US5452291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination brouter and cluster controller
Assignee: Panasonic Corp of North America
•
Filing: 1993-11-30
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Granted: 1995-09-19
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Expires: 2013-11-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for transmitting data from a first device to a second device is provided. The invention is suitable for use in a system having first and second communications media. The apparatus includes a network interface coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device. A clustering facility is provided for coupling the first device directly to the network interface and for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface. The network interface identifies the second device as being coupled to either the clustering facility or the second medium. The apparatus transmits the data from the network interface to the second device by way of the clustering facility, if the network interface identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering facility. The apparatus routes the data from the network interface to the second device by way of the second medium if the network interface identifies the second device as being coupled to the second medium. In the exemplary embodiment, both media follow the Consumer Electronics Bus (CEBus) standard. For example, the first medium may be a wired coaxial cable medium, and the first device may be a video cassette recorder. The second medium may be a wireless infrared medium, and the second device may be a remote control unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Sanford Eisenhandler
- 👤 Tayyab Chaudhry
- 👤 Xiaoyang Lee
- 👤 Ping S. Lam
- 👤 Yosuke Fujita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2803; H04L12/2838; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/16; H04B1/20; H04B1/205; H04L12/46; H04L12/4604; H04L45/00; H04L45/46; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/12; H04L67/125; H04L67/50; H04L67/56; H04L67/565; H04L2012/2847; H04L2012/2849; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S370/00; Y10S370/908; Y10S370/911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for receiving data from a first medium and for transferring the data to one of a local device and a second medium comprising: means for receiving the data from the first medium; network interface means for examining the data and identifying the data as being directed to the one of the local device and the second medium, the network interface means including means for storing a plurality of encoded sequences and a plurality of device commands, each device command being associated with a respective one of the plurality of encoded sequences, and clustering means coupled to the network interface means for coupling the local device directly to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the data as being directed to the local device, wherein the network interface means identifies whether the data include one of the plurality of encoded sequences and identifies the respective device command associated with the encoded sequence included in the data; transmitting means for transmitting the identified device command from the network interface means to the local device by way of the clustering means if the network interface means identifies the data as being directed to the local device; and routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the second medium if the network interface means identifies the data as being directed to the second medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for receiving data from a first medium and for transferring the data to one of a local device and a second medium comprising: means for receiving the data from the first medium; network interface means for examining the data and identifying the data as being directed to the one of the local device and the second medium, the network interface means including means for storing a plurality of encoded sequences and a plurality of device commands, each device command being associated with a respective one of the plurality of encoded sequences, and clustering means coupled to the network interface means for coupling the local device directly to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the data as being directed to the local device, wherein the network interface means identifies whether the data include one of the plurality of encoded sequences and identifies the respective device command associated with the encoded sequence included in the data; transmitting means for transmitting the identified device command from the network interface means to the local device by way of the clustering means if the network interface means identifies the data as being directed to the local device; and routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the second medium if the network interface means identifies the data as being directed to the second medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a system having first and second communications media and a plurality of devices, apparatus for transmitting data from a first one of the plurality of devices coupled to the first medium to one of a second one of the plurality of devices and a third one of the plurality of devices, wherein the second medium has a state in which the second medium is not available for transmitting data: network interface means coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device, wherein the network interface means is a consumer electronics bus (CEBus) network interface; clustering means coupled to the network interface means for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering means; transmitting means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the second device by way of the clustering means, regardless of whether the second medium is available for transmitting data, if the network interface means identifies the second device as being a destination to which the data are transmitted; and routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the third device by way of the second medium if the network interface means identifies the third device as being the destination to which the data are transmitted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a system having first and second communications media and a plurality of devices, apparatus for transmitting data from a first one of the plurality of devices coupled to the first medium to one of a second one of the plurality of devices and a third one of the plurality of devices, wherein the second medium has a state in which the second medium is not available for transmitting data: network interface means coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device, wherein the network interface means is a consumer electronics bus (CEBus) network interface; clustering means coupled to the network interface means for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering means; transmitting means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the second device by way of the clustering means, regardless of whether the second medium is available for transmitting data, if the network interface means identifies the second device as being a destination to which the data are transmitted; and routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the third device by way of the second medium if the network interface means identifies the third device as being the destination to which the data are transmitted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the data from the first medium originates from an infrared remote control unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the local device is a home entertainment device selected from a group consisting of an audio equipment component and a video equipment component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
250 words
In a system having first and second communications media and a plurality of devices, apparatus for transmitting data from a first one of the plurality of devices coupled to the first medium to one of a second one of the plurality of devices and a third one of the plurality of devices, wherein the second medium has a state in which the second medium is not available for transmitting data: network interface means coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device; clustering means coupled to the network interface means for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering means; transmitting means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the second device by way of the clustering means, regardless of whether the second medium is available for transmitting data, if the network interface means identifies the second device as being a destination to which the data are transmitted; routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the third device by way of the second medium if the network interface means identifies the third device as being the destination to which the data are transmitted; and means for storing a respective address associated with each respective one of the plurality of devices, wherein the network interface means uses the addresses to determine whether the local device is coupled to the clustering means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
250 words
In a system having first and second communications media and a plurality of devices, apparatus for transmitting data from a first one of the plurality of devices coupled to the first medium to one of a second one of the plurality of devices and a third one of the plurality of devices, wherein the second medium has a state in which the second medium is not available for transmitting data: network interface means coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device; clustering means coupled to the network interface means for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering means; transmitting means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the second device by way of the clustering means, regardless of whether the second medium is available for transmitting data, if the network interface means identifies the second device as being a destination to which the data are transmitted; routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the third device by way of the second medium if the network interface means identifies the third device as being the destination to which the data are transmitted; and means for storing a respective address associated with each respective one of the plurality of devices, wherein the network interface means uses the addresses to determine whether the local device is coupled to the clustering means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising communications means for receiving the addresses and for providing the addresses to the storage means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for storing a plurality of device commands for controlling a device coupled to the clustering means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for storing a plurality of macro commands for controlling the apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
272 words
In a system having first and second communications media and a plurality of devices, apparatus for transmitting data from a first one of the plurality of devices coupled to the first medium to one of a second one of the plurality of devices and a third one of the plurality of devices, comprising: network interface means coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device; address storing means for storing a respective address associated with each respective one of the plurality of devices; clustering means coupled to the network interface means for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering means; command storing means for storing a plurality of device commands for controlling a device coupled to the clustering means wherein the network interface means identifies one of the plurality of device commands associated with the data; transmitting means for transmitting the identified device command from the network interface means to the second device by way of the clustering means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being a destination to which the identified device command is transmitted, wherein the network interface means determines whether the second device is coupled to the clustering means based on the addresses stored in the address storing means; and routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the third device by way of the second medium if the network interface means identifies the third device as being the destination to which the identified device command is transmitted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
272 words
In a system having first and second communications media and a plurality of devices, apparatus for transmitting data from a first one of the plurality of devices coupled to the first medium to one of a second one of the plurality of devices and a third one of the plurality of devices, comprising: network interface means coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device; address storing means for storing a respective address associated with each respective one of the plurality of devices; clustering means coupled to the network interface means for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering means; command storing means for storing a plurality of device commands for controlling a device coupled to the clustering means wherein the network interface means identifies one of the plurality of device commands associated with the data; transmitting means for transmitting the identified device command from the network interface means to the second device by way of the clustering means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being a destination to which the identified device command is transmitted, wherein the network interface means determines whether the second device is coupled to the clustering means based on the addresses stored in the address storing means; and routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the third device by way of the second medium if the network interface means identifies the third device as being the destination to which the identified device command is transmitted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
265 words
In a system having first and second communications media and a plurality of devices, apparatus for transmitting data from a first one of the plurality of devices coupled to the first medium to one of a second one of the plurality of devices and a third one of the plurality of devices, comprising: network interface means coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device; address storing means for storing a respective address associated with each respective one of the plurality of devices; clustering means coupled to the network interface means for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering means; command storing means for storing a plurality of macro commands for controlling the apparatus wherein the network interface means identifies one of the plurality of macro commands associated with the data; transmitting means for transmitting the identified command macro from the network interface means to the second device by way of the clustering means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being a destination to which the identified command macro is transmitted, wherein the network interface means determines whether the second device is coupled to the clustering means based on the addresses stored in the address storing means; and routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the third device by way of the second medium if the network interface means identifies the third device as being the destination to which the data are transmitted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
265 words
In a system having first and second communications media and a plurality of devices, apparatus for transmitting data from a first one of the plurality of devices coupled to the first medium to one of a second one of the plurality of devices and a third one of the plurality of devices, comprising: network interface means coupled to the first medium for receiving and examining data from the first device; address storing means for storing a respective address associated with each respective one of the plurality of devices; clustering means coupled to the network interface means for selectively coupling the second device to the network interface means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being coupled to the clustering means; command storing means for storing a plurality of macro commands for controlling the apparatus wherein the network interface means identifies one of the plurality of macro commands associated with the data; transmitting means for transmitting the identified command macro from the network interface means to the second device by way of the clustering means if the network interface means identifies the second device as being a destination to which the identified command macro is transmitted, wherein the network interface means determines whether the second device is coupled to the clustering means based on the addresses stored in the address storing means; and routing means for transmitting the data from the network interface means to the third device by way of the second medium if the network interface means identifies the third device as being the destination to which the data are transmitted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the network interface means is a consumer electronics bus (CEBus) network interface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the data from the first medium originates from an infrared remote control unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the local device is a home entertainment device selected from a group consisting of an audio equipment component and a video equipment component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising communications means for receiving the addresses and for providing the addresses to the storage means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for storing a plurality of macro commands for controlling the apparatus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the network interface means is a consumer electronics bus (CEBus) network interface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the data from the first medium originates from an infrared remote control unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the local device is a home entertainment device selected from a group consisting of an audio equipment component and a video equipment component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising communications means for receiving the addresses and for providing the addresses to the storage means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network interface means includes a path by which a user inputs the plurality of encoded sequences and the plurality of device commands.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-18 | 1999-03-20 | 1999-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-18 | 2003-03-20 | 2003-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-18 | 2007-03-20 | 2007-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |