Media manager for controlling autonomous media devices within a network environment and managing the flow and format of data between the devices
First Claim
1. 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 and configured to implement pre-defined actions allowing users to access basic functionality of the devices in the network;
b. providing an interface to a user through which an action to be completed is requested by the user;
c. determining appropriate devices and subdevices required for completion of the action by searching the control modules; and
d. completing the action by instructing appropriate control modules to provide instructions to the appropriate devices and subdevices.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
41 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of managing operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:
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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 and configured to implement pre-defined actions allowing users to access basic functionality of the devices in the network;
b. providing an interface to a user through which an action to be completed is requested by the user;
c. determining appropriate devices and subdevices required for completion of the action by searching the control modules; and
d. completing the action by instructing appropriate control modules to provide instructions to the appropriate devices and subdevices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
a. determining if the appropriate devices and subdevices are currently available for completion of the action; and
b. forming virtual devices from available subdevices of the devices within the network for completion of the action when the appropriate devices and subdevices are not currently available.
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3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising controlling data flow between the appropriate devices and subdevices.
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4. The method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising:
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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.
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5. The method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the steps of:
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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.
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6. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the network is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.
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7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control module is also configured to monitor and record user activity and to create custom, user-defined actions.
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8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control module is embedded in a corresponding device in the network.
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9. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising downloading the control module for a corresponding device in the network.
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10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control module is stored and executed remotely from a corresponding device in the network.
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11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control module is in a platform neutral format.
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12. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the platform neutral format is Java.
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13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control module provides automatic format of a corresponding device in the network.
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14. An apparatus for controlling operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:
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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, and configured to implement pre-defined actions allowing users to access basic functionality of the devices in the network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for controlling operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:
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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 control 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 means for representing, to the network and to the means for interfacing for implementing pre-defined actions allowing users to access basic functionality of the devices in the network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of managing operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:
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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 and configured to monitor and record user activity and to create custom, user-defined actions;
b. providing an interface to a user through which an action to be completed is requested by the user;
c. determining appropriate devices and subdevices required for completion of the action by searching the control modules; and
d. completing the action by instructing appropriate control modules to provide instructions to the appropriate devices and subdevices. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
a. determining if the appropriate devices and subdevices are currently available for completion of the action; and
b. forming virtual devices from available subdevices of the devices within the network for completion of the action when the appropriate devices and subdevices are not currently available.
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31. The method as claimed in claim 29 further comprising controlling data flow between the appropriate devices and subdevices.
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32. The method as claimed in claim 31 further comprising:
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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.
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33. The method as claimed in claim 29 further comprising:
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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.
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34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the network is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.
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35. The method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the control modules also implements pre-defined actions allowing users to access basic functionality of the devices in the network.
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36. An apparatus for controlling operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:
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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, and configured to monitor and record user activity and to create custom, user-defined actions. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An apparatus for controlling operation of and communication between a network of devices comprising:
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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 control 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 means for representing, to the network and to the means for interfacing for monitoring and recording user activity and creating custom, user-defined actions. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification