A/V system available for integrated control and method of controlling the same

• US 7,450,148 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sung-hee, Kim, Yong-jun, Jeon, Yu-seong, Park, Jong-wook, Kim, Hyo-dae, Choi, Eu-gene, Kim, Jae-kwon, Kang, Young-mi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/913,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1409, 348/14.1, 348 1412- 1416, 37910201-10207, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 709/227, 709/224, 709/225, 709/219
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways

Abstract

A method for controlling a plurality of devices including a master device having AV terminals and slave devices connected to the master device through a communication control line, with the use of a single remote control. The method includes detecting the slave devices, and allocating a device ID to each of the slave devices, identifying to which slave device each AV terminal is connected, by controlling the detected slave devices to be powered on or off through the communication control line with the use of the device ID, receiving a predetermined key code from a user'"'"'s remote control, and determining which device among the master device and the slave devices to control and determining an operation of the device, by referring to an item of mapping table corresponding to the key code, and controlling operation of the device through the communication control line with the use of the device ID.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of devices including a master device having AV terminals and slave devices connected to the master device through a communication control line, with the use of a single remote control, comprising:

(a) detecting the slave devices, and allocating a device ID to each of the respective detected slave devices;

(b) identifying to which slave device of the detected slave devices each AV terminal is connected, by controlling the detected slave devices to be powered on or off through the communication control line with the use of the device IDs;

(c) receiving a predetermined key code from a user'"'"'s remote control; and

(d) determining which device among the master device and the detected slave devices to control and determining an operation of the determined device, by referring to an item of a mapping table corresponding to the key code, and controlling an operation of the determined device through the communication control line with the use of the device ID of the determined device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises:

disconnecting a connection between a slave device to be identified and a sub slave device of the slave device;

requesting from the slave device to be identified a device identification information of the slave device to be identified;

receiving a response to the request from the slave device to be identified; and

allocating the device ID to the slave device to be identified.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises:

turning on a power supply to a slave device of the detected slave devices, whose connection status the master device desires to know, and searching for an AV terminal to which a signal from the master device is inputted;

turning off power supply to the slave device;

determining whether a signal is inputted from the searched AV terminal of the slave device; and

determining that an AV cable of the slave device is connected to the searched AV terminal, when it is determined that no signal has been inputted.

4. A master device for identifying a slave device connected thereto through a communication control line, comprising:

a control signal transceiver transmitting a packet including various control commands to the slave device and receiving response packets to the control commands;

a control signal generating unit generating the control command in the form of a digital signal in compliance with a predetermined protocol; and

a device ID generating unit allocating a device ID to the slave device,

wherein, when the communication control line is in a series communication mode, the control signal generating unit generates a control signal to disconnect terminals connected between slave devices and a control signal to connect the connected terminals.

5. A slave device connected to a master device through a communication control line, which is identified by the master device, comprising:

a control signal transceiver receiving a packet including various control commands from the master device and transmitting response packets to the control commands;

a communication control line through which the master device and the slave device are connected and through which the packets move;

a memory storing therein the device ID received from the master device;

a buffer which connects communication between the slave device and another slave device; and

a buffer control unit disconnecting or connecting the buffer according to the control signal received from the master device, when the communication control line is in a series communication mode.

6. A television set (TV) comprising:

a key input unit receiving a key input by a user;

an ID generating unit allocating a device ID to a slave device detected to be connected to a master device through a communication control line by disconnecting and connecting the slave device to another slave device;

a control signal transceiver transmitting a digital signal containing control commands to the slave device with the use of the device ID allocated according to the key input by the user and receiving a digital signal containing responses to the control commands;

a control signal generating unit generating a digital signal containing the control commands according to a predetermined protocol; and

an AV signal transceiver transmitting to the slave device an analog signal for a video or a sound and receiving the signal through an AV cable according to the control commands.

7. The TV according to claim 6 wherein the an ID generating unit disconnects and connects the slave device to the another slave device when the communication line is in a series communication mode.