No specific control module? Use less specific one

• US 20030061412A1
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Brero, Koen Gerben, Zondag, Eduard Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 6,912,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805

Abstract

For providing device control and communication for one or more controlled devices in a multi-device network, upon detecting attachment of a new device that is to be controlled by a Device Control Module, such Device Control Module is found and control is assigned to such Device Control Module. In particular, first a Device Control Module is sought that is specific to the new device. In case such specific Device Control Module is not found, the network is probed for existence of a less specific Device Control Module and assigning control of the new device to the less specific Device Control Module.

Claims

1. A method for providing device control and communication for one or more controlled devices in a multi-device network, wherein upon detecting the presence in the network of a new device that is to be controlled by a Device Control Module, finding such Device Control Module and assigning control to such Device Control Module, said method being operative for undertaking to find a Device Control Module that is specific for such new controlled device, characterized in that for a new controlled device for which such a specific Device Control Module cannot be found, said method being operative for probing the network for existence of a more generic Device Control Module and thereupon assigning control of the new controlled device to the more generic Device Control Module.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon detecting removal of a particular controlled device the assigning thereto of any specific or generic Device Control Module is terminated.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon an uninstall operation with respect to a specific or generic Device Control Module said probing and assigning operations are undertaken as well.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a Device Probing Application will communicate with one or more Device Probing Applications located on other controller devices to find a best matching “

second choice”

generic Device Control Module for a particular guest controlled device, which best matching Device Control Module then would also imply the best host controller device.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection of a generic Device Control Module is based on a decision tree, wherein the model of the device, the existence of broader device models, and/or device control protocols may serve as parameters for finding the best Device Control Module candidate.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suitability of a Device Control Module for controlling a guest controlled device has been built into the controller device or into a Device Probing Application, or into a Device Control Module itself, and allowing the eventual of the Device Control Module that offers the highest degree of control for the guest controlled device in question.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a generic Device Control Module has been installed for a particular guest controlled device, and wherein subsequently a more specific Device Control Module for that particular guest controlled device is detected on the network, thereupon uninstalling the generic Device Control Module and (re)starting the standard Device Control Module management procedure to allow the more specific Device Control Module to be installed for the guest controlled device in question.

8. A multi-station system being arranged for implementing a method as claimed in claim 1, and comprising device control and communication facilities with respect to one or more controlled devices in a multi-device network, and said system having detection means for detecting the presence in the network of a new device that is to be controlled by a Device Control Module, for then activating finding means for undertaking to find such Device Control Module and thereupon assigning control to such Device Control Module, said system having a first stage for finding a Device Control Module that is specific for such new device, characterized in that said first stage having a failure detection output for in case such finding is impossible, activating Device Probing Application means for probing the network for existing of a more generic Device Control Module and thereupon assigning control of the new device to the more generic Device Control Module.