Patent US5650775A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5650775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Control system for controlling consumer apparatus
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1995-04-04
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Granted: 1997-07-22
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Expires: 2015-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A control system for controlling consumer apparatus. In the system, a command item is generated in one apparatus and supplied to another apparatus via a bus. The command item includes an operation code followed by zero or more operand codes for, in an addressee apparatus, addressing a command table. The latter thereupon outputs appropriate information for the addressee apparatus, without the addressor apparatus needing to specify the latter information.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Van Steenbrugge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:30
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08C; G08C19/00; G08C19/16; G08C19/28; H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/16; H04B1/20; H04B1/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A control system for controlling a plurality of consumer devices included in a plurality of destination apparatuses which are coupled together via a transmission bus, a consumer device having one or more control functions, said control system comprising: a source apparatus coupled to said transmission bus and comprising command generating means for generating a command item comprising an operation code followed by one or more command operand codes thereby to selectively address said destination apparatuses, and means for transmitting said command item over said transmission bus, and wherein each said destination apparatus includes means for receiving the command item and in response thereto accessing a local command table of an addressed destination apparatus, said local command table containing a first address category for storing general commands having a uniform meaning for all of said plurality of apparatuses and a second address category mutually exclusive of said first address category and containing group function commands having uniform meaning across a subset of all of said control functions for autonomously carrying out a particular one of the control functions of the addressed destination apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A control system for controlling a plurality of consumer devices included in a plurality of destination apparatuses which are coupled together via a transmission bus, a consumer device having one or more control functions, said control system comprising: a source apparatus coupled to said transmission bus and comprising command generating means for generating a command item comprising an operation code followed by one or more command operand codes thereby to selectively address said destination apparatuses, and means for transmitting said command item over said transmission bus, and wherein each said destination apparatus includes means for receiving the command item and in response thereto accessing a local command table of an addressed destination apparatus, said local command table containing a first address category for storing general commands having a uniform meaning for all of said plurality of apparatuses and a second address category mutually exclusive of said first address category and containing group function commands having uniform meaning across a subset of all of said control functions for autonomously carrying out a particular one of the control functions of the addressed destination apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said local command table contains a third address category mutually exclusive to said first and second address categories and containing function specific commands, each function specific command having a specific meaning for a unique one among said control functions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein any operation code is different from any operand code and said command item does not include data as to specific control functions performed by said consumer devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
144 words
A destination audio and/or video consumer apparatus for use in a method of controlling a plurality of interconnected audio and/or video consumer apparatuses, the destination apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving a message comprising a command item containing an operation code followed by a string of one or more command operand codes; storage means for storing a local command table with a first address range for storing general commands and with a second address range, differing from the first address range, for storing group function commands having a uniform meaning across a subset of all control functions of the destination apparatus thereby to carry out a particular one of the control functions of an addressed destination apparatus; and addressing means for, under control of the command item, selectively addressing either the first address range or the second address range of the local command table.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
A destination audio and/or video consumer apparatus for use in a method of controlling a plurality of interconnected audio and/or video consumer apparatuses, the destination apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving a message comprising a command item containing an operation code followed by a string of one or more command operand codes; storage means for storing a local command table with a first address range for storing general commands and with a second address range, differing from the first address range, for storing group function commands having a uniform meaning across a subset of all control functions of the destination apparatus thereby to carry out a particular one of the control functions of an addressed destination apparatus; and addressing means for, under control of the command item, selectively addressing either the first address range or the second address range of the local command table.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the local command table comprises a third address range for storing specific function commands.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, comprising a switch selector which, when a selector command is received, selects one of the group function commands or specific function commands in its local command table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the switch selector, upon absence of said selector command, activates a default table for the apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said switch selector is activated only with respect to selecting a single command outside the default table of said apparatus and thereafter directly reverting to said default table of said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said switch selector is activated only with respect to selecting a single command outside the default table of said apparatus and thereafter directly reverting to said default table of said apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one group is a tuner group.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one group is a recorder group.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one group is a turntable group.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one group is a visual display device group.