System and method for a light based configuration guide for electronic ports

• US 7,626,510 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap One LLC (Snap One Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Control4 Corporation (Snap One Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Coffin, Stephen C., West, William B., Smith, W. Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US11/221,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/815.4, 340/815.47, 340/815.49, 340/815.53, 340/691.1, 340/693.5, 340/686.1, 340/687, 340/686.2, 340/686.4, 439/488
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A media component is provided for controlling home automation signals. The media component can include a housing containing management circuitry. A plurality of communication ports can also be included for the media component. The communication ports may be coupled to the housing. In addition, a plurality of light units is provided. The light units are lit in order to guide a user to take a pre-determined action with respect to the communication ports.

Claims

1. A media component, comprising:

a housing containing management circuitry;

a plurality of communication ports for the media component, the communication ports being coupled to the housing. wherein at least one of the communication ports is a relay controller; and

a plurality of light units, wherein a light unit is lit in order to guide a user where to connect a device to at least one of the plurality of communication ports based on a device type.

2. The media component as in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light units is associated with a separate communication port and each is configured to be lit up in order to instruct a user to connect a communication cable to the communication port.

3. The media component as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of light units are independently colored to represent different functions of the communication ports.

4. The media component as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of light units are independently colored to represent different device types to be connected to the communication ports.

5. The media component as in claim 1, wherein the light units are selected from a group consisting of light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent lights, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

6. The media component as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication ports are selected from the group consisting of audio inputs, audio outputs, video inputs or video outputs.

7. The media component as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication ports are relay controllers.

8. The media component as in claim 1, farther comprising a panel for the housing and supporting the communication ports configured to be located on a back or side face of the housing.

9. A media component, comprising:

a housing having management circuitry;

a user interface associated with the management circuitry, said user interface adapted to allow a user to select a desired communication interface;

a plurality of communication ports being coupled to the housing; and

a plurality of light units referenced to the communication ports, wherein the light units are referenced to the communication ports using a matrix on a housing panel referencing the light units to the communication ports, and wherein the light units are activated to instruct a user in connecting a communication cable to a specific communication port based on a user selected communication interface.

10. The media component as in claim 9, wherein the light units are referenced to the communication ports by locating the light units physically adjacent to the communication port.

11. The media component as in claim 9, wherein the light units are referenced to the communication ports using printed indicia referencing the light units to the communication ports.

12. The media component as in claim 9, wherein the light units are referenced to the communication ports using printed lines on a housing panel referencing the light units to the communication ports.

13. A method for directing a user in configuring a media component, comprising the steps of:

providing electronic survey questions to determine the device type to be connected to the media component;

requesting user input into a media component containing management circuitry and communication ports;

receiving input from the user of the media component regarding a device type desired to be connected to the media component; and

activating a light unit on the media component associated with a communication port in order to instruct a user where to connect a connection cable to the media component based on the device type.

14. The method as in claim 13, further comprising the step of receiving input from the user regarding a type of communication interface desired to be used with the media component, wherein a light unit can be activated based on the communication interface requested.

15. The method as in claim 13, further comprising the step of receiving input from a user regarding a routing of a communication signal between a first device type and a second device type.

16. The method as in claim 13, further comprising the step of connecting a connection cable to the communication port on the media component based on the light that is being displayed.

17. The method as in claim 13, wherein the light units are selected from a group consisting of light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent lights, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

18. A method for directing a user in configuring a media component, comprising the steps of:

requesting user input into a media component containing management circuitry and communication ports;

receiving input from the user regarding a type of communication interface desired to be used with the media component; and

activating at least two light units on the media component associated with a matrix communication port in order to instruct a user where to connect a connection cable to the media component based on the communication interface desired.