Methods and systems are provided for configuring or customizing settings or parameters of different media devices for compatible operations in an automated manner. An exemplary method of configuring a device for presenting media content in conjunction with a second device involves a client device detecting the device on a wireless network, identifying performance characteristics associated with the second device coupled to the device, and automatically configuring the device for operation with the second device via the wireless network and in a manner that is influenced by the performance characteristics associated with the second device. In this regard, one or more configurable parameters or settings maintained at the device and that influence its operation may be modified via the wireless network to correspond to performance characteristics of the second device, thereby facilitating compatible interoperation with the second device.

Output systems (e.g., television controllers, audio output devices, display devices) for accessing digital content from a service provided by one or more servers over the Internet are herein disclosed and enabled. To receive and play the digital content, the output system may obtain authentication information for accessing the service, receive a list of digital content that are available from the service for selection at the output system, receive output data from the service related to the selected digital content, and then play either audio data or video data, which is related to the received output data, at an output device coupled to the output system. The output system may further implement a discovery operation for a client device (e.g., smart phone or information pad), which is in the same network as the output system, to wirelessly discover the output system for providing output service to the client device.

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.

Wireless output controller for wirelessly receiving, over a wireless local area network connection, digital content from a mobile information apparatus that is within the same wireless local area network as the wireless output controller is herein disclosed and enabled. To set up the wireless output controller, the wireless output controller receives first information from a portable electronic device and then provides, in response, second information to the portable electronic device over a short range wireless connection. The wireless output controller is further operable to connect to a wireless local area network, establish a wireless communication link over the connected wireless local area network with the mobile information apparatus, transmit device dependent attributes associated with the wireless output controller to the mobile information apparatus, receive output data related to the device dependent attributes from the mobile information apparatus, and process the output data for outputting or playing at an output device.

Methods and systems are provided to allow for merchant or third party controlled adjustment of a physical environment around a user. Such adjustments may be in response to user actions and may create a more immersive experience for the user. Such adjustments may be determined from interaction data received from a user device, with may identify a service provider, a product, or an activity that the user is currently engaging in or is interested in. One or more secondary devices may be identified to be within an area around the user device and one or more environmental rules associated with the service provider, product, or activity may be determined and communicated to the one or more secondary devices to cause the one or more secondary devices to adjust a physical environment of the area proximate the user device.

Systems and methods disclosed herein include, determining a proximity of the first networked device to a second networked device, determining whether there is a wired network connection existing between the first networked device and the second networked device, and in response to determining the proximity and the existence of a wired network connection, reconfiguring one or more operational parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for testing communication with a device. A multimedia receiver may be communicatively coupled to a media device, such as a source media device. The multimedia receiver may transmit a test command to control the source media device using a communication protocol. A video frame output by the source media device may be obtained. Based at least on the video frame, it may be determined whether the source media device received the test command. In response to a determination that the source media device received the test command, an indication may be stored that the source media device may be controlled using the communication protocol.

A wireless output device for connecting to a wireless local area network and receiving digital content from servers over a network that includes the Internet is herein disclosed and enabled. The wireless output device may include, among others, a television, a speaker, a projector, or an output controller. The wireless output device includes an interface and wireless communication units. The wireless communication units of the wireless output device may receive information from a portable electronic device. The wireless output device may further receive the digital content from one or more application servers or content servers operated over the Internet by a digital content service. The digital content may include audio digital content or video digital content. The output device may process the received digital content and render the processed digital content onto a display medium.

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.

A solution for transferring audiovisual data between devices is provided. A device, for example a guest device, wishes to transfer audiovisual data to a device in a host local network. The guest device connects to a server in a wide area network via the host local network. The guest device selects, via its connection to the server and from a list, provided by the server, of devices in the host local network, a device present in the host local network. The guest device retrieves via the list connection parameters for transferring audiovisual data to the selected device. The guest device connects to the selected device in the host local network using the retrieved connection parameters and transfers audiovisual data to the selected device.