Method and system for interpreting device control commands

• US 20030182474A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Crawford, Chris, Wugofski, Theodore David, Sullivan, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A multimedia system comprising an information handling system, a plurality of multimedia devices operatively and electrically connected to the computer, and at least one software module residing in computer memory for interpreting device control commands is capable of performing a method for interpreting device control commands, including receiving a high level device control command, generating a generic device control script based on a device interconnect model and the high level device control command, interpreting the generic device control script, and transmitting specific device control commands to a device through a device interface.

Claims

1. A method of interpreting device control commands, comprising:

receiving a high level device control command;

generating a generic device control script based on a device interconnect model and the high level device control command;

interpreting the generic device control script; and

transmitting specific device control commands to a device through a device interface.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

providing a plurality of databases including an infrared command database, a 1394 command database, a vendor-specific command database, a device, manufacturer, model, and interface database, and other command data; and

wherein the generic device control script is interpreted by accessing at least one of the plurality of databases and creating specific device control commands.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

providing at least one infrared command database;

wherein the generic device control script is partially interpreted by selecting at least one infrared command from the database; and

transmitting specific infrared commands.

4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

providing at least one 1394 command database;

wherein the generic device control script is partially interpreted by selecting at least one 1394 command from the database; and

transmitting specific 1394 commands.

5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

providing at least one vendor-specific command database;

wherein the generic device control script is partially interpreted by selecting at least one vendor specific command from the database; and

transmitting specific vendor specific commands.

6. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

providing at least one device, manufacturer, model, and interface database;

wherein the generic device control script is partially interpreted by selecting at least one command database based on the properties of the device; and

transmitting specific commands.

7. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

providing at least one device interconnect model; and

wherein the generic device control script is generated based on the device interconnect model and the high level device control command.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the high level device control command is received from a user.

9. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

providing at least one interface command database;

selecting at least one interface command based on the properties of the device to be controlled; and

executing the interface commands.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific device control commands are transmitted on an infrared transmitter.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific device control commands are transmitted on a 1394 driver.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific device control commands are transmitted on one or more of:

an infrared transmitter, a 1394 driver, and other drivers and interfaces.

13. A multimedia system comprising:

an information handling system comprising a memory device;

a plurality of multimedia devices in communication with said information handling system; and

at least one software module residing in said memory device, the software module comprising a set of machine-readable instructions performing a method of interpreting device control commands, comprising;

receiving a high level device control command;

generating a generic device control script based on a device interconnect model and the high level device control command;

interpreting the generic device control script; and

transmitting specific device control commands to a device through a device interface.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the high level device control command is generated by the multimedia system.

15. A multimedia system comprising:

an information handling system comprising a memory device;

a plurality of multimedia devices in communication with said information handling system;

at least one first software module residing in said memory device, the first software module comprising a plurality of databases including an infrared command database, a 1394 command database, a vendor specific command database, a device, manufacturer, model, and interface database and other command data; and

at least one second software module residing in said memory device, the second software module comprising a set of machine-readable instructions performing a method of interpreting device control commands, comprising;

receiving a high level device control command;

generating a generic device control script based on a device interconnect model and the high level device control command;

interpreting the generic device control script; and

transmitting specific device control commands to a device through a device interface.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises the high level device control command being generated by the multimedia system.

17. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions capable of causing a computer to perform a method of interpreting device control commands, the method comprising:

receiving a high level device control command;

generating a generic device control script based on a device interconnect model and the high level device control command;

interpreting the generic device control script; and

transmitting specific device control commands to a device through a device interface.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a plurality of databases including an infrared command database, a 1394 command database, a vendor-specific command database, a device, manufacturer, model, and interface database, and other command data; and

wherein the generic device control script is interpreted by accessing at least one of the plurality of databases and creating specific device control commands.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing at least one infrared command database;

wherein the generic device control script is partially interpreted by selecting at least one infrared command from the database; and

transmitting specific infrared commands.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing at least one 1394 command database;

wherein the generic device control script is partially interpreted by selecting at least one 1394 command from the database; and

transmitting specific 1394 commands.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing at least one vendor-specific command database;

wherein the generic device control script is partially interpreted by selecting at least one vendor specific command from the database; and

transmitting specific vendor specific commands.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing at least one device, manufacturer, model, and interface database;

wherein the generic device control script is partially interpreted by selecting at least one command database based on the properties of the device; and

transmitting specific commands.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing at least one device interconnect model; and

wherein the generic device control script is generated based on the device interconnect model and the high level device control command.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing at least one interface command database;

selecting at least one interface command based on the properties of the device to be controlled; and

executing the interface commands.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the specific device control commands are transmitted on an infrared transmitter.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the specific device control commands are transmitted on a 1394 driver.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the specific device control commands are transmitted on one or more of:

an infrared transmitter, a 1394 driver, and other drivers and interfaces.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a plurality of databases including an infrared command database, a 1394 command database, a vendor specific command database, a device, manufacturer, model, and interface database and other command data; and

wherein the generic device control script is interpreted for a device that is not an exact match in at least one of the plurality of databases by creating specific device control commands for a similar device.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a plurality of databases including an infrared command database, a 1394 command database, a vendor specific command database, a device, manufacturer, model, and interface database and other command data; and

wherein the generic device control script is interpreted for a device that is not in at least one of the plurality of databases by creating specific device control commands for a generic device.

30. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of interpreting device control commands, the method comprising:

providing at least one device interconnect model;

providing a plurality of databases including an infrared command database, a 1394 command database, a vendor specific command database, a device, manufacturer, model, and interface database and other command data;

receiving a high level device control command;

generating a generic device control script based on one or more device interconnect models and the high level device control command;

accessing one or more of the plurality of databases to interpret the generic device control script;

interpreting the generic device control script to create specific device control commands;

creating specific device control commands for the device when the device is in at least one of the plurality of databases, for a similar device when the device is not in at least one of the plurality of databases, or for a generic device when no similar device is in at least one of the plurality of databases; and

transmitting specific device control commands on an infrared transmitter, a 1394 driver or other drivers and interfaces.