Control device and control method

• US 20020004711A1
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Makoto, Komuro, Teruyoshi
• Application Number:
  US09/854,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004711A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool

Abstract

A CPU 10 of a receiver 3 that is a control device acquires a DCM contained in a configuration ROM of a digital AV device, and stores such DCM in a RAM 12 when the digital AV device that is a device targeted for control is connected to an IEEE 1394 bus 2. Further, the CPU 10 acquires application software from a digital satellite broadcast or Internet and the like, and stores the software based on identification information (ID) for identifying application software utilizing the DCM and acquisition site information that exist at the DCM or configuration ROM and any other portion. In this way, at the receiver 3, application software is made available automatically. That is, application software utilizing control information (DCM) for controlling a device targeted for control is made available automatically.

Claims

1. A control device for controlling a device targeted for control via a communication bus, said control device comprising:

first storage means for storing control information for controlling said device targeted for control;

second information acquisition means for acquiring application software using said control information stored in said first storage means; and

second storage means for storing said application software acquired by said first information acquisition means.

2. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said application software utilizes a plurality of control information for controlling a plurality of said device targeted for control.

3. A control device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising second information acquisition means for acquiring said control information stored in said first storage means.

4. A control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second information acquisition means acquires said control information when said device targeted for control is connected to said communication bus.

5. A control device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second information acquisition means acquires sad control information from said device targeted for control.

6. A control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second information acquisition means acquires said control information from another network.

7. A control device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising change detecting means for detecting a change of said control information distributed via said another network.

8. A control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second information acquisition means acquires said control information from said another network when a change of said control information is detected by said change detecting means.

9. A control device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising notification means for, when a change of said control information is detected by said change detecting means, notifying the detected change.

10. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first information acquisition means acquires said application software by referring to identification information and acquisition site information on the application software.

11. A control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said identification information and acquisition site information is contained in said control information.

12. A control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said device targeted for control holds said identification information and acquisition site information.

13. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first information acquisition means acquires said application software when said controlled control device is connected to said communication bus.

14. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fist acquisition means acquires said application software from said device targeted for control.

15. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first information acquisition means acquires said application software from another network.

16. A control device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising change detecting means for detecting a change of said application software distributed via said another network.

17. A control device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first information acquisition means acquires said application software from said another network when a change of said application software is detected by said change detecting means.

18. A control device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising notifying means for, when a change of said application software is detected by said change detecting means, notifying the detected change.

19. A control device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising notification means for, when a device targeted for control to be controlled utilizing application software stored in said second storage means is disconnected with said communication bus, notifying the disconnection with said communication bus.

20. A method of controlling a control device for a device targeted for control via a communication bus, comprising the steps of:

acquiring application software utilizing control information for controlling said device targeted for control stored in first storage means; and

storing said acquired application software in second storage means.

21. A control method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said application software utilizes a plurality of control information for controlling a plurality of said controlled information.

22. A control method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising the step of acquiring said control information stored in said first storage means.

23. A control method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of acquiring said control information is performed when said device targeted for control is connected to said communication bus.

24. A control method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of acquiring said control information acquires said control information from said control information.

25. A control method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of acquiring said control information acquires said control information from another network.

26. A control method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the step of detecting a change of said control information distributed in said another network.

27. A control method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the step of acquiring said control information is performed when a change of said control information is detected.

28. A control method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising means for, when a change of said control information is detected, notifying the fact.

29. A control method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of acquiring said application software acquires said application software by referring to identification information and acquisition site information of the application software.

30. A control method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said identification information and acquisition site information is contained in said control information.

31. A control method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said device targeted for control holds said identification information and acquisition site information.

32. A control method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of acquiring said application software is performed when said device targeted for control is connected to said communication bus.

33. A control method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of acquiring said application software acquires said application software from said device targeted for control.

34. A control method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of acquiring said application software acquires said application software from another network.

35. A control method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising the step of detecting a change of said application software distributed in said another network.

36. A control method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the step of acquiring said application software is performed when a change of said application software is detected.

37. A control method as claimed in claim 35, further comprising the step of, when a change of said application software is detected, notifying the detected change.

38. A control method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising the step of:

when a device targeted for control to be controlled utilizing application software stored in said second storage means is disconnected with said communication bus, notifying the disconnection with said communication bus.