Information device information device system control method, and information device system

• US 6,131,111 A
• Filed: 12/22/1997
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Fukushima, Shinichiro, Goto, Hidefumi, Akamatsu, Chiyo, Hasegawa, Tsukasa, Yoshino, Yoshikatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Romero, Almari
• Application Number:
  US08/996,142
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/205, 709/227, 709/228, 709/253, 345/330, 710/32, 710/204
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A device includes self-information memory which stores both function data for other devices to operate the device and device name data. Upon request from another device, the device sends the requested data stored in the self-information memory. When function data is received, the devices executes an instruction indicated by the data. When a plurality of devices each including the self-information memory are connected to each other via a bus or the like in a form of a network, at least one of the devices, includes, in addition to the self-information memory, a connected device memory to store therein device name data of all of the connected devices and a communication pair memory to store therein function data of the communication partner. The master device requests the other devices for device name data thereof, and stores the received data in the connected device memory. Thus, by referring to the device name data stored in the memory, the control device recognize the device name of the connected device. Also, the master device requests the other devices for function data thereof, and stores the received data in the communication pair memory. Therefore, by referring to the data stored in the pair memory, the master device recognize the function of the communication partner. Thus, when a function is selected and function data related thereto is sent to a communication partner, the function can be accordingly executed.

Claims

1. An information device system including at least two information devices connected to each other, said at least two information devices comprising:

a first information device; and

a second information device, said first and second information device being connected together;

said first information device including;

a memory which stores data indicating a name of said first information device,

a first transmitter which transmits said first information device name,

a function memory which stores function data including function name data indicating names of functions corresponding to said first information device and instruction data to enable said first information device to be controlled by another information device, and

a second transmitter which, in response to a request for said function data, transmits said function data, wherein said first information device receives said instruction data sent by a connected information device for execution and executes a function according to the received instruction data;

said second information device including;

connected device memory which receives and stores the data indicating a name of said first information device transmitted from said first information device,

a device name selector which selects the name of said first information device from among device names stored on said connected device memory,

a function data interface which requests said first information device selected by said device name selection means to transmit function data,

a connected device function memory which receives and stores function data transmitted by said first information device,

a function selector which selects at least one function from among the function data stored on said connected device function memory, and

an instruction data transmitter which transmits instruction data corresponding to said one function selected by said function selection means.

2. An information device system according to claim 1, wherein said first information device further comprises a third transmitter which, in response to a request, transmits the data indicating a name of said first information device, and

said second information device further comprises a device name data interface which requests an information device other than said second information device to transmit device name data of said requested information device.

3. An information device system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second connected information devices are connected by an IEEE1394, a USB, a SSA, a fiber channel, a FC-EL or SCSI.

4. An information device according to claim 1, wherein said name of said first information device is a character code indicating said name of said first information device.