Device control system, method, and apparatus for server-based or peer-to-peer network environments
First Claim
1. A method for migrating a controller adapted to remotely control one or more electronic devices from a stand-alone mode to a client-server mode, wherein the controller remotely controls the one or more electronic devices in accordance with a control configuration maintained by the controller in the stand-alone mode, the method comprising:
- discovering a server that is communicatively coupled to the controller and the one or more electronic devices;
transmitting data to said server relating to the control configuration maintained by the controller;
updating a control configuration maintained by said server based on said transmitted data; and
subsequently controlling the one or more electronic devices in the client-server mode, wherein controlling the one or more electronic devices in the client-server mode comprises issuing commands by said server directly to the one or more electronic devices in accordance with said updated control configuration maintained by said server.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for migrating a controller adapted to remotely control one or more electronic devices from a stand-alone mode to a client-server mode, wherein the controller remotely controls the one or more electronic devices in accordance with a control configuration maintained by the controller in the stand-alone mode, the method comprising:
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discovering a server that is communicatively coupled to the controller and the one or more electronic devices; transmitting data to said server relating to the control configuration maintained by the controller; updating a control configuration maintained by said server based on said transmitted data; and subsequently controlling the one or more electronic devices in the client-server mode, wherein controlling the one or more electronic devices in the client-server mode comprises issuing commands by said server directly to the one or more electronic devices in accordance with said updated control configuration maintained by said server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. 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 server that is communicatively coupled to said network and to the one or more electronic devices and to transmit data to said server relating to a control configuration maintained by the apparatus and used by the apparatus to remotely control the one or more electronic devices in a stand-alone mode, and wherein said server is adapted to update a control configuration maintained by said server based on said transmitted data and to subsequently control the one or more electronic devices in a client-server mode by issuing commands directly to the one or more electronic devices in accordance with said updated control configuration maintained by said server. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system, comprising:
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an electronic device; a controller communicatively coupled to said electronic device via a network, said controller adapted to remotely control said electronic device via said network in accordance with a control configuration maintained by said controller in a stand-alone mode; and a server communicatively coupled to said electronic device and said controller via said network; wherein said controller is further adapted to discover said server and to transmit data to said server relating to said control configuration maintained by said controller, and wherein said server is adapted to update a control configuration maintained by said server based on said transmitted data and to subsequently control said electronic device in a client-server mode by issuing commands directly to the electronic device in accordance with said updated control configuration maintained by said server. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for migrating from a client-server mode in which a server remotely controls one or more electronic devices in accordance with a control configuration maintained by the server, to a stand-alone mode in which a controller remotely controls the one or more electronic devices in accordance with a control configuration maintained by the controller, the method comprising:
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receiving data from said server relating to the control configuration maintained by the server; updating the control configuration maintained by the controller based on the received data; and subsequently controlling the one or more electronic devices in the stand-alone mode, wherein controlling the one or more electronic devices in the stand-alone mode comprises issuing commands by the controller directly to the one or more electronic devices in accordance with said updated control configuration maintained by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. 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 receive data from a server communicatively coupled to said network and to the one or more electronic devices, said received data relating to a control configuration maintained by said server and used by said server to control the one or more electronic devices in a client-server mode, to update a control configuration maintained by the apparatus based on said received data, and to subsequently control the one or more electronic devices in a stand-alone mode by issuing commands directly to the one or more electronic devices in accordance with said updated control configuration maintained by said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A system, comprising:
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an electronic device; a controller communicatively coupled to said electronic device via a network; and a server communicatively coupled to said electronic device and said controller via said network, said server adapted to remotely control said electronic device via said network in accordance with a control configuration maintained by said server in a client-server mode; wherein said controller is adapted to receive data from said server relating to said control configuration maintained by said server, to update a control configuration maintained by said controller based on said received data, and to subsequently control said electronic device in a stand-alone mode by issuing commands directly to the electronic device in accordance with said updated control configuration maintained by said controller. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification