Method, system, and computer program product for managing controlled residential or non-residential environments
First Claim
1. A method of managing a plurality of network devices within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request to control the plurality of network devices;
retrieving a predefined control macro associated with said request, said control macro including a plurality of device-specific commands;
identifying a room for implementing said request;
sending to each network device a sequence of device-specific commands to control an operation or a function of said network device; and
executing each of said device-specific commands to control the plurality of network devices.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.
211 Citations
78 Claims
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1. A method of managing a plurality of network devices within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request to control the plurality of network devices;
retrieving a predefined control macro associated with said request, said control macro including a plurality of device-specific commands;
identifying a room for implementing said request;
sending to each network device a sequence of device-specific commands to control an operation or a function of said network device; and
executing each of said device-specific commands to control the plurality of network devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of managing a plurality of network devices within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:
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enabling creation of a sequence of commands that, when executed, controls an operation or a function of the plurality of network devices;
associating said sequence with a single command; and
storing said single command on a controller device such that execution of said single command sends a request to execute said sequence of commands. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of managing a plurality of network devices within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a region containing the plurality of network devices;
specifying instructions for controlling an operation or a function of the plurality of network devices;
identifying device-specific commands for executing said instructions at each network device; and
combining said device-specific commands into a sequence of control commands that, when executed, enables control of the plurality of network devices. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for managing a plurality of network components within a controlled environment, comprising:
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a network control center for controlling an operation and/or a function of the plurality of network components; and
positioning means for tracking and/or monitoring a location or a movement of at least one of the network components, wherein at least one of the network components includes controller means for interacting with said network control center and said positioning means, and wherein said controller means is operable to send a control request to one or more of the network components located within a vicinity of said controller means. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for managing a plurality of network components within a controlled environment, comprising:
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a platform for hosting a network control center for controlling an operation and/or a function of the plurality of network components; and
positioning means for tracking and/or monitoring a location or a movement of at least one of the network components, wherein at least one of the network components includes a controller means for interacting with said positioning means, and wherein said controller means is operable to send a control request to one or more of the network components located within a vicinity of said controller means. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A system for managing a plurality of network components within a controlled environment, comprising:
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a portable network controller for controlling an operation and/or a function of the plurality of network components a control center for enabling communications among the network components and said network controller; and
positioning means for tracking and/or monitoring a location or a movement of the network components. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A system for distributing information within a controlled environment, comprising:
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a plurality of network components located throughout the controlled environment; and
a control center included in a smoke detector for enabling communications among said network components, wherein at least one of said network components includes a controller means for sending a control request to one or more of said network components. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of distributing information within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:
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operating a portable device to send a request to a control center located in a wireless access point;
receiving said request and processing said request by said control center; and
controlling an operation or a function of one or more devices or applications in response to said request. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. A method of distributing information within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:
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operating a portable device to send a request to a control center located in a smoke detector;
receiving said request and processing said request by said control center; and
controlling an operation or a function of one or more devices or applications in response to said request. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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56. A method of managing a plurality of network components within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a discovery message from a network component, said network component broadcasting said discovery message on a continuous or periodic basis;
identifying a name and properties of said network component;
determining a location of said network component; and
adding said name and properties to a region profile for said location. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of managing one or more network devices at a control server, comprising the steps of:
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detecting a network device within a region of a controlled environment;
producing a sequence of device-specific commands for controlling an operation or a function of said network device, said sequence being automatically produced at the control server;
associating said sequence with a single command; and
storing said single command on a controller device such that execution of said single command sends a request to the control server to execute said sequence. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method of managing one or more network devices within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:
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providing a collection of one or more sets of IR codes, said one or more sets being associated with an operation or a function of one or more network devices;
selecting a set of codes from said one or more sets, said selected set being associated with a sequence of numbers for navigating a menu of a designated device from said one or more network devices; and
sending said selected set to said designated device, said designated device being capable of executing said selected set to thereby input said sequence of numbers to navigate said menu and set an internal clock of said designated device. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A method of managing one or more network devices within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:
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displaying an electronic program guide on a network controller, wherein said network controller is responsive to transmit a control request to view or record a selection from said electronic program guide;
receiving said control request at a control center; and
executing said control request to command one or more network devices to view or record said selection. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78)
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Specification