Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Generic control system – apparatus or process – Plural processors
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-15
2003-07-29
Follansbee, John (Department: 2121)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Generic control system, apparatus or process
Plural processors
C709S208000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06600958
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a communication system including a plurality of controller stations and at least one controlled station; the stations being interconnected via a communication network; functionality of each controlled station being associated with a respective abstract representation, referred to as AR, which provides an interface for software elements in the system to control functionality of the controlled station by means of messages exchanged with the AR via the communication network.
The invention further relates to a controller station for use in a communication system including a plurality of controller stations and at least one controlled station; the stations being interconnected via a communication network; functionality of each controlled station being associated with a respective abstract representation, referred to as AR, which provides an interface for software elements in the system to control functionality of the controlled station by means of messages exchanged with the AR via the communication network.
The invention relates in particular to a multimedia consumer electronics system. The consumer electronics industry is moving from mainly analogue operated devices to digitally operated devices. Audio has become digital with the arrival of digital storage media, such as compact disks, and digital broadcasting techniques, such as DAB. Also video is rapidly becoming digital. An all-digital multimedia system with digital audio and digital video opens up new possibilities to the consumer, owing to impressive digital processing and storage capabilities that are becoming available at affordable prices. Moreover, digital communication networks are becoming more powerful at reduced cost.
EP 0,406,486 describes the D2B communication system for consumer electronic devices enabling automatic control of an electronic device via the D2B bus. In this system, a station may act as a controller station, controlling one or more of the other stations, acting as controlled station(s). A controlled station makes its local functionality available in the form of a set of functions, which can be accessed by transferring messages via the D2B bus. The set of functionality can be seen as an abstract representation of the actual underlying functionality, which is provided by the hardware, and/or software of the controlled station. The representation is abstract in the sense that no strict one-to-one relationship between the externally offered functions and the internal implementation is required. Typically, the representation is standardized whereas the actual implementation is vendor or even model specific. Consequently, the controlled station maps the abstract representation (AR) into internal control mechanisms and controls the underlying hardware/software accordingly (e.g. using an internal bus, such as I2C, to control hardware components). Such a mapping and control is usually performed in software. This also covers the functionality required to map the abstract representation to the concrete representation of the underlying hardware/software of the station.
The AR can be controlled using a messaging mechanism. Command messages are defined for each function instructing the controlled station to perform a defined task. Request messages allow information to be retrieved from the controlled station with respect to the execution of a function, such as the state of the station. Event messages enable the controlled station to inform the controlling station of events, such as state changes, which have occurred in the controlled station.
In the controlling station, the task of controlling functionality of another station is assigned to the so-called Audio/Video Controller (AV/C). The AV/C acts independently of any of the other controlling stations. Typically, the AV/C starts a control sequence, usually referred to as feature or application, in reaction to a trigger from a user (e.g. a user has pressed a button on a remote control) or an event which has occurred in the system. A typical example of an application executed by the AV/C is the automatic play feature. For this feature, in response to the user activating the playback function of a VCR (e.g. pressing a play button or inserting a tape), the AV/C instructs the VCR deck to play the tape, instructs the VCR to make the A/V signal originating from the tape available to the TV, and instructs the TV to provide the signal from the VCR to the monitor. It will be appreciated that for this example the controlling AV/C is preferably, although not strictly required, located in either the TV or VCR to reduce the number of command messages. Several AV/Cs may be present in the stations. A station may over time or even simultaneously act as a controlling station or as a controlled station.
In the D2B System, a correspondence was required between on the one hand the feature executed by an AV/C and on the other hand the functions in the controlled station(s). This correspondence has hindered introduction of the system. Typically, a user already possessed an A/V system and replaced or added devices on an individual basis. Obtaining one device which was able to act as a D2B controlling station and/or controlled station did not add functionality to the system, since no partner station was available yet. Only once the user has obtained suitable partner station(s) automatic control functionality provided by the D2B system became available. Moreover, the functionality of the controlling station and the controlled station was static. As an example, the functionality made available by a VCR to the rest of the system was mainly decided by features of existing AV/Cs or AV/Cs under development at the moment of development of the VCR. If at a later moment an AV/C with a new feature was introduced requiring other functions of the VCR, this new AV/C could not co-operate with the existing D2B VCR, even if the hardware of the existing VCR in principle could provide the functionality. Consequently, changing or extending the functionality of the system was cumbersome.
It is an object of the invention to provide a communication system of the kind set forth which is more flexible with respect to the functionality of a controlled station. It is a further object of the invention that functionality of the controlled station can be managed in a user-friendly manner.
To meet the object of the invention, the communication system includes leader selection means for selecting a single one of the controller stations as a leading controller station; and each controller station includes AR distribution means for determining which controller station should execute the AR(s) of the respective controlled station(s); the AR distribution means being operative to, if located in a leading controller station, assign each AR at most to one of the controller stations; and control means for executing at least one AR assigned to the local controller station.
According to the invention, the abstract representation of a controlled station can be executed on a different station, referred to as the controller station. The communication between the AR in the controller station and the actual hardware/software in the controlled station may be performed in any way. This may include any non-standard, proprietary mechanism. In this way a controlled station which itself is not able to provide the desired AR to enable other stations to control it can still be part of the system, albeit controlled indirectly via the controller station. Whereas in the D2B systems only two parties where involved in communication (namely the feature/application in an AV/C of the controller station and the functionality in the controlled station), here three parties are involved: a feature/application (referred to as software element), an AR in a controller station and the controlled station. The feature/application may be located in any of the stations which are capable of issuing control messages to the AR in the controller station. The feature/application may also be located in the controller station itself.
A furth
Follansbee John
Gain, Jr. Edward F.
LandOfFree
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