US5457446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control bus system with plural controllable devices
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1993-07-13
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Granted: 1995-10-10
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Expires: 2013-07-13
Abstract
Abstract A control bus system for a home entertainment system has a single bus to which there are connected various electronic or audiovisual devices including a TV tuner, a BS tuner, VTRs, a CD player, an LD player, a cassette deck, etc. The electronic devices have respective controllers which have features to be executed thereby. At least two of the electronic devices are selected so as to be connected to the single bus, and the features of the controllers of the two selected electronic devices are arranged by a feature arranging unit to prevent the same features of the controllers from conflicting on the single bus. The feature arranging unit disables at least one of the features to be executed by the controller of one of the two selected controllers if one of the features is the same as one of the features to be executed by the controller of the other of the two selected electronic devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuyuki Yamamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2803; H04L12/2816; H04L12/282; G; G11; G11B; G11B31/00; H04L12/2821
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
A control bus system comprising: a single bus; a plurality of electronic devices connected to said single bus; selecting means for selecting at least two of said plurality of electronic devices for operation; said electronic devices having respective controllers, said controllers each issuing commands to respective devices for causing functions to be executed by said respective devices; display means connected to said single bus for displaying at least the functions to be executed by the controllers of said at least two selected electronic devices; and function arranging means connected to said single bus for controlling via commands on said single bus said display means and the functions to be executed by the respective controllers of said at least two selected electronic devices and including means for disabling at least one of the functions to be executed by the controller of one of said selected electronic devices if said at least one of the functions is the same as one of the functions to be executed by the controller of the other of said at least two selected electronic devices and issuing a command via said single bus to update said display means by using a different color for the disabled functions, wherein said function arranging means acquires from a controller of any one of said at least two selected electronic devices information related to functions that said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices is capable of performing by issuing an inquiry command for said information via said single bus to said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices and receiving said information from said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices via said single bus, and said information includes the functions that said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices is capable of performing and a range of operation corresponding to each of the functions that said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices is capable of performing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
A control bus system comprising: a single bus; a plurality of electronic devices connected to said single bus; selecting means for selecting at least two of said plurality of electronic devices for operation; said electronic devices having respective controllers, said controllers each issuing commands to respective devices for causing functions to be executed by said respective devices; display means connected to said single bus for displaying at least the functions to be executed by the controllers of said at least two selected electronic devices; and function arranging means connected to said single bus for controlling via commands on said single bus said display means and the functions to be executed by the respective controllers of said at least two selected electronic devices and including means for disabling at least one of the functions to be executed by the controller of one of said selected electronic devices if said at least one of the functions is the same as one of the functions to be executed by the controller of the other of said at least two selected electronic devices and issuing a command via said single bus to update said display means by using a different color for the disabled functions, wherein said function arranging means acquires from a controller of any one of said at least two selected electronic devices information related to functions that said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices is capable of performing by issuing an inquiry command for said information via said single bus to said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices and receiving said information from said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices via said single bus, and said information includes the functions that said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices is capable of performing and a range of operation corresponding to each of the functions that said controller of said one of said at least two selected electronic devices is capable of performing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-09 | 1999-04-10 | 1999-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-09 | 2003-04-10 | 2003-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-09 | 2007-04-10 | 2007-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |