Dual Mode Master/Slave Interface

• US 20150100658A1
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Keystone Integrations LLC
• Original Assignee: Keystone Integrations LLC
• Inventors: Lieberman, David, Turgeon, Robert, Tietjen, Byron, Gardella, Greg
• Application Number:
  US14/320,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20150100658A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/027 Arrangements or methods related to powering off a display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/022 Centralised management of display operation, e.g. in a server instead of locally
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, a dual mode controller switches between a master mode in which the controller is the primary controller of external display devices and a slave mode wherein the controller functions mainly as a conduit for data, such as video data, sent from an external control and display device (ECD).

Claims

1-61. -61. (canceled)

62. An dual-mode interface method comprising:

receiving, at a stand-alone dual mode controller from an external control and display device (ECD), an instruction to switch between a master mode and a slave mode;

while in master mode;

receiving, at a dual mode controller, data from an external display device;

transmitting, from the dual mode controller, display data to the external display device;

presenting, from the dual mode controller to a user, a graphical user interface;

receiving, at the dual mode controller and from a user, control commands; and

,

transmitting display data to the external display device in response to the control commands; and

,

while in slave mode;

receiving, at a dual mode controller, data from an external display device;

transmitting, from the dual mode controller, data to the external display device;

receiving, at the dual mode controller and from the ECD, video data and commands; and

,

transmitting the video data to the external display device until the video data transmission is terminated by the ECD, whereby the dual-mode controller serves mainly as a data router between the external display device and the ECD.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the ECD does not include a display.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising switching from a slave mode to a master mode upon termination of a wireless connection between the dual mode controller and the ECD.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the connection between the dual mode controller and external display device is wireless.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein the connection between the dual mode controller and ECD is wireless.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein the external display device is located within a dwelling.

68. The method of claim 62, wherein the ECD is a smartphone.

69. The method of claim 62, wherein the ECD receives streaming media from a remote server.

70. The method of claim 62, wherein a processing power of the ECD substantially exceeds that of the dual-mode controller.

71. The method of claim 62, wherein the dual mode controller receives data and transmits display data to a plurality of external display devices wirelessly.

72. The method of claim 62, wherein the ECD, dual mode controller and external display devices each have different operating systems.

73. The method of claim 62, wherein the ECD and dual mode controller communicate according to a first protocol and the dual mode controller and external display devices communicate according to a second protocol different from the first protocol.

74. The method of claim 62, wherein both the dual mode controller and the ECD have independent access to the internet.

75. The method of claim 62, wherein the dual mode controller presents a unique GUI.

76. The method of claim 62, further comprising switching from a slave mode to a master mode in response to a command from a user received from the ECD.

77. The method of claim 62, wherein the dual-mode controller communicates with a server as a client.

78. The method of claim 62, wherein the external display device receives streaming media from the dual-mode controller.

79. An dual-mode interface method comprising:

receiving, at the dual mode controller from an external control and display device (ECD), an instruction to switch between a master mode and a slave mode, wherein the dual-mode controller is a stand-alone unit which does not include a display;

while in master mode;

receiving, at a dual mode controller, data from an external display device;

transmitting, from the dual mode controller, display data to the external display device;

connecting, to the internet, through a connection which is independent of the ECD and the external display device;

presenting, from the dual mode controller to a user, a graphical user interface;

receiving, at the dual mode controller and from a user, control commands; and

,

transmitting streaming media to the external display device in response to the control commands; and

,

while in slave mode;

receiving, at a dual mode controller, data from an external display device;

transmitting, from the dual mode controller, data to the external display device;

receiving, at the dual mode controller and from the ECD, video data and commands; and

,

transmitting the video data to the external display device until the video data transmission is terminated by the ECD, whereby the dual-mode controller serves mainly as a data router between the external display device and the ECD.

80. The method of claim 79, further comprising switching from a slave mode to a master mode upon termination of a wireless connection between the dual mode controller and the ECD.

81. The method of claim 79, wherein the ECD receives streaming media from a remote server.

82. The method of claim 79, wherein a processing power of the ECD substantially exceeds that of the dual-mode controller.

83. The method of claim 79, wherein the dual mode controller receives data and transmits display data to a plurality of external display devices wirelessly.

84. The method of claim 79, wherein the ECD, dual mode controller and external display devices each have different operating systems.

85. The method of claim 79, wherein both the dual mode controller and the ECD have independent access to the internet.

86. The method of claim 79, further comprising switching from a slave mode to a master mode in response to a command from a user received from the ECD.

87. The method of claim 79, wherein the dual-mode controller communicates with a server as a client.

88. The method of claim 79, wherein the external display device is in a dwelling.

89. The method of claim 79, wherein the dual mode controller transmits streaming media data to a plurality of external display devices wirelessly.

90. The method of claim 79, wherein the dual mode controller presents a GUI different from that presented by the ECD and external display device.

91. The method of claim 79, wherein the ECD is a tablet.