Multimedia communication management system with external system management
First Claim
1. A control system for controlling external systems coupled to a local area network, the control system comprising:
- a control unit coupled to the local area network, the control unit comprising system control software operative to forward a tagged external system message that includes a control command to at least one external system and to receive a tagged external system message that includes status information back from the at least one external system upon query from the control unit; and
a first subscriber station in communication with the control unit, the first subscriber station operative to interface with the control unit using tagged subscriber station messages, the tagged subscriber station messages being applicable to a subscriber interface of the first subscriber station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One aspect of the invention provides a method performed by the control unit for controlling external electronic systems coupled to a LAN. One embodiment of the method includes receiving a first signal from a first subscriber station. Responsive to the first signal, the method forwards a tagged subscriber station message to the first subscriber station. The tagged subscriber station message is applicable to the subscriber interface of the first subscriber station. The method receives a second signal from the first subscriber station based at least in part on the tagged subscriber station message. The method forwards a tagged external system message that includes a control command to at least one external system based at least in part on the second signal from the first subscriber station. After forwarding a tagged external system message to the at least one external system, the method can further include receiving a tagged external system message that includes status information back from the at least one external system
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A control system for controlling external systems coupled to a local area network, the control system comprising:
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a control unit coupled to the local area network, the control unit comprising system control software operative to forward a tagged external system message that includes a control command to at least one external system and to receive a tagged external system message that includes status information back from the at least one external system upon query from the control unit; and
a first subscriber station in communication with the control unit, the first subscriber station operative to interface with the control unit using tagged subscriber station messages, the tagged subscriber station messages being applicable to a subscriber interface of the first subscriber station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control unit for facilitating the control of external systems, the control unit and the external systems being coupled to a local area network, the control unit comprising:
system control software operative to interface with a first subscriber station using tagged subscriber station messages, the first subscriber station in communication with the control unit through a network, the tagged subscriber station messages being applicable to a subscriber interface of the first subscriber station, the system control software operative to forward a tagged external system message that includes a control command to at least one external system and to receive a tagged external system message that includes status information back from the at least one external system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a control unit coupled to a local area network, a method for controlling external systems coupled to the local area network, the method comprising:
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receiving a first signal from a first subscriber station;
responsive to the first signal, forwarding a tagged subscriber station message to the first subscriber station, the tagged subscriber station message being applicable to the subscriber interface of the first subscriber station;
receiving a second signal from the first subscriber station based at least in part on the tagged subscriber station message; and
forwarding a tagged external system message that includes a control command to at least one external system based at least in part on the second signal from the first subscriber station. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification