Arrangement of icons of network components on a screen

• US 20040169662A1
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Riemann, Uwe, Hutter, Ingo, Platte, Hans-Joachim
• Application Number:
  US10/480,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20040169662A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

The targeted driving of a network component is intended to be facilitated for the user. Therefore, the icons (I1, I2, I4, I5, I6) of the network components are always represented at desired, fixed display locations of a screen (4). The display locations are either read directly from the network component or determined via the Global Unique Identifier GUID.

Claims

1. Method for displaying network components by

representing of the network components incorporated in a network on a display device by a respective unique identifier (I1, I2, I4, I5, I1),

assigning of an absolute or relative display location on the display device (4) to a network component (1, 2, 4, 5, 6),

characterized by

simultaneously displaying the respective unique identifiers (I1, I2, I4, I5, I6) of the network components incorporated in the network in an order defined by said assigned display locations.

2. Method according to Claim 1, wherein the identifier (I1, I2, I4, I5, I6) is a symbol, in particular an icon.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display location is stored in the network component (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) and is read out from the network component in the event of incorporation into a network (3).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each network component (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) is allocated an individual identification identifier, and the assignment of a display location is effected using the identification identifier.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the identification identifier is the GUID of the network component (1, 2, 4, 5, 6).

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in the event of incorporation of a network component whose absolute display location is already allocated, a new absolute display location is defined for one or a plurality of affected network component (a).

7. Apparatus for displaying network components having a display device (4) for representing the network components (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) of a network (3) by respective unique identifiers (I1, I2, I4, I5, I6), and a control device for assigning a respective display location on the display device (4) to each of the network components (1, 2, 4, 5, 6),

characterized in that

said control device controls simultaneous display of said respective unique identifiers (I1, I2, I4, I5, I6) of the network components incorporated in the network in an order defined by said assigned display locations.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a memory device for storing the display location or an assignment table via which an individual display location can be assigned to the network components (l, 2, 4, 5, 6) by the control device.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each network component (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) can be represented by a specific identifier (I1, I2, I4, I5, I6), in particular icon, on the display device (4).

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the network (3) is an IEEE 1394 network.

12. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 11, wherein each network component (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) can be represented in the control device by a software element, in particular a device control module, which comprises a unique identification identifier for the network component (1, 2, 4, 5, 6), and an evaluation device is provided with which the identification identifier, in particular a GUID, can be extracted from the software element.

11. Apparatus according to any of claimr 7 to 10, wherein the control device is an H&

Vi controller.

13. Network component (1, 2, 4, S, 6) for incorporation into a network (3), a unique identifier zo (I1, I2, I4, 15, I6) being assigned to the network component (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) on a display device (4) of the network (3),

characterized

in that the network component (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) has a memory device for storing the display location of the identifier (I1, I2, I4, I5, I6) assigned to it in a network (3), or an assignment table via which an individual display location can be assigned to it.