Control object and user interface for controlling networked devices

• US 20050091665A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Baird, Andrew C., Kadnier, Griffith
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A system for including a set of software components and an application programming interface for the logical networked representation and implementation of a system of smart devices within a home or small office environment. The software components include a control object component and a user interface component. The control object is a software object capable that carries out communication, accepts and issues control messages. The control object allows a user to remotely control or query a physical device for which the specific control object has responsibility and for maintaining logical and physical connections and control of the device. The user interface supplies a coherent and transparent interface across all network media and topologies. The user interface is capable of communicating with any control object that it identifies as being controllable in a given system. The communication may be across a logical network or may be local to a particular device. The user interface takes on the “personality” of the physical device for which the attendant control object carries a logical and physical mapping and control responsibility.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for registering control objects, the computer-executable instructions performing:

broadcasting a control message from an enabled control object to inform other registered control objects that said enabled control object exists;

determining if said enabled control object is a first registered control object;

appointing said first registered object to be a manager object to administer a list of logical attributes of software controllable devices; and

wherein all control objects are capable of being a manager object in a system for controlling a plurality of software controllable devices having embedded operating systems and represented by a plurality of control objects that maintain said list of logical attributes of respective ones of said software controllable devices, said control object accepting and issuing control messages to and from said respective ones of said software controllable devices, and said control object being a component object model object and polymophic such that said control object is adapted to take on the logical attributes and command and control capabilities of any of said software controllable devices.

34. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 33, said manager object further:

sending said list to any new control object that registers with said system;

periodically broadcasting said list to all registered control objects; and

performing a synchronization to force all other control objects to synchronize to the said list.

35. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 33, wherein said list contains an identifier and an address for each registered control object on said system.

36. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 33, the computer-executable instructions further performing an election if said manager object ceases to function, said election comprising:

promoting a second registered control object to said manager object;

promoting all other control objects up one position on said list; and

distributing said list to all registered control objects on said system.

37. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36, the computer-executable instructions further performing distributing said list to all registered control objects if any control object other than said manager object ceases to function.

38. A method of registering control objects, the method comprising:

means for broadcasting a control message from an enabled control object to inform other registered control objects that said enabled control object exists;

means for determining if said enabled control object is a first registered control object;

means for appointing said first registered object to be a manager object to administer a list of logical attributes of software controllable devices; and

wherein all control objects are capable of being a manager object in a system for controlling a plurality of software controllable devices having embedded operating systems and represented by a plurality of control objects that maintain said list of logical attributes of respective ones of said software controllable devices, said control object accepting and issuing control messages to and from said respective ones of said software controllable devices, and said control object being a component object model object and polymophic such that said control object is adapted to take on the logical attributes and command and control capabilities of any of said software controllable devices.

39. The method as recited in claim 38, said manager object further:

sending said list to any new control object that registers with said system;

periodically broadcasting said list to all registered control objects; and

performing a synchronization to force all other control objects to synchronize to the said list.

40. The method as recited in claim 38, wherein said list contains an identifier and an address for each registered control object on said system.

41. The method as recited in claim 38, further comprising means for performing an election if said manager object ceases to function, said election comprising:

promoting a second registered control object to said manager object;

promoting all other control objects up one position on said list; and

distributing said list to all registered control objects on said system.

42. The method as recited in claim 41, further comprising means for distributing said list to all registered control objects if any control object other than said manager object ceases to function.