Patent US5815082A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5815082A
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Local communication bus system and apparatuses for use in such a system
Assignee: DB2 Systems Co Ltd
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Filing: 1992-03-18
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Granted: 1998-09-29
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Expires: 2012-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A number of domestic audio/video apparatuses (10-14) are connected to a serial control bus (D2B, 16). Each apparatus is addressable via the bus as a device and contains functional elements addressable on subdevices. One apparatus (14) includes an on-screen display subdevice (41) and a first control subdevice (24). Subdevice status messages are defined whereby a control subdevice can ask to be informed of the status of a further subdevice (e.g. 26), and in particular to be informed automatically of any change in status without the need for continuous polling of subdevices. The subdevice status messages can be used to obtain early confirmation of a signal path being established through the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Harm J. Welmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/16; H04B1/20; H04B1/205; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A local communication bus system comprising a serial control bus coupled to a plurality of devices, each device comprising a control subdevice and a further subdevice, each device, control subdevice and further subdevice being addressable using said serial control bus, wherein said control subdevice comprises means for generating a first status request message addressed to said further subdevice, and wherein said further subdevice comprises: a) means responsive to said first status request message for generating a first further subdevice status message to said control subdevice; and b) means responsive to a change in status in said further subdevice for generating an updated further subdevice status message to said control subdevice without receiving an additional status request message from said control subdevice, if and only if said further subdevice has previously received said first status request message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A local communication bus system comprising a serial control bus coupled to a plurality of devices, each device comprising a control subdevice and a further subdevice, each device, control subdevice and further subdevice being addressable using said serial control bus, wherein said control subdevice comprises means for generating a first status request message addressed to said further subdevice, and wherein said further subdevice comprises: a) means responsive to said first status request message for generating a first further subdevice status message to said control subdevice; and b) means responsive to a change in status in said further subdevice for generating an updated further subdevice status message to said control subdevice without receiving an additional status request message from said control subdevice, if and only if said further subdevice has previously received said first status request message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said first status request message comprises a field indicating the desirability of said updated further subdevice status message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said control subdevice comprises means for generating a verification request message addressed to said further subdevice, said further subdevice being responsive to said verification request message so as to generate an indication message indicating if said updated further subdevice status message will be generated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said first further subdevice status message comprises a plurality of status variables and said first status request message is a status request message which is not specific to one of said status variables, and wherein said updated further subdevice status message is transmitted automatically in response to a change in one of said status variables.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
101 words
A device, including: a control subdevice and a further subdevice, said control subdevice including facilities for sending a status request message indicating receptiveness of said control subdevice to status update messages from said further subdevice; and, further subdevice facilities responsive to a change in status of said further subdevice for automatically generating a status update message, without the necessity of receiving an additional status request message from said control subdevice, and for automatically sending a further status update message to said control subdevice if, and only if, said further subdevice has previously received said status request message from said control subdevice.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
101 words
A device, including: a control subdevice and a further subdevice, said control subdevice including facilities for sending a status request message indicating receptiveness of said control subdevice to status update messages from said further subdevice; and, further subdevice facilities responsive to a change in status of said further subdevice for automatically generating a status update message, without the necessity of receiving an additional status request message from said control subdevice, and for automatically sending a further status update message to said control subdevice if, and only if, said further subdevice has previously received said status request message from said control subdevice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein a first type of said status request message identifies a plurality of device status variables for which status updating is requested.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein a second type of said status request message identifies a selected subset of said plurality of device status variables for which status updating is requested.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said further subdevice facilities are responsive only to a change in status of any one or more of said plurality of device status variables for generating said status update message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said further subdevice facilities are responsive only to a change in status of anyone or more of said subset of said plurality of device status variables for generating said status update message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the device comprises a television.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the device comprises a VCR.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the device comprises a satellite broadcast tuner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said control subdevice comprises an audio/video controller, and, said further subdevice comprises a tuner subdevice.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said control subdevice comprises an audio/video controller; and, said further subdevice comprises a videotape record/replay deck.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said control subdevice comprises an audio/video controller; and, said further subdevice comprises a tuner subdevice.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein one of said device status variables is volume setting of the device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein one of said device status variables is channel setting of the device.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
113 words
A device, including: a control subdevice and a plurality of further subdevices, said control subdevice including facilities for sending a status request message indicating readiness of said control subdevice to receive status update messages from said further subdevices; and, wherein each of said further subdevices includes a communication facility responsive to a change in status of its respective further subdevice for automatically generating a status update message, without the necessity of receiving an additional status request message from said control subdevice, and for automatically sending a further status update message to said control subdevice if, and only if, its respective further subdevice has previously received said status request message from said control subdevice.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
113 words
A device, including: a control subdevice and a plurality of further subdevices, said control subdevice including facilities for sending a status request message indicating readiness of said control subdevice to receive status update messages from said further subdevices; and, wherein each of said further subdevices includes a communication facility responsive to a change in status of its respective further subdevice for automatically generating a status update message, without the necessity of receiving an additional status request message from said control subdevice, and for automatically sending a further status update message to said control subdevice if, and only if, its respective further subdevice has previously received said status request message from said control subdevice.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said communication facility of each said further subdevice is responsive to a change in status of its respective further subdevice for automatically sending said further status update message to only said control subdevice.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 18, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 19, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 8, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 16, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as set forth in claim 12, wherein: the device is coupled to a local communication bus system to which a plurality of other devices are also coupled, said local communication bus system including a serial control bus; and, said control device and each of said further subdevices is addressable via said serial control bus.
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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) | 2001-09-28 | 2002-03-30 | 2002-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-28 | 2006-03-30 | 2006-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-28 | 2010-03-30 | 2010-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |