DOCKING STATION WITH REDUNDANT COMMUNICATION PATH

• US 20110298736A1
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Madonna, Robert P., Noonan, Michael E., Silva, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,191,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

A docking station adapted to receive a touch-sensitive portable control device for communication with a programmable multimedia controller is provided. The docking station has a dedicated, wired redundant communication path coupling the docking station to the programmable multimedia controller for providing effective communication in the absence of wireless or unreliable wireless communications. The docking station is configured to receive signals from the portable control device and to bi-directionally transmit signals to and from said programmable multimedia controller. The portable control device has both wireless and wired compatibility, which includes a touch sensitive user interface configured with configuration information for allowing a user to make selections and enter settings regarding components interfaced with the programmable multimedia controller. The docking station converts the user entered signals into IP messages suitable for transfer over the dedicated, wired redundant communication path.

Claims

1. An expandable multimedia control system, comprising:

(A) a programmable multimedia controller that includes a general purpose computer for executing one or more applications and being configured for controlling, switching data among and interoperating associated components including one or more of audio, video, telephony, data, security, motor-driven, or relay driven ports so as to provide one or more programmable services;

(B) a portable control device having both wireless and wired compatibility, which includes a touch sensitive user interface configured with configuration information for allowing a user to make selections;

(C) a docking station adapted to couple said portable control device to said programmable multimedia controller, said docking station further being configured to receive signals from said portable control device and said programmable multimedia controller; and

(D) a dedicated, wired redundant communication path for providing effective is communication in the absence of wireless or unreliable wireless data, said wired communication path extending between said docking station and said programmable multimedia controller, and being configured to transmit messages bi-directionally between the docking station and said programmable multimedia controller.

2. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said docking station is configured to receive said portable control device at an input means.

3. The expandable multimedia controller as defined in claim 1, wherein said input means of said docking station includes a thirty pin connector for receiving the portable control device.

4. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said docking station further comprises detection logic configured to determine the presence of said portable control device.

5. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said touch sensitive portable control device has both wireless and wired communication capabilities.

6. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 5 wherein said docking station includes a processor that is configured to convert signals received from the portable control device into an Internet Protocol suitable for transmission over an Ethernet connection.

7. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 6 wherein said IP signals from said docking station to said programmable multimedia control system over said wired redundant communication path are control signals representing user selections made at said touch sensitive user interface screen of said portable control device.

8. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 7 wherein said user interface selections, originating from the portable control device for control of said components, are transmitted to said docking station and converted into IP signals and are transmitted as control requests to said programmable multimedia controller across the wired redundant communication path.

9. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 7 wherein said programmable multimedia controller sends to said docking station, state information and meta data originating from said programmable multimedia controller for said portable control devices regarding implementations of said user selections regarding said components.

10. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 1, wherein said touch sensitive portable control device includes a touch sensitive user interface screen.

11. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 10, wherein said portable control device is configured with configuration information allowing the touch sensitive user interface screen of the touch-sensitive portable control device to interface with and to generate signals that are usable by the programmable multimedia controller to signal one or more components providing said programmable services.

12. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 11 wherein said touch sensitive user interface screen includes button locations, button functionality and touch screens associated with one or more of said components.

13. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 11 wherein said configuration information includes one or more of graphics files, artwork, image elements, which may be displayed as part of a user interface to allow a user to control one or more components that provide one or more programmable services.

14. The expandable multimedia control system as defined in claim 1 wherein said portable control device is an iPad®

.

15. A method of communicating between a programmable multimedia controller and a portable control device, comprising:

at said programmable multimedia controller, downloading software configuration information to said portable control device allowing it to accept user selections at a user interface screen on the portable control device with respect to a component interfaced with the programmable multimedia controller;

providing a docking station that receives the portable control device at an input means and accepts signals from the portable control device;

confirming the presence of the portable control device at the input means of the docking station;

connecting the docking station and the programmable multimedia controller for bi-directional communication with a wired redundant communication path;

receiving user commands at the docking station and converting such signals to control requests IP signals;

transmitting control requests across the wired, redundant communication path to the programmable multimedia controller; and

receiving, at the programmable multimedia controller, signals from the docking station, and sending commands to one or more respective components implementing user selections.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 further comprising said programmable multimedia controller sending state information and meta data for use by the portable control device to the docking station over the wired, redundant communication path.

17. The method as defined in claim 15 further comprising configuring said portable control device to receive user selections via a touch sensitive user interface screen that includes button locations, button functionalities and touch screens associated with one or more of said components, including one or more graphics files such as artwork, images elements which may be displayed as part of a user interface, and a set of particular graphic user interface files associated with one or more components that provide one or more programmable services.

18. A method of operating a docking station between a programmable multimedia controller and a portable control device, comprising:

confirming the presence of a touch sensitive portable control device as being coupled to the docking station;

connecting the docking station to a programmable multimedia controller with both a wireless connection and a wired, redundant communication path;

receiving user entered selection signals from the touch sensitive portable control device regarding settings for components interfaced with the programmable multimedia controller;

converting such selection signals into IP signals compatible with said wired, redundant communication path;

sending said signals as control messages over the wired, redundant communication path to said programmable multimedia controller which in turn sends commands to respective components to implement the user'"'"'s selections;

receiving state information and meta data messages returned from the programmable multimedia controller; and

passing state information and meta data signals to the portable control device to update the portable control device with the current state for respective components.

19. The method as defined in claim 18 further comprising at said docking station, powering or recharging the portable control device with a power supply connected to said docking station.

20. The method as defined in claim 18 further comprising said wired, redundant communication path acting to carry signals from the docking station to the programmable multimedia controller in the absence of or unreliability of a wireless connection.