Legacy device bridge for residential or non-residential networks
First Claim
1. A method performed by a bridge device for determining state information related to a legacy device and providing the state information via a network that communicates information in accordance with a packet-based communication protocol, wherein the legacy device is not adapted for communication in accordance with the packet-based communication protocol, comprising:
- extracting information from an indoor environment in which the bridge device is located via which a state of the legacy device can be determined, the indoor environment being external to the legacy device and the legacy device being incapable of reporting the state to the bridge device;
determining the state of the legacy device based on the extracted information; and
providing information related to the state of the legacy device from the bridge device to one or more devices on the network using the packet-based communication protocol.
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Accused Products
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.
199 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method performed by a bridge device for determining state information related to a legacy device and providing the state information via a network that communicates information in accordance with a packet-based communication protocol, wherein the legacy device is not adapted for communication in accordance with the packet-based communication protocol, comprising:
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extracting information from an indoor environment in which the bridge device is located via which a state of the legacy device can be determined, the indoor environment being external to the legacy device and the legacy device being incapable of reporting the state to the bridge device; determining the state of the legacy device based on the extracted information; and providing information related to the state of the legacy device from the bridge device to one or more devices on the network using the packet-based communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A bridge device for determining state information related to a legacy device and providing the state information via a network that communicates information in accordance with a packet-based communication protocol, wherein the legacy device does not communicate in accordance with the packet-based communication protocol, the bridge device comprising:
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a component configured to extract information from an indoor environment in which the bridge device is located via which a state of the legacy device can be determined, the indoor environment being external to the legacy device and the legacy device being incapable of reporting the state to the bridge device; and wherein the bridge device is configured to; determine the state of the legacy device based on the information extracted from the indoor environment in which the bridge device is located; and provide information related to the state of the legacy device to a device on the network using the packet-based communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable memory device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processing device, perform a method for determining state information related to a legacy device and providing the state information via a network that communicates information in accordance with a packet-based communication protocol, wherein the legacy device is not adapted for communication in accordance with the packet-based communication protocol, the method comprising:
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receiving information extracted from an indoor environment in which the bridge device is located via which a state of the legacy device can be determined, the indoor environment being external to the legacy device and the legacy device being incapable of reporting the state to the bridge device; determining the state of the legacy device based on the extracted information; and providing information related to the state of the legacy device from the bridge device to one or more devices on the network using the packet-based communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification