System and method for managing, routing, and controlling devices and inter-device connections
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for controlling an environment, comprising:
- a server comprising a database and an application service adapted to communicate via a first interface and a second interface;
a control client adapted to communicate with said server via said first interface, receive a user interface from said server, display said user interface to the user, and receive commands from the user via said user interface for transmission via said first interface to said server;
a control switch comprising a third interface and a fourth interface, adapted to communicate via said third interface with said server via said second interface of said server and said fourth interface of said control switch adapted to selectively interconnect inputs of said fourth interface to outputs from said fourth interface;
a source device comprising a source command port and adapted to output a signal via an output port, wherein said output port is in communication with said fourth interface of said control switch via a first link adapted to connect said source device output port to one of the selectively interconnect inputs and said source command port is in communication with said server via said second interface;
an output device comprising an output command port and adapted to accept said signal via an input port, wherein said input port is in communication with said fourth interface of said control switch via a second link adapted to connect one of the selectively interconnect outputs to said output device input port and said output command port is in communication with said server via said second interface;
an environment device adapted to communicate with said server and receive commands from said server via said second interface;
a means for representing in said database a set of static connections and a set of nodes adaptable to allow communication between said output port and said fourth interface, and said fourth interface and said input port;
a configuration means for said server to issue commands to and configure said source device, said output device, and said control switch via said second interface such that said signal flows from said source device through said control switch to said output device;
a first network communicating with said first interface, said second interface, and said third interface;
a second network communicating with said fourth interface; and
said application service further comprising an event generator and an event handler, wherein said event handler comprises a means for responding to said event generator, a means for responding to a device event generator that handles communications received from said source device via said second interface, and a means for triggering said configuration means.
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Abstract
A system and method for managing, routing and controlling devices and inter-device connections located within an environment to manage and control the environment using a control client is presented. A user provides commands via the control client to a server that maintains a representation of the environment and the devices within the environment. The server provides commands to devices present within the environment in response to user commands and other events, including events from the environment. The commands cause the devices in the environment to adopt specific desired states thereby causing the environment and the devices within the environment to create desired connections by and between the devices and to otherwise control and effect the environment.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for controlling an environment, comprising:
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a server comprising a database and an application service adapted to communicate via a first interface and a second interface; a control client adapted to communicate with said server via said first interface, receive a user interface from said server, display said user interface to the user, and receive commands from the user via said user interface for transmission via said first interface to said server; a control switch comprising a third interface and a fourth interface, adapted to communicate via said third interface with said server via said second interface of said server and said fourth interface of said control switch adapted to selectively interconnect inputs of said fourth interface to outputs from said fourth interface; a source device comprising a source command port and adapted to output a signal via an output port, wherein said output port is in communication with said fourth interface of said control switch via a first link adapted to connect said source device output port to one of the selectively interconnect inputs and said source command port is in communication with said server via said second interface; an output device comprising an output command port and adapted to accept said signal via an input port, wherein said input port is in communication with said fourth interface of said control switch via a second link adapted to connect one of the selectively interconnect outputs to said output device input port and said output command port is in communication with said server via said second interface; an environment device adapted to communicate with said server and receive commands from said server via said second interface; a means for representing in said database a set of static connections and a set of nodes adaptable to allow communication between said output port and said fourth interface, and said fourth interface and said input port; a configuration means for said server to issue commands to and configure said source device, said output device, and said control switch via said second interface such that said signal flows from said source device through said control switch to said output device; a first network communicating with said first interface, said second interface, and said third interface; a second network communicating with said fourth interface; and said application service further comprising an event generator and an event handler, wherein said event handler comprises a means for responding to said event generator, a means for responding to a device event generator that handles communications received from said source device via said second interface, and a means for triggering said configuration means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system to allow a user to control an environment, comprising:
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a server comprising a database and an application service means adapted to communicate via a first interface and a second interface and to generate a user interface; a control client adapted to communicate with said server via said first interface, receive said user interface from said server, display said user interface to the user, and receive commands from the user via said user interface for transmission via said first interface to said server; a flow control device having a selectable input node, a selectable output node, a flow control device communication interface adapted to communicate with said server via said second interface, and a means for selectively connecting said selectable input node to said selectable output node in response to commands received from said server and received via said flow control device communication interface; a source device comprising a source device output port and a source device communication interface adapted to communicate with said server and receive commands from said server via said second interface; an output device comprising an output device input port and an output device communication interface adapted to communicate with said server and receive commands from said server via said second interface; a first link adapted to connect said source device output port to said selectable input node; a second link adapted to connect said selectable output node to said output device input port; an environment device adapted to communicate with said server and receive commands from said server via said second interface; a routing means for representing said first link, said second link, said output device input port, said source device output port, said selectable input node, and said selectable output node in said database; a recursive algorithm means for identifying and configuring a path between said source device and said output device, using said first link, said second link, and said flow control device; a first network communicating with said first interface, said second interface and said flow control device communication interface; a second network communicating with said selectable input node and said selectable output node; and an event handler implemented within said application service whereby said event handler comprises a means for responding to an event generator, a means for responding to a device event generator that handles communications received from said source device via said second interface, and a means for triggering said recursive algorithm means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for controlling and configuring an environment by a user, comprising:
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a control client adapted to communicate via a first interface comprising a user interface; a server located in a first portion of the environment, comprising a database and an application service adapted to communicate via said first interface and a second interface, said application service comprising an event generator and a user interface rendering means that identifies said control client and passes user interface data to said control client; a control switch located in a second portion of the environment, whereby said second portion of the environment is nonoverlapping and noncontiguous with said first portion of the environment, comprising a third interface, adapted to communicate with said server via said second interface of said server and a plurality of input nodes and a plurality of output nodes, whereby said control switch selectively connects at least one said input node with at least one said output node; a source device comprising a source interface port adapted to communicate with said server via said second interface of said server, and adapted to output a signal via an output port; a first static connection adapted to transmit said signal between said output port and one said input node; an output device comprising an output device interface port adapted to communicate with said server via said second interface of said server, and adapted to accept said signal via an input port; a second static connection adapted to transmit said signal between one said output node and said input port; a means for generating an environmental model within said database comprising representations of said first static connection, said second static connection, said control switch, said output nodes, said input nodes, said source device, said output port, said output device and said input port, where said representations include a group of said control switch, said source device, and said output device; a working model within said application service comprising said environmental model, a set of states associated with said representations, and a routing map wherein said routing map selectively associates said output port, said input nodes, said output nodes, and said input port based upon said first static connection and said second static connection; a recursive algorithm means within said application service for identifying a desired communications path from said output device to said source device via multiple elements selected from said working model; a configuration means for said application service to issue commands to and configure respective states of each said multiple elements to establish said desired communication path in the environment as represented by said group thereby creating a communication route in the environment; an updating means for said working model to reflect said respective states of each said multiple elements; an event handler implemented within said application service whereby said event handler comprises a means for responding to said event generator, a means for responding to a device event generator that handles communications received from said source device via said second interface, and a means for triggering said configuration means; a first network communicating with said first interface, said second interface, and said third interface; and a second network communicating with said plurality of input nodes, and said plurality of output nodes. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification