Network adapted for flexible media integration

• US 20040168166A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Heribert Baldus, Huibert Henk Eggenhuisen, Stefan Abramowski, Tobias Helbig, Wim J.J. Stut
• Original Assignee: Heribert Baldus, Huibert Henk Eggenhuisen, Stefan Abramowski, Tobias Helbig, Wim J.J. Stut
• Inventors: Eggenhuisen, Huibert Henk, Abramowski, Stefan, Stut, Wim J.J., Baldus, Heribert, Helbig, Tobias
• Application Number:
  US10/739,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20040168166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• 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: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A network system supports distributed applications that execute on networked devices. The system provides a uniform modeling and implementation method and system that are particularly suited to use in digital in-home networks. For example, the invention may be applied to support the interoperation of various digital consumer electronics devices, such as TV, receivers, tuners, digital storage, and a personal computer interconnected by a home network. The method and system help to realize the potential of networked devices by providing for rich interoperation that combines the functionalities of different devices and allows for expansion and upgrade by providing a uniform scheme for controlling the interaction among the attached devices.

Claims

1. A software system for controlling networked appliances, comprising:

a network system with terminals including media input and output devices and effective to receive media data from a media data source and output said media data at at least one of said terminals;

said network with terminals including at least one processor programmed to provide an operating system and to support applications;

said operating system having application level software with control applications that provide support to applications;

said operating system having an activity component that provides processes that are common to different ones of said applications;

said activity component including a player component configured to manage media data streams and a manager component for registering all active applications;

said operating system including a user interface component to receive commands from a user to perform an function involving said media data and in response thereto generate a software process part of which is derived from said activity component and part of which is derived from a special application process, and registering said software process with a registering component.