Control of Electronic Components

• US 20110153032A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EchoStar Global B.V. (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Klok, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 10,198,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network

Abstract

A central control box utilizes a receiving element configured to receive an input command, a processor configured to receive a first data signal from a first component, receive state information regarding a second component, and process the received input command based on the state information regarding the second component. The central control box further utilizes a transmitter configured to transmit the first data signal, and a storage device connected to the processor. The storage device is configured to store the state information regarding the second component. Other embodiments include a system and a method for routing a first data signal between a first component and a second component.

Claims

1. A central control box, comprising:

a receiving element configured to receive an input command;

a processor connected to the receiving element and configured to receive a first data signal from a first component, receive state information regarding a second component, and process the received input command based on the state information regarding the second component;

a first transmitter connected to the processor and configured to transmit the first data signal; and

a storage device connected to the processor and configured to store the state information regarding the second component.

2. The central control box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to update the state information stored by the storage device regarding the second component.

3. The central control box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first component is located in a different room than the second component.

4. The central control box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first data signal is received from a first local control box connected to the first component and the state information is received from a second local control box connected to the second component.

5. The central control box as claimed in claim 4, wherein the central control box further comprises a second transmitter connected to the processor and configured to transmit a control command to control a function of the first local control box.

6. The central control box as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first transmitter is configured to transmit the first data signal from the first local control box to a second local control box.

7. The central control box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the state information regarding the second component includes whether the second component is at least one of available or unavailable to process the first data signal.

8. The central control box as claimed in claim 7, wherein if the state information indicates that the second component is available to process the first data signal, the first transmitter transmits the first data signal from a first local control box connected to the first component to a second local control box connected to the second component.

9. The central control box as claimed in claim 8, wherein if the state information indicates that the second component is unavailable to process the first data signal, the first transmitter does not transmit the first data signal.

10. The central control box as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to update the state information to indicate that the second component is unavailable to process the first data signal once the first data signal is transmitted from the first local control box to the second local control box.

11. The central control box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input command is received from a first local control box connected to the central control box.

12. A method for routing a first data signal between a first component and a second component, the method comprising:

receiving an input command identifying the first component and the second component;

receiving a first data signal output by the first component;

retrieving state information regarding the second component; and

routing the first data signal through a central control box based on the state information regarding the second component.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first data signal is routed from a first local control box connected to the first component to a second local control box connected to the second component.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first data signal is not routed through the control box if the state information indicates that the second component is unavailable.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the state information indicates that the second component is unavailable if the second component is at least one of receiving a data signal from another component or is not connected.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising storing the state information regarding the second component in a storage device and updating the state information regarding the second component once the first data signal has been routed through the central control box.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the input command is received from a first local control box connected to the central control box.

18. A system for routing a data signal between a plurality of components, comprising:

a first control box configured to receive a first data signal from a first component;

a second control box operably connected to the first control box; and

a third control box operably connected to the second control box and to a second component;

wherein

the second control box is configured to transmit the first data signal from the first control box to the third control box;

the third control box is configured to relay the first data signal to the second component; and

at least one of the first, second, and third control box is configured to receive and store state information regarding the second component.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second control box is configured to transmit the first data signal to the second component based on the state information regarding the second component.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the third control box does not transmit the first data signal from the first control box to the second control box if the state information indicates that the second component is unavailable.