Control system and user interface for network of input devices
First Claim
1. An audio-video (AV) system comprising a display screen, a context sensitive controller coupled to the screen and translating user input commands to device appropriate messages to drive peripheral devices, an IR signal receiver coupled to the controller and adapted to receive user input commands, an IR emitter coupled to the controller, and a gate coupled to the emitter, the controller and the IR signal receiver.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more particularly, a control system and uniform user interface for centrally controlling these devices in a manner that appears seamless and transparent to the user. In a preferred embodiment, a command center or hub of a network system includes a context and connection permutation sensitive control system that enables centralized and seamless integrated control of all types of input devices. The control system preferably includes a versatile icon based graphical user interface that provides a uniform, on-screen centralized control system for the network system. The user interface, which includes a visual recognition system, enables the user to transparently control multiple input devices over a variety of protocols while operating on a single control layer of an input command device. In an alternative embodiment, the control system also enables gated signal pass-through control while avoiding signal jamming.
62 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. An audio-video (AV) system comprising
a display screen, a context sensitive controller coupled to the screen and translating user input commands to device appropriate messages to drive peripheral devices, an IR signal receiver coupled to the controller and adapted to receive user input commands, an IR emitter coupled to the controller, and a gate coupled to the emitter, the controller and the IR signal receiver.
-
6. A controller for a network of devices communicating with the controller over a variety of protocols, comprising
an IR signal, a IR transmitter, a control module coupled to the IR signal receiver and IR transmitter, the control module including a context sensitive control system, the control module translating user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the network devices, and a gate coupled to the IR receiver, IR transmitter and control module.
Specification