Multimedia system having software mechanism providing standardized interfaces and controls for the operation of multimedia devices
First Claim
1. In a multimedia data processing system (MMDPS) comprising a processor, a storage system including a memory for storing at least one multimedia application program (MMAP) and a multitasking operating system for execution by said processor, a monitor for displaying screens of information, and connector means for connecting one or more multimedia devices into said MMDPS, each device having a plurality of controllable functions, each device being in one class of a plurality of different classes of multimedia devices, the improvement comprising:
- first means responsive to a DEVICE OPEN command from said application program for opening a multimedia device (hereinafter referred to as open MMD) and for thereafter transmitting signals to said open MMD in response to said first means receiving device commands, said signals being operative to control said controllable functions of said open MMD;
second means comprising a user interface including user manipulable objects on a display screen of said monitor;
and multimedia device control means (MMDCM) layered between said first means and said second means, said MMDCM comprising a plurality of application-program-selectable class-specific controls, each control being for a different one of said classes of multimedia devices;
said MMDCM being responsive to a CREATE message from the application program to select one of said controls (hereinafter referred to as selected control) having the same class as said open MMD;
said selected control comprising third means for creating a control screen on said monitor in said user interface, said control screen having a control panel comprising a plurality of user actuated controllers for controlling different functions of said open MMD;
said user interface being operative to send a user selection message in response to a user manipulating one of said controllers;
and, said MMDCM further comprising processing means operative, in response to receiving said user selection message, to send a device command to said first means for changing a function of said open MMD and to send a message to said user interface to update the one of said controllers manipulated by the user to reflect the changed function of said open MMD.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multimedia system includes a multimedia device control program having a plurality of application program selectable controls for controlling operation of a like plurality of different classes of multimedia devices. Each class has a different set of controllable device functions or attributes. In response to selection of a class by an application program, a unique control panel is created in a user interface for controlling operation of a device. The selected control performs all of the processing actions necessary to control the device in response to user selections on the interface, without involvement of the application program in such actions. The multimedia control program includes a plurality of panel templates from which control panels are created in a control screen. Each panel has a plurality of controllers that can manipulated by a user to control a corresponding function of a multimedia device. The templates provide a consistent interfaces having a common look and feel. The multimedia control program also includes a plurality of class control programs one or more of which are selected by an application program to be attached to a like number of multimedia devices for controlling operation of the devices in response to user selections on the user interface, thereby relieving the application program of performing the necessary control functions.
220 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a multimedia data processing system (MMDPS) comprising a processor, a storage system including a memory for storing at least one multimedia application program (MMAP) and a multitasking operating system for execution by said processor, a monitor for displaying screens of information, and connector means for connecting one or more multimedia devices into said MMDPS, each device having a plurality of controllable functions, each device being in one class of a plurality of different classes of multimedia devices, the improvement comprising:
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first means responsive to a DEVICE OPEN command from said application program for opening a multimedia device (hereinafter referred to as open MMD) and for thereafter transmitting signals to said open MMD in response to said first means receiving device commands, said signals being operative to control said controllable functions of said open MMD; second means comprising a user interface including user manipulable objects on a display screen of said monitor; and multimedia device control means (MMDCM) layered between said first means and said second means, said MMDCM comprising a plurality of application-program-selectable class-specific controls, each control being for a different one of said classes of multimedia devices; said MMDCM being responsive to a CREATE message from the application program to select one of said controls (hereinafter referred to as selected control) having the same class as said open MMD; said selected control comprising third means for creating a control screen on said monitor in said user interface, said control screen having a control panel comprising a plurality of user actuated controllers for controlling different functions of said open MMD; said user interface being operative to send a user selection message in response to a user manipulating one of said controllers; and, said MMDCM further comprising processing means operative, in response to receiving said user selection message, to send a device command to said first means for changing a function of said open MMD and to send a message to said user interface to update the one of said controllers manipulated by the user to reflect the changed function of said open MMD. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a multimedia data processing system (MMDPS) comprising a processor, a storage system including a memory for storing at least one multimedia application program (MMAP) and a multitasking operating system for execution by said processor, a monitor for displaying screens of information, and connector means for connecting one or more multimedia devices into said MMDPS, each device having a plurality of controllable functions, each device being in one class of a plurality of different classes of multimedia devices, the improvement comprising:
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first means responsive to a DEVICE OPEN command from said application program for opening a multimedia device (hereinafter referred to as open MMD) and for thereafter transmitting signals to said open MMD in response to said first means receiving device commands, said signals being operative to control said controllable functions of said open MMD; second means comprising a user interface including a display screen on said monitor; and multimedia device control means (MMDCM) layered between said first means and said second means, said MMDCM comprising a plurality of control panel templates for each class of said controls, said templates for each class include a minimal control panel template and a complete control panel template, said minimal control panel template defining a minimum number of controllers for controlling a minimum number of functions, and said complete control panel template defining a plurality of controllers for controlling a maximum number of functions of each class; said MMDCM being responsive to a CREATE message from the application program to select one of said templates and send a message to said user interface to create a control panel in said control screen in accordance with the definition in the template so selected; said control panel in said control screen comprising a plurality of user actuated controllers for controlling different functions of said open MMD; said user interface being operative to send a user selection message to said MMDCM in response to a user manipulating one of said controllers; and, said MMDCM further comprising processing means operative, in response to receiving said user selection message, to send a device command to said first means for changing a function of said open MMD and to send a message to said user interface to update the one of said controllers manipulated by the user to reflect the changed function of said open MMD. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. The method of operating a multimedia data processing system (MMDPS) comprising a processor, a storage system including a memory for storing at least one multimedia application program (MMAP) and a multitasking operating system for execution by said processor, a monitor for displaying screens of information, and connector means for connecting one or more multimedia devices into said MMDPS, each device having a plurality of controllable functions, each device being in one class of a plurality of different classes of multimedia devices, said method comprising:
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(a) opening a multimedia device (hereinafter referred to as open MMD); (b) storing in said storage system a plurality of application-program-selectable class-specific controls, each control being for a different one of said classes of multimedia devices; (c) creating, in response to a CREATE message from the application program, a control instance from the one of said controls (hereinafter referred to as selected control) having the same class as said open MMD and attaching said control instance to said open MMD; (d) creating a control screen on said monitor in said user interface, said control screen including a control panel comprising a plurality of user actuated controllers for controlling different functions of said open MMD; (e) sending a user selection message from said user interface to said control instance in response to a user manipulating one of said controllers; (f) generating, in response to said control instance receiving said user selection message, at least one device command for changing a function of said open MMD, based upon said user selection message and current operational state of said open MMD; (g) transmitting signals to said open MMD in response to said device commands, said signals being operative to change one of said controllable functions of said open MMD; and (h) sending a message to said user interface to update the one of said controllers manipulated by the user, to reflect the changed function of said open MMD. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification