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.

A method of controlling ability of a client device to access media content available from a server device on a network is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving with the server device a request from the client device via the network for media content and determining with the server device a type of the client device and a type of the media content. Thereafter, a step of applying a policy stored in software form in the server device for determining actions allowable for the client device with respect to the media content is performed. After the applying step, access of the media content is provided to the client device only to an extent defined and permitted by the policy. A server device for functioning as a Digital Media Server (DMS) on a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network is also disclosed.

A method of controlling access to a content item in a domain comprising a set of mutually authenticated devices, the method comprising deriving one or more domain-specific rights from a right associated with the content item, the one or more domain-specific rights being bound to the domain and allowing the devices in the domain access to the content item. Also system comprising a set of mutually authenticated devices, said set making up a domain, the system comprising a central rights manager arranged for executing said method.

Smart buzzer systems for apartment buildings, where an intercom station in an apartment unit notifies the user of a request from a guest to unlock the building's door, sends the user's approval of the request to the door, and enables the user and the guest to talk to each other, are disclosed. The smart buzzer systems are enhanced with connectivity with mobile devices and mobile applications as well as automation. The intercom station includes an audio input-output circuit configured to process audio signals, which includes a line input buffer configured to process audio signals from a legacy base microphone through a wiring interface for a legacy intercom system to a processor and a line output driver configured to process audio signals from the processor to the legacy base speaker through the wiring interface for the legacy intercom system.

Smart Phones that support wireless printing of e-mails to a printer in a wireless local area network (WLAN) is disclosed and enabled. The new Smart Phone includes a touch sensitive screen, an operating system, an e-mail application, and a wireless communication unit supporting a protocol within IEEE 802.11 for WLAN communication. To print an email in an inbox of the email application, the smart phone provides a print item on the touch sensitive screen and also a list of one or more printers detected to be available in the WLAN on the touch sensitive screen, subsequent to the user having selected the print item and a selected printer from the list, a print job related to the email is transmitted to the selected printer over the WLAN. Additionally, the smart phone further supports voice activated commands, such as printing or replying to emails received at the Smart Phone.

An apparatus for switching media content playback from a first playback device to a second playback device across a plurality of playback devices may include a controller programmed to detect a change in location of a portable device from a first media zone including a first playback device to a second media zone including a second playback device, determining a playback position of currently played media content provided from a first media source to the first playback device, identify a second media source that is available at the second media zone, and control the second media source to transmit the currently played media content to the second playback device to switch playback from the first playback device to the second playback device at the playback position.

The invention relates to the technical field of domestic networks. A domestic network based on the present UPnp-Standard allows AV connections to be set up between two network subscriber stations—Network connections such as these are set up and managed under the control of a network station which is in the form of a control point. In this case, the UPnP-Standard allows the network station which is the form of a control point to log off the network after setting up an AV connection, and thus to be inactive while the AV connection that has been set up is in existence. This results in the problem that an AV connection which has been set up unnecessarily remains in existence even after the desired AV data stream has been transmitted, so that further connection requests for such stations must be answered with a rejection. The invention solves this problem in that it provides additional monitoring means in the network subscriber stations which determine whether the connection has remained unused for a specific time. If yes, a signaling request is sent to all the network subscriber stations. If the connection partner station does not then respond, the connection which has been set up can likewise be added autonomously by the requesting station.

Methods, systems and apparatuses are described to detect and resolve device configuration and/or communication incompatibilities (e.g. incompatible messages, improper addressing, malfunctions) for a communication protocol such as HDMI-CEC.

A set of media playback and device settings data from each home appliance of a first set of home appliances is stored on a central server and/or sent to a remote control device upon initiation of a suspend command by a user. The stored media and devices states may be used at a later time to control the first set of home appliances, or a user may, after relocating to a second set of home appliances, initiate a resume state command whereupon media playback and device settings data from the central server and/or remote control device controls each home appliance in the second set of home appliances to bring about the same or substantially similar media and device states as in the first set of home appliances.

The invention concerns a communication method in a home network comprising at least two devices connected to a communication bus, characterized in that, a first device including an internet application and a second device including means for connecting to the internet, said second device being able to manage at least one internet application protocol, said method comprises the steps of: sending a request from said first device to said second device for opening a connection between said first and second devices, wherein said request contains an internet application protocol identifier to identify the internet application protocol to be used over said connection; sending an internet protocol request under the format of said internet application protocol from said first device to said second device; forwarding said internet protocol request from said second device to an internet server; upon receipt; transferring a response from said internet server to said first device through said second device over said communication bus. The invention also concerns a network and a device for implementing the method above.