There is provided an information processing apparatus to allow a user to use a device network by a natural and simple operation by automatically selecting a device for providing a response to a request, the information processing apparatus including: a request acquiring part configured to acquire a request to a system; a response determining part configured to determine a response to the request; a device selecting part configured to select, on the basis of at least an attribute of the response, a device that provides the response among devices included in the system; and a device controller configured to perform control that causes the selected device to provide the response.

An information processing method includes coupling, by a terminal device of a plurality of terminal devices, to a device of a plurality of devices through wireless communication; transmitting a completion notification indicating that the coupling to the device is successful to an information processing device; referring, by the information processing device, to management information in which a first identifier, a second identifier, and a connection status of connection with the plurality of terminal devices are associated with each other for each of the plurality of devices to identify the second identifier that is included in the completion notification and associated with the first identifier that is used to identify the device, by using the information processing device, transmitting the identified second identifier to the terminal device; and displaying, by the terminal device, the identified second identifier.

Various arrangements for providing a text-based message to a recipient as synthesized speech are provided. A home automation host server system may receive a text-based message addressed to a designated vocalization destination from an electronic address associated with a sender. The text-based message may be filtered to determine that the text-based message is eligible for output as synthesized speech. A home automation device linked with the designated vocalization destination may be identified. Data corresponding to the text-based message addressed to the designated vocalization destination may be transmitted to the home automation device. The home automation device may be caused to output at least a portion of the text-based message as synthesized speech.

In response to a request for a media-control operation to be implemented at a second electronic device distinct from a first electronic device, the first electronic device sends a first request to a server system to cause the media-control operation to be implemented at the second electronic device. The server system is distinct from the first electronic device. Also in response to the request for the media-control operation to be implemented at the second electronic device, the first electronic device sends a second request to the second electronic device. The second request is a request to implement the media-control operation at the second electronic device.

A system and method for configuring a remote control to command the operation of appliances, to capture demographic data, and to provide services, such as automated warranty registration, instructions, viewing guides, etc., relevant to the appliances is provided. The system includes a database and associated server that are located remotely from the remote control and accessible via a network connection. Command codes, graphical user interface elements, and services are accessed and downloaded to the remote control, as appropriate, using data supplied to the server that identifies the appliances and/or functional capabilities of the appliances. This data can be supplied by the appliances directly or can be obtained from other sources such as barcode labels, network devices, etc.

Methods, systems, and media for detecting the presence of a digital media device on a network are provided. In some embodiments, methods for detecting a presence of a particular type of digital media device is provided, the methods comprising: identifying cached device details for devices previously associated with the network; performing a simple device discovery protocol (SSDP) on the network, and substantially concurrently sending a unicast message to an address associated with the identified cached digital media device using hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP); and indicating the presence of a digital media device on the network in response to either (i) receiving a response to the unicast message, or (ii) determining that a type of a device discovered using SSDP is the same as the particular device type.

Mobile information apparatus (e.g., smart phone, Internet appliances, information pad) and software applications of the mobile information apparatus supporting voice commands for receiving and playing digital content from a service provided over a network (e.g., Internet) are herein disclosed and enabled. The mobile information apparatus may receive, via a touch sensitive screen interface, security information to access a wireless local area network and to access the service over the Internet. The service may be a paid or subscribed service. While connected to the service, the mobile information apparatus may receive voice commands from the user for outputting or playing selected digital content that is available at the service, and, in response to the voice commands, the mobile information apparatus receives, from the service, output data related to the selected digital content for outputting or playing at the output system.

Mobile information apparatus (e.g., smart phone, Internet appliances, information pad) with software applications for receiving digital content from a service provided over a network (e.g., Internet) and for wirelessly playing at least part of the received digital content at a Bluetooth enabled output device are herein disclosed and enabled. To receive and play digital content, the software applications may obtain authentication information for accessing the service, receive a list of one or more digital content that is available from the service for selection on the touch sensitive screen interface, receive a selected digital content from among the list displayed on the touch sensitive screen, receive output data from the service related to the selected digital content, and then either play audio data related to the received output data at a speaker of the mobile information apparatus or wirelessly play the audio data at the Bluetooth enabled output device.

A system, method, and computer-readable medium for generation of a controlled device Module are provided. Various components are provided to a Module designer for selection, and the designer defines the interface APIs specifying the component functionalities. The designer may specify custom commands or events for the Module including Commands, Properties, and Parameters, and custom components corresponding to the custom commands are generated. A self-describing capabilities component is then generated for each component, and a composite capabilities component may then be generated from the capabilities components of each of the components. The completed Module package is then produced by an integrated development environment station.

Systems, methods, and media for managing an entertainment system are provided. In some implementations, systems for managing an entertainment system are provided, the systems comprising: at least one hardware processor configured to: detect a first instruction; select a component of the entertainment system; determine a first state of the component; store an indication of the first state; detect a second instruction; retrieve the indication of the first state; generate a third instruction based on the indication of the first state; and transmit the third instruction to the component of the entertainment system.