Device control system, method, and apparatus for server-based or peer-to-peer network environments
First Claim
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1. A method for synchronizing a first controller with a second controller, each of the first and second controllers being adapted to remotely control one or more electronic devices, the method comprising:
- discovering the second controller;
generating first controller synchronization data for synchronizing said first and second controllers;
transmitting a message relating to said first controller synchronization data to the second controller;
receiving a message relating to second controller synchronization data from the second controller; and
updating a log in response to receiving said message.
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Abstract
In a device control system that provides a means for controlling a variety of device types via a unified interface, such as via a handheld controller, a synchronization protocol ensures synchronization between a plurality of such controllers in a peer-to-peer network environment, provides a means for transferring custom configurations between such controllers, and provides a means for migrating such a controller from a peer-to-peer network environment to a server-based network environment and vice-versa.
31 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A method for synchronizing a first controller with a second controller, each of the first and second controllers being adapted to remotely control one or more electronic devices, the method comprising:
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discovering the second controller; generating first controller synchronization data for synchronizing said first and second controllers; transmitting a message relating to said first controller synchronization data to the second controller; receiving a message relating to second controller synchronization data from the second controller; and updating a log in response to receiving said message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for remotely controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:
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a network interface adapted for communication over a network; a user interface adapted to receive user input; control logic coupled to said network interface and said user interface and adapted to execute commands in response to said user input; and a memory; wherein said control logic is further adapted to discover a second apparatus for controlling the one or more electronic devices communicatively coupled to said network, to generate synchronization data for synchronizing the apparatus with said second apparatus, and to transmit a message relating to said synchronization data to said second apparatus via said network interface; and wherein said control logic is further adapted to receive a message relating to second apparatus synchronization data from said second apparatus and to update a log stored in said memory in response to receiving said message. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system, comprising:
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an electronic device; and first and second controllers communicatively coupled to said electronic device and to each other via a network, each of said first and second controllers being adapted to remotely control said electronic device via said network; wherein said first controller is further adapted to discover said second controller, to generate first controller synchronization data for synchronizing said first and second controllers, and to transmit a message relating to said first controller synchronization data to said second controller over said network; and wherein said first controller is further adapted to receive a message relating to second controller synchronization data from said second controller over said network and to update a log in response to receiving said message. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for synchronizing a first controller with a second controller, each of the first and second controllers being adapted to remotely control one or more electronic devices, the method comprising:
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discovering the second controller; transmitting first data to the second controller relating to one or more first controller events that have occurred since a prior synchronization; and receiving second data from the second controller relating to one or more second controller events that have occurred since said prior synchronization; and updating a log of events based on said first and second data. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus for remotely controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:
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a network interface adapted for communication over a network; a user interface adapted to receive user input;
control logic coupled to said network interface and said user interface and adapted to execute commands in response to said user input; anda memory; wherein said control logic is further adapted to discover a second apparatus for controlling the one or more electronic devices communicatively coupled to said network, to transmit first data to said second apparatus relating to one or more first controller events that have occurred since a prior synchronization, and to receive second data from said second apparatus relating to one or more second controller events that have occurred since said prior synchronization; and wherein said control logic is further adapted to update a log of events stored in said memory based on said first and second data. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A system, comprising:
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an electronic device; and first and second controllers communicatively coupled to said electronic device and to each other via a network, each of said first and second controllers being adapted to remotely control said electronic device via said network; wherein said first controller is further adapted to discover said second controller, to transmit first data to said second controller relating to one or more first controller events that have occurred since a prior synchronization, and to receive second data from said second controller relating to one or more second controller events that have occurred since said prior synchronization; and wherein said first controller is further adapted to update a log of events based on said first and second data. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A method for synchronizing a first controller with a second controller, each of the first and second controllers being adapted to remotely control one or more electronic devices, the method comprising:
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discovering the second controller; transmitting first data to the second controller relating to one or more first controller events that have occurred since a prior synchronization; receiving second data from the second controller relating to one or more second controller events that have occurred since said prior synchronization; and changing a control configuration of the first controller to match a control configuration of the second controller based on said second data, wherein said changing a control configuration of the first controller comprises prompting a user to confirm said changing of said control configuration of the first controller.
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66. An apparatus for remotely controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:
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a network interface adapted for communication over a network; a user interface adapted to receive user input; and control logic coupled to said network interface and said user interface and adapted to execute commands in response to said user input; wherein said control logic is further adapted to discover a second apparatus for controlling the one or more electronic devices communicatively coupled to said network, to transmit first data to said second apparatus relating to one or more first controller events that have occurred since a prior synchronization, and to receive second data from said second apparatus relating to one or more second controller events that have occurred since said prior synchronization; and wherein said control logic is further adapted to change a control configuration of the apparatus to match a control configuration of said second apparatus based on said second data and to prompt a user to confirm said changing of said control configuration of the apparatus via said user interface.
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67. A system, comprising:
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an electronic device; and first and second controllers communicatively coupled to said electronic device and to each other via a network, each of said first and second controllers being adapted to remotely control said electronic device via said network; wherein said first controller is further adapted to discover said second controller, to transmit first data to said second controller relating to one or more first controller events that have occurred since a prior synchronization, and to receive second data from said second controller relating to one or more second controller events that have occurred since said prior synchronization; and wherein said first controller is further adapted to change a control configuration of the said first controller to match a control configuration of said second controller based on said second data and to prompt a user to confirm said changing of said control configuration of said first controller.
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Specification