What is claimed:
1. A network system comprising a plurality of devices including a mix of 1394 digital and IR controlled (IRC) analog devices, and a command center having an input adapted to receive user input commands and outputs coupled to the plurality of devices, the command center translating user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the 1394 and IRC devices.
2. The network of claim 1 wherein the command center comprises an audio-video (AV) system.
3. The network of claim 2 wherein the AV system comprises a television.
4. The network of claim 1 wherein the command center comprises a control unit and a primary display unit coupled to the control unit.
5. The network of claim 4 wherein the control unit comprises a computer.
' 6. The network of claim 4 wherein the primary display unit comprises a television.
7. The network of claim 1 wherein the command center comprises a context sensitive control system translating user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the 1394 and IRC devices.
8. The network of claim 7 wherein control system comprises a translation module translating user input commands, and first and second control modules coupled to the translation module, the first and second control modules converting translated user input commands into device appropriate output messages to drive the 1394 and IRC devices.
9. The network of claim 8 further comprising a 1394 driver module coupled to the first control module, the 1394 driver module adapted to communicate device appropriate output messages to the 1394 devices.
10. The network of claim 9 further comprising an IR emitter controller coupled to the second control module, and an IR emitter coupled to the emitter controller.
11. The network of claim 8 wherein the command center comprises a primary display screen.
12. The network of claim 11 wherein the control system comprises a graphical user interface (Ul) displayable on the screen of the command center and coupled to the translation module of the control system.
13. The network of claim 12 wherein the Ul includes a device selection menu comprising a plurality of icon corresponding to the plurality of devices.
14. The network of claim 13 wherein the device selection menu comprises a device selection window, a video sink window, and an audio sink window.
15. The network of claim 14 wherein the device selection menu further comprises a connection sink window.
16. The network of claim 13 wherein the Ul further comprises a visual recognition system.
17. The network of claim 16 wherein the visual recognition system comprises three states of visual recognition.
18. The network of claim 17 wherein the three states of visual recognition comprise a disabled state, a current device state, and a selected device state.
19. The network of claim 18 wherein the visual recognition system comprises five states of visual recognition.
20. The network of claim 19 wherein the five states of visual recognition system comprise a disable state, a selected/current device state, a selected/not current device state, a not selected/not current device state, and a not selected/current device state.
21. The network of claim 8 wherein the translation module comprises a first module determining a current system state and whether an input command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action, a second module coupled to the first module, the second module determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu navigate action or a menu device action, and a third module coupled to the first and second modules, the third module determining what device connections to make and instructing the first and second control modules as to what device actions to take.
22. The network of claim 1 further comprising a user command input device operably coupled to the command center input.
23. The network of claim 22 wherein the input device is a remote control.
24. The network of claim 23 wherein the remote control emits IR signals.
25. The network of claim 1 further comprising IR emitter cables coupling the IR controlled devices to the outputs of the command center.
26. The network of claim 25 further comprising 1394 cables coupling the 1394 devices to the outputs of the command center.
27. A home theater network system (HTNS) comprising a control unit having an input to receive user input commands, a primary display unit coupled to the control unit, a plurality of audio and video (AV) devices coupled to outputs of the control unit, the plurality of AV devices comprising a mix of 1394 and IRC devices, a control system operating on the control unit and translating user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the 1394 and IRC devices.
28. The HTNS of claim 27 wherein the primary display and control unit comprises an AV system.
29. The HTNS of claim 28 wherein the AV system comprises a television.
30. The HTNS of claim 27 wherein the control unit comprises a computer.
31. The HTNS of claim 27 wherein the primary display unit comprises a television.
32. The HTNS of claim 27 wherein the control system comprises a user interface (Ul) module translating user input commands.
33. The HTNS of claim 32 wherein the control system further comprises IR and 1394 control modules coupled to the Ul module, the IR and 1394 control modules converting translated user input commands into device appropriate output messages to drive the 1394 and IRC devices.
34. The HTNS of claim 33 wherein the control unit and primary display unit comprise a television and wherein the plurality of AV devices include internal television AV devices, the control system further comprises a television control module.
35. The HTNS of claim 33 further comprising a 1394 driver module coupled to the 1394 control module, the 1394 driver module adapted to communicate device appropriate output messages to the 1394 devices.
36. The HTNS of claim 35 further comprising an IR emitter controller coupled to the IR control module, and an IR emitter coupled to the emitter controller.
37. The HTNS of claim 33 wherein the control system comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on a screen of the primary display unit and coupled to the Ul module.
38. The HTNS of claim 37 wherein the GUI includes a device selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of AV devices.
39. The HTNS of claim 38 wherein the device selection menu comprises a device selection window, a video sink window, and an audio sink window.
40. The HTNS of claim 39 wherein the device selection menu further comprises a connection sink window.
41. The HTNS of claim 37 wherein the GUI further comprises a visual recognition system.
42. The HTNS of claim 40 wherein the visual recognition system comprises three states of visual recognition.
43. The HTNS of claim 42 wherein the three states of visual recognition comprise a disabled state, a current device state, and a selected icon state.
44. The HTNS of claim 41 wherein the visual recognition system comprises five states of visual recognition.
45. The HTNS of claim 44 wherein the five states of visual recognition system comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a selected icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device state, and a not selected icon/current device state.
46. The HTNS of claim 33 wherein the Ul module comprises a first module determining a current system state and whether an input command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action, a second module coupled to the first module, the second module determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu navigate action or a menu device action, and a third module coupled to the first and second modules, the third module determining what device connections to make and instructing the IR and 1394 control modules as to what device actions to take.
47. The HTNS of claim 27 further comprising a user command input device operably coupled to the input of the control unit.
48. The HTNS of claim 47 wherein the input device is a remote control.
49. The HTNS of claim 48 wherein the remote control emits IR signals.
50. The HTNS of claim 48 wherein the remote control emits RF signals.
51. The HTNS of claim 27 wherein the input of the control unit is a USB port.
52. The HTNS of claim 27 wherein the input of the control unit comprises a voice recognition system.
53. The HTNS of claim 27 wherein the input of the control unit comprises an Internet connection.
54. The HTNS of claim 27 further comprising IR emitter cables coupling the IRC devices to the outputs of the control unit.
55. The HTNS of claim 54 further comprising 1394 cables coupling the 1394 devices to the outputs of the control unit.
56. The HTNS of claim 29 wherein the plurality of AV devices includes internal television AV devices.
57. The HTNS of claim 31 wherein the plurality of AV devices includes internal television AV devices.
58. The HTNS of claim 27 further comprise non-AV 1394 devices coupled to the outputs of the control unit.
59. The HTNS of claim 57 wherein the non-AV 1394 devices include home appliances and systems.
60. A network system comprising a command center having an input adapted to receive user input commands, a plurality of devices in communication with the command center over a plurality of protocols, and a context sensitive control system associated with the command center and having a uniform user interface for control of the plurality of devices, the control system translating user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the plurality of devices.
61. The network of claim 60 wherein the command center comprises an audio-video (AV) system).
62. The network of claim 61 wherein the AV system comprises a television.
63. The network of claim 60 wherein the command center comprises a control unit and a primary display unit coupled to the control unit.
64. The network of claim 63 wherein the control unit comprises a computer.
65. The network of claim 63 wherein the primary display unit comprises a television.
66. The network of claim 60 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of 1394 and IR controlled devices.
67. The network of claim 60 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of globally and locally controlled devices.
68. The network of claim 60 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of high and low speed devices.
69. The network of claim 60 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of AV and non-AV devices.
70. The network of claim 60 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of analog and digital devices.
71. The network of claim 60 wherein control system comprises a translation module translating user input commands, and first and second control modules coupled to the translation module, the first and second control modules converting translated user input commands into device appropriate output messages to drive the plurality of devices.
72. The network of claim 71 wherein the command center comprises a primary display screen.
73. The network of claim 72 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on the screen of the command center and coupled to the translation module of the control system.
74. The network of claim 73 wherein the GUI includes a device selection menu comprising a plurality of icon corresponding to the plurality of devices.
75. The network of claim 74 wherein the device selection menu comprises a device selection window, a first sink device window, and a second sink device window.
76. The network of claim 75 wherein the device selection menu further comprises a connection sink window.
77. The network of claim 74 wherein the GUI further comprises a visual recognition system.
78. The network of claim 77 wherein the visual recognition system comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
79. The network of claim 78 wherein the plurality of visual recognition states comprise a disabled state, a current device state, and a selected device state.
80. The network of claim 77 wherein the plurality of visual recognition states comprises five states of visual recognition.
81. The network of claim 80 wherein the five states of visual recognition system comprise a disable state, a selected/current device state, a selected/not current device state, a not selected/not current device state, and a not selected/current device state.
82. The network of claim 71 wherein the translation module comprises a first module determining a current system state and whether an input command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action, a second module coupled to the first module, the second module determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu navigate action or a menu device action, and a third module coupled to the first and second modules, the third module determining what device connections to make and instructing the first and second control modules as to what device actions to take.
83. The network of claim 60 further comprising a user command input device operably coupled to the command center input.
84. The network of claim 83 wherein the input device is a remote control.
85. The network of claim 84 wherein the remote control emits IR signals.
86. A network system comprising a control unit having an input to receive user input commands and outputs, a primary display unit coupled to the control unit, a plurality of devices coupled to the outputs of the control unit, a context sensitive control system operating on the control unit and having a uniform user interface to control the plurality of devices, the control system translating user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the plurality of devices.
87. The network of claim 86 wherein the primary display unit and control unit comprises an AV system.
88. The network of claim 87 wherein the AV system comprises a television.
89. The network of claim 86 wherein the control unit comprises a computer.
90. The network of claim 86 wherein the primary display unit comprises a television.
91. The network of claim 86 wherein the control system comprises a user interface (Ul) module translating user input commands.
92. The network of claim 91 wherein the control system further comprises device control modules coupled to the Ul module and converting translated user input commands into device appropriate output messages to drive the plurality of devices.
93. The network of claim 92 wherein the control unit and primary display unit comprise a television and wherein the plurality of devices include internal television AV devices, the control system further comprises a television control module.
94. The network of claim 92 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on a screen of the primary display unit and coupled to the Ul module.
95. The network of claim 94 wherein the GUI includes a device selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of devices.
96. The network of claim 95 wherein the device selection menu comprises a device selection window, a first sink device window, and a second sink device window.
97. The network of claim 96 wherein the device selection menu further comprises a connection sink window.
98. The network of claim 94 wherein the GUI further comprises a visual recognition system.
99. The network of claim 98 wherein the visual recognition system comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
100. The network of claim 99 wherein the plurality of visual recognition states comprise a disabled state, a current device state, and a selected icon state.
101. The network of claim 98 wherein the plurality of visual recognition states comprises five states of visual recognition.
102. The network of claim 101 wherein the five states of visual recognition system comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a selected icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device state, and a not selected icon/current device state.
103. The network of claim 92 wherein the Ul module comprises a first module determining a current system state and whether an input command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action, a second module coupled to the first module, the second module determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu navigate action or a menu device action, and a third module coupled to the first and second modules, the third module determining what device connections to make and instructing the device control modules as to what device actions to take.
104. The network of claim 86 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of 1394 and IR controlled devices.
105. The network of claim 86 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of globally and locally controlled devices.
106. The network of claim 86 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of high and low speed devices.
107. The network of claim 86 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of AV and non-AV devices.
108. The network of claim 86 wherein the plurality of devices includes a mix of analog and digital devices.
109. The network of claim 86 further comprising a user command input device operably coupled to the input of the control unit.
110. The network of claim 109 wherein the input device is a remote control.
111. The network of claim 110 wherein the remote control emits IR signals.
112. The network of claim 110 wherein the remote control emits RF signals.
113. The network of claim 86 wherein the input of the control unit is a USB port.
114. The network of claim 86 wherein the input of the control unit comprises a voice recognition system.
115. The network of claim 86 wherein the input of the control unit comprises an internet connection.
116. A television comprising
a display screen,
a circuit coupled to the screen,
an input coupled to the circuit and adapted to receive user input
commands,
outputs coupled to the circuit, and
a control system operating on the circuit and translating user input
commands to device appropriate messages to drive 1394 and IR controlled
peripheral devices.
117. The television of claim 116 wherein the television is a digital television.
118. The television of claim 116 further comprising a down converter
adapted to convert digital source signals to analog signals.
119. The television of claim 116 further comprising a plurality of internal
audio/video (AV) devices coupled to the control system.
120. The television of claim 119 wherein the plurality of internal AV
devices includes a source signal tuner.
121. The television of claim 116 wherein the control system comprises a
user interface (Ul) module translating user input commands.
122. The television of claim 121 wherein the control system further
comprises IR and 1394 control modules coupled to the Ul module, the IR and
1394 control modules converting translated user input commands into device
appropriate output messages to drive the 1394 and IRC devices.
123. The television of claim 121 wherein the control system further
comprises IR, 1394 and television control modules coupled to the Ul module
converting translated user input commands into device appropriate messages to
drive IR controlled, 1394, internal television AV devices.
124. The television of claim 122 further comprising a 1394 driver module
coupled to the 1394 control module, the 1394 driver module adapted to
communicate device appropriate output messages to external 1394 devices
through the television outputs.
125. The television of claim 124 further comprising
an IR emitter controller coupled to the IR control module, and an IR emitter coupled to the emitter controller.
126. The television of claim 121 wherein the control system comprises a
graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on the screen and coupled to the Ul
module.
127. The television of claim 126 wherein the GUI includes a device
selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of
internal AV devices and external 1394 and IR controlled devices when such
devices are coupled to the television outputs.
128. The television of claim 127 wherein the device selection menu
comprises a device selection window, a video sink window, and an audio sink
window.
129. The television of claim 128 wherein the device selection menu
further comprises a connection sink window.
130. The television of claim 127 wherein the GUI further comprises a
visual recognition system.
131. The television of claim 130 wherein the visual recognition system
comprises three states of visual recognition.
132. The television of claim 131 wherein the three states of visual
recognition comprise a disabled state, a current device state, and a selected icon
state.
133. The television of claim 132 wherein the visual recognition system
comprises five states of visual recognition.
134. The television of claim 133 wherein the five states of visual recognition system comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state,
a selected icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device
state, and a not selected icon/current device state.
135. The television of claim 122 wherein the Ul module comprises
a first module determining a current system state and whether an input
command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action,
a second module coupled to the first module, the second module
determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu
navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third module coupled to the first and second modules, the third module
determining what device connections to make and instructing the IR and 1394
control modules as to what device actions to take.
136. The television of claim 116 further comprising a user command input
device operably coupled to the input.
137. The television of claim 136 wherein the input device is a remote
control.
138. The television of claim 137 wherein the remote control emits IR
signals.
139. The television of claim 138 further comprising an IR signal detector
coupled to the circuit.
140. The television of claim 139 further comprising a television control
circuit board coupled to the IR signal detector and the circuit board.
141. The television of claim 139 further comprising an amplifier coupled to the IR signal detector.
142. The television of claim 137 wherein the remote control emits RF
signals.
143. The television of claim 116 wherein the input is a USB port.
144. The television of claim 116 wherein the input comprises a voice
recognition system.
145. The television of claim 116 wherein the input comprises an Internet
connection.
146. A controller for a network system comprising a mix of 1394 and IR
controlled (IRC) devices, comprising
an input command receiver,
a plurality of outputs, and
a control module coupled to the input command receiver and the plurality
of outputs and adapted to translate user input commands to device appropriate
output messages to drive 1394 and IRC devices and transmit the output
messages to 1394 and IRC devices when coupled to the plurality of outputs.
147. The controller of claim 146 further comprising a primary display unit
coupled to the control module.
148. The controller of claim 147 wherein the primary display unit
comprises a television.
149. The controller of claim 146 further comprising a down converter
adapted to convert digital source signals to analog signals.
150. The controller of claim 148 wherein the television is a digital television.
151. The controller of claim 147 wherein the primary display unit
comprises a slave monitor.
152. The controller of claim 146 wherein the control module comprises a
user interface (Ul) module translating user input commands.
153. The controller of claim 152 wherein the control module further
comprises a plurality of input device controllers coupled to the Ul module and
adapted to convert translated user input commands into device appropriate output
messages to drive the 1394 and IRC devices and transmit the output messages
to 1394 and IRC devices.
154. The controller of claim 153 wherein the plurality of input device
controllers include a television controller coupled to the Ul module and adapted to
convert translated user input commands into device appropriate messages to
drive internal audio/video (AV) television devices.
155. The controller of claim 153 further comprising a 1394 driver module
coupled to one of the plurality of input device controllers and adapted to
communicate device appropriate output messages to external 1394 devices.
156. The controller of claim 155 further comprising
an IR emitter controller coupled to one of the plurality of input device
controllers, and
an IR emitter coupled to the IR emitter controller.
157. The controller of claim 146 wherein the controller comprises a
graphical user interface (GUI) coupled to the control module and displayable on a screen coupled to the controller.
158. The controller of claim 157 wherein the GUI includes a device
selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to 1394 and IRC
devices when coupled to the controller.
159. The controller of claim 158 wherein the device selection menu
comprises a device selection window, a video sink window, and an audio sink
window.
160. The controller of claim 159 wherein the device selection menu
further comprises a connection sink window.
161. The controller of claim 157 wherein the GUI further comprises a
visual recognition system.
162. The controller of claim 160 wherein the visual recognition system
comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
163. The controller of claim 161 wherein the plurality of visual recognition
states comprise a disabled state, a current device state, and a selected icon
state.
164. The controller of claim 162 wherein the plurality of visual recognition
states comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a selected
icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device state, and a
not selected icon/current device state.
165. The controller of claim 153 wherein the Ul module comprises
a first module determining a current system state and whether an input
command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action, a second module coupled to the first module, the second module
determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu
navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third module coupled to the first and second modules, the third module
determining what device connections to make and instructing the plurality of input
device controllers as to what device actions to take.
166. The controller of claim 146 further comprising a user command input
device operably coupled to the input receiver.
167. The controller of claim 166 wherein the input device is a remote
control.
168. The controller of claim 167 wherein the remote control emits IR
signals.
169. The controller of claim 168 wherein the input receiver comprises an
IR signal detector coupled to the control module.
170. The controller of claim 146 further comprising a decoder coupled to
input command receiver and the control module.
171. The controller of claim 169 further comprising an amplifier coupled
to the IR signal detector.
172. The controller of claim 167 wherein the remote control emits RF
signals.
173. The controller of claim 146 wherein the input receiver includes a
USB port.
174. The controller of claim 146 wherein the input receiver includes a voice recognition system.
175. The controller of claim 146 wherein the input receiver includes an
Internet connection.
176. An audio-video (AV) system comprising
a display screen,
a circuit coupled to the screen,
an input coupled to the circuit and adapted to receive user input
commands,
outputs coupled to the circuit, and
a context sensitive control system operating on the circuit, the control
system having a uniform user interface and translating user input commands to
device appropriate messages to drive peripheral devices.
177. The AV system of claim 176 wherein the AV system is a digital
television.
178. The AV system of claim 176 further comprising a down converter
adapted to convert digital source signals to analog signals.
179. The AV system of claim 176 further comprising a plurality of internal
audio/video (AV) devices coupled to the control system.
180. The AV system of claim 179 wherein the plurality of internal AV
devices comprises a source signal tuner.
181. The AV system of claim 176 wherein the control system comprises a
user interface (Ul) module translating user input commands.
182. The AV system of claim 181 wherein the control system further comprises first and second peripheral device control modules coupled to the Ul
module, the first and second control modules converting translated user input
commands into device appropriate output messages to drive the peripheral
devices.
183. The AV system of claim 182 wherein the control system further
comprises an internal device control module converting translated user input
commands into device appropriate messages to drive internal AV devices.
184. The AV system of claim 181 wherein the user interface comprises a
graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on the screen and coupled to the Ul
module.
185. The AV system of claim 184 wherein the GUI includes a device
selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of
internal peripheral devices to be controlled.
186. The AV system of claim 185 wherein the device selection menu
comprises a device selection window, a video sink window, and an audio sink
window.
187. The AV system of claim 186 wherein the device selection menu
further comprises a connection sink window.
188. The AV system of claim 185 wherein the GUI further comprises a
visual recognition system.
189. The AV system of claim 188 wherein the visual recognition system
comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
190. The AV system of claim 189 wherein the plurality of visual recognition states comprise a disabled state, a current device state, and a
selected icon state.
191. The AV system of claim 189 wherein the plurality of visual
recognition states comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a
selected icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device
state, and a not selected icon/current device state.
192. The AV system of claim 182 wherein the Ul module comprises
a first module determining a current system state and whether an input
command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action,
a second module coupled to the first module, the second module
determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu
navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third module coupled to the first and second modules, the third module
determining what device connections to make and instructing the first and second
peripheral device control modules as to what device actions to take.
193. The AV system of claim 176 further comprising a user command
input device operably coupled to the input.
194. The AV system of claim 193 wherein the input device is a remote
control.
195. The AV system of claim 194 wherein the remote control emits IR
signals.
196. The AV system of claim 195 further comprising an IR signal detector
coupled to the circuit board.
197. The AV system of claim 176 further comprising a decoder coupled
to the input and the circuit.
198. The AV system of claim 194 wherein the remote control emits RF
signals.
199. The AV system of claim 176 wherein the input is a USB port.
200. The AV system of claim 176 wherein the input comprises a voice
recognition system.
201. The AV system of claim 176 wherein the input comprises an Internet
connection.
202. A controller for a network of devices communicating with the
controller over a variety of protocols, comprising
an input command receiver,
a plurality of outputs, and
a control module coupled to the input command receiver and plurality of
outputs, the control module including a context sensitive control system and
uniform user interface to control network devices, the control module translating
user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the network
devices.
203. The controller of claim 202 further comprising a primary display unit
coupled to the control module.
204. The controller of claim 203 wherein the primary display unit
comprises a television.
205. The controller of claim 202 further comprising a down converter adapted to convert digital source signals to analog signals.
206. The controller of claim 204 wherein the television is a digital
television.
207. The controller of claim 203 wherein the primary display unit
comprises a slave monitor.
208. The controller of claim 202 wherein the control module comprises a
user interface (Ul) module translating user input commands.
209. The controller of claim 208 wherein the control module further
comprises a plurality of network device controllers coupled to the Ul module and
adapted to convert translated user input commands into device appropriate output
messages to drive the network devices.
210. The controller of claim 202 wherein the user interface comprises a
graphical user interface (GUI) coupled to the control module and displayable on a
screen coupled to the controller.
211. The controller of claim 210 wherein the GUI includes a device
selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to devices to be
controlled.
212. The controller of claim 211 wherein the device selection menu
comprises a device selection window, a first sink device window, and a second
sink device window.
213. The controller of claim 212 wherein the device selection menu
further comprises a connection sink window.
214. The controller of claim 210 wherein the GUI further comprises a visual recognition system.
215. The controller of claim 214 wherein the visual recognition system
comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
216. The controller of claim 215 wherein the plurality of visual recognition
states comprise a disabled state, a current device state, and a selected icon
state.
217. The controller of claim 215 wherein the plurality of visual recognition
states comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a selected
icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device state, and a
not selected icon/current device state.
218. The controller of claim 208 wherein the Ul module comprises
a first module determining a current system state and whether an input
command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action,
a second module coupled to the first module, the second module
determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu
navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third module coupled to the first and second modules, the third module
determining what device connections to make and instructing network device
controllers as to what device actions to take.
219. The controller of claim 202 further comprising a user command input
device operably coupled to the input receiver.
220. The controller of claim 219 wherein the input device is a remote
control.
221. The controller of claim 220 wherein the remote control emits IR
signals.
222. The controller of claim 221 wherein the input receiver comprises an
IR signal detector coupled to the control module.
223. The controller of claim 202 further comprising a decoder coupled to
the IR signal detector and the control module.
224. The controller of claim 222 further comprising an amplifier coupled
to the IR signal detector.
225. The controller of claim 220 wherein the remote control emits RF
signals.
226. The controller of claim 202 wherein the input receiver includes a
USB port.
227. The controller of claim 202 wherein the input receiver includes a
voice recognition system.
228. The controller of claim 202 wherein the input receiver includes an
Internet connection.
229. A control system for controlling 1394 and IR controlled (IRC)
devices in a system comprising a mix of 1394 and IRC devices, comprising
a user interface (Ul) module translating user input commands to device
control instructions, and
a device control module converting device control instructions into device
appropriate messages to drive 1394 and IRC devices.
230. The control system of claim 229 wherein Ul module comprises a first module capable of determining a current system state and whether a
user input command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action,
a second module capable of determining whether the menu related action
is a menu display action, a menu navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third module capable of determining what device connections to make
and converting input commands to device control instructions.
231. The control system of claim 230 wherein the second module
includes a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on a primary display screen
coupled to the control system.
232. The control system of claim 231 wherein the GUI includes a device
selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to 1394 and IR
devices coupled to the control system.
233. The control system of claim 232 wherein the device selection menu
comprises a device selection window, a first sink device window, and a second
sink device window.
234. The control system of claim 233 wherein the device selection menu
further comprises a connection sink window.
235. The control system of claim 232 wherein the GUI further comprises
a visual recognition system.
236. The control system of claim 235 wherein the visual recognition
system comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
237. The control system of claim 236 wherein the plurality of visual
recognition states comprise a selected icon state, a current device state, and a disabled device state.
238. The control system of claim 237 including primary, secondary, and
tertiary visual indicators corresponding to the plurality of visual recognition states.
239. The control system of claim 236 wherein the plurality of visual
recognition states comprise a disable device state, a selected icon/current device
state, a selected icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current
device state, and a not selected icon/current device state.
240. The control system of claim 239 including primary, secondary, and
tertiary visual indicators which when combined or presented individually
correspond to the plurality of visual recognition states.
241. The control system of claim 230 wherein the third module includes a
database comprising a list of devices coupled to the control system.
242. The control system of claim 241 wherein the database includes a list
of device connections.
243. The control system of claim 242 wherein the database includes
device objects corresponding to each device in the list of devices coupled to the
control system and comprising device identification, device type, I/O capabilities
and device control information.
244. The control system of claim 243 wherein the device objects further
include device control module interfacing information.
245. The control system of claim 244 wherein the database includes
1394 sub-unit device objects connected to each 1394 device object.
246. The control system of claim 245 wherein the database includes device interconnect objects corresponding to each connection port of each device
listed in the list of devices coupled to the control system.
247. The control system of claim 246 wherein the information stored in
the device interconnect object includes a port number, content, direction, and
type.
248. A control module for a control system controlling 1394 and IR
controlled (IRC) devices in a system comprising a mix of 1394 and IRC devices,
comprising
a first module capable of determining a current system state and whether a
user input command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action,
a second module capable of determining whether the menu related action
is a menu display action, a menu navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third module capable of determining what device connections to make
and converting input commands to device control instructions.
249. The control module of claim 248 wherein the second module
includes a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on a display screen.
250. The control module of claim 249 wherein the GUI includes a device
selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to 1394 and IRC
devices when coupled to the control system.
251. The control module of claim 250 wherein the device selection menu
comprises a device selection window, a first sink device window, and a second
sink device window.
252. The control module of claim 251 wherein the device selection menu further comprises a connection sink window.
253. The control module of claim 252 wherein the GUI further comprises
a visual recognition system.
254. The control module of claim 253 wherein the visual recognition
system comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
255. The control module of claim 254 wherein the plurality of visual
recognition states comprise a selected icon state, a current device state, and a
disabled state.
