Appliance control system providing out-of-context usage
First Claim
1. First electrical apparatus, for connection to a transmission media, having one operating state in which it responds to a primary control signal by performing a predetermined task, and having another operating state in which the primary control signal is out-of-context,characterized by:
- means for performing the predetermined task if the first electrical apparatus is in its one operating state when the primary control signal is received;
means for generating a secondary control signal, suitable for transmission over the transmission media to a second electrical apparatus, if the first electrical apparatus is in its other operating state when the primary control signal is received; and
means interconnecting the secondary control signal to the transmission media.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controller that includes a number of switches is associated with a first appliance that has a number of operating states. In at least one of the operating states of the first appliance, the controller responds to certain switch actuations by causing it to perform a task; but when it is in another operating state, the same switch actuations have no meaning insofar as the first appliance is concerned, so the controller responds by transmitting data signals to a second appliance to have it perform a similar task. In this manner, a single controller can be used to control a number of appliances when a particular switch actuation has no meaning in the context of controlling the associated appliance. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the keypad of a telephone set is used to select a particular television station. Control signals are sent by the telephone to the television by spread spectrum data transmission over an AC power line. The data transmission format used is in accordance with the CEBUS® standard promulgated by the Electronic Industries Association.
232 Citations
15 Claims
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1. First electrical apparatus, for connection to a transmission media, having one operating state in which it responds to a primary control signal by performing a predetermined task, and having another operating state in which the primary control signal is out-of-context,
characterized by: -
means for performing the predetermined task if the first electrical apparatus is in its one operating state when the primary control signal is received; means for generating a secondary control signal, suitable for transmission over the transmission media to a second electrical apparatus, if the first electrical apparatus is in its other operating state when the primary control signal is received; and means interconnecting the secondary control signal to the transmission media. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A home automation system for controlling, from a single control unit, at least two electrical appliances having contextually similar operating states such as on/off, the control unit being associated with the first appliance and including means for generating a command signal which is executable by the first appliance in its first operating state but which is inappropriate in its second operating state, the control unit being effectively connected to the first and second electrical appliances via a common transmission media, but remotely located therefrom,
the first electrical appliance including: -
means for determining whether it is in the first operating state or in the second operating state; means for executing the command signal when said first appliance is in its first operating state when the command signal is received; and means responsive to the command signal for forwarding same over the transmission media to the second appliance if the first appliance is in its second operating state when the command signal is received. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A telephone set for interconnection with a transmission media, the telephone set having an active state, an idle state, and including a plurality of manually operated keys for dialing a telephone number when the telephone set is in the active state
characterized by: -
means responsive to the operation of the keys, when the telephone set is in the idle state for generating a control signal to be transmitted to an electrical appliance other than said telephone set which is connected to the transmission media, said control signal including information regarding the key pressed; and interface means coupling the control signal from the telephone set to the transmission media. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling, from a single controller, at least first and second electrical appliances, each having first and second contextually similar operating states such as on/off, the controller being associated with the first appliance and including means for generating a command signal which is executable by the first appliance in its first operating state but which is inappropriate in its second operating state, the controller being effectively connected to the first and second electrical appliances via a common transmission media, the method including the steps of:
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transmitting the command signal over the transmission media to the first electrical appliance in response to actuations of switches located on the controller; determining the operating state of the first appliance; executing the command at the first appliance if it is determined that the first appliance is in its first operating state when the command signal is received; and transmitting the command signal over the transmission media to the second appliance if it is determined that the first appliance is in its second operating state when the command signal is received.
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Specification