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US5420573A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Audio-visual system with two-way communication between devices

Assignee: Sony Corp
•
Filing: 1994-08-31
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Granted: 1995-05-30
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Expires: 2014-08-31
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Abstract

Abstract An audiovisual system allows a plurality of audiovisual devices to be interconnected for convenient operation from a single set of function keys. The system includes a first AV device and other connected AV devices connected so as to bidirectionally transfer data. Control data from connected devices are read by a CPU of the first device and written to a RAM memory portion of the first device. When a function key of the first device is operated, a connected device is operated according to the control data read therefrom and stored in the first device. A memory card incorporating control data for the external devices may further be accessed by the first AV device for reading control data for the external devices. A particular function key may control as many functions as there are connected devices in the AV system.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shigeo Tanaka
  • 👤 Masaru Sato

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 11:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/16; H04B1/20; H04B1/205

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 154 words
An audiovisual system comprising: a first audiovisual device; a plurality of function keys arranged in said first audiovisual device, each function key corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of control data; connection cable means for connecting said first audiovisual device to a second audiovisual device; transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and/or receiving data between said first audiovisual device and said second audiovisual device over said connection cable means; first reading means arranged in said first audiovisual device for reading control data from said second audiovisual device; memory means arranged in said first audiovisual device for storing said control data read from said second audiovisual device; and second reading means arranged in said first audiovisual device for reading said stored control data from said memory means and transmitting said control data back to said second audiovisual device via said transmitting/receiving means and said connection cable means according to operation of one of said function keys.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 154 words
An audiovisual system comprising: a first audiovisual device; a plurality of function keys arranged in said first audiovisual device, each function key corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of control data; connection cable means for connecting said first audiovisual device to a second audiovisual device; transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and/or receiving data between said first audiovisual device and said second audiovisual device over said connection cable means; first reading means arranged in said first audiovisual device for reading control data from said second audiovisual device; memory means arranged in said first audiovisual device for storing said control data read from said second audiovisual device; and second reading means arranged in said first audiovisual device for reading said stored control data from said memory means and transmitting said control data back to said second audiovisual device via said transmitting/receiving means and said connection cable means according to operation of one of said function keys.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
An audiovisual device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a communication adapter connected to said transmitting/receiving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
An audiovisual device as set forth in claim 1 wherein control data corresponding to respective function keys of said audiovisual device is varied to correspond to said audiovisual device according to a selection of a mode of said second audiovisual device using at least one of said function keys.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 44 words
An audiovisual device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plurality of second audiovisual devices are connected thereto, control data of respective function keys of said audiovisual device being variable to correspond to at least as many second audiovisual devices as are connected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 50 words
An audiovisual device as set forth in claim 1 further including third reading means for reading a memory card, and a memory card containing control data for the second audiovisual device being associated with said third reading means for storing a content of said memory card in said memory means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4771283A Cited
US4825200A Cited
US5109284A Cited
US5136285A Cited
US5081534A Cited
US5235328A Cited
JPH02266795A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-05-29 1998-11-28 1999-05-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-05-29 2002-11-28 2003-05-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-05-29 2006-11-28 2007-05-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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