Information device, information device system control method, and information device system

• US 6,691,150 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Fukushima, Shinichiro, Goto, Hidefumi, Akamatsu, Chiyo, Hasegawa, Tsukasa, Yoshino, Yoshikatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US09/557,221
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/201, 709/205, 709/227, 709/228, 709/253, 709/219, 709/220, 340/825.22, 370/384, 463/36
• US Class Current: 709/201
• 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 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A device includes a self-information memory to store therein function data for other devices to operate the pertinent device and device name data thereof. Receiving a request from another device for the device name or function data, the device sends the data stored in the self-information memory. When function data is thereafter received, the device executes an instruction indicated by the data. In case where a plurality of devices each including the self-information memory are connected to each other via a bus or the like in a form of a network, at least one of the devices, i.e., a master device includes in addition to the self-information memory a connected device memory to store therein device name data of all of the connected devices and a communication pair memory to store therein function data of the communication partner. The master device requests the other devices for device name data thereof. When the requested data is received, the master device stores the data in the connected device memory. Consequently, by referring to the device name data stored in the memory, the control device recognize the device name of the connected device. Moreover, the master device requests the other devices for function data thereof. When the requested data is received, the master device stores the data in the communication pair memory. Therefore, by referring to the data stored in the pair memory, the master device recognize the function of the communication partner. In consequence, when a function is selected and function data related thereto is sent to a communication partner, the function can be accordingly executed.

Claims

1. An information device which configures an information device system which includes said information device and at least another information device connected to said information device, said information device comprising:

storage means for storing device name data indicating a device name of another information device of said at least another information device when said device name data is sent from said another information device to said information device; and

request means for requesting another information device of said at least another information device, associated with a device name of said device name data stored in said storage means, to transmit function data including instruction data to enable said another information device to be controlled by said information device; and

another storage means for storing therein said function data when said function data is received from said another information device.

2. An information device according to claim 1, wherein said information device and said another information device are connected by an IEEE 1394, a USB, a SSA, a fiber channel, a FC-EL or SCSI.

3. An information device which configures an information device system which includes said information device and at least another information device connected to said information device, said information device comprising:

first request means for requesting said another information device of said at least another information device to transmit device name data indicating a name of said another information device;

storage means for storing said device name data when said device name data from said another information device is received;

second request means for requesting said another information device, associated with a device name of said device name data stored in said storage means, to transmit function data of said another information device including instruction data to enable said another information device to be controlled by said information device; and

another storage means for storing said function data when said function data is received from said another information device.

4. An information device according to claim 3, wherein said information device and said another information device are connected by an IEEE 1394, a USB, a SSA, a fiber channel, a FC-EL or SCSI.

5. An information device which configures an information device system which includes said information device and at least another information device connected to said information device, said information device comprising:

a transmitter which transmits device name data of said information device to another information device of said at least another information device; and

another transmitter which transmits function data including instruction data to enable said information device to be controlled by said another information device of said information device to said another information device when a request is received from said another information device.

6. An information device according to claim 5, wherein based on said function data transmitted to said another information device from said information device, said another information device receives control information transmitted from said another information device to enable said information device to be controlled.

7. An information device according to claim 6, wherein said information device and said another information device are connected by an IEEE 1394, a USB, a SSA, a fiber channel, a FC-EL or SCSI.

8. An information device according to claim 5, wherein said information device and said another information device are connected by an IEEE 1394, a USB, a SSA, a fiber channel, a FC-EL or SCSI.

9. An information device which configures an information device system which includes said information device and at least another information device connected to said information device, said information device comprising:

storage means for storing device name data indicating a name of each another information device of said at least another information device when said device name of said each another information device is sent from said each another information device to said information device;

request means for requesting said another information device associated with a device name of said device name data stored in said storage means, to transmit function data including instruction data to enable said another information device to be controlled by said information device; and

storage means for storing said function data when said function data is received from said another information device,

wherein based on said function data, said information device transmits information necessary for controlling said another information device to said another information device.

10. An information device according to claim 9, wherein said information device and said another information device are connected by an IEEE 1394, a USB, a SSA, a fiber channel, a FC-EL or SCSI.

11. A method of controlling an information device system which includes said information device and at least another information devices connected together, said method comprising the steps of:

reading device name data from said information device and storing the device name data in storage means of another information device of said at least another information device;

reading from said another information device , associated with a device name of said device name data stored in said storage means, function data including instruction data to enable said information device to be controlled and storing said function data read in storage means of said another information device;

generating, based on said function data, control information for controlling said information device and transmitting said control information from said another information device to said information device.

12. An information device system which includes an information device and at least another information devices connected together,

wherein said information device comprises:

storage means for storing device name data,

another storage means for storing function data to enable said information device to be controlled by said another information device of said at least another information device,

wherein said another information device comprises;

storage means for storing device name data received from said information device;

request means for sending a request for function data including instruction data to enable said information device to be controlled by said another information device to said information device associated with said device name data,

another storage means for storing said function data received from said information device,

wherein said another information device generates, based on said function data, control information for controlling said information device and transmits said control information to said information device so as to permit said information device to be controlled by said another information device.