Method and apparatus for utilizing extended AV/C command frames including status inquiry, notify inquiry and control inquiry command types

• US 6,944,704 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Brelin, Jon Ebbe
• Primary Examiner(s): Ray, Gopal C.
• Application Number:
  US09/972,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20030070028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 710/305, 710/62, 710/8, 710/100, 710/5, 710/105, 710/11, 370/257, 370/451, 709/224, 709/220, 709/203, 709/300, 712/214, 707/3, 725/80
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40078 Bus configuration home automation networks H04L12/2803; arrangements for maintenance or administration H04L41/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052

Abstract

A modified AV/C command set includes status inquiry, notify inquiry and control inquiry commands. The status inquiry, notify inquiry and control inquiry commands include an opcode and any number of operands. Thus, the status inquiry, notify inquiry and control inquiry commands can include only an opcode. The status inquiry, notify inquiry and control inquiry commands are sent from a controller to a target device to determine if the target device supports a particular status, notify or control command, respectively. In response to a status inquiry, notify inquiry or control inquiry command, a target device sends a response to the controller notifying the controller as to whether or not the target device supports the particular command.

Claims

1. A method of inquiring of capabilities of a target device comprising:

a. sending an inquiry command including an opcode and any number of operands over a network from a controller to a target device;

b. determining at the target device if the target device supports the opcode and operands; and

c. sending a response command from the target device to the controller over the network informing the controller if the target device supports the opcode and operands.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inquiry command is a control inquiry command.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inquiry command is a status inquiry command.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inquiry command is a notify inquiry command.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the network substantially complies with a version of the IEEE 1394 standard.

6. A method of inquiring of capabilities of a target device comprising:

a. sending an inquiry command, selected from a group of a status inquiry command and a notify inquiry command, including an opcode, over a network from a controller to a target device;

b. determining at the target device if the target device supports the opcode; and

c. sending a response command from the target device to the controller over the network informing the controller if the target device supports the opcode.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inquiry command further comprises one or more operands and further wherein determining also includes determining if the target device supports the operands and the response command informs the controller if the target device supports the operands.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inquiry command is a control inquiry command.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inquiry command is a status inquiry command.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inquiry command is a notify inquiry command.

11. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the network substantially complies with a version of the IEEE 1394 standard.

12. A method of inquiring of capabilities of a target device from a control device over an IEEE 1394 serial bus comprising:

a. submitting an AV/C inquiry command data packet from a control device over the serial bus to a target device, wherein the inquiry command data packet includes an opcode and any number of operands;

b. receiving the inquiry command data packet at the target device and generating a response data packet therefrom, wherein the response data packet specifies whether the target device supports the opcode and operands; and

c. transmitting the response data packet to the control device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the inquiry command data packet is a control inquiry command.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the inquiry command data packet is a status inquiry command.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the inquiry command data packet is a notify inquiry command.