Media manager for controlling autonomous media devices within a network environment and managing the flow and format of data between the devices

• US 6,233,611 B1
• Filed: 05/08/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.), Dayton-Hudson Corporation (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Smyers, Scott, Ludtke, Harold Aaron, Fairman, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US09/075,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/208, 709/201, 340/824.25, 700/8, 700/9, 710/8, 710/9, 710/10, 710/11, 710/12, 710/13
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• 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 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40123 Interconnection of computers and peripherals printer information exchange with computer G06F3/1293
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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

Abstract

A media manager provides data flow management and other services for client applications on devices coupled together within a network. Preferably, these devices are coupled together within an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. A device control module is generated for each available device for providing an abstraction for all of the capabilities and requirements of the device including the appropriate control protocol, physical connections and connection capabilities for the device. The media manager also manages the flow and format of data transfers between the devices on the network. Through an interface, a user accesses the media manager and enters functions which are to be completed using the devices coupled together on the network. If the appropriate devices are available, the media manager controls and manages the completion of the requested task. If the appropriate devices are not available, but the required subdevices are available in multiple devices, the media manager forms a virtual device from subdevices in multiple devices in order to complete the requested task. Once the appropriate devices and subdevices are assigned to a task, the media manager determines if the data to be transmitted needs to be converted from one format into another format. If necessary, the media manager will also control the format conversion during the data transfer operation. The media manager also provides network enumeration and registry searching capabilities for client applications to find available services, physical devices and virtual devices.

Claims

1. A method of managing operation of and communication between a network of devices for completing a task comprising:

a. determining appropriate devices and subdevices required for completion of the task, wherein virtual devices are formed from available subdevices if appropriate devices are not available for completion of the task; and

b. instructing the appropriate devices and subdevices to complete the task.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising maintaining a control module for each device in the network, wherein the control module includes the capabilities of the device and any subdevices within the device and further wherein the control module is responsible for control of the device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising controlling data flow between the appropriate devices and subdevices.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising:

a. obtaining a topology map of the devices within the network; and

b. determining a best route for the data flow by analyzing the topology map.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising converting the data flowing between the appropriate devices and subdevices into a proper format, if necessary.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising providing an interface to a user through which the task to be completed is requested.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control module provides user interface data to an application and responds to user events from the application.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the network is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the control module resides in a remote device and is downloaded to a host device for execution.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the control module resides in a local device and is executed from a native environment within the local device.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the control module resides in a local device and is uploaded to a host device for execution.

12. An apparatus for controlling operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:

a. an interface circuit configured to communicate with the devices within the network; and

b. a control circuit, coupled to the interface circuit, configured to determine appropriate devices and subdevices required for completion of a task and to instruct the appropriate devices and subdevices to complete the task, wherein virtual devices are formed from available subdevices if appropriate devices are not available for completion of the task.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a plurality of control modules, each representing a device in the network, wherein each control module includes capabilities of a corresponding device and any subdevices within the corresponding device and further wherein the control module is responsible for control of the device.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a bus manager circuit, coupled to the control circuit and to the interface circuit, configured to obtain a topology map of the devices within the network and determining a best route for data flow between the appropriate devices and subdevices by analyzing the topology map.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the control circuit is also configured to convert the data flowing between the appropriate devices and subdevices into a proper format if data conversion is necessary.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the network is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.

17. A method of managing operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:

a. maintaining a control module for each device in the network, wherein the control module includes the capabilities of the device and any subdevices within the device and further wherein the control module is responsible for control of the device;

b. providing an interface to a user through which a task to be completed is requested by the user;

c. determining appropriate devices and subdevices required for completion of the task by searching the control modules, wherein virtual devices are formed from available subdevices if appropriate devices are not available for completion of the task; and

d. completing the task by instructing appropriate control modules to provide instructions to the appropriate devices and subdevices.

18. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising controlling data flow between the appropriate devices and subdevices.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

a. obtaining a topology map of the devices within the network; and

b. determining a best route for the data flow by analyzing the topology map.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising:

a. determining if conversion of data flowing between the appropriate devices and subdevices is necessary; and

b. converting the data flowing between the appropriate devices and subdevices into a proper format if data conversion is necessary.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the network is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.

22. An apparatus for controlling operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:

a. a plurality of control modules, each representing a device in the network wherein each control module includes capabilities of a corresponding device and any subdevices within the corresponding device and further wherein the control module is responsible for control of the device;

b. an interface configured to communicate with a user wherein a task to be completed is requested by the user through the interface; and

c. a control circuit, coupled to the plurality of control modules, to the network and to the interface, configured to determine appropriate devices and subdevices required for completion of the task by searching the control modules and to complete the task by instructing appropriate control modules to provide instructions to the appropriate devices and subdevices, wherein the control circuit also determines if the appropriate devices and subdevices are currently available for completion of the task and forms virtual devices from available subdevices to complete the task when the appropriate devices and subdevices are not currently available.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the control circuit is further configured to control data flow between the devices within the network.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a bus manager circuit, coupled to the control circuit, configured to obtain a topology map of the devices within the network and to determine a best route for the data flow by analyzing the topology map.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein the control circuit is also configured to convert the data flowing between the appropriate devices and subdevices into a proper format if data conversion is necessary.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein the control circuit is also configured to implement pre-defined actions allowing users to access basic functionality of the devices in the network.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the control circuit is also configured to monitor and record user activity and to create custom, user-defined actions.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein the network is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.

29. An apparatus for controlling operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:

a. means for interfacing for communicating with the devices within the network; and

b. means for controlling coupled to the means for interfacing for determining appropriate devices and subdevices required for completion of a task and instructing the appropriate devices and subdevices to complete the task, wherein virtual devices are formed from available subdevices if appropriate devices are not available for completion of the task.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 further comprising a means for representing each device in the network including the capabilities of the device and any subdevices within the device and further wherein the means for representing is responsible for control of the device.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 further comprising a means for managing the network coupled to the means for interfacing and the means for controlling for obtaining a topology map of the devices within the network and determining a best route for data flow between the appropriate devices and subdevices by analyzing the topology map.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the means for controlling also converts data flowing between the appropriate devices and subdevices into a proper format if data conversion is necessary.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the network is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.

34. An apparatus for controlling operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:

a. means for representing each device in the network including the capabilities of the device and any subdevices within the device and further wherein the means for representing is responsible for control of the device;

b. means for interfacing for communicating with a user, wherein a task to be completed is requested by the user through the interface; and

c. means for controlling coupled to the means for representing, to the network and to the means for interfacing for determining appropriate devices and subdevices required for completion of a task by searching the means for representing and completing the task by instructing the means for representing to provide instructions to the appropriate devices and subdevices, wherein the means for controlling also determines if the appropriate devices and subdevices are currently available for completion of the task and forms virtual devices from available subdevices to complete the task when the appropriate devices and subdevices are not currently available.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the means for controlling further controls data flow between the devices within the network.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 further comprising a means for managing the network coupled to the means for controlling for obtaining a topology map of the devices within the network and determining a best route for data flow between the appropriate devices and subdevices by analyzing the topology map.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the means for controlling also converts data flowing between the appropriate devices and subdevices into a proper format if data conversion is necessary.

38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the means for controlling implements pre-defined actions allowing users to access basic functionality of the devices in the network.

39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the means for controlling also monitors and records user activity and creates custom, user-defined actions.

40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the network is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.