256. The control module of claim 255 including primary, secondary, and
tertiary visual indicators corresponding to the plurality of visual recognition states.
257. The control module of claim 256 wherein the plurality of visual
recognition states comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a
selected icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device
state, and a not selected icon/current device state.
258. The control module of claim 257 including primary, secondary, and
tertiary visual indicators which when combined or presented individually
correspond to the plurality of visual recognition states.
259. The control module of claim 248 wherein the third module includes a
database comprising a list of devices coupled to the control module.
260. The control module of claim 259 wherein the database includes a
list of device connections.
261. The control module of claim 260 wherein the database includes
device objects corresponding to each device in the list of devices coupled to the control module and comprising device identification, device type, device I/O
capabilities and device control information.
262. The control module of claim 261 wherein the database includes
1394 sub-unit device objects connected to each 1394 device object.
263. The control module of claim 262 wherein the database includes
device interconnect objects corresponding to each connection port of each device
listed in the list of devices coupled to the control module.
264. The control module of claim 263 wherein the information stored in
the device interconnect object includes a port number, content, direction, and
type.
265. A control system for a network of devices, comprising
a uniform user interface,
a context sensitive translation module coupled to the user interface and
translating user input commands to device control instructions, and
a device control module converting device control instructions into device
appropriate messages to drive devices to be controlled.
266. The control system of claim 265 wherein the translation module
comprises
a first module capable of determining a current system state and whether a
user input command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action,
a second module capable of determining whether the menu related action
is a menu display action, a menu navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third module capable of determining what device connections to make and converting input commands to device control instructions.
267. The control system of claim 266 wherein the user interface includes
a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on a primary display screen when
coupled to the control system.
268. The control system of claim 267 wherein the GUI includes a device
selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to the device to be
controlled.
269. The control system of claim 268 wherein the device selection menu
comprises a device selection window, a first sink device window, and a second
sink device window.
270. The control system of claim 269 wherein the device selection menu
further comprises a connection sink window.
271. The control system of claim 270 wherein the GUI further comprises
a visual recognition system.
272. The control system of claim 271 wherein the visual recognition
system comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
273. The control system of claim 272 wherein the plurality of visual
recognition states comprise a selected icon state, a current device state, and a
disabled state.
274. The control system of claim 273 including primary, secondary, and
tertiary visual indicators corresponding to the plurality of visual recognition states.
275. The control system of claim 272 wherein the plurality of visual
recognition states comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a selected icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device
state, and a not selected icon/current device state.
276. The control system of claim 275 including primary, secondary, and
tertiary visual indicators which when combined or presented individually
correspond to the plurality of visual recognition states.
277. The control system of claim 266 wherein the third module includes a
database comprising a list of devices coupled to the control system.
278. The control system of claim 277 wherein the database includes a list
of device connections.
279. The control system of claim 278 wherein the database includes
device objects corresponding to each device in the list of devices coupled to the
control system and comprising device identification, device type, I/O capabilities
and device control information.
280. The control system of claim 279 wherein the device objects further
include device control module interfacing information.
281. The control system of claim 280 wherein the database includes
device interconnect objects corresponding to each connection port of each device
listed in the list of devices coupled to the control system.
282. The control system of claim 281 wherein the information stored in
the device interconnect object includes a port number, content, direction, and
type.
283. A control module for a control system controlling a network of
devices, comprising a first module capable of determining a current system state and whether a
user input command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action,
a second module capable of determining whether the menu related action
is a menu display action, a menu navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third module capable of determining what device connections to make
and converting input commands to device control instructions.
284. The control module of claim 283 wherein the second module
includes a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable on a display screen.
285. The control module of claim 284 wherein the GUI includes a device
selection menu comprising a plurality of icons corresponding to devices to be
controlled.
286. The control module of claim 285 wherein the device selection menu
comprises a device selection window, a first sink device window, and a second
sink device window.
287. The control module of claim 286 wherein the device selection menu
further comprises a connection sink window.
288. The control module of claim 287 wherein the GUI further comprises
a visual recognition system.
289. The control module of claim 288 wherein the visual recognition
system comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
290. The control module of claim 289 wherein the plurality of visual
recognition states comprise a selected icon state, a current device state, and a
disabled state.
291. The control module of claim 290 including primary, secondary, and
tertiary visual indicators corresponding to the plurality of visual recognition states.
292. The control module of claim 289 wherein the plurality of visual
recognition states comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a
selected icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device
state, and a not selected icon/current device state.
293. The control module of claim 292 including primary, secondary, and
tertiary visual indicators which when combined or presented individually
correspond to the plurality of visual recognition states.
294. The control module of claim 283 wherein the third module includes a
database comprising a list of devices coupled to the control module.
295. The control module of claim 294 wherein the database includes a
list of device connections.
296. The control module of claim 295 wherein the database includes
device objects corresponding to each device in the list of devices coupled to the
control module and comprising device identification, device type, device I/O
capabilities and device control information.
297. The control module of claim 296 wherein the database includes
device interconnect objects corresponding to each connection port of each device
listed in the list of devices coupled to the control module.
298. The control module of claim 297 wherein the information stored in
the device interconnect object includes a port number, content, direction, and
type.
299. A graphical user interface (GUI) for a control system controlling
1394 and IR controlled (IRC) devices in a system comprising a mix of 1394 and
IRC devices, comprising
a device selection menu displayable on a screen and comprising a plurality
of icons corresponding to 1394 and IRC devices to be controlled, and
a visual recognition system associated with the plurality of icons.
300. The GUI of claim 299 wherein the device selection menu comprises
a device selection window, a first sink device window, and first sink device
window.
301. The GUI of claim 300 wherein the device selection menu further
comprises a connection sink window.
302. The GUI of claim 301 wherein the visual recognition system
comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
303. The GUI of claim 302 wherein the plurality of visual recognition
states comprise a selected icon state, a current device state, and a disabled
state.
304. The GUI of claim 303 including primary, secondary, and tertiary
visual indicators corresponding to the plurality of visual recognition states.
305. The GUI of claim 302 wherein the plurality of visual recognition
states comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a selected
icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device state, and a
not selected icon/current device state.
306. The GUI of claim 305 including primary, secondary, and tertiary visual indicators which when combined or presented individually correspond to
the plurality of visual recognition states.
307. A graphical user interface (GUI) for a control system controlling a
network of devices, comprising
a device selection menu displayable on a screen and comprising a plurality
of icons corresponding to devices to be controlled, and
a visual recognition system associated with the plurality of icons.
308. The GUI of claim 307 wherein the device selection menu comprises
a device selection window, a video sink window, and an audio sink window.
309. The GUI of claim 308 wherein the device selection menu further
comprises a connection sink window.
310. The GUI of claim 309 wherein the visual recognition system
comprises a plurality of visual recognition states.
311. The GUI of claim 310 wherein the plurality of visual recognition
states comprise a selected icon state, a current device state, and a disabled
state.
312. The GUI of claim 311 including primary, secondary, and tertiary
visual indicators corresponding to the plurality of visual recognition states.
313. The GUI of claim 312 wherein the plurality of visual recognition
states comprise a disable state, a selected icon/current device state, a selected
icon/not current device state, a not selected icon/not current device state, and a
not selected icon/current device state.
314. The GUI of claim 313 including primary, secondary, and tertiary visual indicators which when combined or presented individually correspond to the plurality of visual recognition states.
315. A method of controlling a network system comprising a mix of 1394
and IR controlled (IRC) audio-video and other input devices, comprising the steps
of
receiving user input commands at a central control unit of a network
system, wherein the network system comprises a mix of 1394 and IRC input
devices, and
translating the user input commands to device appropriate output
messages to drive the input devices.
316. The method of claim 315 further comprising the step of maintaining
within memory in the central control unit a list of all input devices, all input device
connections, and all I/O ports within the network system.
317. The method of claim 315 further comprising the step of transmitting
the output messages to the input devices.
318. The method of claim 315 wherein the receiving step further
comprises the step of detecting input command signals from a remote control
device.
319. The method of claim 318 further comprising the step of transmitting
input command signals from a single control layer of the remote control device for
control of all input devices.
320. The method of claim 319 wherein the transmitting input command
signals step further comprises the steps of transmitting input commands for a first device from a first control layer of the remote control device, and transmitting
input commands for a second device without switching to a second control layer
of the remote control device, wherein the first device is an IRC or 1394 input
device and the second device is an IRC 1394 input device.
321. The method of claim 315 further comprising the step of inputting
commands from an input device, wherein identical input commands are used to
drive both 1394 and IRC input devices.
322. The method of claim 315 wherein the step of translating further
comprises the step of transforming user input commands for IRC devices into
device appropriate messages comprising device specific IR code.
323. The method of claim 322 further comprising the step of transforming
user input commands for 1394 devices into device appropriate messages
formulated by device control modules corresponding to the 1394 devices.
324. The method of claim 315 further comprising the step of directing a
signal from a source input device to a sink device.
325. The method of claim 324 further comprising the step of performing
all necessary device connecting and input switching without further user input.
326. The method of claim 315 wherein the translating step further
comprises the step of determining if the input command is a direct device action
event or a menu related event.
327. The method of claim 326 further comprising the step of determining
whether the input command is a menu display event, a menu navigation event, or
a menu device action event.
328. The method of claim 327 further comprising the step of displaying a
device selection menu on a display screen coupled to the central control unit.
329. The method of claim 328 further comprising the step of visually
indicating current system state.
330. The method of claim 329 further comprising the step of visually
indicating input source device options.
331. The method of claim 330 further comprising the step of visually
indicating audio sink device options.
332. The method of claim 331 further comprising the step of visually
indicating which device is the current video sink device.
333. The method of claim 332 further comprising the step of visually
indicating which device is the current input device and which device is the current
audio sink.
334. The method of claim 333 further comprising the step of visually
indicating the existence of a peer-to-peer connection.
335. The method of claim 334 further comprising the step of visually
indicating a device is unavailable as an input device or audio sink.
336. The method of claim 335 further comprising the step of visually
indicating navigation location within the device selection menu.
337. The method of claim 328 further comprising the step of representing
devices within the system as graphical icons displayed within the device selection
menu.
338. The method of claim 337 further comprising the step of displaying a device selection window, a video selection window, and an audio sink window as
part of the device selection menu.
339. The method of claim 338 further comprising the step of displaying a
connection window.
340. The method of claim 337 further comprising the step of displaying a
plurality of visual indicators corresponding to a disabled device, current source or
sink device, and menu location.
341. The method of claim 337 further comprising the step of displaying a
plurality of visual indicators providing visual recognition of a disabled device,
current source or sink device/current menu location, not current source or sink
device/current menu location, current source or sink device/not current menu
location, and not current source or sink device/not current menu location.
342. A method of controlling a network of devices, comprising the steps
of
receiving uniform user input commands at a central control unit of a
network system comprising a plurality of devices,
determining current system state of the network system, and
based on stored device and device interconnectivity data, translating the
user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the plurality
of devices.
343. The method of claim 342 further comprising the step of maintaining
within memory in the central control unit a list of all of the plurality of devices, all
device connections within the network system, and all I/O ports within the network system.
344. The method of claim 342 further comprising the step of transmitting
the output messages to the plurality of devices.
345. The method of claim 342 wherein the receiving step further
comprising the step of detecting input command signals from a remote control
device.
346. The method of claim 345 further comprising the step of transmitting
input command signals from a single control layer of the remote control device for
control of the plurality of devices.
347. The method of claim 346 wherein the transmitting step further
comprises the steps of transmitting input commands for a first device of the
plurality of devices from a first control layer of the remote control device, and
transmitting input commands for a second device of the plurality of devices
without switching to a second control layer of the remote control device.
348. The method of claim 342 further comprising the step of inputting
uniform commands from an input device for the plurality of devices.
349. The method of claim 342 further comprising the step of directing a
signal from a source input device to a sink device.
350. The method of claim 349 further comprising the step of performing
all necessary device connecting and input switching without further user input.
351. The method of claim 342 wherein the translating step further
comprises the step of determining if the input command is a direct device action
event or a menu related event.
352. The method of claim 351 further comprising the step of determining
whether the input command is a menu display event, a menu navigation event, or
a menu device action event.
353. The method of claim 352 further comprising the step of displaying a
device selection menu on a display screen coupled to the central control unit.
354. The method of claim 353 further comprising the step of visually
indicating current system state.
355. The method of claim 354 further comprising the step of visually
indicating input source device options.
356. The method of claim 355 further comprising the step of visually
indicating sink device options.
357. The method of claim 356 further comprising the step of visually
indicating which device is the current sink device.
358. The method of claim 357 further comprising the step of visually
indicating which device is the current source device.
359. The method of claim 358 further comprising the step of visually
indicating the existence of a peer-to-peer connection.
360. The method of claim 358 further comprising the step of visually
indicating a device is unavailable as a source device or sink device.
361. The method of claim 360 further comprising the step of visually
indicating navigation location within the device selection menu.
362. The method of claim 353 further comprising the step of representing
devices within the system as graphical icons displayed within the device selection menu.
363. The method of claim 362 further comprising the step of displaying a
plurality of menu windows.
364. The method of claim 362 further comprising the step of displaying a
plurality of visual indicators corresponding to a disabled device, current source or
sink device, and menu navigation location.
365. The method of claim 362 further comprising the step of displaying a
plurality of visual indicators providing visual recognition of a disabled device,
current source or sink device/current menu location, not current source or sink
device/current menu location, current source or sink device/not current menu
location, and not current source or sink device/not current menu location.
366. A method of selecting a source device within a network system
comprising a mix of 1394 and IR controlled (IRC) audio-video (AV) input devices,
comprising the steps of
inputting an input command to display a device selection menu on a
screen coupled to a central control unit of a network system, wherein the device
selection menu includes screen representations corresponding to a plurality of
input devices comprising a mix of 1394 and IRC AV devices within a network
system, and
selecting a screen representation of a first input device to select the input
device as a source device.
367. The method of claim 366 further comprising the step of selecting a
function button from a device control menu displayed on the screen to drive the source device according to the selected function.
368. The method of claim 366 further comprising the step of navigating
within the device selection menu to reach a screen representation of the first input
device.
369. The method of claim 366 further comprising the step of selecting a
second input device as a new input source device including the steps of
inputting an input command to display the device selection menu on the
screen, and
selecting a screen representation of a second input device to select the
second input device as a new source device.
370. The method of claim 369 further comprising the step of selecting a
function button from the device control menu displayed on the screen to drive the
new source device according to the selected function.
371. The method of claim 369 further comprising the step of navigating
within the device selection menu to reach a screen representation of the second
input device.
372. A method of selecting a source device within a network system,
comprising the steps of
inputting a command to display a device selection menu on a screen
coupled to a central control unit of a network system, wherein the device selection
menu includes screen representations corresponding to a plurality of input
devices within the network system, and
selecting a screen representation of a first input device to select the input device as a source device.
373. The method of claim 372 further comprising the step of selecting a
function button from a device control menu displayed on the screen to drive the
source device according to the selected function.
374. The method of claim 372 further comprising the step of navigating
within the device selection menu to reach a screen representation of the first input
device.
375. The method of claim 373 further comprising the step of selecting a
second input device as a new input source device including the steps of
inputting an input command to display the device selection menu on the
screen, and
selecting a screen representation of a second input device to select the
second input device as a new source device.
376. The method of claim 375 further comprising the step of selecting a
function button from the device control menu displayed on the screen to drive the
new source device according to the selected function.
377. The method of claim 375 further comprising the step of navigating
within the device selection menu to reach a screen representation of the second
input device.
378. A method of selecting and controlling a source device within a
network system, comprising the steps of
inputting a first command through a uniform user interface to a context
sensitive control system to select a source device, and inputting a second command through the uniform user interface to the
control system to drive the source device.
379. The method of claim 378 further comprising the step of selecting a
second input device as a new source device including the steps of
inputting a third command through user interface to select a new source
device; and
inputting a fourth command through the user interface to drive the new source device.
380. A method of controlling a network system, comprising the steps of
creating a device list comprising a list of all input devices coupled to a
central control unit of a network system including a plurality of input devices, a
connection port list comprising a list of all connection ports within the network
system, and a device connection list comprising a list of all connections between
input devices and the control unit within the network system, and
maintaining the device, connection port and device connection lists in
memory within the central control unit.
381. The method of claim 380 wherein the control unit is an AV system.
382. The method of claim 381 wherein the AV system is a television.
383. The method of claim 382 wherein the television is a digital
television.
384. The method of claim 380 further comprising the step of creating a
device object for each device in the device list.
385. The method of claim 384 further comprising the step of storing the device object in a device object list.
386. The method of claim 384 wherein the device objects includes device
identification, device type, device I/O capabilities and device control information.
387. The method of claim 386 wherein the control unit includes a device
control module, the device objects further include device control module
interfacing information.
388. The method of claim 385 wherein the step of creating a device
object for each device in the device list further comprises the step of creating unit
level device objects to represent a device as a whole and sub-unit level device
objects to represent sub-units of a device.
389. The method of claim 388 further comprising the step of connecting
the sub-unit level device objects to the corresponding unit level device objects.
390. The method of claim 384 wherein the step of creating a device
object comprising the step of discovering a device coupled to the control unit and
creating a device object.
391. The method of claim 388 wherein the step of creating unit and sub-
level device objects comprises the steps of discovering a device coupled to the
control unit and scanning the device object list for a unit level device object for the
discovered device.
392. The method of claim 391 further comprising the step of creating unit
and sub-unit level device objects for the discovered device when no unit level
device object is present in the device object list.
393. The method of claim 391 further comprising the step of creating sub- unit level device objects for the discovered device corresponding to the unit level
device object present in the device object list.
394. The method of claim 384 further comprising the step of creating a
device interconnect object for each connection port in the connection port list.
395. The method of claim 394 further comprising the step of storing the
device interconnect objects in a device interconnect list.
396. The method of claim 395 wherein the information stored in the
device interconnect object includes a port number, content, direction, and type.
397. The method of claim 396 further comprising the steps of
receiving uniform user input commands at the central control unit,
determining current system state of the network system, and
based on stored device and device interconnectivity data, translating the
user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the plurality
of input devices.
398. The method of claim 397 further comprising the step of transmitting
the output messages to the plurality of input devices.
399. The method of claim 397 wherein the receiving step further
comprising the step of detecting input command signals from a remote control
device.
400. The method of claim 399 further comprising the step of transmitting
input command signals from a single control layer of the remote control device for
control of the plurality of input devices.
401. The method of claim 400 wherein the transmitting step further comprises the steps of transmitting input commands for a first device of the
plurality of input devices from a first control layer of the remote control device, and
transmitting input commands for a second device of the plurality of input devices
without switching to a second control layer of the remote control device.
402. The method of claim 397 further comprising the step of inputting
uniform commands from an input device for the plurality of input devices.
403. The method of claim 397 further comprising the step of directing a
signal from a source input device to a sink device.
404. The method of claim 403 further comprising the step of performing
all necessary device connecting and input switching without further user input.
405. The method of claim 403 wherein the translating step further
comprises the step of determining if the input command is a direct device action
event or a menu related event.
406. The method of claim 405 further comprising the step of determining
whether the input command is a menu display event, a menu navigation event, or
a menu device action event.
407. The method of claim 406 further comprising the step of displaying a
device selection menu on a display screen coupled to the central control unit.
408. The method of claim 397 further comprising the steps of
inputting a command to display a device selection menu on a screen
coupled to the central control unit, wherein the device selection menu includes
screen representations corresponding to a plurality of input devices, and
selecting a screen representation of a first input device to select the input device as a source device.
409. The method of claim 408 further comprising the step of selecting a
function button from a device control menu displayed on the screen to drive the
source device according to the selected function.
410. The method of claim 408 further comprising the step of navigating
within the device selection menu to reach a screen representation of the first input
device.
411. The method of claim 409 further comprising the step of selecting a
second input device as a new input source device including the steps of
inputting an input command to display the device selection menu on the
screen, and
selecting a screen representation of a second input device to select the
second input device as a new source device.
412. The method of claim 411 further comprising the step of selecting a
function button from the device control menu displayed on the screen to drive the
new source device according to the selected function.
413. The method of claim 411 further comprising the step of navigating
within the device selection menu to reach a screen representation of the second
input device.
414. The method of claim 380 wherein the plurality of input devices
comprise a mix of 1394 and IR controlled audio video devices.
415. An audio-video (AV) system comprising
a display screen, a context sensitive controller coupled to the screen and translating user
input commands to device appropriate messages to drive peripheral devices,
an IR signal receiver coupled to the controller and adapted to receive user
input commands,
an IR emitter coupled to the controller, and
a gate coupled to the emitter, the controller and the IR signal receiver.
