Method and system for defining and discovering proxy functionality on a distributed audio video network

• US 6,237,049 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1998
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ludtke, Harold Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/151,373
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 348/8, 348/6, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 700/8, 700/9, 709/208, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/213, 709/216, 709/229, 709/249, 340/825.25, 340/825.24, 710/8, 710/101
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system for defining and discovering proxy functionality on a distributed audio video network. The present invention operates within a network of consumer electronic media devices (e.g., television, set-top-box, video cassette recorder, compact disc device, personal computer system, etc.) that are coupled together using the IEEE 1394 serial communication standard. Specifically, the present invention enables a consumer electronic media device having increased functionality to act as a proxy device for other consumer electronic media devices. As such, the proxy device is able to provide a wide variety of advantageous proxy services for other consumer electronic media devices thereby increasing their original capabilities. For instance, the proxy device can act as a translator between two devices thereby enabling them to communicate. Additionally, the proxy device can enable Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have greater control over non-HAVi devices. Moreover, the proxy device can extend the existing functionality of devices as well as provide new functionality for them. Furthermore, the proxy device can act as a command arbitrator for particular devices. Also, the proxy device can act as a proxy for all or a portion of the functionality of a device. It is appreciated that these are only examples of the possible advantageous proxy services that the proxy device can provide for other devices in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

1. In a network of consumer electronic media devices, a method of communicating between a plurality of consumer electronic media devices, said method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a first consumer electronic media device as a proxy device for a second consumer electronic media device within said network of consumer electronic media devices, wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices are coupled together as a network by a common bus, wherein step a) comprises the step of storing a data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device, wherein said data structure defines proxy services that said first consumer electronic media device performs for said second consumer electronic media device;

b) transmitting a signal to said first consumer electronic media device indicating a particular proxy service to be performed;

c) said first consumer electronic media device receiving said signal; and

d) in response to receiving said signal, said first consumer electronic media device performing said particular proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device.

2. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of e) said first consumer electronic media device transmitting resultant information to said second consumer electronic media device, said resultant information identified in said signal.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices includes a third consumer electronic media device and wherein said step b) comprises the step of said third consumer electronic media device transmitting said signal and said step d) comprises the step of said first consumer electronic media device transmitting a result signal to said third consumer electronic media device.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of:

a1) said first consumer electronic media device discovering said second consumer electronic media device coupled to said common bus;

a2) said first consumer electronic media device determining a functionality of said second consumer electronic media device;

a3) said first consumer electronic media device determining whether said first consumer electronic media device can provide a proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device; and

a4) if said first consumer electronic media device can provide a proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device, said first consumer electronic media device performing said step of storing said data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of:

a1) a third consumer electronic media device examining said memory of said first consumer electronic media device to determine that said first consumer electronic media device is said proxy device for said second consumer electronic media device; and

a2) said third consumer electronic media device recording this information within its memory.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of:

a1) a third consumer electronic media device examining said memory of said first consumer electronic media device utilizing an IEEE 1212 read only memory (ROM) protocol to determine that said first consumer electronic media device is said proxy device for said second consumer electronic media device; and

a2) said third consumer electronic media device recording this information within its memory.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device performing a translation on communications between said second consumer electronic media device and a third consumer electronic media device.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a new functionality for said second consumer electronic media device.

9. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device extending an existing functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.

10. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device arbitrating access to said second consumer electronic media device.

11. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over non-HAVi devices.

12. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling non-Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over HAVi devices.

13. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device controlling one subunit of functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.

14. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a data library for said second consumer electronic media device.

15. A method of communicating between a plurality of consumer electronic media devices, said method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a first consumer electronic media device as a proxy device for a second consumer electronic media device of said plurality of consumer electronic media devices, wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices are coupled together as a network by an IEEE 1394 bus, wherein step a) comprises the step of storing a data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device, wherein said data structure defines proxy services that said first consumer electronic media device performs for said second consumer electronic media device;

b) transmitting a signal to said first consumer electronic media device indicating a particular proxy service to be performed;

c) said first consumer electronic media device receiving said signal;

d) in response to receiving said signal, said first consumer electronic media device performing said particular proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device; and

e) said first consumer electronic media device transmitting resultant information to said second consumer electronic media device, said resultant information identified in said signal.

16. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices includes a third consumer electronic media device and wherein said step b) comprises the step of said third consumer electronic media device transmitting said signal and said step d) comprises the step of said first consumer electronic media device transmitting a result signal to said third consumer electronic media device.

17. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of:

a1) said first consumer electronic media device discovering said second consumer electronic media device coupled to said IEEE 1394 bus;

a2) said first consumer electronic media device determining a functionality of said second consumer electronic media device;

a3) said first consumer electronic media device determining whether said first consumer electronic media device can provide a proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device; and

a4) if said first consumer electronic media device can provide a proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device, said first consumer electronic media device performing said step of storing said data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device.

18. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of:

a1) a third consumer electronic media device examining said memory of said first consumer electronic media device to determine that said first consumer electronic media device is said proxy device for said second consumer electronic media device; and

a2) said third consumer electronic media device recording this information within its memory.

19. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of:

a1) a third consumer electronic media device examining said memory of said first consumer electronic media device utilizing an IEEE 1212 ROM protocol to determine that said first consumer electronic media device is said proxy device for said second consumer electronic media device; and

a2) said third consumer electronic media device recording this information within its memory.

20. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device performing a translation on communications between said second consumer electronic media device and a third consumer electronic media device.

21. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a new functionality for said second consumer electronic media device.

22. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device extending an existing functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.

23. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device arbitrating access to said second consumer electronic media device.

24. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over non-HAVi devices.

25. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling non-Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over HAVi devices.

26. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device controlling one subunit of functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.

27. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a data library for said second consumer electronic media device.

28. A communication network comprising:

a plurality of consumer electronic media devices;

an IEEE 1394 communication bus coupled to each of said plurality of consumer electronic media devices; and

a data structure stored within a memory space of a first consumer electronic media device, said data structure containing information defining proxy services to be performed by said first consumer electronic media device for a second consumer electronic media device, said proxy services for causing said first consumer electronic media device to perform a selected proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device in response to signals received over said IEEE 1394 communication bus that indicate said selected proxy service to be performed.

29. A network as described in claim 28 wherein said memory space is a configuration read only memory (ROM) of said first consumer electronic media device.

30. A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device performing translations of communications between a third consumer electronic media device and said second consumer electronic media device.

31. A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a new functionality for said second consumer electronic media device.

32. A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device extending an existing functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.

33. A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device arbitrating access to said second consumer electronic media device between said plurality of consumer electronic media devices.

34. A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over non-HAVi devices.

35. A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling non-Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over HAVi devices.

36. A network as described in claim 28 wherein said second consumer electronic media device contains several subunits and wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device controlling one subunit of said second consumer electronic media device.

37. A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a data library for said second consumer electronic media device.