Method for providing a user interface for controlling an appliance in a network of distributed stations, as well as a network appliance for carrying out the method

• US 20040227779A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Weber, Michael, Hutter, Ingo
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of domestic network technology. The control of an appliance in the network via a central appliance (10) for the network and having a display unit is normally simplified with the aid of user interfaces. When an audio-video datastream has to be transmitted between two network appliances, then this takes place via data links that are set up. There is then a close relationship between the connected appliances, and this requires frequent switching between the user interfaces of the two appliances. For example, when the user interface for a CD player (13) is displayed, this user interface must first of all be closed and a user interface for an amplifier (14) in the network must be started, usually by selection from the list of all the appliances in the network, in order then to set the volume for the amplifier (14).

The aim of the invention is to simplify the control of such appliances (13, 14) which are coupled to one another via a data link that has been set up. This is achieved by providing a field in the user interface for an appliance to be controlled, in which field a list of those appliances which maintain a connection that has been set up is displayed, and the user interface of that appliance (13) is displayed with it. This results in a preselection from the list of all of the appliances in the network, allowing the desired user interface to be selected more quickly.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface for controlling an appliance in a network of distributed stations, having the following steps:

production of a user interface for an appliance (13) to be controlled;

listing of those appliances (14, 15) in the network which maintain a data link which has been set up with the appliance (13) to be controlled, in the user interface of the appliance (13) to be controlled;

selection of one of the appliances (14) from the list of connected appliances (22);

production of a user interface for the selected appliance (14).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when one of the appliances (14, 15) is selected from the list of connected appliances (22), the current user interface for the appliance (13) to be controlled is ended and the user interface for the selected appliance (14) is started.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, with an area (20) for the listing of the control elements for the appliance being provided in the user interface, and with the listed control elements corresponding to corresponding keys on a remote control.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, with an area (21) for outputting status information, in particular for outputting the operating mode, being provided in the user interface.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, with a control element by means of which the selection from the list of connected appliance (22) is initiated being provided in the user interface, with the area (20) for the listing of the control elements being adapted hierarchically with the selection of the list of connected appliances (22), such that the only control elements which are visible are those which are relevant for navigation and selection in the list of connected appliances (22).

6. A network appliance for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1 having computer program means for the production of a user interface for an appliance (13) to be controlled, containing further computer program means which form a list of those appliances which are in the network and integrate in the user interface, which maintain a data link which has been set up to the appliance (13) to be controlled.

7. The network appliance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the appliance has third computer program means, which close the current user interface and start the user interface for the selected appliance (14) when one of the appliances is selected from the list of connected appliances (22).

8. The network appliance as claimed in claim 6, wherein fourth computer program means are provided which integrate an area (20) for the listing of the control elements of the appliance in the user interface of the appliance to be controlled, with the listed control elements corresponding to corresponding keys on a remote control (30).

9. The network appliance as claimed in claim 6, having fifth computer program means which integrate in the user interface an area (21) for outputting status information, in particular for outputting the operating mode.

10. The network appliance as claimed in claim 6, having sixth computer program means, which provide a control element in the user interface, by means of which control element the selection of the list of the connected appliances is initiated, and which adapt the area (20) for the listing of the control elements hierarchically such that the only control elements which are visible are those which are relevant for navigation and for selection of an appliance in the connection list.

11. The network appliance as claimed in claim 6, with the network appliance being designed in accordance with the HAVi Standard, where HAVi stands for Home Audio/Video interoperability, and the computer program means for setting up the list of connected appliances (22) evaluate the entries in an HAVi stream manager for the network.