US6237049B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for defining and discovering proxy functionality on a distributed audio video network
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1998-09-10
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Granted: 2001-05-22
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Expires: 2018-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for defining and discovering proxy functionality on a distributed audio video network. The present invention operates within a network of consumer electronic media devices (e.g., television, set-top-box, video cassette recorder, compact disc device, personal computer system, etc.) that are coupled together using the IEEE 1394 serial communication standard. Specifically, the present invention enables a consumer electronic media device having increased functionality to act as a proxy device for other consumer electronic media devices. As such, the proxy device is able to provide a wide variety of advantageous proxy services for other consumer electronic media devices thereby increasing their original capabilities. For instance, the proxy device can act as a translator between two devices thereby enabling them to communicate. Additionally, the proxy device can enable Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have greater control over non-HAVi devices. Moreover, the proxy device can extend the existing functionality of devices as well as provide new functionality for them. Furthermore, the proxy device can act as a command arbitrator for particular devices. Also, the proxy device can act as a proxy for all or a portion of the functionality of a device. It is appreciated that these are only examples of the possible advantageous proxy services that the proxy device can provide for other devices in accordance with the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold Aaron Ludtke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/2803; H04L12/2807; H04L12/281; G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411; H04L12/2805; H04L12/2816; H04L12/282; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/16; H04B1/20; H04B1/205; H04L2012/2847; H04L2012/2849; H04L69/00; H04L69/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
In a network of consumer electronic media devices, a method of communicating between a plurality of consumer electronic media devices, said method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a first consumer electronic media device as a proxy device for a second consumer electronic media device within said network of consumer electronic media devices, wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices are coupled together as a network by a common bus, wherein step a) comprises the step of storing a data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device, wherein said data structure defines proxy services that said first consumer electronic media device performs for said second consumer electronic media device; b) transmitting a signal to said first consumer electronic media device indicating a particular proxy service to be performed; c) said first consumer electronic media device receiving said signal; and d) in response to receiving said signal, said first consumer electronic media device performing said particular proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
In a network of consumer electronic media devices, a method of communicating between a plurality of consumer electronic media devices, said method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a first consumer electronic media device as a proxy device for a second consumer electronic media device within said network of consumer electronic media devices, wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices are coupled together as a network by a common bus, wherein step a) comprises the step of storing a data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device, wherein said data structure defines proxy services that said first consumer electronic media device performs for said second consumer electronic media device; b) transmitting a signal to said first consumer electronic media device indicating a particular proxy service to be performed; c) said first consumer electronic media device receiving said signal; and d) in response to receiving said signal, said first consumer electronic media device performing said particular proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of e) said first consumer electronic media device transmitting resultant information to said second consumer electronic media device, said resultant information identified in said signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices includes a third consumer electronic media device and wherein said step b) comprises the step of said third consumer electronic media device transmitting said signal and said step d) comprises the step of said first consumer electronic media device transmitting a result signal to said third consumer electronic media device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of: a1) said first consumer electronic media device discovering said second consumer electronic media device coupled to said common bus; a2) said first consumer electronic media device determining a functionality of said second consumer electronic media device; a3) said first consumer electronic media device determining whether said first consumer electronic media device can provide a proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device; and a4) if said first consumer electronic media device can provide a proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device, said first consumer electronic media device performing said step of storing said data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of: a1) a third consumer electronic media device examining said memory of said first consumer electronic media device to determine that said first consumer electronic media device is said proxy device for said second consumer electronic media device; and a2) said third consumer electronic media device recording this information within its memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of: a1) a third consumer electronic media device examining said memory of said first consumer electronic media device utilizing an IEEE 1212 read only memory (ROM) protocol to determine that said first consumer electronic media device is said proxy device for said second consumer electronic media device; and a2) said third consumer electronic media device recording this information within its memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device performing a translation on communications between said second consumer electronic media device and a third consumer electronic media device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a new functionality for said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device extending an existing functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device arbitrating access to said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over non-HAVi devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling non-Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over HAVi devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device controlling one subunit of functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 1 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a data library for said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of communicating between a plurality of consumer electronic media devices, said method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a first consumer electronic media device as a proxy device for a second consumer electronic media device of said plurality of consumer electronic media devices, wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices are coupled together as a network by an IEEE 1394 bus, wherein step a) comprises the step of storing a data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device, wherein said data structure defines proxy services that said first consumer electronic media device performs