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EP0812091A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and system for controlling the communication of electronic equipment

Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1997-06-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-06-03
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Abstract

Abstract To satisfactorily control electronic equipment on the controlled side by electronic equipment on the controlling side without useless processing. The VTR 11 and the camcorder 12 are provided with memory means for storing icon information and functional information. A computer 13 sends a command requesting icon information and functional information to the VTR 11 and the camcorder 12 and obtains their information as a response. The computer 13 displays icons showing the VTR 11 and the camcorder 12 on a display 13a based upon the icon information. The computer 13 displays a control panel displaying functions with which the VTR 11 and the camcorder 12 are provided in the format of a button and others on the display 13a based upon the functional information. The computer 13 is not required to inquire of the VTR 11 and the camcorder 12 whether the functions displayed on the panel correspond to the functions of them or not and a user can operate any function of the VTR 11 and the camcorder 12 on the panel.

Inventors

  • 👤 Makoto Sato
  • 👤 Harumi Kawamura
  • 👤 Tomoko Tanaka
  • 👤 Hisato Shima

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 07:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/40052; H04L12/40117; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/16; H04B1/20; H04B1/205; H04L12/40123; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/75; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 98 words
A communication control method in a system for communicating a control signal between plural electronic equipment, wherein: at least a part of said plural electronic equipment is provided with memory means for storing peculiar information; and when a command requesting said peculiar information is sent from first electronic equipment which is electronic equipment on the controlling side to second electronic equipment which is electronic equipment on the controlled side and provided with said memory means, said second electronic equipment reads said peculiar information from said memory means and returns it to said first electronic equipment as a response.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 33 words
A communication control method according to Claim 1, wherein: said plural electronic equipment is connected via a communication control bus which can transmit a control signal with it mixed with an information signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
A communication control method according to Claim 1, wherein: said peculiar information is functional information showing the functions of said second electronic equipment; and said first electronic equipment controls said second electronic equipment based upon said functional information returned from said second electronic equipment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
A communication control method according to Claim 3, wherein: said first electronic equipment is provided with a display; and said functional information includes display information for displaying the functions of said second electronic equipment on said display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 63 words
A communication control method according to Claim 1, wherein: said first electronic equipment is provided with a display; said peculiar information is icon information for displaying an icon showing said second electronic equipment on said display; and said first electronic equipment displays the icon showing said second electronic equipment on said display based upon said icon information returned from said second electronic equipment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 44 words
A communication control method according to Claim 1, wherein: said peculiar information is the home page address information of the Internet; and said first electronic equipment obtains predetermined information by accessing the home page of said Internet based upon said home page address information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A communication control method according to Claim 1, wherein: said peculiar information is described in a language for the Internet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 110 words
A communication system for communicating a control signal between plural electronic equipment, wherein: at least a part of said plural electronic equipment is provided with memory means for storing peculiar information; first electronic equipment which is electronic equipment on the controlling side is provided with command sending means for sending a command requesting said peculiar information to second electronic equipment which is electronic equipment on the controlled side; and if said second electronic equipment is provided with said memory means, it is provided with response returning means for receiving said command, reading said peculiar information from said memory means and returning it to said first electronic equipment as a response.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
A communication system according to Claim 8, wherein: said plural electronic equipment is connected via a communication control bus which can transmit a control signal with it mixed with an information signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 54 words
A communication system according to Claim 8, wherein: said peculiar information is functional information showing the functions of said second electronic equipment; and said first electronic equipment is provided with control means for receiving said functional information returned from said second electronic equipment and controlling said second electronic equipment based upon this functional information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
A communication system according to Claim 10, wherein: said first electronic equipment is further provided with a display and function display means for displaying the functions of said second electronic equipment on said display based upon said functional information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A communication system according to Claim 11, wherein: said functional information includes display information for displaying the functions of said second electronic equipment on said display.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 63 words
A communication system according to Claim 8, wherein: said peculiar information is icon information for displaying an icon showing said second electronic equipment on said display; and said first electronic equipment is provided with a display and icon display means for displaying the icon showing said second electronic equipment on said display based upon said icon information returned from said second electronic equipment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 57 words
A communication system according to Claim 8, wherein: said peculiar information is the home page address information of the Internet; and said first electronic equipment is provided with the Internet access means for obtaining predetermined information by accessing the home page of said Internet based upon said home page address information returned from said second electronic equipment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 36 words
Electronic equipment used in a communication system for communicating a control signal between plural electronic equipment, wherein: command sending means for sending a command requesting peculiar information to electronic equipment on the controlled side is provided.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 15, wherein: said plural electronic equipment is connected via a communication control bus which can transmit a control signal with it mixed with an information signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 57 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 15, wherein: said peculiar information is functional information showing the functions of said electronic equipment on the controlled side; and control means for receiving said functional information returned from said electronic equipment on the controlled side and controlling said electronic equipment on the controlled side based upon this functional information is provided.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 17, further comprising: a display; and function display means for displaying the functions of said electronic equipment on the controlled side on said display based upon said functional information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 28 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 17, wherein: said functional information includes display information for displaying the functions of said electronic equipment on the controlled side on said display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 66 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 15, wherein: said peculiar information is icon information for displaying an icon showing said electronic equipment on the controlled side on said display; and a display and icon display means for displaying the icon showing said electronic equipment on the controlled side on said display based upon said icon information returned from said electronic equipment on the controlled side are provided.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 64 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 15, wherein: said peculiar information is the home page address information of the Internet; and the Internet access means for receiving the home page address information of said Internet returned from said electronic equipment on the controlled side and obtaining predetermined information by accessing the home page of said Internet based upon this home page address information is provided.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 58 words
Electronic equipment used in a communication system for communicating a control signal between plural electronic equipment, comprising: memory means for storing peculiar information; and response returning means for reading said peculiar information from said memory means when a command requesting said peculiar information is received and returning it to electronic equipment on the controlling side as a response.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 31 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 22, wherein: said plural electronic equipment is connected via a communication control bus which can transmit a control signal with it mixed with an information signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 17 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 22, wherein: said peculiar information is functional information showing its own functions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 22 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 24, wherein: said functional information includes display information for displaying said its own functions on a display.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 22 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 22, wherein: said peculiar information is icon information for displaying an icon showing itself on a display.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 19 words
Electronic equipment according to Claim 22, wherein: said peculiar information is the home page address information of the Internet.

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