Domestic communication and entertainment system
First Claim
1. A method of operating a domestic communication and entertainment system (1) in which a plurality of devices (2-10) of the system are interconnected by a data bus (11), the method comprising the steps of;
- a first one of the devices receiving a demand for a task requiring a communication session with an entity which is external to the system;
the first device transmitting to a routing device (12) connected to the data bus a request message for routing information defining a preferred route for initiating the communication session;
the routing device transmitting to the first device a response message comprising the routing information; and
the first device initiating the communication session via a route determined by the routing information.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a domestic communication and entertainment system (1), a plurality of devices (2-10) are interconnected by a databus (11). A first one of the devices receives a demand for a task requiring a communication session with an entity external to the system and the device transmits to a routing device (12) connected to the databus a request message for routing information which defines a preferred route for initiating the communication session. The routing device accesses a lookup table to obtain the information and transmits a response message comprising the routing information to enable the device to initiate the communication session via a preferred route. The lookup table is updated by wireless transmission from a control center. The system is enable to make optimum use of multiple communication systems available in the domestic environment by reference to routing information which can be configured to take advantage of network usage and other factors such as cost and availability.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of operating a domestic communication and entertainment system (1) in which a plurality of devices (2-10) of the system are interconnected by a data bus (11), the method comprising the steps of;
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a first one of the devices receiving a demand for a task requiring a communication session with an entity which is external to the system;
the first device transmitting to a routing device (12) connected to the data bus a request message for routing information defining a preferred route for initiating the communication session;
the routing device transmitting to the first device a response message comprising the routing information; and
the first device initiating the communication session via a route determined by the routing information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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18. A system (1) for use in providing domestic communication and entertainment telecommunications, the system comprising a plurality of devices (2-10), each device having communication means for performing at least one of sending and receiving telecommunications signals;
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a data bus (11) interconnecting the devices and operable to conduct telecommunications signals therebetween;
a routing device (12) connected to the data bus, the routing device being operable to receive a request message for routing information from one of the devices and further operable to respond by generating a response message comprising the routing information for receipt by the device originating the request message; and
wherein the device originating the request message is operable to initiate a communication session for communicating with an entity which is external to the system via a route determined by the routing information. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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29. A routing device (12) for use in a domestic communication and entertainment system (1), the device comprising;
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an interface (21) for connection in use to a data bus (11) of the system;
a look-up table (23) populated with data defining routing information;
a route selector (24) operable to address the look-up table in response to receipt of a request message via the interface for routing information; and
a controller (22) operable to generate a response message output via the interface and comprising the routing information. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method of operating a routing device (12) in a domestic communication and entertainment system (1), the device comprising;
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an interface (21) connected to a data bus (11) of the system; and
a look-up table (23) populated with data defining routing information;
the method comprising;
addressing the look-up table in response to receipt of a request message via the interface, the request message comprising a request for routing information and originating from a device of the system; and
generating a response message comprising the routing information; and
outputting the response message via the interface for transmission to the device of the system from which the request message originated. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification