EP0597569A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication system enabling external control of system terminals
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1993-07-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A communication system enables a system controller (100) to allocate to a first system endpoint (e.g., application processor 133 or 138) control over one or more components of a second system endpoint (e.g., terminal 111-114). In response to a valid control request signal received from the first endpoint identifying one or more components at the second endpoint over which control is requested, the controller sends an acknowledgment signal to the first endpoint indicating that control over the identified component(s) has been allocated to the first endpoint. In response to the acknowledgment signal, an endpoint interface enables the first endpoint to directly communicate with the second endpoint using a first endpoint originated control signal which simulates a controller originated control signal for controlling the identified components at the second endpoint. The controller then inhibits itself from controlling the identified component(s) at the second endpoint during the time when the first endpoint has been allocated to control over the identified component(s). <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Albert D. Baker
- 👤 Heribert Joseph Blach
- 👤 Ramesh Caberwal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A communication system including a controller (100) for controlling communications between a plurality of system endpoints (111-114, 133) each connected through an interface (104, 105) and a communication path (131, 132) to said controller, said system comprising at said controller means (132) for receiving a control request signal (140) from a first endpoint (133) requesting allocation of control over one or more identified components at a second endpoint (114), means (103) responsive to a valid control request signal for transmitting a control acknowledgment signal (125) to said first endpoint indicating that control over said one or more components at said second endpoint has been allocated to said first endpoint, and at the interface (105) connected to said first endpoint, means responsive to the sending of said acknowledgment signal for enabling (309, 310) said first endpoint to communicate (311) via the communication path with said second endpoint using a first endpoint-originated signal which simulates a corresponding controller-originated signal used to control said one or more components at said second endpoint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes means (103, 500) responsive to said valid control request signal for inhibiting said controller from controlling said one or more allocated components at said second endpoint except under predefined conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes means (132) for receiving a query signal (122) from said first endpoint requesting information associated with said second endpoint and means (103) responsive to said query signal for accessing a database (106) and providing a query response (123) including said requested information to said first endpoint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said system includes a second interface (104) connected to said second endpoint, means (103) responsive to said valid control request signal for sending an update routing control message (309) to said second interface to enable said second endpoint to communicate with said first endpoint using a second endpoint-originated signal which simulates a corresponding controller-originated signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said acknowledgment signal specifies a subset of a plurality of components at said second endpoint which are allocated for control by said first endpoint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said first interface includes means (520) for storing said specified components and wherein said enabling means accesses said storing means to determine if a message received from said first endpoint should be sent to said controller or to said second endpoint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes means (103) responsive to a control release signal (124) from said first endpoint for sending a signal to said first interface indicating one or more components at said second endpoint have been deallocated from control of said first endpoint and wherein said first interface means includes means for inhibiting said first endpoint from controlling said deallocated components at said second endpoint.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first interface includes means for converting signals received from said first endpoint in a Codeset 7 format to a Codeset 6 format for transmission to said second endpoint to control said one or more components at said second endpoint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes means responsive to a second endpoint request (121) for sending a service request signal to said first endpoint and wherein said first interface is responsive to said received service request message for sending said control request signal to said controller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
An interface for use in a communication system for controlling communications between a controller (100) and a system endpoint (114) thereof and an apparatus (133) connected to said system, said interface comprising first means for transferring to said controller a control request signal (140) received from said apparatus requesting allocation of control over one or more identified components at said endpoint, second means for transferring to said apparatus a control acknowledgment signal (125) received from said controller endpoint indicating that control over said one or more components at said endpoint has been allocated to said apparatus, and means responsive to said acknowledgment signal for converting a format of an apparatus signal (311) used for controlling said one or more components at said endpoint to a format of a controller-originated signal and transferring said converted apparatus signal to said endpoint.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The interface of claim 10 including means (520) for storing information identifying said allocated components and means for accessing said storing means and for determining if a message received from said apparatus should be sent to said controller or to said endpoint.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The interface of claim 10 wherein said means for converting converts signals received from said apparatus in a Codeset 7 format to a Codeset 6 format for transmission to said endpoint to control said one or more components at said second endpoint.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The interface of claim 10 wherein said second transferring means is responsive to a control release signal (124) received from said controller for sending a signal to said apparatus indicating one or more components at said endpoint have been deallocated from control by said apparatus and wherein said interface further includes means for inhibiting said first apparatus from subsequently controlling said deallocated components at said endpoint.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
158 words
A control unit for use in a communication system, said control unit including a controller (103) for controlling communications between a plurality of system endpoints each connected to an interface of said control unit, said control unit comprising at said controller means for receiving a control request signal (124) from a first endpoint (133) requesting allocation of control over one or more identified components at a second endpoint (114), means responsive to a valid control request signal for transmitting a control acknowledgment signal (125) to said first endpoint indicating that control over said one or more components at said second endpoint has been allocated to said first endpoint, and at the interface (105) connected to said first endpoint, means responsive to said acknowledgment signal for enabling said first endpoint to communicate with said second endpoint using a first endpoint-originated signal which simulates a corresponding controller-originated signal used to control said one or more components at said second endpoint.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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