Method for controlling network devices via a MMI

• US 7,565,626 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Krusche, Arnd, Allen, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, TING ZHOU
• Application Number:
  US09/901,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20020003548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,934 Days
• Field of Search: 345/734, 345/736, 345/737, 345/744, 345/853, 709/217, 709/218, 709/220, 709/223, 709/224, 715/853, 715/855, 715/734, 715/769
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A method for controlling network devices via a man-machine interface including determining a connection of one or more devices to a network, determining availability of one or more multimedia services available via a respective one of the connected devices, and displaying a hierarchical view representative of one or more of the connected devices and one or more of the available multimedia services.

Claims

1. A method for controlling network devices via a home network, the network devices being connected to said home network via different protocol standards, comprising:

displaying generated icons of the network devices having a plurality of functions regarding a reproducing and/or recording of an audio/video signal, icons of a plurality of services provided by each device grouped according to the type of services provided, and menus including the functions which are operable with the associated network device or service;

at least partially displaying the generated icons with a hierarchical structure so as to show a relationship of network connections of the network devices in the home network;

receiving a selection of a network device or a service by a user selecting one of the displayed icons;

selectively displaying the menu of a selected network device or service, the menu including the functions which are operable with the selected network device or service;

receiving a selection of a function in the selectively displayed menu; and

controlling the network device or service to execute the selected function based on a respective one of the protocol standards,

wherein the execution of the selected function results in a data stream of an audio/video signal stored in a providing network device being sent from the providing network device to the selected network device or to a device capable of receiving said data stream via the home network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said network devices include all compatible devices that are connected to the home network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said home network, further includes one or more sub-networks integrated into said home network via a bridge.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least partially displaying the icons with a hierarchical structure further includes organizing the icons according to the kind of sub-networks connected to said network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selected function in the displayed menu is a “

send to”

function.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a providing network device.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising selecting an audio/video signal stored on the selected providing network device.

8. A controller including a man-machine interface for controlling network devices vi a home network, the network devices being connected to said home network via different protocol standards, comprising:

means for displaying generated icons of the network devices having a plurality of functions regarding a reproducing and/or recording of an audio/video signal, icons of a plurality of services provided by each device according to the type of services provided, and menus including the functions which are operable with the associated network device;

means for at least partially displaying the generated icons with a hierarchical structure so as to show a relationship of network connections of the network devices in the home network;

means for receiving a selection of a network device or service by a user selecting one of the displayed icons;

means for selectively displaying the menu of a selected network device or service, the menu including the functions which are operable with the selected network device or service;

means for receiving a selection of a function in the selectively displayed menu; and

means for controlling the network device or service to execute the selected function based on a respective one of the protocol standards,

wherein the execution of the selected function results in a data stream of an audio/video signal stored in a providing network device being sent from the providing network device to the selected network device or to a device capable of receiving said data stream via the home network.

9. The controller according to claim 8, wherein said network devices include all compatible devices that are connected to the home network.

10. The controller according to claim 8, wherein said home network, further includes one or more sub-networks integrated into said home network via a bridge.

11. The controller according to claim 10, wherein means for at least partially displaying the icons with a hierarchical structure further includes means for organizing the icons according to the kind of sub-networks connected to said network.

12. The controller according to claim 8, wherein the selected function in the displayed menu is a “

send to”

function.

13. The controller according to claim 8, further comprising means for selecting a providing network device.

14. The controller according to claim 13, further comprising means for selecting an audio/video signal stored on the selected providing network device.

15. A computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code stored thereon for causing a computer to provide a man-machine interface for controlling network devices via a home network, the network devices being connected to said home network via different protocol standards, the computer readable medium comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

displaying generated icons of the network devices having a plurality of functions regarding a reproducing and/or recording of an audio/video signal, icons of a plurality of services provided by each device according to the type of services provided, and menus including the functions which are operable with the associated network device or service;

at least partially display the generated icons with a hierarchical structure so as to show a relationship of network connections of the network devices in the home network;

receive a selection of a network device or service by a user selecting one of the displayed icons;

selectively display the menu of a selected network device or service, the menu including the functions which are operable with the selected network device or service;

receive a selection of a function in the selectively displayed menu; and

control the network device or service to execute the selected function based on a respective one of the protocol standards,

wherein the execution of the selected function results in a data stream of an audio/video signal stored in a providing network device being sent from the providing network device to the selected network device or to a device capable of receiving said data stream via the home network.