METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR MANAGING CONTROLLED RESIDENTIAL OR NON-RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS

摘要

A control server (114), 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. These devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions (112), monitors (116), PDAs, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (120)(such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server (114) supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller (110) 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.