Method and apparatus for user and device command and control in a network
First Claim
1. A method for performing a service on a home network having a plurality of home devices connected thereto, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) connecting a client device to the home network, the client device capable of displaying a user interface;
(b) executing a software agent on the client device for obtaining selection information for said plurality of home devices and displaying the selection information on a user interface displayed on the client device;
(c) selecting a first home device connected to the network from the user interface being displayed on the client device;
(d) reading first capabilities data for the first home device, the first capabilities data including information in a structured format for identifying the capabilities of the first home device;
(e) reading second capabilities data for a second home device connected to the network, the second capabilities data including information in said structured format for identifying the capabilities of the second home device;
(f) comparing the first and second capabilities data of the first and second home devices, respectively;
(g) selecting the second home device from the user interface displayed on the client device; and
(h) sending control and command data from the client device to the first and second home devices to cause the first and second home devices to communicate with each other to perform fhe service.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and system for performing a service on a home network having a plurality of home devices connected thereto, by: connecting a client device to the home network for displaying a user interface; executing a software agent on the client device for obtaining selection information for the network devices and displaying the selection information on a user interface displayed on the client device; selecting a first home device connected to the network from the user interface being displayed on the client device; reading first capabilities data for the first home device, where the first capabilities data includes information in a structured format for identifying the capabilities of the first home device; reading second capabilities data for a second home device connected to the network, where the second capabilities data includes information in the structured format for identifying the capabilities of the second home device; comparing the first and second capabilities data of the first and second home devices, respectively; selecting the second home device from the user interface displayed on the client device; and sending control and command data from the client device to the first and second home devices to cause the first and second home devices to communicate with each other to perform the service.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for performing a service on a home network having a plurality of home devices connected thereto, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) connecting a client device to the home network, the client device capable of displaying a user interface;
(b) executing a software agent on the client device for obtaining selection information for said plurality of home devices and displaying the selection information on a user interface displayed on the client device;
(c) selecting a first home device connected to the network from the user interface being displayed on the client device;
(d) reading first capabilities data for the first home device, the first capabilities data including information in a structured format for identifying the capabilities of the first home device;
(e) reading second capabilities data for a second home device connected to the network, the second capabilities data including information in said structured format for identifying the capabilities of the second home device;
(f) comparing the first and second capabilities data of the first and second home devices, respectively;
(g) selecting the second home device from the user interface displayed on the client device; and
(h) sending control and command data from the client device to the first and second home devices to cause the first and second home devices to communicate with each other to perform fhe service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
step (e) further includes reading capabilities data for a plurality of home devices connected to the network, wherein each capabilities data corresponding to a home device includes information in said structured format for identifying the capabilities of the corresponding home device connected to the network;
step (f) further includes comparing the first capabilities data with said plurality of capabilities data and updating said selection information in the user interface to include selection information for home devices whose capabilities data match the first capabilities data and are compatible with the first home device;
step (g) further includes selecting one or more home devices from said user interface; and
step (h) further includes sending control and command data from the client device to the first home device and to one more other selected home devices to cause the first and said one or more other home devices to communicate with each other to perform the service.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein said selection information for each home device includes an iconic representation of the home device.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured format includes the XML format.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein only the client device is capable of displaying a user interface.
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7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of connecting a third home device to the home network, the third home device storing application interface description data in a structured format for device command control of the third home device by one or more other home devices over the network.
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8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of the first home device controlling the third home device by sending control and command information to the third home device utilizing said application interface description data.
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9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of providing said application interface description data to the first home device.
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10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of the second home device controlling the third home device by sending control and command information to the third home device utilizing said application interface description data.
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11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing said application interface description data to the second home device.
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12. A network system for performing a service, comprising:
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(a) a physical layer, wherein the physical layer provides a communication medium than can be used by devices to communicate with each other;
(b) a first home device storing first capabilities data including information in a structured format for identifying the capabilities of the first home device;
(c) a second home device storing second capabilities data including information in said structured format for identifying the capabilities of the second home device;
(d) a client device including a user interface controller for displaying a user interface to provide selection information for at least the first home device to a user and to receive user input for selecting at least the first home device;
the client device further including a software agent such that when the user selects the first home device from the user interface being displayed on the client device, the software agent reads and compares said first and second capabilities data, and if compatible, the software agent causes the controller means to update said selection information on the user interface to include selection information for the second home device, and wherein upon selection of the second home device from the user interface by a user, the client device sends control and command data to the first and second home devices to cause the first and second home devices to communicate with each other to perform a service requested by the user. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for performing a service via a home network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) connecting a client device to the home network, wherein the client device is capable of displaying user interface data;
(b) connecting a first home device to the home network, the first home device storing user interface data in a selected format that defines a user interface for user command and control of at least the first home device by a user via the network;
(c) connecting a second home device connected to the home network, the second home device storing application interface description data in a structured format for device command and control of the second home device by one or more other home devices connected to the network;
(d) receiving the user interface data of the first home device at the client device via the home network;
(e) displaying the user interface defined by the user interface data of the first home device on the client device;
(f) accepting user input from a user in response to the user interacting with the user interface displayed on the client device; and
(g) sending control and command data from the client device to the first home device based on the user input to cause the first and second home devices to communicate with each other utilizing said application interface description data to perform the service. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
sending control and command data from the first home device to said plurality of home devices via the network utilizing the application interface description data corresponding to each of said plurality of home devices to control the operation of said plurality of home devices.
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29. The method of claim 27, further including the step of:
locating said application interface descriptions over the network, and providing said application interface descriptions to the first home device via the network.
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30. The method of claim 27 further including the steps of providing the application interface description data of one home device of said plurality of home devices to another home device of said plurality of home devices.
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31. The method of claim 30 further including sending control and command data from said one home device to said another home device via the network utilizing the application interface description corresponding to said another home device to control the operation of said other home device.
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32. The method of claim 20, wherein the application interface description includes remote procedure call information for the first home device to control the operation of the second home device.
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33. The method of claim 32, wherein the application interface description includes capabilities data for identifying the capabilities of the second device.
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34. The method of claim 20 wherein the selected format includes HTML format.
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35. The method of claim 20 wherein the structured format includes XML format.
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36. A network system for commanding and controlling devices, comprising:
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(a) a physical layer, wherein the physical layer provides a communication medium than can be used by devices to communicate with each other;
(b) a first server device storing user interface data in a selected format that defines a user interface for user command and control of at least the first device by a user;
(c) a second server device storing application interface description data in a structured format for device command and control of the second sever device by one or more devices;
(d) a client device capable of displaying user interface data, the client device including user interface controller means for displaying said user interface of the first server device on the client device to accept input from a user, and for sending control and command data to the first server device based on the user input, to cause the first and second sever devices to communicate with each other utilizing said application interface description data to perform a service requested by the user. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification