that allows legacy devices to be advertised to the network as devices that comply with a packet-based discovery and control protocol, and to be controlled as such. The legacy device bridge is also adapted to probe, deduce and publish information relating to the state of a legacy device to other entities on the network.

Abstract: Managing data in a server system includes providing a plurality of servers, each having an internal gateway/switch that is accessible from outside the server, providing a plurality of virtual servers on at least some of the servers, where each of the virtual servers is accessible by the internal gateway/switch of the corresponding server, and accessing the data using the internal gateway/switch, where the internal gateway/switch determines which particular one of the virtual servers contain the data and then accesses the particular virtual server to provide the data. Managing data in a server system may also include associating portions of the data to tenants of the server system. Each of the servers may maintain a table that correlates tenants with the virtual servers maintained thereby and the internal gateway/switch may use the table to determine which particular one of the virtual servers contains data for a particular tenant.

Abstract: Managing data in a server system includes providing a plurality of servers, each having an internal gateway/switch that is accessible from outside the server, providing a plurality of virtual servers on at least some of the servers, where each of the virtual servers is accessible by the internal gateway/switch of the corresponding server, and accessing the data using the internal gateway/switch, where the internal gateway/switch determines which particular one of the virtual servers contain the data and then accesses the particular virtual server to provide the data. Managing data in a server system may also include associating portions of the data to tenants of the server system. Each of the servers may maintain a table that correlates tenants with the virtual servers maintained thereby and the internal gateway/switch may use the table to determine which particular one of the virtual servers contains data for a particular tenant.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention allows the firmware of one processor in a multi-processor system to be updated even if that processor is unstable due to a corruption of system software. For example, in a system that includes a primary processor and one or more secondary processors, an embodiment of the present invention allows the firmware of a secondary processor to be updated even if that processor is unstable due to a corruption of system software. An embodiment of the present invention also enables a network-based firmware update of a processor or microcontroller in a system, such as a consumer electronics device, wherein the processor or microcontroller requires such updates to occur via a serial port.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.