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Control bus system with plural controllable devices

  • US 5,457,446 A
  • Filed: 07/13/1993
  • Issued: 10/10/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A control bus system comprising:

  • a single bus;

    a plurality of electronic devices connected to said single bus;

    selecting means for selecting at least two of said plurality of electronic devices for operation;

    said electronic devices having respective controllers, said controllers each issuing commands to respective devices for causing functions to be executed by said respective devices;

    display means connected to said single bus for displaying at least the functions to be executed by the controllers of said at least two selected electronic devices; and

    function arranging means connected to said single bus for controlling via commands on said single bus said display means and the functions to be executed by the respective controllers of said at least two selected electronic devices and including means for disabling at least one of the functions to be executed by the controller of one of said selected electronic devices if said at least one of the functions is the same as one of the functions to be executed by the controller of the other of said at least two selected electronic devices and issuing a command via said single bus to update said display means by using a different color for the disabled functions,wherein said function arranging means acquires from a controller of any one of said at least two selected electronic devices information related to functions that said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices is capable of performing by issuing an inquiry command for said information via said single bus to said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices and receiving said information from said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices via said single bus, and said information includes the functions that said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices is capable of performing and a range of operation corresponding to each of the functions that said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices is capable of performing.

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