Control system and user interface for network of input devices

• US 6,930,730 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric US Incorporated (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Incorporated (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Houda, Pavel, Palmer, George E., Stecyk, Polly, Pu, Shenta T., Perry, Robert A., Zanfino, Martin, Peterson, Brian, Mann, David M., Teodorescu, Sorin I., Maxon, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/138,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 726/37, 726/38, 715/714, 715/716, 715/718, 715/719, 348/734, 348/706, 348/731, 348/705, 348/460, 348/552, 348/553, 348/554, 340/825.69, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.72, 700/17
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• 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: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more particularly, a control system and uniform user interface for centrally controlling these devices in a manner that appears seamless and transparent to the user. In a preferred embodiment, a command center or hub of a network system includes a context and connection permutation sensitive control system that enables centralized and seamless integrated control of all types of input devices. The control system preferably includes a versatile icon based graphical user interface that provides a uniform, on-screen centralized control system for the network system. The user interface, which includes a visual recognition system, enables the user to transparently control multiple input devices over a variety of protocols while operating on a single control layer of an input command device. In an alternative embodiment, the control system also enables gated signal pass-through control while avoiding signal jamming.

Claims