Audio, video, or multimedia system keypad controller having multiple vector control paths and associated methods

• US 6,501,389 B1
• Filed: 09/27/1999
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Core Brands, LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Niles Audio Corporation (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Aguirre, Hector M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/406,035
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.14, 340/825.25, 340/7.48, 340/3.1, 340/3.5, 340/3.71, 348/14.05, 341/22
• US Class Current: 340/4.41
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

An audio, video, or multimedia control system and associated method are provided. The audio, video or multimedia control system preferably includes at least one keypad responsive to a user and a keypad controller responsive to the at least one keypad. The keypad controller preferably has a multiple vector command path protocol to operate the controller through a plurality of multiple vector command paths within an application or other equivalent layer of an audio, video, or multimedia communication network. The system also preferably has a plurality of communication channels connected to the at least one audio, video or multimedia keypad controller and a plurality of audio, video, or multimedia devices each connected to at least one of the plurality of communication channels and positioned within a plurality of rooms within a home or business so as to define the audio, video, or multimedia communications network.

Claims

1. An audio, video or multimedia control system, the system comprising:

at least one keypad responsive to a user;

an audio, video or multimedia keypad controller responsive to the at least one keypad, the audio, video or multimedia keypad controller having multiple vector command path operating means for operating the controller with a multiple vector command path protocol in an application or other equivalent layer of an audio, video or multimedia communications network;

a plurality of audio, video or multimedia communication channels connected to the at least one audio, video or multimedia keypad controller; and

a plurality of audio, video or multimedia devices each connected to at least one of the plurality of audio, video or multimedia communication channels and positioned within a plurality of rooms within a home or business so as to define the audio, video or multimedia communications network.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said keypad generates a communication code responsive to the user, and wherein said multiple vector command path operating means is responsive to the communication code from said keypad.

3. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein said multiple vector command path operating means includes a synchronous audio, video or multimedia power module responsive to the communication code which separates the communication code into a plurality of command code portions, the plurality of command code portions defining a protocol for locating and issuing commands to the plurality of audio, video or multimedia devices within the network.

4. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein the plurality of command code portions include at least two of the following:

customer code, zone identifier, page number, and key number.

5. A system as defined in claim 4, wherein said multiple vector command path operating means further includes a multi-dimensional array of a plurality of component cells defining a component vector table and having a zone identifier as an x-axis and a page number as a y-axis so that a selected component cell of the component vector table includes a component number which identifies one of the plurality of audio, video or multimedia devices to be controlled.

6. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein said multiple vector command path operating means further includes a multi-dimensional array of a plurality of command cells defining a command vector table and having the component number as an x-axis and the key number as the y-axis so that a selected command cell responsively executes a command when a key of the keypad is engaged by a user.

7. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein a selected command cell has a first command format defining an audio, video or multimedia device function to be performed by an audio, video or multimedia device within the network and a second command format defining a power configuration for an audio, video or multimedia device within the network.

8. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the audio, video or multimedia device function of the first command format includes a command pointer and a sequence string pointer, and wherein the second command format includes a plurality of sequence string pointers.

9. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein said multiple vector command path operating means further includes a multi-dimensional array of a plurality of port cells defining a port vector table and having an audio, video or multimedia device port as an x-axis and a route as a y-axis.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of port cells has a first port format for route specific audio, video or multimedia device ports and a second port format for supporting power management of an audio, video or multimedia device.

11. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of audio, video or multimedia communication channels each comprise a conductor cable having a plurality of conductors.

12. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein the plurality of conductors comprise an eight conductor cable having connections at least for voltage, ground, bidirectional data, source selection indication, mute and power status, and paging.

13. An audio, video, or multimedia control system, the system comprising:

at least one keypad responsive to a user;

a keypad controller responsive to the at least one keypad, the keypad controller having multiple vector command path protocol to operate the controller through a plurality of multiple vector command paths within an application or other equivalent layer of an audio, video, or multimedia communications network;

a plurality of communication channels connected to the at least one keypad controller; and

a plurality of audio, video, or multimedia devices each connected to at least one of the plurality of communication channels and positioned within a plurality of rooms within a home or business so as to define the audio, video, or multimedia device communications network.

