Method and apparatus for representing devices and available information within a network of devices using object lists and object entries

• US 6,260,063 B1
• Filed: 03/17/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1998
• 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: Kawamura, Harumi, Ludtke, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/040,540
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/227, 707/103, 707/104, 707/509, 710/17, 710/18, 710/19, 719/39, 719/97, 719/51, 345/433, 345/356
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

Object lists and object entries provide a general hierarchical model for representing functions and capabilities of a network of devices in a uniform standardized format. The object lists and object entries are used to represent devices, subdevices, supported media, installed media and available services. Preferably, the devices are coupled together in an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. The list of devices within the network are included within a unit object list, including unit object descriptors each representing a corresponding device. For devices having subunits, the unit object descriptor is associated with a subunit object list, including subunit object descriptors each representing a corresponding subunit within the device. Each subunit object descriptor then also has associated object lists, as appropriate, including a supported media object list including entries representing types of media supported by the subunit and an installed media object list including entries representing information available on the media currently installed within the subunit. For subunits capable of providing services, the subunit object descriptor has an associated object list, including an available services list including entries representing the services currently available through the subunit. The uniform standardized format of the object lists and object entries of the present invention allow two devices coupled together within the IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network to exchange information including their respective object lists and entries.

Claims

1. A method of representing functions and available information in a network of devices comprising:

a. accumulating data in a memory at one or more devices within the network of devices about the functions of the network of devices and the available information; and

b. maintaining the data in the memory in a hierarchical relationship, wherein the hierarchical relationship of the data includes object lists and one or more associated object entries representing a current state of the network of devices, each object entry representing a representative one of a device, a function and a piece of information.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein object entries within an object list refer to associated object lists.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the object list includes a plurality of standard fields in a header and one or more object entries.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the object list includes a reference to a parent list.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the devices are audio/visual devices.

7. A method of representing functions and available information in a network of a plurality of devices comprising:

a. accumulating data in a memory at one or more of the plurality of devices, wherein the data includes the functions of the network of devices and a representation of the available information;

b. maintaining the data in the memory in a hierarchical relationship, wherein the hierarchical relationship of the data includes a plurality of object lists, each having one or more associated object entries grouped together to represent a current state of the network of devices, each object entry representing a representative one of a device, a subdevice, a function and a piece of information, wherein any of the devices with subdevices includes a subdevice object list with object entries representing the available subdevices within the device; and

c. providing the data to a device within the network of devices when requested.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the object lists include a plurality of standard fields within a header and one or more object entries.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein object entries within an object list refer to associated object lists.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the object lists include a reference to a parent object list.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network.

12. An apparatus for representing functions and available information within a network of devices comprising:

a. means for accumulating data about the functions of the network of devices and the available information; and

b. a controlling circuit coupled to the means for accumulating for maintaining the data in a hierarchical relationship, wherein the hierarchical relationship of the data includes object lists and one or more associated object entries representing a current state of the network of devices, each object entry representing a representative one of a device, a function and a piece of information.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the object lists include a reference to a parent list.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network.

15. A network of devices coupled together for communication between the devices comprising:

a. a plurality of devices coupled together for communication; and

b. a plurality of controlling circuits, each within a corresponding one of the plurality of devices, for accumulating data about the functions of the corresponding device and information available from the device, wherein the controlling circuits also maintain the data in a format including object lists and one or more associated object entries, each object entry representing a representative one of a subdevice, a function and a piece of information.

16. The network of devices as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a plurality of memory circuits, each coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of controlling circuits.

17. The network of devices as claimed in claim 16 wherein the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network.

18. An apparatus for representing functions and available information within a network of devices comprising:

a. an accumulation circuit configured to accumulate data including the functions of the network of devices and a representation of the available information; and

b. a controlling circuit coupled to the accumulation circuit to maintain the data in a hierarchical relationship, wherein the hierarchical relationship of the data includes object lists and one or more associated object entries representing a current state of the network of devices, each object entry representing a representative one of a device, a function and a piece of information.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the object lists include a reference to a parent list.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network.