Method of controlling an arrangement of hardware components

• US 20020073250A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Ommering, Robbert Christiaan
• Granted Patent: US 7,137,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34

Abstract

A method of controlling an arrangement of a plurality of hardware components (2, 3), at least some of which are coupled to one another via signal leads, by means of a data processing unit in which there is executed a computer program which comprises sub-modules (2′, 3′) which correspond to the hardware components and are connected via data channels in conformity with the real signal leads between the hardware components (2, 3). The software thus exactly duplicates the hardware structure and ensures that information flows horizontally and is always present in the relevant location. Moreover, the software can be simply and flexibly adapted to changes of the configuration of existing hardware components.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an arrangement of a plurality of hardware components, at least some of which are coupled to one another via signal leads, by means of a data processing unit and a computer program which is executed therein, characterized in that the computer program comprises sub-modules (2′

, 3′

) which correspond to the hardware components (2, 3) and are connected via data channels in conformity with the real signal leads between the hardware components (2, 3).

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sub-modules (2′

, 3′

) of the computer program and/or the data channels between the sub-modules are adapted in conformity with the dynamic changing of the hardware components and/or the signal leads between the hardware components.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that all data channels utilize the same communication protocol.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hardware components are printed circuit boards, layout cells, microchips and/or core cells.

5. A data and signal processing device which includes a plurality of hardware components, at least some of which are coupled to one another via signal leads, and also a data processing unit which serves to control the hardware components (2, 3) and in which a computer program can be executed, characterized in that the computer program comprises sub-modules (2′

, 3′

) which correspond to the hardware components (2, 3) and are connected via data channels in conformity with the real signal leads between the hardware components (2, 3).

6. A data and signal processing device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that it is a television set, a video recorder, a set top box or an audio apparatus.