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the local command table comprises a fourth address range in which operands are stored.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fourth address range comprises a first sub-range in which standard operand values are stored, and a second sub-range in which other operand values are stored.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one group is a tuner group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one group is a recorder group.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one group is a turntable group.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one group is a visual display device group.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the local command table comprises a fourth address range in which operands are stored.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the fourth address range comprises a first sub-range in which standard operand values are stored, and a second sub-range in which other operand values are stored.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said apparatus further comprises an interface for interfacing to a serial D2B bus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said apparatus further comprises an application message generating device for generating and subsequently sending to another apparatus an application message string followed by an end message item.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said application message generating device comprises a request message generating device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a property memory containing data that represent characteristics of said apparatus, and that the property memory has means for, under control of a request command received, outputting a property item as specified by the request command received.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said property memory is suitable for containing both static and dynamic property items.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said property memory has various address ranges dedicated to containing property items related to general request commands and group function request commands, respectively.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the property memory is a virtual memory containing the identity of the apparatus and the status of the apparatus.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said property memory has a further address range containing property items related to function specific request commands.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said property memory has various address ranges dedicated to containing property items related to general request commands and group function request commands, respectively.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the property memory is a virtual memory containing the identity the apparatus and the status of the apparatus.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein, upon receipt of a single command item by the apparatus, the apparatus includes means for executing all functions related to the command item without transmitting any signals back to a remote source of the command item.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for controlling through a network a plurality of interconnected audio and/or video consumer apparatuses encompassing a spectrum of control functions, said method comprising the steps: in a source apparatus: generating a command item comprising an operation code followed by a string of one or more command operand codes, packaging said command item in a message comprising an address for selectively addressing a destination apparatus among said consumer apparatuses, and transmitting said message over said network to said destination apparatus; and in said destination apparatus: receiving said message and, under control of said command item, selectively addressing in a local command table either a first address range containing general commands having uniform meaning across all functions of said plurality of apparatuses, or a second address range, mutually exclusive of said first address range, and containing group function commands having uniform meaning across a subset of all of said control functions for carrying out a particular one of the control functions of an addressed destination apparatus.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for controlling through a network a plurality of interconnected audio and/or video consumer apparatuses encompassing a spectrum of control functions, said method comprising the steps: in a source apparatus: generating a command item comprising an operation code followed by a string of one or more command operand codes, packaging said command item in a message comprising an address for selectively addressing a destination apparatus among said consumer apparatuses, and transmitting said message over said network to said destination apparatus; and in said destination apparatus: receiving said message and, under control of said command item, selectively addressing in a local command table either a first address range containing general commands having uniform meaning across all functions of said plurality of apparatuses, or a second address range, mutually exclusive of said first address range, and containing group function commands having uniform meaning across a subset of all of said control functions for carrying out a particular one of the control functions of an addressed destination apparatus.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
104 words
A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said receiving step comprises: under control of said command item, selectively addressing, in said local command table, either said first address range containing general commands having uniform meaning across all functions of said plurality of apparatuses, said second address range, mutually exclusive of said first address range, containing group function commands having uniform meaning across a subset of all of said functions, or a third address range, mutually exclusive of said first and second address ranges and containing function specific commands, each function specific command having a specific meaning for a unique one among said functions.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein any operation code is different from any operand code.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein any operation code is different from any operand code.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein a request related to a command item has an operation code, which is related to the operation code of said command item.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein a response to a request related to a command item has an operand code, which is related to the operand code of said command item.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein a command item of a message puts a destination audio and/or video consumer apparatus in a mode defined by said command item of said message, whereby after said message, transparent data are sent to said apparatus and said apparatus processes said data using a syntax defined by said mode.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the transmitting of messages is performed in a serial manner.
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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) | 2000-07-21 | 2001-01-20 | 2001-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-21 | 2005-01-20 | 2005-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-21 | 2009-01-20 | 2009-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |