Control system and user interface for network of input devices
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a network system comprising a mix of 1394 and IR controlled audio-video and other input devices, comprising the steps of receiving user input commands at a central control unit of a network system, wherein the network system comprises a mix of 1394 and IR controlled input devices, and translating the user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the input devices.
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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.
147 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a network system comprising a mix of 1394 and IR controlled audio-video and other input devices, comprising the steps of
receiving user input commands at a central control unit of a network system, wherein the network system comprises a mix of 1394 and IR controlled input devices, and translating the user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the input devices.
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28. A method of controlling a network of devices, comprising the steps of
receiving uniform user input commands at a central control unit of a network system comprising a plurality of devices, determining current system state of the network system, and based on stored device and device interconnectivity data, translating the user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the plurality of devices.
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52. A method of selecting a source device within a network system comprising a mix of 1394 and IR controlled audio-video input devices, comprising the steps of
inputting an input command to display a device selection menu on a screen coupled to a central control unit of the network system, wherein the device selection menu includes screen representations corresponding to a plurality of input devices within a network system, and selecting a screen representation of a first input device to select the input device as a source device.
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58. A method of selecting a source device within a network system, comprising the steps of
inputting a command to display a device selection menu on a screen coupled to a central control unit of a network system, wherein the device selection menu includes screen representations corresponding to a plurality of input devices within the network system, and selecting a screen representation of a first input device to select the input device as a source device.
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64. A method of selecting and controlling a source device within a network system, comprising the steps of
inputting a first command through a uniform user interface to a context sensitive control system to select a source device, and inputting a second command through the uniform user interface to the control system to drive the source device.
Specification