US7200683B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device communication and control in a home network connected to an external network
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
•
Filing: 2000-08-04
•
Granted: 2007-04-03
•
Expires: 2020-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A method for providing user interfaces in a first network including first devices interconnected via a communication medium and an interface device connecting the first network to a second network having interconnected second devices providing services. The user interfaces are for controlling the devices that are currently connected to the first network and communication with devices that are currently connected to the second network. The method includes: (a) obtaining information from first devices currently connected to the first network, the information including device information; (b) obtaining information from second devices via the interface device, about the services of second devices connected to the second network; (c) generating a user interface description in one or more of the first devices based on the obtained information. The user interface description in each first device includes: (1) a reference associated with the device information of each of the first devices, and (2) a reference associated with the service information of each of the second devices. A user interface is displayed based on each user interface description on a device connected to the first network capable of displaying a user interface, for user control of the first devices and communication with the second devices. Displaying each user interface is based on using each reference in the corresponding user interface description to access the associated information in each device; generating the user interface including device and service corresponding to each device using the accessed information in each device; and displaying the user interface.
Inventors
- 👤 Dongyan Wang
- 👤 Richard Humpleman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/40052; H04L12/40117; H04M; H04M11/00; H04L12/2803; H04L12/2805; H04L12/2807; H04L12/2809; H04L12/2814; H04L12/66; H04L41/00; H04L41/04; H04L41/046; H04L41/18; H04L41/22; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/02; H04L67/025; H04L67/12; H04L67/50; H04L67/51; H04L67/75; H04L12/283; H04L12/2832; H04L2012/284; H04L2012/2841; H04L2012/2847; H04L2012/2849; H04L2012/285; H04L41/02; H04L41/0246; H04L41/0253; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for providing user interfaces in a first network including first devices interconnected via a communication medium and at least one interface device connecting said first network to at least a second network providing services, comprising the steps of: in one or more devices in the first network: (a) obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the first network, said information including device information comprising graphical user interface information for user interaction with that device; and (b) generating a graphical user interface description based on the graphical user interface information, the graphical user interface description including: (1) at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, and (2) at least one reference associated with the services provided by the second network; wherein the graphical user interface description allows displaying a graphical user interface to a user for controlling the devices that are currently connected to the first network and furnishing services of the second network, via the graphical user interface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for providing user interfaces in a first network including first devices interconnected via a communication medium and at least one interface device connecting said first network to at least a second network providing services, comprising the steps of: in one or more devices in the first network: (a) obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the first network, said information including device information comprising graphical user interface information for user interaction with that device; and (b) generating a graphical user interface description based on the graphical user interface information, the graphical user interface description including: (1) at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, and (2) at least one reference associated with the services provided by the second network; wherein the graphical user interface description allows displaying a graphical user interface to a user for controlling the devices that are currently connected to the first network and furnishing services of the second network, via the graphical user interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network comprises a 1394 network, and the second network comprises a non-1394 network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the interface device comprises a gateway device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second network comprises a plurality of interconnected second devices providing one or more services.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein each of said second devices comprises at least one computer system programmed to provide services.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein: the second network comprises the Internet, and at least one of said second devices providing services comprises one or more web servers providing services.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein a service provided by at least one of the devices connected to the second network comprises a web site service.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each reference in the user interface description associated to services provided by the second network comprises at least one hyper-text link to service information in the second network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of: (c) displaying a user interface based on said user interface description on a device connected to the first network capable of displaying a user interface, for user control of said first devices and communication with the second network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of displaying each user interface further includes the steps of: using each reference in the corresponding user interface description to access the associated information in each first device; using each reference associated with services provided by the second network to access corresponding service information; generating the user interface including: (1) information corresponding to each first device using the accessed information in each first device, and (2) service information; and displaying the user interface on said device capable of displaying a user interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a user interface description further comprises the steps of: associating a hyper-text link with the device information of one or more of said first devices, and associating at least a hyper-text link with the service information provided by the second network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: (1) the device information in each device in the first network includes a user interface description for user interaction with that device, and (2) the service information in the second network includes at least a user interface description for user interaction with a service.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each reference associated with services provided by the second network comprises at least one hyper-text link to service information in the second network, wherein the service information comprises at least identification information representing a service.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the identification information comprises a logo information file including a link to a logo graphic representing the service.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second network includes at least a first portal for providing services, and a reference associated with services provided by the second network comprises at least one hyper-text link to said first portal, wherein the first portal includes service information comprising at least identification information representing said services provided by the first portal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the said identification information in the first portal further comprises a hyper-link to service information provided by a second portal in the second network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein: the second network comprises a plurality of interconnected computer systems programmed to provide services; the first portal comprises one or more of said computer systems providing services of the first portal; and the second portal comprises one or more of said computer systems providing services of the second portal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
135 words
A network system for performing services, comprising: a local network of first devices interconnected via a communication medium; an interface device connecting the local network to an external network providing services, a user interface description generation agent in at least one of said first devices configured for: (a) obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the local network, said information including device information comprising graphical user interface information for user interaction with that device; and (b) generating a graphical user interface description based on the graphical user interface information, the graphical user interface description including: (1) at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, and (2) at least one reference associated with the services provided by the external network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
135 words
A network system for performing services, comprising: a local network of first devices interconnected via a communication medium; an interface device connecting the local network to an external network providing services, a user interface description generation agent in at least one of said first devices configured for: (a) obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the local network, said information including device information comprising graphical user interface information for user interaction with that device; and (b) generating a graphical user interface description based on the graphical user interface information, the graphical user interface description including: (1) at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, and (2) at least one reference associated with the services provided by the external network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The network system of claim 18 , wherein the local network comprises a 1394 network, and the external network comprises a non-1394 network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network system of claim 18 , wherein the interface device comprises a gateway device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The network system of claim 18 , wherein the external network comprises a plurality of interconnected second devices providing one or more services.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The network system of claim 21 , wherein each of said second devices comprises at least one computer system programmed to provide services.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The network system of claim 21 , wherein: the second network comprises the Internet, and at least one of said second devices providing services comprises one or more web servers providing services.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network system of claim 23 , wherein a service provided by at least one of the devices connected to the second network comprises a web site service.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The network system of claim 18 , wherein each reference in the user interface description associated to services provided by the external network comprises at least one hyper-text link to service information in the external network.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
The network system of claim 18 , wherein: at least one of the first devices in the local network includes a user interface device capable of displaying a user interface, the user interface device including a user interface generation agent configured for: displaying a user interface based on said user interface description, for user control of said first devices and communication with the external network.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
89 words
The network system claim 26 , wherein the user interface generation agent in the user interface device is further configured for: using each reference in the corresponding user interface description to access the associated information in each first device; using each reference associated with services provided by the external network to access corresponding service information; generating the user interface including: (1) information corresponding to each first device using the accessed information in each first device, and (2) service information; and displaying the user interface on said user interface device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
The network system of claim 27 , wherein each reference associated with services provided by the external network comprises at least one hyper-text link to service information in the external network, wherein the service information comprises at least identification information representing a service.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The network system of claim 28 , wherein the identification information comprises a logo information file including a link to a logo graphic representing the service.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
65 words
The network system of claim 27 wherein the external network includes at least a first portal for providing services, and a reference in the user interface description associated with services provided by the external network comprises at least one hyper-text link to said first portal, wherein the first portal includes service information comprising at least identification information representing said services provided by the first portal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The network system of claim 30 , wherein said identification information in the first portal further comprises a hyper-link to service information provided by a second portal in the external network.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
57 words
The network system of claim 31 , wherein: the external network comprises a plurality of interconnected computer systems programmed to provide services; the first portal comprises one or more of said computer systems providing services of the first portal; and the second portal comprises one or more of said computer systems providing services of the second portal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The network system of claim 18 , wherein said at least one reference associated with the services provided by the external network is predetermined.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
The network system of claim 18 , wherein the user interface description generation agent further associates a hyper-text link with the device information of one or more of said first devices, and associates at least a hyper-text link with the service information provided by the external network, in the user interface description.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
