System and method for user-server telecommunication in accordance with performance capabilities of a controller

• US RE43,826 E1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Europe Limited (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Europe Limited (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Barraud, Claude Georges
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor
• Application Number:
  US12/793,956
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 725/147, 725/119, 725/132, 725/140, 725/152, 725/105, 725/110, 725/117, 725/127, 725/120, 348/460, 348/723, 348/180, 348/192, 709/203, 709/209, 709/219, 709/224, 709/225, 709232-235, 709/220, 709/217, 709/222, 717171-173, 717176-178
• US Class Current: 725/147
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6156 specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A user terminal exchanges information with a server through a transmission medium. A coupling unit couples the user terminal to the transmission medium in accordance with information from the server. Likewise, the server is controlled in accordance with information from the user terminal. In this manner, communication is created and performed between the server and the user terminal. The user terminal may be a Set-Top Unit which may be adjusted to the transmission medium by, for example, a physical medium converter or the communication itself between the Set-Top Unit and the server may be adjusted as directed by programs installed in the Set-Top Unit which may originate from the server.

Claims

1. A system for communication, comprising:

at least one network medium for transmitting network data signals;

at least one server apparatus for transmitting the network data signal over the network medium; and

control means for controlling said at least one server apparatus;

wherein said control means transmits performance capability information of said control means as data signals over the network medium, and wherein said at least one server apparatus is controlled by said control means based upon information for controlling received by said control means over said network medium, and generated in response to said transmitted performance capability information; and

wherein the server apparatus is an audio visual apparatus.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for creating and performing communication comprise programs for controlling an adjustment unit for said server apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said server apparatus includes at least one of a screen driver, a keyboard driver, an I/O port driver, remote control means, means for processing programs to be downloaded and a resident user interface.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises means to provide the at least one server apparatus, upon establishment of an initial contact with an additional apparatus connected to said network medium, an identification format;

and wherein the server apparatus comprises selection means to thereafter select and download a program best suited for the control means.

4. A system for communication, comprising:

at least one network medium for transmitting network data signals;

at least one server apparatus for transmitting the network data signal over the network medium; and

control means for controlling said at least one server apparatus;

wherein said control means transmits performance capability information of said control means as data signals over the network medium, and wherein said at least one server apparatus is controlled by said control means based upon information for controlling received by said control means over said network medium, and generated in response to said transmitted performance capability information; and

a connection channel, connected between the at least one server and the physical medium converter;

wherein the server apparatus is an audio visual apparatus; and

wherein the physical medium converter comprises a first convener for converting signals to and from the connection channel, a second converter for converting signals to and from the network medium and a connection between the first converter and the second converter.

6. A server apparatus connectable to a network medium for transmission of information via said network medium, comprising:

a transmission means for transmitting data is said network medium;

a control means for transmitting performance capability information of said control means as data signals over the network medium, and wherein said server apparatus is controlled by said control means based upon information for controlling received by said control means over said network medium, and generated in response to said transmitted performance capability information;

wherein the server apparatus is an audio visual apparatus.

7. The server according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus for creating and performing communication comprise programs for controlling an adjustment unit for said server apparatus.

8. The server according to claim 7, wherein said server apparatus includes at least one of a screen driver, a keyboard driver, an I/O port driver, remote control means, means for processing programs to be downloaded and a resident user interface.

9. The server according to claim 6, wherein the coupler comprises an apparatus for providing the server, upon establishment of an initial contact with an additional apparatus connected to said network medium, an identification format;

and wherein the server comprises selection means to thereafter select and download a program best suited for the coupler.

10. A system for communication, comprising:

at least one network medium for transmitting network data signals;

at least one server apparatus for transmitting the network data signal over the network medium; and

control means for controlling said at least one server apparatus;

wherein said control means transmits performance capability information of said control means as data signals over the network medium, and wherein said at least one server apparatus is controlled by said control means based upon information for controlling received by said control means over said network medium, and generated in response to said transmitted performance capability information; and

wherein said coupler includes a physical medium converter, and

a connection channel, connecting the server apparatus to the physical medium converter; and

wherein the physical medium converter comprises a first converter for converting signals to and from the connection channel, a second converter for converting signals to and from the network medium and a connection between the first converter and the second converter.

11. A system for communication, comprising:

at least one network medium;

at least one server apparatus connectable to the network medium, said server apparatus transmitting information via said network medium; and

coupling means for connecting the server apparatus and the network medium as desired, said coupling means comprising means for creating and for performing communication for the transmission of information by said server apparatus, wherein one or more programs are downloaded from the server apparatus via said network medium, and wherein said one or more downloaded programs controls an additional apparatus connected to said network medium and allows said additional apparatus to control a further apparatus connected to said network medium based on information from said server apparatus, and regulates a stream of data transmitted by the server apparatus as a dynamic process;

wherein said coupling means includes a physical medium converter; and

said system further including a connection channel, connected between the server apparatus and the physical medium converter, and wherein the physical medium converter comprises a first converter for converting signals to and from the connection channel, a second converter for converting signals to and from the network medium and a connection between the first converter and the second converter.

12. A server apparatus connectable to a network medium for transmission of information via said network medium, comprising:

a coupler for connecting said server apparatus and the network medium as desired, said coupler comprising an apparatus for creating and for performing communication for the transmission of information by said server apparatus, wherein one or more programs are downloaded from said server apparatus via said network medium, and wherein said one or more downloaded programs controls an additional apparatus connected to said network medium and allows said additional apparatus to control a further apparatus connected to said network medium based on information from said server apparatus, and regulates a stream of data transmitted by the server apparatus as a dynamic process;

wherein said coupler includes a physical medium converter;

said server including a connection channel, connecting the server apparatus and the physical medium converter; and

wherein the physical medium converter comprises a first converter for converting signals to and from the connection channel, a second convener for converting signals to and from the network medium and a connection between the first converter and the second converter.

13. A first apparatus connectable to a network medium for communicating information in the form of a stream of data to/from another apparatus via said network medium, comprising:

a transmitting unit configured to transmit to said other apparatus performance capability information identifying the type or performance capabilities of said first apparatus;

a receiving unit configured to receive programs assembled at said other apparatus suitable for execution at said first apparatus, as determined by said performance capability information;

a control unit configured to download from said other apparatus via said network medium information for controlling said first apparatus or said other apparatus in response to said performance capability information transmitted from said first apparatus to said other apparatus, said downloaded information being based on the performance capability information from said first apparatus, and said downloaded information being used for controlling transmission of information between said first apparatus and said other apparatus by regulating said stream of data and managing end-to-end protocols between said first apparatus and said other apparatus; and

a coupler for connecting the first apparatus and said network medium to transmit information to/from said other apparatus over said network medium and to download said programs from said other apparatus over said network medium to the first apparatus, said coupler including converters compatible with different network media.

14. A method for communicating information in the form of a data stream between first and second apparatuses via a network medium, comprising the steps of:

transmitting to said second apparatus performance capability information identifying the type or performance capabilities of said first apparatus;

receiving programs assembled at said second apparatus suitable for execution at said first apparatus, as determined by said performance capability information;

downloading information at the first apparatus from the second apparatus via said network medium in response to said performance capability information transmitted from said first apparatus to said second apparatus;

controlling the first or second apparatus based on said downloaded information, such that said downloaded information is used for controlling transmission of information between said first and second apparatuses by regulating said stream of data and managing end-to-end protocols between said first apparatus and said second apparatus; and

connecting the first apparatus and said network medium by a coupler to transmit information to/from said second apparatus over said network medium and to download said programs from said second apparatus over said network medium to the first apparatus, said coupler including converters compatible with different network media.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium for instructing a processor to implement a method for communicating information in the form of a data stream between first and second apparatuses via a network medium, comprising:

transmitting to said second apparatus performance capability information identifying the type or performance capabilities of said first apparatus;

receiving programs assembled at said second apparatus suitable for execution at said first apparatus, as determined by said performance capability information;

downloading information at the first apparatus from the second apparatus via said network medium in response to said performance capability information transmitted from said first apparatus to said second apparatus;

controlling the first or second apparatus based on said downloaded information, such that said downloaded information is used to regulate transmission of information between said first and second apparatuses by regulating said stream of data and managing end-to-end protocols between said first apparatus and said second apparatus; and

connecting the first apparatus and said network medium by a coupler to transmit information to/from said second apparatus over said network medium and to download said programs from said second apparatus over said network medium to the first apparatus, said coupler including converters compatible with different network media.

16. A system comprising first and second apparatuses connectable to a network medium, comprising:

said first apparatus communicating information in the form of a stream of data to said second apparatus;

said second apparatus communicating information in the form of a stream of data to said first apparatus;

a transmit unit to transmit performance capability information identifying the type or performance capabilities of said first apparatus to said second apparatus;

a receiving unit configured to receive programs assembled at said second apparatus suitable for execution at said first apparatus, as determined by said performance capability information;

a control unit configured to download from the second apparatus via said network medium information for controlling said first apparatus or said second apparatus in response to said transmitted performance capability information, said downloaded information being based on the performance capability information from said first apparatus, and said downloaded information being used for controlling transmission of information between said first and said second apparatus by regulating said stream of data and managing end-to-end protocols between said first apparatus and said second apparatus; and

a coupler for connecting the first apparatus and said network medium to transmit information to/from said second apparatus over said network medium and to download said programs from said second apparatus over said network medium to the first apparatus, said coupler including converters compatible with different network media.