System for convergence of a personal computer with wireless audio/video devices wherein the audio/video devices are remotely controlled by a wireless peripheral

• US 6,131,130 A
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Van Ryzin, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US08/988,229
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 710/6, 375/295, 345/2, 345/158, 345/327, 340/825.52
• US Class Current: 710/6
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114

Abstract

A converged system architecture and method for converging a personal computer with audio/video devices is provided. Wireless communications are transmitted between the personal computer and the audio/video devices. Wireless commands for controlling the audio/video devices are entered remotely at a wireless peripheral and coupled to the personal computer. The personal computer generates signals and the wireless communications are coupled to the audio/video devices in accordance with these signals.

Claims

1. A converged system architecture for converging a personal computer with audio/video devices, said system comprising:

wireless communication means for transmitting, via a wireless medium, wireless communications between said personal computer and said audio/video devices;

wireless peripheral means for entering, remotely from said personal computer, wireless commands for controlling said audio/video devices, wherein said wireless commands are communicated from said wireless peripheral means to said personal computer by said wireless communication means and said personal computer generates signals for controlling said audio/video devices in accordance with said wireless commands; and

coupling means for coupling, in accordance with said signals, said wireless communications to said wireless communication means for wireless transmission to said audio/video devices.

2. The converged system architecture according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises switch means having a plurality of inputs physically coupled to audio/video devices for selectively switching, in accordance with said signals generated by said personal computer, between said plurality of inputs, thereby coupling the selected input to said wireless communication means.

3. The converged system architecture according to claim 2, wherein said coupling means couples said signals generated by said personal computer to an input of an audio/video device.

4. The converged system architecture according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means is a PC board which is coupled to a PC bus of said personal computer.

5. The converged system architecture according to claim 4, wherein said PC board selects between wireless commands from said wireless peripheral means and commands from a peripheral physically coupled to said personal computer, said PC board couples the selected commands to an operating system input of said personal computer.

6. The converged system architecture according to claim 5, wherein said PC board couples said wireless commands from said wireless peripheral means to a register of an operating system of said personal computer.

7. The converged system architecture according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means and said wireless peripheral means comprise a wireless keyboard.

8. The converged system architecture according to claim 3, wherein said coupling means and said wireless peripheral means comprise a wireless terminal.

9. A converged system architecture for converging a personal computer with audio/video devices, said system comprising:

a transmitter/receiver for transmitting/receiving, via a wireless medium, wireless communications between said personal computer and said audio/video devices;

a wireless peripheral for entering, remotely from said personal computer, wireless commands for controlling said audio/video devices, wherein said wireless commands are communicated from said wireless peripheral to said personal computer by said transmitter/receiver and said personal computer generates signals for controlling said audio/video devices in accordance with said wireless commands; and

a coupling circuit for coupling, in accordance with said signals, said wireless communications to said transmitter/receiver for wireless transmission to said audio/video devices.

10. The converged system architecture according to claim 9, wherein said coupling circuit comprises a switch having a plurality of inputs physically coupled to audio/video devices for selectively switching, in accordance with said signals generated by said personal computer, between said plurality of inputs, thereby coupling the selected input to said transmitter/receiver.

11. The converged system architecture according to claim 10, wherein said coupling circuit couples said signals generated by said personal computer to an input of an audio/video device.

12. The converged system architecture according to claim 11, wherein said coupling circuit is a PC board which is coupled to a PC bus of said personal computer.

13. The converged system architecture according to claim 12, wherein said PC board selects between wireless commands from said wireless peripheral and commands from a peripheral physically coupled to said personal computer, said PC board couples the selected commands to an operating system input of said personal computer.

14. The converged system architecture according to claim 13, wherein said PC board couples said wireless commands from said wireless peripheral to a register of an operating system of said personal computer.

15. The converged system architecture according to claim 11, wherein said coupling circuit and said wireless peripheral comprise a wireless keyboard.

16. The converged system architecture according to claim 11, wherein said coupling circuit and said wireless peripheral comprise a wireless terminal.

17. A method for converging a personal computer with audio/video devices, said system comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless peripheral where wireless commands for controlling said audio/video devices are entered remotely;

transmitting, via a wireless medium, said wireless commands to said personal computer;

generating signals in said personal computer corresponding to said wireless commands; and

controlling wireless communications between said personal computer and said audio/video devices in accordance with said signals.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

switching, in accordance with said signals generated by said personal computer, between a plurality of inputs physically coupled to audio/video information generated by respective audio/video devices; and

transmitting, via a wireless medium, the selected audio/video information to a wireless audio/video device.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of coupling said signals to physically connected audio/video devices.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of switching configures a switch on a PC board which is coupled to a PC bus of said personal computer.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step of switching couples the selected commands to an operating system input of said personal computer.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step of switching couples said wireless commands to a register of an operating system of said personal computer.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of providing provides a wireless keyboard.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of providing provides a wireless terminal.