VIRTUAL WIRING

• US 20100077312A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catalina Computing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Catalina Computing, LLC
• Inventors: Morss, Stephen Williams
• Granted Patent: US 8,601,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/740
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system for enabling a user, through a user interface, to manage a correspondence that defines how information about a state of a first device at a first location is to be used to control a second device at a second location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

through a user interface, enabling a user to manage a correspondence that defines how information about a state of a first device at a first location is to be used to control a second device at a second location.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the correspondence defines a virtual connection of the first device and the second device.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the virtual connection carries the information about the state of the first device to the second device.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the state of the first device is changing no faster than about once a second.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the state of the first device comprises on or off.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the state of the first device comprises a level within a range.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the user interface is based on a wiring analogy in which the correspondence is analogized as a wire that conducts the information about the state of the first device at the first location to the second device at the second location.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the information about the state of the first device is received from a state sensor that is associated with the first device and is used at the second location by a controller that is associated with the second device.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the user interface enables the user to define and manage virtual connections to carry state information from one or more of an arbitrary number of source devices to one or more of an arbitrary number of controlled devices.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the user interface enables the user to define a set of virtual connections of arbitrary size and complexity.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising, through the user interface, enabling the user to define and manage the information about the state of the first device.

12. The method of claim 1 comprising enabling the user to specify one or more predetermined events, and sending alerts in response to occurrences of the one or more predetermined events.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the user interface is configured to provide information regarding the correspondence to an application capable of managing the information.

14. The method of claim 1 in which the user interface is a web-based user interface.

15. A system comprising:

a user interface to manage a correspondence that defines how information about a state of a first device at a first location is to be used to control a second device at a second location.

16. The system of claim 15 in which the correspondence defines a virtual connection of the first device and the second device.

17. The system of claim 15 in which the user interface is based on a wiring analogy in which the correspondence is analogized as a wire that conducts the information about the state of the first device at the first location to the second device at the second location.

18. The system of claim 15 in which the information about the state of the first device is received from a state sensor that is associated with the first device and is used at the second location by a controller that is associated with the second device.

19. The system of claim 15 in which the user interface enables the user to define and manage virtual connections to carry state information from one or more of an arbitrary number of source devices to one or more of an arbitrary number of controlled devices.

20. The system of claim 15 in which the user interface enables the user to define a set of virtual connections of arbitrary size and complexity.

21. The system of claim 15 in which the user interface enables the user to define and manage the information about the state of the first device.

22. The system of claim 15 in which the user interface is a web-based user interface.

23. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to:

through a user interface, enable a user to manage a correspondence that defines how information about a state of a first device at a first location is to be used to control of a second device at a second location.

24. The medium of claim 23 in which the correspondence defines a virtual connection of the first device and the second device.

25. The medium of claim 24 in which the virtual connection carries the information about the state of the first device to the second device.

26. The medium of claim 23 in which the state of the first device is changing no faster than about once a second.

27. The medium of claim 23 in which the state of the first device comprises on or off.

28. The medium of claim 23 in which the state of the first device comprises a level within a range.

29. The medium of claim 23 in which the user interface is based on a wiring analogy in which the correspondence is analogized as a wire that conducts the information about the state of the first device at the first location to the second device at the second location.

30. The medium of claim 23 in which the information about the state of the first device is received from a state sensor that is associated with the first device and is used at the second location by a controller that is associated with the second device.

31. The medium of claim 23 in which the user interface enables the user to define and manage virtual connections to carry state information from one or more of an arbitrary number of source devices to one or more of an arbitrary number of controlled devices.

32. The medium of claim 23 in which the user interface enables the user to define a set of virtual connections of arbitrary size and complexity.

33. The medium of claim 23 comprising instructions to, through the user interface, enable the user to define and manage the information about the state of the first device.

34. The medium of claim 23 comprising instructions to enable the user to specify one or more predetermined events, and sending alerts in response to occurrences of the one or more predetermined events.

35. The medium of claim 23 in which the user interface is configured to provide information regarding the correspondence to an application capable of managing the information.

36. The medium of claim 23 in which the user interface is a web-based user interface.