Method for controlling network devices via a MMI

• US 20020003548A1
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Krusche, Arnd, Allen, Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 7,565,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

The inventive method for controlling network devices via a MMI provides a fast and comprehensive control directly from a common interface layer of the MMI. The method generates and at least partially displays a hierarchical view of icons of all devices (23-35) connected to the network and/or services (24a-24c, 42, 43, 43a-43g, 46a-46o) corresponding to the devices, and subsequently couples each of said icons with operating functions of the associated device and/or service, respectively, wherein said devices and/or services are operatable from said hierarchical view.

Claims

1. Method for controlling network devices via a MMI, characterized by the steps of:

generating and at least partially displaying a hierarchical view of icons of all devices (23-35;

76a-76j;

101-127) connected to the network and/or services (24a-24c, 42, 43, 43a-43g, 44, 45, 46a-46o;

47-74, 75a-75h) corresponding to the devices, and

coupling each of said icons with operating functions of the associated device (23-35;

76a-76j;

101-127) and/or service (24a-24c, 42, 43, 43a-43g, 44, 45, 46a-46o;

47-74, 75a-75h), respectively, wherein said devices and/or services are operatable from said hierarchical view.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by recognizing a sub-network (21;

1-6) being integrated in said network via a bridge (128-131) and integrating said sub-network (21;

1-6) as an icon in said hierarchical view of icons similar to said devices and/or services, wherein said icon assigned to said sub-network (21;

1-6) has a higher order than icons assigned to devices (23-35) and/or services (24a-24c, 42, 43, 43a-43g) of said sub-network.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a device (23-35;

76a-76j;

101-127) and/or service (24a-24c, 42, 43, 43a-43g, 44, 45, 46a-46o;

47-74, 75a-75h) is operatable by drag and drop operations or by cut/copy and paste operations.

4. Method according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a device (23-35;

76a-76j;

101-127) and/or service (24a-24c, 42, 43, 43a-43g, 44, 45, 46a46o;

47-74, 75a-75h) is operatable via context sensitive menus (46;

75, 76) shown in said hierarchical view after selecting the icon associated with said device and/or service.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that after operation at least one control signal and/or at least one data stream is sent from one device (101;

106;

108) to at least one other device (115;

102;

105).

6. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hierarchical view of icons is organized according to predetermined user-selectable rules.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that said hierarchical view of icons is organized depending on the kind of said devices (23-35;

101-127) and/or sub-networks (21;

1-6) connected to the network.

8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said hierarchical view of icons is organized depending on the kind of services (47-74, 75a-75h) being available in correspondence with said devices (23-35;

76a-76j;

101-127).

9. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the AV/C protocol is used for controlling the devices (23-35;

76d-76j;

102-110, 114, 116-119, 121-126) and/or services (24a-24c, 42, 43, 43a-43g, 44, 45).

10. MMI for controlling network devices, characterized in that it is adapted to perform the method as defined in anyone of claims 1 to 9.

11. Computer program product comprising computer program means adapted to execute all steps defined in anyone of claims 1 to 9, when said computer program product is executed on a computer (101).