14. A system as defined in claim 13, wherein said keypad generates a communication code responsive to the user, and wherein said multiple vector command path protocol is responsive to the communication code from said keypad.

15. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein said keypad controller further includes a synchronous audio power module responsive to the communication code which separates the communication code into a plurality of command code portions, the plurality of command code portions defining the multiple vector command path protocol which locates and issues commands to the plurality of audio, video or multimedia devices within the network.

16. A system as defined in claim 15, wherein the plurality of command code portions include at least two of the following:

customer code, zone identifier, page number, and key number.

17. A system as defined in claim 16, wherein said keypad controller further includes a multidimensional array of a plurality of component cells defining a component vector table and having a zone identifier as an x-axis and a page number as a y-axis so that a selected component cell of the component vector table includes a component number which identifies one of the plurality of audio, video or multimedia devices to be controlled.

18. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein said keypad controller further includes a multidimensional array of a plurality of command cells defining a command vector table and having the component number as an x-axis and the key number as the y-axis so that a selected command cell responsively executes a command when a key of the keypad is engaged by a user.

19. A system as defined in claim 18, wherein a selected command cell has a first command format defining an audio, video or multimedia device function to be performed by an audio, video or multimedia device within the network and a second command format defining a power configuration for an audio, video or multimedia device within the network.

20. A system as defined in claim 19, wherein the audio, video or multimedia device function of the first command format includes a command pointer and a sequence string pointer, and wherein the second command format includes a plurality of sequence string pointers.

21. A system as defined in claim 18, wherein said keypad controller further includes a multidimensional array of a plurality of port cells defining a port vector table and having an audio, video or multimedia device port as an x-axis and a route as a y-axis.

22. A system as defined in claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of port cells has a first port format for route specific audio, video or multimedia device ports and a second port format for supporting power management of an audio, video or multimedia device.

23. A system as defined in claim 13, wherein the plurality of audio, video or multimedia communication channels each comprise a conductor cable having a plurality of conductors.

24. A system as defined in claim 23, wherein the plurality of conductors comprise an eight conductor cable having connections at least for voltage, ground, bidirectional data, source selection indication, mute and power status, and paging.

25. A method of communicating commands to a plurality of audio, video or multimedia devices positioned in a network having a keypad and a keypad controller positioned in communication with the keypad, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a communication code from the keypad responsive to a user interfacing with the keypad; and

operating the keypad controller in an application or other equivalent layer of the network with a multiple vector command path protocol responsive to a the communication code from the keypad.

26. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the step of operating the keypad controller includes separating the communication code into a plurality of command portions defining a protocol for locating and issuing commands to the plurality of audio, video or multimedia devices within the network.

27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the plurality of command code portions include at least two of the following:

customer code, zone identifier, page number, and key number.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the operating of the keypad controller further includes selecting a component cell in a multi-dimensional array of a plurality of component cells defining a component vector table and having a zone identifier as an x-axis and a page number as a y-axis, the selected component cell of the component vector table having a component number which identifies one of the plurality of audio, video or multimedia devices to be controlled.

29. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the operating of the keypad controller further includes selecting a command cell from a multi-dimensional array of a plurality of command cells defining a command vector table and having the component number as an x-axis and the key number as the y-axis so that the selected command cell responsively executes a command when a user interfaces with a key of the keypad.

30. A method as defined in claim 29, wherein a selected command cell has a first command format defining an audio, video or multimedia device function to be performed by an audio, video or multimedia device within the network and a second command format defining a power configuration for an audio, video or multimedia device within the network.

31. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein the audio, video or multimedia device function of the first command format includes a command pointer and a sequence string pointer, and wherein the second command format includes a plurality of sequence string pointers.

32. A method as defined in claim 31, wherein the operating step further includes selecting a port cell from a multi-dimensional array of a plurality of port cells defining a port vector table and having an audio, video or multimedia device port as an x-axis and a network route as a y-axis.

33. A method as defined in claim 32, wherein each of the plurality of port cells has a first port format for route specific audio, video or multimedia device ports and a second port format for supporting power management of an audio, video or multimedia device.