Distributed computer system for providing audio, video, and information signals to plural modules throughout a home
First Claim
1. A distributed computer system for receiving one of an audio signal, a video signal, and an information signal at a central location and for supplying said one of said audio signal, said video signal, and said information signal to one of a plurality of locations remote from said central location, comprising:
- a central computation unit provided at said central location, said central computation unit being adapted to receive said one of said audio signal, said video signal, and said information signal, said central computation unit including;
a microprocessor,a non-volatile memory,a volatile memory,a modem for connecting to an internet service provider,display means,input means,an audio/video port,a hard disk drive,a floppy drive, anda CD-ROM drive;
bi-directional data transfer means; and
a plurality of remote modules provided at said plurality of locations, wherein one of said plurality of remote modules is provided in a kitchen environment and is connected to said central computation unit through said bi-directional data transfer means for receiving said one of said audio signal, said video signal, and said information signal, and said one remote module being devoid of hard disk drives, floppy drives and CD-ROM drives and being adapted to utilize said hard disk drive, said floppy drive, and said CD-ROM drive of said central computation unit.
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Abstract
A distributed computer system for receiving any one of an audio signal, a video signal, or an information signal at a central location and for supplying any one of the audio signal, the video signal, or the information signal to at least one location remote from the central location, including a central computation unit provided at the central location, the central computation unit being adapted to receive any one of the audio signal, the video signal, or the information signal, the central computation unit including a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory, a hard disk drive, a floppy drive, a CD-ROM, and a volatile memory, a data transfer mechanism, and at least one remote module being devoid of disk drives and connected to the central computation unit through the data transfer mechanism for receiving any one of the audio signal, the video signal, or the information signal and being adapted to use the drives of the central computation unit.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A distributed computer system for receiving one of an audio signal, a video signal, and an information signal at a central location and for supplying said one of said audio signal, said video signal, and said information signal to one of a plurality of locations remote from said central location, comprising:
a central computation unit provided at said central location, said central computation unit being adapted to receive said one of said audio signal, said video signal, and said information signal, said central computation unit including; a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a modem for connecting to an internet service provider, display means, input means, an audio/video port, a hard disk drive, a floppy drive, and a CD-ROM drive; bi-directional data transfer means; and a plurality of remote modules provided at said plurality of locations, wherein one of said plurality of remote modules is provided in a kitchen environment and is connected to said central computation unit through said bi-directional data transfer means for receiving said one of said audio signal, said video signal, and said information signal, and said one remote module being devoid of hard disk drives, floppy drives and CD-ROM drives and being adapted to utilize said hard disk drive, said floppy drive, and said CD-ROM drive of said central computation unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer system distributed throughout a building with a plurality of rooms, comprising:
a central computation unit provided in one of said plurality of rooms, said central computation unit including; a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a modem for connecting to an internet service provider, display means, input means, an audio/video port, a hard disk drive, a floppy drive, and a CD-ROM drive; bi-directional data transfer means; and a plurality of remote modules provided in respective other ones of said plurality of rooms, each of said plurality of remote modules being connected to said central computation unit through said data transfer means, wherein said each of said plurality remote modules receives one of an audio signal, a video signal, and an information signal from said central computation unit in response to a message sent from each of said plurality of remote modules to said central computation unit, and said each of said plurality of remote modules being devoid of hard disk drives, floppy drives and CD-ROM drives and being adapted to utilize said hard disk drive, said floppy drive, and said CD-ROM drive of said central computation unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for receiving one of an audio signal, a video signal, and an information signal at a central location and for supplying said one of said audio signal, said video signal, and said information signal to respective ones of a plurality of locations remote from said central location, comprising:
receiving, at a central computation unit provided at said central location, said one of said audio signal, said video signal, and said information signal, said central computation unit including; a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a modem for connecting to an internet service provider, display means, input means, an audio/video port, a hard disk drive, a floppy drive, and a CD-ROM drive; and transferring, through bi-directional data transfer means, to a plurality of remote modules provided in respective ones of said plurality of locations remote from said central location, said one of said audio signal, said video signal, and said information signal from said central computation unit in response to a message sent from each of said plurality of remote modules to said central computation unit plurality of remote modules to said central computation unit, and each of said plurality of remote modules being devoid of hard disk drives, floppy drives and CD-ROM drives and being adapted to utilize said hard disk drive, said floppy drive, and said CD-ROM drive of said central computation unit.
Specification