52 words
The network system of claim 18 , wherein: (1) the device information in each device in the first network includes a user interface description for user interaction with that device, and (2) the service information in the external network includes at least a user interface description for user interaction with a service.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
133 words
A control device for providing a user device communication and control in a local network of interconnected first devices, the local network connected via an interface device to an external network providing services, the control device comprising: a user interface description generation agent configured for: (a) obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the local network, said information including device information comprising graphical user interface information for user interaction with that device; and (b) generating a graphical user interface description based on the graphical user interface information, the graphical user interface description including: (1) at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, and (2) at least one reference associated with the services provided by the external network.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
133 words
A control device for providing a user device communication and control in a local network of interconnected first devices, the local network connected via an interface device to an external network providing services, the control device comprising: a user interface description generation agent configured for: (a) obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the local network, said information including device information comprising graphical user interface information for user interaction with that device; and (b) generating a graphical user interface description based on the graphical user interface information, the graphical user interface description including: (1) at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, and (2) at least one reference associated with the services provided by the external network.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control device of claim 36 , wherein the local network comprises a 1394 network, and the external network comprises a non-1394 network.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The control device of claim 36 , wherein the interface device comprises a gateway device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control device of claim 36 , wherein the external network comprises a plurality of interconnected second devices providing one or more services.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control device of claim 39 , wherein each of said second devices comprises at least one computer system programmed to provide services.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The control device of claim 39 , wherein: the second network comprises the Internet, and at least one of said second devices providing services comprises one or more web servers providing services.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
The control device of claim 41 , wherein a service provided by at least one of the devices connected to the second network comprises a web site service.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control device of claim 36 , wherein each reference in the user interface description associated to services provided by the external network comprises at least one hyper-text link to service information in the external network.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
49 words
The control device of claim 36 further comprising: a user interface device capable of displaying a user interface; and a user interface generation agent configured for displaying a user interface based on said user interface description, for user control of said first devices and communication with the external network.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
85 words
The control device of claim 44 , wherein the user interface generation agent is further configured for: using each reference in the corresponding user interface description to access the associated information in each first device; using each reference associated with services provided by the external network to access corresponding service information; generating the user interface including: (1) information corresponding to each first device using the accessed information in each first device, and (2) service information; and displaying the user interface on said user interface device.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
43 words
The control device of claim 45 , wherein each reference associated with services provided by the external network comprises at least one hyper-text link to service information in the external network, wherein the service information comprises at least identification information representing a service.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control device of claim 46 , wherein the identification information comprises a logo information file including a link to a logo graphic representing the service.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
66 words
The control device of claim 45 , wherein the external network includes at least a first portal for providing services, and a reference in the user interface description associated with services provided by the external network comprises at least one hyper-text link to said first portal, wherein the first portal includes service information comprising at least identification information representing said services provided by the first portal.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control device of claim 48 , wherein said identification information in the first portal further comprises a hyper-link to service information provided by a second portal in the external network.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
57 words
The control device of claim 49 , wherein: the external network comprises a plurality of interconnected computer systems programmed to provide services; the first portal comprises one or more of said computer systems providing services of the first portal; and the second portal comprises one or more of said computer systems providing services of the second portal.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control device of claim 36 , wherein said at least one reference associated with the services provided by the external network is predetermined.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control device of claim 36 , wherein the user interface description generation agent further associates a hyper-text link with the device information of one or more of said first devices, and associates at least a hyper-text link with the service information provided by the external network, in the user interface description.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control device of claim 36 , wherein: (1) the device information in each device in the first network includes a user interface description for user interaction with that device, and (2) the service information in the external network includes at least a user interface description for user interaction with a service.
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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) | 2010-04-02 | 2010-10-02 | 2011-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-04-02 | 2014-10-02 | 2015-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-04-02 | 2018-10-02 | 2019-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |