Control system and user interface for network of input devices
First Claim
1. A television comprising a display screen, a circuit coupled to the screen, an input coupled to the circuit and adapted to receive user input commands, outputs coupled to the circuit, and a control system operating on the circuit and translating user input commands to device appropriate messages to drive 1394 and IR controlled peripheral devices.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital,1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more particularly, a control system and uniform user interface for centrally controlling these devices in a manner that appears seamless and transparent to the user. In a preferred embodiment, a command center or hub of a network system includes a context and connection permutation sensitive control system that enables centralized and seamless integrated control of all types of input devices. The control system preferably includes a versatile icon based graphical user interface that provides a uniform, on-screen centralized control system for the network system. The user interface, which includes a visual recognition system, enables the user to transparently control multiple input devices over a variety of protocols while operating on a single control layer of an input command device. In an alternative embodiment, the control system also enables gated signal pass-through control while avoiding signal jamming.
81 Citations
113 Claims
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1. A television comprising
a display screen, a circuit coupled to the screen, an input coupled to the circuit and adapted to receive user input commands, outputs coupled to the circuit, and a control system operating on the circuit and translating user input commands to device appropriate messages to drive 1394 and IR controlled peripheral devices.
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31. A controller for a network system comprising a mix of 1394 and IR
controlled devices, comprising an input command receiver, a plurality of outputs, and a control module coupled to the input command receiver and the plurality of outputs and adapted to translate user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive 1394 and IR controlled devices and transmit the output messages to 1394 and IR controlled devices when coupled to the plurality of outputs.
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61. An audio-video (AV) system comprising
a display screen, a circuit coupled to the screen, an input coupled to the circuit and adapted to receive user input commands, outputs coupled to the circuit, and a context sensitive control system operating on the circuit, the control system having a uniform user interface and translating user input commands to device appropriate messages to drive peripheral devices.
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87. A controller for a network of devices communicating with the controller over a variety of protocols, comprising
an input command receiver, a plurality of outputs, and a control module coupled to the input command receiver and plurality of outputs, the control module including a context sensitive control system and uniform user interface to control network devices, the control module translating user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the network devices.
Specification