Information device, information device system control method, and information device system

• US 20040172461A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Chiyo Akamatsu, Hidefumi Goto, Shinichiro Fukushima, Tsukasa Hasegawa, Yoshikatsu Yoshino
• Inventors: Fukushima, Shinichiro, Goto, Hidefumi, Yoshino, Yoshikatsu, Akamatsu, Chiyo, Hasegawa, Tsukasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• 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 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A device including a self-information memory which stores function data for other devices to operate the device and device name data. Upon receiving a request from another device for the device name or function data, the device sends the data stored in the self-information memory. When function data is thereafter received, the device executes a function indicated by the data. When plural devices are connected to each other via a network, device acting as a mater device, includes a connected device memory which stores device name data of all connected device and a communication pair memory which stores function data of the communication partner.

Claims

1. An information device system comprising:

at least two information devices connected via a bus or a network, said information devices having ID numbers automatically assigned subsequently to being connected to said bus or network,

wherein each information device identifies the other information device using the ID number of the other information device,

wherein each information device comprises;

storage means for storing device name data indicating a name of said information device to provide information used for distinguishing an identification of said information device from the other information device, and another storage means for storing function data including instruction data used for enabling said information device to be controlled by the other information device,

wherein said information device sends to the other information device said function data including information data in response to a request from the other information device and receives from the other information device information which is generated by the other information device based on said function data received so that said information device is controlled by the other information device,

wherein at least one of said information devices further comprises;

first storage means for storing device name data received from the other information device, and

second storage means for storing function data sent from said the other information device,

wherein said one information device controls the other information device such that said one information device requests one or more other information devices in said system to send device name data and stores the received device name data in said first storage means, requests a subject information device to be controlled among the other information devices in said system to send function data and stores said function data sent from said subject information device in said second storage means, generates control information based on said function data stored in said second storage means for controlling said subject information device and sends the generated control information to control said subject information device.