Connected home network console

• US 20030158927A1
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Giffin, Michael J., LaSor, Jeffrey W., Smith, Kim C., Jystad, Glenn E., Sagey, Richard W.
• Application Number:
  US10/151,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158927A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation 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 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system for providing a home network console. In a first aspect the network console provides device information for physical devices within a network. The network console is non-hierarchical in as much as all the devices within the network are indicated in a single level, thus a user does not have to click through multiple levels to access devices. In a further aspect, a network console system includes agents capable of communicating device information to the network console. Inclusion of an agent in an individual device allows for dynamic updating of device information including assisting in the connection of a new device to the network, furthermore the device agent is capable of communicating device information related to supportable network activities.

Claims

1. A network, comprising:

at least two devices;

a network console which is accessible to at least one of the at least two devices for providing device information of each of the at least two devices to a user of the network console;

an agent capable of communicating device information from an individual device of the at least two devices to the network console;

wherein all of the at least two devices are displayed in a single interface on the network console.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the network console is concurrently accessible to at least two devices.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein the network console is capable of indicating network activity status of the devices on the network.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the console is capable of dynamically altering device identification when the console is concurrently accessed by at least two devices.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein at least one device of the at least two devices includes a memory capable of storing the network console.

6. The network of claim 5, wherein the network console is stored in a common directory in all memories.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the network console includes a library of graphical representations.

8. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network, comprising:

a network console for accessing device information of the physical device to a user of the network console; and

wherein the network console provides a display with all of the at least two devices in a single interface level.

9. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 8, further comprising an agent capable of communicating device information from an individual device of the at least two devices to the network console.

10. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 8, wherein the console is concurrently accessible to at least two devices.

11. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 8, wherein the console is capable of dynamically altering device identification.

12. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 8, further comprising a library of graphical representations.

13. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 8, wherein the console is provided on at least one of a download, an electronically readable medium, a memory, and a memory card.

14. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 8, wherein the network console indicates the status and supportable network activities of the at least two devices.

15. A home network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network, comprising:

a network console for accessing device information of the physical device to a user of the network console; and

an agent capable of communicating device information from an individual device of the at least two devices to the network console;

wherein the network console provides a display with all of the at least two devices in a single interface level.

16. A home network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 15, wherein the console is concurrently accessible to at least two devices capable of accessing the console.

17. A home network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 15, wherein the console is capable of dynamically altering device identification.

18. A home network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 15, further comprising a library of graphical representations.

19. A home network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 15, wherein the console is provided on at least one of a download, an electronically readable medium, a memory, and a memory card.

20. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 15, wherein the network console indicates the status and supportable network activities of the at least two devices.

21. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network, comprising:

means for graphically interfacing, said graphic interfacing means for accessing device information of the physical device to a user of the graphic interface means; and

wherein the graphic interface means provides a display with all of the at least two devices in a single interface level.

22. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 21, further comprising a device information gathering means capable of communicating device information to the graphic interface means.

23. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 21, wherein the console is concurrently accessible to at least two devices.

24. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 21, wherein the graphical interface means is capable of dynamically changing device identification.

25. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 21, wherein the graphical interface means further includes a library of graphical representations.

26. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 21, wherein the graphical interface means is provided on at least one of a download, a electronically readable medium, a memory, and a memory card.

27. A network console system for interfacing with physical devices within a network of claim 21, wherein the graphical interface means indicates the status and supportable network activities of the at least two devices.