Method, system, and computer program product for setup of multi-device control

• US 20050128048A1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: OpenPeak Inc.
• Inventors: Harter, Glenn, Flores, Justin, Krzyzanowski, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.710
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23027 Database with information on how to control or test different appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• 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 12/282 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• 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 21/43615 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64753 : directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64784 : Data processing by the network data processing in packet switching systems H04L12/56; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90; provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 : Transmission by server directed to the client

Abstract

Activity-based or experienced-based operations are created and defined during an initialization or setup session for one or more system component, with minimum or no user interaction. The system components include legacy and/or non-legacy devices, which are configured and managed within a controlled environment, such as a home or business peer-to-peer or client-server network. During an initialization or setup session, relevant device information and device metadata are collected via a conventional or discovery protocol interface. For a legacy device that is not automatically discoverable, a user adds the legacy device to the controlled environment by inputting the device information. The device information can also be automatically collected from an accessible database. Once the device information has been collected, the system components are configured to support one or more activity-based or experienced-based operations.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a device to perform an activity-based or an experience-based operation, comprising the steps of:

accessing device information pertaining to the device; and

integrating said device information with a sequence of commands that, when executed, controls the device to thereby perform the activity-based or the experience-based operation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said accessing step comprises the step of:

querying a storage medium to access metadata for controlling the device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said accessing step comprises the step of:

querying a storage medium to access command codes for controlling the device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said querying step comprises the step of:

accessing said command codes from the device, wherein said storage medium is coupled locally to the device.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said storage medium is remotely located from the device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said accessing step comprises the step of:

receiving at least one of a manufacturer name for the device, a model number of the device, and a device type for the device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said accessing step further comprises the step of:

receiving at least one of said manufacturer name, said model number, and said device type over a discovery protocol interface.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said accessing step further comprises the step of:

receiving at least one of said manufacturer name, said model number, and said device type from user input.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said accessing step further comprises the step of:

utilizing at least one of said manufacturer name, said model number, and said device type to query a storage medium to access at least one of command codes and metadata for controlling the device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said accessing step further comprises the step of:

optimizing collection of said device information based on information received from a discovery protocol interface or user input.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said optimizing step further comprises the step of:

processing the received information to dynamically tailor a series of questions or informational prompts to collect additional information pertaining to the device.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending the integrated sequence to a wired interface coupled to the device.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending the integrated sequence to a wireless interface coupled to the device.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

performing the activity-based or the experienced-based operation to implement one or more favorite settings defined for a user.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

performing the activity-based or the experienced-based operation to play a playlist of media and/or multimedia.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

performing the activity-based or the experienced-based operation to administer a security protocol established for the device.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

performing the activity-based or the experienced-based operation to synchronize an operation of the device with an operation of one or more additional devices receiving a sequence of commands from said controller.

18. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embedded in said medium for causing a computer to control a device to perform an activity-based or an experienced-based operation, comprising:

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to access device information pertaining to the device; and

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to integrate said device information with a sequence of commands that, when executed, controls the device to thereby perform the activity-based or the experience-based operation.

19. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein said first computer readable program code means comprises:

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to query a storage medium to access at least one of metadata or command codes for controlling the device.

20. A method for managing a plurality of system components within a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of regions within the controlled environment, wherein each region includes one or more of the system components;

assigning one or more of the system components to at least one of said regions within the controlled environment; and

configuring the assigned one or more system components to perform an activity-based or experience-based operation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said defining step comprises the step of:

adding or removing regions from the controlled environment over a user-input interface on a controller.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said assigning step comprises the steps of:

identifying the one or more system components to be assigned to said at least one region; and

for each identified system component, assigning said identified system component to a region within the controlled environment in which said identified system component is located.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said identifying step comprises the step of:

adding or removing the one or more system components over a discovery protocol interface on a controller.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said identifying step comprises the step of:

adding or removing the one or more system components over a user-input interface on a controller.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said configuring step comprises the steps of:

accessing information pertaining to at least one of the assigned one or more system components; and

integrating said information with a sequence of commands that, when executed, controls the at least one assigned system component to thereby perform the activity-based or experience-based operation.

26. The method of claims 25, where said accessing step comprises the step of:

querying a storage medium to access metadata for controlling the at least one assigned system component.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said accessing step comprises the step of:

querying a storage medium to access command codes for controlling the at least one assigned system component.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said querying step comprises the step of:

accessing said command codes from the at least one assigned system component, wherein said storage medium is coupled locally to the at least one assigned system component.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein said storage medium is remotely located from the at least one assigned system component.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein said accessing step comprises the step of:

receiving, at a controller, at least one of a manufacturer name for the at least one assigned system component, a model number of the at least one assigned system component, and a device type for the at least one assigned system component.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said accessing step further comprises the step of:

receiving, at said controller, at least one of said manufacturer name, said model number, and said device type over a discovery protocol interface.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein said accessing step further comprises the step of:

receiving, at said controller, at least one of said manufacturer name, said model number, and said device type from user input.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein said accessing step further comprises the step of:

utilizing at least one of said manufacturer name, said model number, and said device type to query a storage medium to access at least one of command codes and metadata for controlling the at least one assigned system component.

34. The method according to claim 25, wherein said accessing step further comprises the step of:

optimizing collection of said information based on information received from a discovery protocol interface or user input.

35. The method according to claim 25, wherein said accessing step further comprises the step of:

processing the received information to dynamically tailor a series of questions or informational prompts to collect additional information pertaining to the assigned one or more system components.

36. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

sending the integrated sequence to a wired interface coupled to the at least one assigned system component.

37. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

sending the integrated sequence to a wireless interface coupled to the at least one assigned system component.

38. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

performing the activity-based or the experienced-based operation to implement one or more favorite settings defined for a user.

39. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

performing the activity-based or the experienced-based operation to play a playlist of media and/or multimedia.

40. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

performing the activity-based or the experienced-based operation to administer a security protocol established for the at least one assigned system component.

41. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

performing the activity-based or the experienced-based operation to synchronize an operation of the at least one assigned system component with an operation of one or more additional system components receiving a sequence of commands from said controller.