for said second consumer electronic media device; b) transmitting a signal to said first consumer electronic media device indicating a particular proxy service to be performed; c) said first consumer electronic media device receiving said signal; d) in response to receiving said signal, said first consumer electronic media device performing said particular proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device; and e) said first consumer electronic media device transmitting resultant information to said second consumer electronic media device, said resultant information identified in said signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of communicating between a plurality of consumer electronic media devices, said method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a first consumer electronic media device as a proxy device for a second consumer electronic media device of said plurality of consumer electronic media devices, wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices are coupled together as a network by an IEEE 1394 bus, wherein step a) comprises the step of storing a data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device, wherein said data structure defines proxy services that said first consumer electronic media device performs for said second consumer electronic media device; b) transmitting a signal to said first consumer electronic media device indicating a particular proxy service to be performed; c) said first consumer electronic media device receiving said signal; d) in response to receiving said signal, said first consumer electronic media device performing said particular proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device; and e) said first consumer electronic media device transmitting resultant information to said second consumer electronic media device, said resultant information identified in said signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said plurality of consumer electronic media devices includes a third consumer electronic media device and wherein said step b) comprises the step of said third consumer electronic media device transmitting said signal and said step d) comprises the step of said first consumer electronic media device transmitting a result signal to said third consumer electronic media device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of: a1) said first consumer electronic media device discovering said second consumer electronic media device coupled to said IEEE 1394 bus; a2) said first consumer electronic media device determining a functionality of said second consumer electronic media device; a3) said first consumer electronic media device determining whether said first consumer electronic media device can provide a proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device; and a4) if said first consumer electronic media device can provide a proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device, said first consumer electronic media device performing said step of storing said data structure in memory of said first consumer electronic media device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of: a1) a third consumer electronic media device examining said memory of said first consumer electronic media device to determine that said first consumer electronic media device is said proxy device for said second consumer electronic media device; and a2) said third consumer electronic media device recording this information within its memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said step a) comprises the steps of: a1) a third consumer electronic media device examining said memory of said first consumer electronic media device utilizing an IEEE 1212 ROM protocol to determine that said first consumer electronic media device is said proxy device for said second consumer electronic media device; and a2) said third consumer electronic media device recording this information within its memory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device performing a translation on communications between said second consumer electronic media device and a third consumer electronic media device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a new functionality for said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device extending an existing functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device arbitrating access to said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over non-HAVi devices.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling non-Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over HAVi devices.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device controlling one subunit of functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 15 wherein said particular proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a data library for said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
112 words
A communication network comprising: a plurality of consumer electronic media devices; an IEEE 1394 communication bus coupled to each of said plurality of consumer electronic media devices; and a data structure stored within a memory space of a first consumer electronic media device, said data structure containing information defining proxy services to be performed by said first consumer electronic media device for a second consumer electronic media device, said proxy services for causing said first consumer electronic media device to perform a selected proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device in response to signals received over said IEEE 1394 communication bus that indicate said selected proxy service to be performed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
112 words
A communication network comprising: a plurality of consumer electronic media devices; an IEEE 1394 communication bus coupled to each of said plurality of consumer electronic media devices; and a data structure stored within a memory space of a first consumer electronic media device, said data structure containing information defining proxy services to be performed by said first consumer electronic media device for a second consumer electronic media device, said proxy services for causing said first consumer electronic media device to perform a selected proxy service for said second consumer electronic media device in response to signals received over said IEEE 1394 communication bus that indicate said selected proxy service to be performed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A network as described in claim 28 wherein said memory space is a configuration read only memory (ROM) of said first consumer electronic media device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device performing translations of communications between a third consumer electronic media device and said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a new functionality for said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device extending an existing functionality of said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device arbitrating access to said second consumer electronic media device between said plurality of consumer electronic media devices.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over non-HAVi devices.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device enabling non-Home Audio Video Interoperability (HAVi) devices to have control over HAVi devices.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
A network as described in claim 28 wherein said second consumer electronic media device contains several subunits and wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device controlling one subunit of said second consumer electronic media device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
A network as described in claim 28 wherein said selected proxy service involves said first consumer electronic media device providing a data library for said second consumer electronic media device.
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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) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |