Control of digital VCR at a remote site using web browser

• US 20020069410A1
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kataria, Seema, Nsonwu, Alexandra, Atmakuri, Murthy
• Application Number:
  US09/728,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069410A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a digital device is provided. A user interface is provided with controls the user can select. These controls correspond to controls found on the digital device. When a user selects one of the selectable controls, a control command is sent through a translation process where the control command is translated from a first protocol to a second protocol. The translated command is then sent to the digital device, which executes the control command.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a digital device having discrete controls, the system comprising:

a user interface including a display screen, the user interface including user-selectable controls displayed on the display screen, wherein the user-selectable controls correspond to the discrete controls on the digital device; and

a translation process, wherein the translation process translates a user control command from the user interface from a first protocol to a second protocol,

wherein the digital device comprises logic to receive the user control command in the second protocol and execute the user control command.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user selectable controls include play, stop, rewind, forward, and pause functions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first protocol includes HTTP.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second protocol includes AV/C.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second protocol includes JINI.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second protocol includes USB.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the translation process comprises:

a web server comprising logic to translate the user control command; and

an interface to the digital device comprising logic to receive the translated user command and forward a corresponding user command.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the interface to the digital device includes an iLink interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital device includes a digital VCR, digital video disc (DVD) player, and video control box (VCB) player.

10. A method for controlling a digital device comprising the steps of:

providing a user with user selectable controls, wherein the user-selectable controls correspond to controls on the digital device;

receiving a command from the user-selectable controls;

translating the command from a first protocol to a second protocol;

sending the translated command to the digital device; and

executing the command at the digital device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the command includes play, stop, rewind, forward, and pause functions.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first protocol includes HTTP.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the second protocol includes AV/C.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the digital device includes a digital VCR, digital video disc (DVD) player, and video control box (VCB) player.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of selectable items correspond to a plurality of digital devices.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the command includes play, stop, rewind, forward, and pause functions.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first protocol includes HTTP.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the second protocol includes AV/C, JINI, or USB.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the digital device includes a digital VCR, digital video disc (DVD) player, and video control box (VCB) player.

15. A method for controlling a digital device comprising the steps of:

providing a user with a plurality of selectable items on a user interface;

generating a request for an item from the selectable items;

providing the item to the user;

providing the user with user selectable controls, wherein the user-selectable controls correspond to controls on the digital device;

receiving a command from the user-selectable controls;

translating the command from a first protocol to a second protocol;

sending the translated command to the digital device; and

executing the command at the digital device.

21. A method for controlling a digital device comprising the steps of:

providing a user with user selectable controls, wherein the user-selectable controls correspond to controls on the digital device;

receiving a command from the user-selectable controls;

translating the command from an HTTP format to an AV/C format;

sending the AV/C command to the digital device; and

executing the command at the digital device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the command includes play, stop, rewind, forward, and pause functions.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the digital device includes a digital VCR, digital video disc (DVD) player, and video control box (VCB) player.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the user selectable controls include play, stop, rewind, forward, and pause functions.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the interface to the digital device includes an iLink interface card.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the digital device includes a digital VCR, digital video disc (DVD) player, and video control box (VCB) player.

24. A system for controlling a digital device comprising:

a user interface including user selectable controls, wherein the user-selectable controls correspond to controls on the digital device;

a web server comprising logic to translate an HTTP request; and

an interface to the digital device comprising logic to receive the translated HTTP request and forward a corresponding AV/C command,

wherein the digital device comprises logic to receive the AV/C command and execute the AV/C command.