System of devices of which some include an infared remote control interface
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between an infrared remote control unit and an infrared controlled device via network gateways, the method comprisingreceiving a first infrared control signal from the infrared remote control unit at a first one of the network gateways;
- transmitting a message dependent on information derived from the first infrared control signal from the first one of the network gateways over a backbone network to network gateways in a predefined sub-network;
receiving the message from the backbone network at a second one of the network gateways;
transmitting a second infrared control signal from the second one of the network gateways to the infrared controlled device dependent on information derived from the message;
automatically setting up the sub-network of the backbone network prior to transmission of the message and broadcasting the message to all devices in the sub-network, the sub-network comprising a selection of devices coupled to a backbone network, the selection comprising the network gateways, the setting up of the sub-network comprising;
automatically sending out a request from the first one of the network gateways to detect network gateways that indicate an ability to transmit infrared control messages prior to transmission of the message; and
storing information defining the sub-network in the first one of the network gateways dependent to a response to the request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Infrared control signals are communicated between an infrared remote control unit (16) and an infrared controlled device (18) via network gateways (14). A sub-network of a backbone network (10) is automatically set up prior to transmission of messages. The sub-network comprises a selection of devices coupled to a backbone network (10). The setting up of the sub-network comprises automatically sending out a request from the first one of the network gateways (14) to detect network gateways (14) that indicate ability to transmit infrared control messages prior to transmission of the message and storing information defining the sub-network in the first one of the network gateways dependent to a response to the request. Subsequently, when a first infra red control signal is received from the infrared remote control unit (16) at a first one of the network gateways (14), a message is transmitted dependent on information derived from the first infrared control signal from the first one of the network gateways (14) over the backbone network (10) to the subnetwork of the selected devices. The message from the backbone network (10) is received at a second one of the network gateways (14). The second one of the network gateways (14) transmits a second infrared control signal from to the infrared controlled device (18) dependent on information derived from the message. The information in the network message may comprise sample values of the demodulated infrared control signal.
22 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between an infrared remote control unit and an infrared controlled device via network gateways, the method comprising
receiving a first infrared control signal from the infrared remote control unit at a first one of the network gateways; -
transmitting a message dependent on information derived from the first infrared control signal from the first one of the network gateways over a backbone network to network gateways in a predefined sub-network; receiving the message from the backbone network at a second one of the network gateways; transmitting a second infrared control signal from the second one of the network gateways to the infrared controlled device dependent on information derived from the message; automatically setting up the sub-network of the backbone network prior to transmission of the message and broadcasting the message to all devices in the sub-network, the sub-network comprising a selection of devices coupled to a backbone network, the selection comprising the network gateways, the setting up of the sub-network comprising; automatically sending out a request from the first one of the network gateways to detect network gateways that indicate an ability to transmit infrared control messages prior to transmission of the message; and storing information defining the sub-network in the first one of the network gateways dependent to a response to the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising a plurality of networked devices coupled via a backbone network, wherein part of the networked devices are network gateway devices, each network gateway device comprising:
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a network interface coupled to the backbone network; at least one of an infrared signal receiver and an infrared signal transmitter; a control circuit. coupled to the network interface of the network gateway device and to he infrared signal receiver and the infrared signal transmitter, whichever is comprised in the network gateway device, the control circuit of at least part of the network gateway devices being configured to initiate mutual identification of the network gateway devices on start-up; the control circuit of the network gateway device or devices that comprise the infrared signal receiver being configured to respond to subsequent reception of a first infrared remote control signal from the infrared signal receiver of the network gateway device by broadcasting a message over the backbone network, dependent on information derived from the first infrared remote control signal, to all previously identified network gateway devices that comprise the infrared signal transmitter; the control circuit of the network gateway device or devices that comprise the infrared signal transmitter being configured to respond to the message by causing the infrared signal transmitter of the network gateway device to transmit a second infrared remote control signal dependent on information derived from the message. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A network gateway device for use in a system with a plurality of networked devices coupled via a backbone network, wherein at least part of the networked devices are further network gateway devices with an infrared transmitter, the network gateway device comprising:
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a network interface coupled to the backbone network; an infrared signal receiver; a control circuit, coupled to the network interface and to the infrared signal receiver, the control circuit being configured to initiate mutual identification of the network gateway device and the further network gateway devices to form a virtual sub-network on start-up of the network gateway device, and to respond to subsequent reception of a first infrared remote control signal from the infrared signal receiver by broadcasting a message over the backbone network, dependent on information derived from the first infrared remote control signal, to all previously identified further network gateway devices. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A network gateway device for use in a system with a plurality of networked devices coupled via a backbone network, wherein part of the networked devices are further network gateway devices with an infrared receiver, the network gateway device comprising:
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a network interface for coupling to the backbone network; an infrared signal transmitter; a control circuit, coupled to the network interface and to the infrared signal transmitter, the control circuit being configured to initiate selective mutual identification, to automatically form a sub-network different than the backbone network, including the network gateway device and the further network gateway devices on start-up of the network gateway device, and to respond to messages from the further network gateway devices by causing the infrared signal transmitter to transmit a second infrared signal dependent on information derived from the message.
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Specification