System and method for programming and transmitting macros for controlling audio/video devices

Claim 1

In a plurality of multi-media devices, each multi-media device in communication with at least one common multi-media device via a bus and including macro access means, memory and processing in communication with each other and the bus, a method for programming a macro that can control any of the plurality of multi-media devices, the method comprising: a) selecting a master multi-media device from one of the plurality of multi-media devices to initiate the macro by activating its macro access means, the master multi-media device generating a macro command number, storing the macro command number in its memory, and sending the macro command number on the bus; b) selecting an action related to any one of the plurality of multi-media devices, the multi-media device to which the action is related to storing the macro command number and the action in its memory and generating an acknowledge signal and sending the acknowledge signal on the bus, the master multi-media device receiving the acknowledge signal, storing the acknowledge signal in its memory, generating a further macro command number, storing the further macro command number in its memory, and sending the further macro command on the bus; and c) repeating step “b” until the macro access means of the master multi-media device is reactivated.

Claim 8

A method of controlling a plurality of multi-media devices, each multi-media device having a memory coupled to a processor, a bus interface coupled to the processor, macro access means, the plurality of multi-media devices in common communication with at least one multi-media device of the plurality of multi-media devices via a bus, the method comprising: a) selecting a master multi-media device from the plurality of multi-media devices by activating the macro access means of one of the plurality of multi-media devices; b) generating at least a portion of a master status word by the master multi-media device, wherein the master status word comprises a macro command number that is associated with an action of a sequence of actions of a macro; c) storing the generated master status word in the memory of the master multi-media device; d) sending the generated master status word on the bus; e) selecting an action on any one of the plurality of multi-media devices wherein the multi-media device on which the action was selected becomes a slave multi-media device; f) generating another portion of the master status word by the slave multi-media device on which the action was selected; g) storing the master status word with the portion generated by the slave multi-media device on which the action was selected in the memory of the multi-media device on which the action was selected; h) sending the master status word with the portion generated by the slave multi-media device on which the action was selected on the bus; and i) repeating steps “b” through “h” until the master multi-media device generates a stop macro command and sends the stop macro command on the bus.

Claim 9

A method of controlling a plurality of multi-media devices, each multi-media device having a memory coupled to a processor, a bus interface coupled to the processor, macro access means, the plurality of multi-media devices in common communication with at least one multi-media device of the plurality of multi-media devices via a bus, the method comprising: a) selecting a master multi-media device from the plurality of multi-media devices by activating the macro access means of one of the plurality of multi-media devices; b) generating at least a portion of a master status word by the master multi-media device, wherein the master status word comprises a macro command number that is associated with an action of a sequence of actions of a macro; c) storing the generated master status word in the memory of the master multi-media device; d) sending the generated master status word on the bus; e) selecting an action on any one of the plurality of multi-media devices wherein the multi-media device on which the action was selected becomes a slave multi-media device; f) generating another portion of the master status word by the slave multi-media device on which the action was selected; g) storing the master status word with the portion generated by the slave multi-media device on which the action was selected in the memory of the multi-media device on which the action was selected; h) sending the master status word with the portion generated by the slave multi-media device on which the action was selected on the bus; and i) repeating steps “b” through “h” until the master multi-media device generates a stop macro command and sends the stop macro command on the bus.

Claim 17

A method of addressing via a bus a plurality of multi-media devices all in communication with one another via the bus for implementing a macro capable of being invoked from a single multi-media device of the plurality of multi-media devices and controlling a sequence of actions of a plurality of actions associated with any of the plurality of multi-media devices, each multi-media device including a memory, a processor in communication with the memory and the bus, and macro access means including on-screen programming implemented by the processor, the method comprising: a) generating a master status word by one of the plurality of multi-media devices by activating its macro access means, wherein the master status word comprises a macro command number that is associated with an action of a sequence of actions of a macro; b) sending the master status word onto the bus by the multi-media device whose macro access means was activated; c) selecting an action on one of the multi-media devices of the plurality of multi-media devices; d) storing the master status word in the memory of the action selected multi-media device; e) storing an internal command associated with the selected action of the multi-media device in the memory of the action selected multi-media device; f) generating a slave status word by the action selected multi-media device; g) sending the slave status word onto the bus the action selected multi-media device; h) receiving the slave status word by the multi-media device whose macro key was activated; i) generating a further status word by the multi-media device on whose macro access means was activated; j) sending the further generated status word on the bus; and k) repeating “c” through “j” until the multi-media device whose macro access means was activated generates and sends on the bus a stop macro command, wherein the master status words and the slave status words are the only data sent over the bus.

Claim 18

A method of addressing via a bus a plurality of multi-media devices all in communication with one another via the bus for implementing a macro capable of being invoked from a single multi-media device of the plurality of multi-media devices and controlling a sequence of actions of a plurality of actions associated with any of the plurality of multi-media devices, each multi-media device including a memory, a processor in communication with the memory and the bus, and macro access means including on-screen programming implemented by the processor, the method comprising: a) generating a master status word by one of the plurality of multi-media devices by activating its macro access means, wherein the master status word comprises a macro command number that is associated with an action of a sequence of actions of a macro; b) sending the master status word onto the bus by the multi-media device whose macro access means was activated; c) selecting an action on one of the multi-media devices of the plurality of multi-media devices; d) storing the master status word in the memory of the action selected multi-media device; e) storing an internal command associated with the selected action of the multi-media device in the memory of the action selected multi-media device; f) generating a slave status word by the action selected multi-media device; g) sending the slave status word onto the bus the action selected multi-media device; h) receiving the slave status word by the multi-media device whose macro key was activated; i) generating a further status word by the multi-media device on whose macro access means was activated; j) sending the further generated status word on the bus; and k) repeating “c” through “j” until the multi-media device whose macro access means was activated generates and sends on the bus a stop macro command, wherein the master status words and the slave status words are the only data sent over the bus.