US6133938A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Descriptor mechanism for assuring indivisible execution of AV/C operations
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1999-03-11
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Granted: 2000-10-17
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Expires: 2019-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A system for implementing indivisible command execution in an AV/C home audio video network of connected network devices. A network bus operable for conveying commands among a plurality of coupled devices is coupled to each of the devices. A controller device is coupled to the network bus operable for generating a command sequence, the command sequence including a plurality of AV/C commands. A target device is coupled to the network bus, the target device operable for implementing AV/C operations by receiving and executing the command sequence. The target device is configured to identify the command sequence received from the controller via the network bus by reading a group tag field and a command status included in each AV/C command. The group tag field and the command status allow the target device to detect an interruption of the command sequence, such that the target device can avoid a partial execution of the command sequence by ensuring the entire command sequence either completes entirely or fails entirely.
Inventors
- 👤 David V. James
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/40052; H04L12/40117; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/43; H04N21/436; H04N21/43615; H04N21/4363; H04N21/43632; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N7/00; H04N7/10; H04N7/106; H04N5/77; H04N5/775
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for implementing indivisible command execution in an AV/C home audio video network of connected network devices, the system comprising: a network bus operable for conveying commands among a plurality of coupled devices, the network bus implemented within an AV/C home audio video network; a controller device coupled to the network bus operable for generating a command sequence, the command sequence including a plurality of AV/C commands; a target device coupled to the network bus, the target device operable for implementing AV/C operations by receiving and executing the command sequence; and the target device configured to identify the command sequence received from the controller via the network bus by reading a group tag field and a command status included in each AV/C command in order to detect an interruption of the command sequence, such that the target device can avoid a partial execution of the command sequence by ensuring the entire command sequence either completes entirely or fails entirely.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for implementing indivisible command execution in an AV/C home audio video network of connected network devices, the system comprising: a network bus operable for conveying commands among a plurality of coupled devices, the network bus implemented within an AV/C home audio video network; a controller device coupled to the network bus operable for generating a command sequence, the command sequence including a plurality of AV/C commands; a target device coupled to the network bus, the target device operable for implementing AV/C operations by receiving and executing the command sequence; and the target device configured to identify the command sequence received from the controller via the network bus by reading a group tag field and a command status included in each AV/C command in order to detect an interruption of the command sequence, such that the target device can avoid a partial execution of the command sequence by ensuring the entire command sequence either completes entirely or fails entirely.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the controller device includes a computer system for generating the command sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the target device includes a hard disk drive for storing audio video information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the group tag field is configured to identify the position of the AVIC commands within the command sequence to enable the target device to track to determine boundaries of the command sequence with respect to an interrupting command sequence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the group tag field is configured to label at least the first, middle, and last AV/C command in the command sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the command status field is configured to whether one of the AV/C commands within the command sequence has been aborted or rejected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the target device is configured to store an old state representative of the condition of the target device prior to commencing execution of the command sequence such that if the command sequence fails, the target device adopts the old state such that the command sequence fails entirely.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the old state is discarded and the target device adopts the result of the command sequence as a new state if the command sequence is successfully executed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the target device is configured to ensure only the old state or the new state is presented to external devices via the network bus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the network bus is an IEEE 1394 bus.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
196 words
A system for implementing indivisible command execution in an AV/C home audio video network of connected network devices without requiring the use of locking mechanisms, the system comprising: a IEEE 1394 network bus operable for conveying commands among a plurality of coupled devices, the IEEE 1394 bus implemented within an AV/C home audio video network; a controller device coupled to the 1394 bus operable for generating a command sequence, the command sequence including a plurality of AV/C commands, the controller device including an embedded computer system for generating the command sequence; a target device coupled to the 1394 bus, the target device operable for implementing AV/C operations by receiving and executing the command sequence, the target device including a hard disk drive for storing audio video information; and the target device configured to identify the command sequence received from the controller via the 1394 bus by reading a group tag field and a command status included in each AV/C command in order to detect an interruption of the command sequence, such that the target device can avoid a partial execution of the command sequence by ensuring the entire command sequence either completes entirely or fails entirely.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
196 words
A system for implementing indivisible command execution in an AV/C home audio video network of connected network devices without requiring the use of locking mechanisms, the system comprising: a IEEE 1394 network bus operable for conveying commands among a plurality of coupled devices, the IEEE 1394 bus implemented within an AV/C home audio video network; a controller device coupled to the 1394 bus operable for generating a command sequence, the command sequence including a plurality of AV/C commands, the controller device including an embedded computer system for generating the command sequence; a target device coupled to the 1394 bus, the target device operable for implementing AV/C operations by receiving and executing the command sequence, the target device including a hard disk drive for storing audio video information; and the target device configured to identify the command sequence received from the controller via the 1394 bus by reading a group tag field and a command status included in each AV/C command in order to detect an interruption of the command sequence, such that the target device can avoid a partial execution of the command sequence by ensuring the entire command sequence either completes entirely or fails entirely.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the group tag field is configured to identify the position of the AV/C commands within the command sequence to enable the target device to track to determine boundaries of the command sequence with respect to an interrupting command sequence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the group tag field is configured to label at least the first, middle, and last AV/C command in the command sequence.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the command status field is configured to whether one of the AV/C commands within the command sequence has been aborted or rejected.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the target device is configured to store an old state representative of the condition of the target device prior to commencing execution of the command sequence such that if the command sequence fails, the target device adopts the old state such that the command sequence fails entirely.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the old state is discarded and the target device adopts the result of the command sequence as a new state if the command sequence is successfully executed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 16 wherein the target device is configured to ensure only the old state or the new state is presented to external devices via the 1394 bus.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for implementing indivisible command execution in an AV/C home audio video network of connected network devices, the method comprising the steps of: a) conveying commands among a plurality of coupled devices using a network bus, the network bus implemented within an AV/C home audio video network; b) generating a command sequence using a controller device coupled to the network bus, the command sequence including a plurality of AV/C commands; c) receiving and executing the command sequence by using a target device coupled to the network bus, the target device operable for implementing AV/C operations by executing the command sequence; and d) identifying the command sequence received from the controller via the network bus and detecting an interruption of the command sequence by reading a group tag field and a command status included in each AV/C command, the reading performed by the target device, such that the target device can avoid a partial execution of the command sequence by ensuring the entire command sequence either completes entirely or fails entirely.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for implementing indivisible command execution in an AV/C home audio video network of connected network devices, the method comprising the steps of: a) conveying commands among a plurality of coupled devices using a network bus, the network bus implemented within an AV/C home audio video network; b) generating a command sequence using a controller device coupled to the network bus, the command sequence including a plurality of AV/C commands; c) receiving and executing the command sequence by using a target device coupled to the network bus, the target device operable for implementing AV/C operations by executing the command sequence; and d) identifying the command sequence received from the controller via the network bus and detecting an interruption of the command sequence by reading a group tag field and a command status included in each AV/C command, the reading performed by the target device, such that the target device can avoid a partial execution of the command sequence by ensuring the entire command sequence either completes entirely or fails entirely.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the group tag field is configured to identify the position of the AV/C commands within the command sequence to enable the target device to track to determine boundaries of the command sequence with respect to an interrupting command sequence.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the target device is configured to ensure only an old state or a new state is presented to external devices via the network bus by preventing the display of the results of a partially executed command sequence to the external devices.
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) | 2003-10-17 | 2004-04-17 | 2004-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-17 | 2008-04-17 | 2008-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-04-17 | 2012-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |