Embedding web access functionality into a device for user interface functions

• US 20020133636A1
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.), Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.), Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jeffrey A., Venkatraman, Chandrasekar
• Application Number:
  US09/865,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/311
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Web access functionality is embedded in a device to enable low cost widely accessible and enhanced user interface functions for the device. A web server in the device provides access to the user interface functions for the device through a device web page. A network interface in the device enables access to the web page by a web browser such that a user of the web browser accesses the user interface functions for the device through the web page.

Claims

33. (New) A system for providing a web page for a copier, comprising:

(a) a copier web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a copier web page which enables control functions for the copier, the web server being embedded in the copier;

a network interface embedded in the copier and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the copier and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the copier and monitors a set of information pertaining to the copier; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the copier web page.

34. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

35. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

36. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

37. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

38. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

39. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

40. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

41. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path includes serial communication links.

42. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path includes parallel communication links.

43. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

44. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path includes:

a local area network;

a communication bridge coupled to the local area network; and

the world-wide web, the world-wide web being coupled to the communication bridge.

45. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the communication path includes:

a home-based network;

a communication bridge coupled to the home-based network; and

the world-wide web, the world-wide web being coupled to the communication bridge.

46. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the web browser has audio capability.

47. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the web browser is embodied in a computer system that executes a set of web browser software.

48. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

49. (New) The system of claim 33 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

50. (New) A system for providing a web page for a printer, comprising:

(a) a printer web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a printer web page which enables control functions for the printer, the web server being embedded in the printer;

a network interface embedded in the printer and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the printer and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the printer and monitors a set of information pertaining to the printer; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the printer web page.

51. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

52. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

53. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

54. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

55. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

56. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

57. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

58. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

59. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

60. (New) The system of claim 50 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

61. (New) A system for providing a web page for a fax machine, comprising:

(a) a fax machine web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a fax machine web page which enables control functions for the fax machine, the web server being embedded in the fax machine;

a network interface embedded in the fax machine and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the fax machine and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the fax machine and monitors a set of information pertaining to the fax machine; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the fax machine web page.

62. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

63. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

64. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

65. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

66. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

67. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

68. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

69. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

70. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

71. (New) The system of claim 61 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

72. (New) A system for providing a web page for a video player that reads video and audio information from a storage medium, comprising:

(a) a video player web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a video player web page which enables control functions for the video player, the web server being embedded in the video player;

a network interface embedded in the video player and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the video player and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the video player and monitors a set of information pertaining to the video player; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the video player web page.

73. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the storage medium is an optical storage medium.

74. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the storage medium is magnetic tape.

75. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the video player is a video player/recorder that reads and writes video and audio information to an optical storage medium.

76. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the video player is a video player/recorder that reads and writes video and audio information to a magnetic tape storage medium.

77. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

78. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

79. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

80. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

81. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

82. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

83. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

84. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

85. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

86. (New) The system of claim 72 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

87. (New) A system for providing a web page for a television, comprising:

(a) a television web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a television web page which enables control functions for the television, the web server being embedded in the television;

a network interface embedded in the television and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the television and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the television and monitors a set of information pertaining to the television; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the television web page.

88. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

89. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

90. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

91. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

92. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

93. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

94. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

95. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

96. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

97. (New) The system of claim 87 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

98. (New) A system for providing a web page for a thermostat, comprising:

(a) a thermostat web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a thermostat web page which enables control functions for the thermostat, the web server being embedded in the thermostat;

a network interface embedded in the thermostat and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the thermostat and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the thermostat and monitors a set of information pertaining to the thermostat; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the thermostat web page.

99. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

100. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

101. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

102. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

103. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

104. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

105. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

106. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

107. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

108. (New) The system of claim 98 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

109. (New) A system for providing a web page for a refrigerator, comprising:

(a) a refrigerator web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a refrigerator web page which enables control functions for the refrigerator, the web server being embedded in the refrigerator;

a network interface embedded in the refrigerator and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the refrigerator and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the refrigerator and monitors a set of information pertaining to the refrigerator; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the refrigerator web page.

110. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

111. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

112. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

113. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

114. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

115. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

116. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

117. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

118. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

119. (New) The system of claim 109 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

121. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

122. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

123. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

124. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

125. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

126. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

127. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

128. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

129. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

130. (New) The system of claim 120 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

132. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

133. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

134. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

135. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

136. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

137. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

138. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

139. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

140. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

141. (New) The system of claim 131 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

143. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

144. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

145. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

146. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

147. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

148. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

149. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

150. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

151. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

152. (New) The system of claim 142 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

154. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the communication path is a home-based network.

155. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.

156. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the communication path is a local area network.

157. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.

158. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.

159. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.

160. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.

161. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.

162. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.

163. (New) The system of claim 153 wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.

120. (New) A system for providing a web page for a washing machine, comprising:

(a) a washing machine web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a washing machine web page which enables control functions for the washing machine, the web server being embedded in the washing machine;

a network interface embedded in the washing machine and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the washing machine and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the washing machine and monitors a set of information pertaining to the washing machine; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the washing machine web page.

131. (New) A system for providing a web page for a disk drive, comprising:

(a) a disk drive web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a disk drive web page which enables control functions for the disk drive, the web server being embedded in the disk drive;

a network interface embedded in the disk drive and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the disk drive and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the disk drive and monitors a set of information pertaining to the disk drive; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the disk drive web page.

142. (New) A system for providing a web page for an oscilloscope, comprising:

(a) an oscilloscope web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates an oscilloscope web page which enables control functions for the oscilloscope, the web server being embedded in the oscilloscope;

a network interface embedded in the oscilloscope and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the oscilloscope and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the oscilloscope and monitors a set of information pertaining to the oscilloscope; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the oscilloscope web page.

153. (New) A system for providing a web page for a spectrum analyzer, comprising:

(a) a spectrum analyzer web server mechanism, including;

a web server that generates a spectrum analyzer web page which enables control functions for the spectrum analyzer, the web server being embedded in the spectrum analyzer;

a network interface embedded in the spectrum analyzer and coupled to the web server;

a monitor embedded in the spectrum analyzer and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the spectrum analyzer and monitors a set of information pertaining to the spectrum analyzer; and

a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;

(b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and

(c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the spectrum analyzer web page.