416. The AV system of claim 415 wherein the AV system is a digital
television.
417. The AV system of claim 415 further comprising a down converter
adapted to convert digital source signals to analog signals.
418. The AV system of claim 415 further comprising a plurality of internal
audio/video (AV) devices coupled to the controller.
419. The AV system of claim 415 wherein the IR receiver comprises first
and second IR detectors, the first detector coupled to the controller, the second
detector coupled to the gate.
420. The AV system of claim 415 wherein the IR emitter comprises first
and second IR repeaters, the first repeater coupled to the controller, the second
repeater coupled to the gate.
421. The AV system of claim 415 wherein the controller comprises a user
interface (Ul) module translating user input commands.
422. The AV system of claim 421 wherein the controller further comprises
first and second peripheral device control modules coupled to the Ul module, the
first and second control modules converting translated user input commands into device appropriate output messages to drive the peripheral devices.
423. The AV system of claim 422 wherein the first control module
communicates output messages to drive IR controlled (IRC) peripheral devices to
the IR emitter for transmission to the IRC devices.
424. The AV system of claim 423 wherein the first control module is
adapted to close the gate until transmission of output message to the IRC device
is complete.
425. The AV system of claim 423 wherein the control system further
comprises an internal device control module converting translated user input
commands into device appropriate messages to drive internal AV devices.
426. The AV system of claim 423 wherein the Ul module comprises
a first module determining a current system state and whether an input
command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action,
a second module coupled to the first module, the second module
determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu
navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third module coupled to the first and second modules, the third module
determining what device connections to make and instructing the first and second
peripheral device control modules as to what device actions to take.
427. A controller for a network of devices communicating with the
controller over a variety of protocols, comprising
an IR signal,
a IR transmitter, and a control module coupled to the IR signal receiver and IR transmitter, the
control module including a context sensitive control system, the control module
translating user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive
the network devices.
428. The controller of claim 427 wherein the controller is a television.
429. The controller of claim 427 further comprising a down converter
adapted to convert digital source signals to analog signals.
430. The controller of claim 427 further comprising a plurality of internal
audio/video (AV) devices coupled to the control module.
431. The controller of claim 427 wherein the IR receiver comprises first
and second IR detectors, the first detector coupled to the control module, the
second detector coupled to the gate.
432. The controller of claim 427 wherein the IR emitter comprises first
and second IR repeaters, the first repeater coupled to the control module, the
second repeater coupled to the gate.
433. The controller of claim 427 wherein the control module comprises a
user interface (Ul) module translating user input commands.
434. The controller of claim 433 wherein the control module further
comprises first and second peripheral device control modules coupled to the Ul
module, the first and second peripheral device control modules converting
translated user input commands into device appropriate output messages to drive
the peripheral devices.
435. The controller of claim 434 wherein the first peripheral device control module communicates output messages to drive IR controlled (IRC) peripheral
devices to the IR emitter for transmission to the IRC devices.
436. The controller of claim 435 wherein the first peripheral device control
module is adapted to close the gate until transmission of output message to the
IRC device is complete.
437. The controller of claim 434 wherein the control module further
comprises an internal device control module converting translated user input
commands into device appropriate messages to drive internal AV devices.
438. The controller of claim 434 wherein the Ul module comprises
a first sub-module determining a current system state and whether an input
command comprises a menu related action or a direct device action,
a second sub-module coupled to the first module, the second module
determining whether a menu related action is a menu display action, a menu
navigate action or a menu device action, and
a third sub-module coupled to the first and second modules, the third
module determining what device connections to make and instructing the first and
second peripheral device control modules as to what device actions to take.
439. A method of controlling a network system comprising a mix of 1394
and IR controlled audio-video and other input devices, comprising the steps of
receiving user input commands at a central control unit of a network
system, the control unit comprises a IR detector coupled to a translation module
and a gate, the translation module and gate being coupled to one another and a
IR transmitter, wherein the network system comprises a mix of 1394 and IR controlled (IRC) input devices,
translating the user input commands to device appropriate output
messages to drive the IRC input devices,
transmitting device appropriate output messages to the IRC devices, and
maintaining the gate at a closed state until the transmitting step is
complete.
440. The method of claim 439 further comprising the step of maintaining
within memory in the central control unit a list of all input devices, all input device
connections, and all I/O ports within the network system.
441. The method of claim 439 wherein the receiving step further
comprising the step of detecting input command signals from a remote control
device.
442. The method of claim 439 wherein the step of translating further
comprises the step of transforming user input commands for IR controlled devices
into device appropriate messages comprising device specific IR code.
443. The method of claim 442 further comprising the step of transforming
user input commands for 1394 devices into device appropriate messages
formulated by device control modules corresponding to the 1394 devices.
444. The method of claim 443 further comprising the step of directing a
signal from a source input device to a sink device.
445. The method of claim 444 further comprising the step of performing
all necessary device connecting and input switching without further user input.
446. The method of claim 439 wherein the translating step further comprises the step of determining if the input command is a direct device action
event or a menu related event.
447. The method of claim 446 further comprising the step of determining
whether the input command is a menu display event, a menu navigation event, or
a menu device action event.
448. The method of claim 447 further comprising the step of displaying a
device selection menu on a display screen coupled to the central control unit.
449. The method of claim 448 further comprising the step of visually
indicating current system state.
450. The method of claim 449 further comprising the step of visually
indicating input source device options.
451. The method of claim 450 further comprising the step of visually
indicating audio sink device options.
452. The method of claim 451 further comprising the step of visually
indicating which device is the current video sink device.
453. The method of claim 452 further comprising the step of visually
indicating which device is the current input device and audio sink.
454. The method of claim 453 further comprising the step of visually
indicating the existence of a peer-to-peer connection.
455. The method of claim 453 further comprising the step of visually
indicating a device is unavailable as an input device or audio sink.
456. The method of claim 455 further comprising the step of visually
indicating navigation location within the device selection menu.
457. The method of claim 448 further comprising the step of representing
devices within the system as graphical icons displayed within the device selection
menu.
458. The method of claim 457 further comprising the step of displaying a
device selection window, a video selection window, and an audio sink window as
part of the device selection menu.
459. The method of claim 458 further comprising the step of displaying a
connection window.
460. The method of claim 457 further comprising the step of displaying a
plurality of visual indicators corresponding to a disabled device, current source or
sink device, and menu location.
461. A method of controlling a network of devices, comprising the steps
of
receiving uniform user input commands at a central control unit of a
network system, the control unit comprises a IR detector coupled to a translation
module and a gate, the translation module and gate being coupled to one another
and a IR transmitter, wherein the network system comprises a mix of IR controlled
(IRC) and non-IRC input devices,
determining current system state of the network system,
based on stored device and device interconnectivity data, translating the
user input commands to device appropriate output messages to drive the input
devices, and
transmitting device appropriate output messages to the IRC devices, and maintaining the gate at a closed state until the step of transmitting output
messages to the IRC devices is complete.