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US6700592B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and system for dynamically building the graphical user interface of a home AV network device

Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 2000-06-30
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Granted: 2004-03-02
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Expires: 2020-06-30
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Abstract

Abstract A system for dynamically building a graphical user interface of a target device in a home audio video network. The system includes a computer system within a host device coupled to the home audio video network, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory via a bus. The computer system is configured to implement a graphical user interface for one or more target devices coupled to the home audio video network by executing software stored in the memory, wherein the software causes the computer system to perform the steps for dynamically building the graphical user interface. The steps include enumerating units on the network, each unit being a software based representation of a target device. The subunits within each unit are enumerated, the subunits being software based representations of functions of the target device. The requirements for a GUI (graphical user interface) is then determined for each subunit. The computer system then builds an overall GUI framework by aggregating the requirements. Respective portions of the overall GUI framework are assigned to each subunit discovered during the enumeration. Subsequently, a completed overall GUI interface is rendered on a display for the user, wherein each subunit renders its respective portion of the overall GUI interface.

Inventors

  • 👤 Sho Kou
  • 👤 Michael Berkovec

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 20:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2803; H04L12/2807; H04L12/2814; G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; H04L12/2805; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/4104; H04N21/4112; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/436; H04N21/43615; H04N21/4363; H04N21/43632; H04N21/47; H04N21/485; H04N21/488; H04L12/281; H04L12/283; H04L12/2836; H04L2012/2847; H04L2012/2849; H04N7/00; H04N7/10; H04N7/106

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 192 words
A system for dynamically building a graphical user interface of a target device in a home audio video network, the system comprising: a computer system included within a host device coupled to the home audio video network, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory via a bus, the computer system configured to implement a graphical user interface for one or more target devices coupled to the home audio video network by executing software stored in the memory, wherein the software causes the computer system to perform the steps of: a) enumerating units on the network, each unit being a software based representation of a target device; b) enumerating subunits within each unit, the subunits being software based representations of functions of the target device; c) determining requirements for a GUI (graphical user interface) for each subunit; d) building an overall GUI framework by aggregating the requirements; e) assigning a respective portion of the overall GUI framework to each subunit enumerated in step b); and f) rendering the completed overall GUI interface on a display for the user, wherein each subunit renders its respective portion of the overall GUI framework.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 192 words
A system for dynamically building a graphical user interface of a target device in a home audio video network, the system comprising: a computer system included within a host device coupled to the home audio video network, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory via a bus, the computer system configured to implement a graphical user interface for one or more target devices coupled to the home audio video network by executing software stored in the memory, wherein the software causes the computer system to perform the steps of: a) enumerating units on the network, each unit being a software based representation of a target device; b) enumerating subunits within each unit, the subunits being software based representations of functions of the target device; c) determining requirements for a GUI (graphical user interface) for each subunit; d) building an overall GUI framework by aggregating the requirements; e) assigning a respective portion of the overall GUI framework to each subunit enumerated in step b); and f) rendering the completed overall GUI interface on a display for the user, wherein each subunit renders its respective portion of the overall GUI framework.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the home audio video network is implemented using a bus operating in accordance with a version of IEEE 1394.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the host device is a set top box coupled to the home audio video network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the overall GUI frame work is a COM (component object model) frame work.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein steps a) and b) are performed when a new target device is coupled to the network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein steps a) and b) are performed when the host device and the target device are powered up and initialized.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the overall GUI interface is rendered on the display of a television monitor coupled to the network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the overall GUI interface is rendered on the display of the host device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 187 words
A method for dynamically building a graphical user interface of a target device in a home audio video network, the method performed by a computer system included within a host device coupled to the home audio video network, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory via a bus, the memory storing software which when executed causes the computer system to perform the steps of: a) enumerating units on the network, each unit being a software based representation of a target device; b) enumerating subunits within each unit, the subunits being software based representations of functions of the target device; c) determining requirements for a GUI (graphical user interface) for each subunit; d) building an overall GUI framework by aggregating the requirements; e) assigning a respective portion of the overall GUI framework to each subunit enumerated in step b); and f) rendering the completed overall GUI interface on a display for the user, wherein each subunit renders its respective portion of the overall GUI framework to implement a graphical user interface for the one or more target devices coupled to the home audio video network.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 187 words
A method for dynamically building a graphical user interface of a target device in a home audio video network, the method performed by a computer system included within a host device coupled to the home audio video network, the computer system having a processor coupled to a memory via a bus, the memory storing software which when executed causes the computer system to perform the steps of: a) enumerating units on the network, each unit being a software based representation of a target device; b) enumerating subunits within each unit, the subunits being software based representations of functions of the target device; c) determining requirements for a GUI (graphical user interface) for each subunit; d) building an overall GUI framework by aggregating the requirements; e) assigning a respective portion of the overall GUI framework to each subunit enumerated in step b); and f) rendering the completed overall GUI interface on a display for the user, wherein each subunit renders its respective portion of the overall GUI framework to implement a graphical user interface for the one or more target devices coupled to the home audio video network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the home audio video network is implemented using a bus operating in accordance with a version of IEEE 1394.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the host device is a set top box coupled to the home audio video network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the overall GUI frame work is a COM (component object model) frame work.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein steps a) and b) are performed when a new target device is coupled to the network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein steps a) and b) are performed when the host device and the target device are powered up and initialized.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the overall GUI interface is rendered on the display of a television monitor coupled to the network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the overall GUI interface is rendered on the display of the host device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 136 words
A host device for dynamically building a graphical user interface of a target device in a home audio video network, the host device comprising: a) means for enumerating units on the network, each unit being a software based representation of a target device; b) means for enumerating subunits within each unit, the subunits being software based representations of functions of the target device; c) means for determining requirements for a GUI (graphical user interface) for each subunit; d) means for building an overall GUI framework by aggregating the requirements; e) means for assigning a respective portion of the overall GUI framework to each subunit enumerated in step b); and f) means for rendering the completed overall GUI interface on a display for the user, wherein each subunit renders its respective portion of the overall GUI framework.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 136 words
A host device for dynamically building a graphical user interface of a target device in a home audio video network, the host device comprising: a) means for enumerating units on the network, each unit being a software based representation of a target device; b) means for enumerating subunits within each unit, the subunits being software based representations of functions of the target device; c) means for determining requirements for a GUI (graphical user interface) for each subunit; d) means for building an overall GUI framework by aggregating the requirements; e) means for assigning a respective portion of the overall GUI framework to each subunit enumerated in step b); and f) means for rendering the completed overall GUI interface on a display for the user, wherein each subunit renders its respective portion of the overall GUI framework.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 26 words
The host device of claim 17 wherein the home audio video network is implemented using a bus operating in accordance with a version of IEEE 1394.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 22 words
The host device of claim 17 wherein the host device is a set top box coupled to the home audio video network.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 20 words
The host device of claim 17 wherein the overall GUI frame work is a COM (component object model) frame work.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US6182094B1 Cited
US6288716B1 Cited
US6603488B2 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2007-03-02 2007-09-01 2008-03-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2011-03-02 2011-09-01 2012-03-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2015-03-02 2015-09-01 2016-03-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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