Apparatus interconnected for the communication of control messages
First Claim
1. A system of at least first and second apparatuses interconnected for the communication of control messages by means of a serial data channel, the first apparatus havinguser input means defining a plurality of keys for activation by a user, the defined keys including "normal" keys for which each activation implies a single user command and "repeat" keys for which a prolonged activation implies a repetitive series of user commands for the duration of the activation;
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at least one functional element; and
second control means for receiving via the serial data channel control messages conveying user commands received by the user input means of the first apparatus and for processing the conveyed user command to control the functional element(s) of the second apparatus in accordance with the user'"'"'s wishes,wherein, to convey the prolonged activation of a repeat key the first control means operates to generate a first ("activation") control message conveying the user activationof the repeat key, followed by a second ("release") message in response to the user'"'"'s eventual release of the repeat key, the second control means being responsive to the activation message for a repeat key to synthesise within the second apparatus the repetition of user commands in controlling the functional elements, until receipt of the release message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses of an audio/video system convey user commands to one another via a serial control bus. The user commands convey key activations on a remote handset, whose keys include both "normal" keys such as "mute/unmute", and "repeat" keys such as "volume up" and "volume down". To convey a repeat key activation, a first control means within one apparatus addresses a key activation message to a second control means within another apparatus. The second control means synthesises locally a repetitive series of user commands, until a key release message is received. The need for repetitive user command messages to be sent via the control bus is thereby eliminated, and the frequency of repetition can be defined locally to give consistent response to user commands. The second control means can also implement a de-bouncing function, disregarding duplicate user command messages sent by a third apparatus which also responds to the handset.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system of at least first and second apparatuses interconnected for the communication of control messages by means of a serial data channel, the first apparatus having
user input means defining a plurality of keys for activation by a user, the defined keys including "normal" keys for which each activation implies a single user command and "repeat" keys for which a prolonged activation implies a repetitive series of user commands for the duration of the activation; - and
first control means responsive to the user commands, including means for identifying a user command which requires to be processed by a second control means located in the second apparatus of the system, and means for in such a case generating a control message conveying the received user command to said second apparatus via the serial data channel, the second apparatus including; at least one functional element; and second control means for receiving via the serial data channel control messages conveying user commands received by the user input means of the first apparatus and for processing the conveyed user command to control the functional element(s) of the second apparatus in accordance with the user'"'"'s wishes, wherein, to convey the prolonged activation of a repeat key the first control means operates to generate a first ("activation") control message conveying the user activationof the repeat key, followed by a second ("release") message in response to the user'"'"'s eventual release of the repeat key, the second control means being responsive to the activation message for a repeat key to synthesise within the second apparatus the repetition of user commands in controlling the functional elements, until receipt of the release message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification