Claims
- 1. In a controller device, a method for selecting and controlling devices in a network, said method comprising:
selecting a first device from a first listing of devices, wherein said first device is a sink device for receiving input from another device; selecting an input plug for said first device from a listing of input plugs for said first device; selecting a second device from a second listing of devices, wherein said second device is a source device for providing input to another device; and selecting an output plug for said second device from a listing of output plugs for said second device; wherein said listing of input plugs and said listing of output plugs are generated using information read from said first device and said second device, respectively.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is substantially compliant with the IEEE 1394 communication bus standard.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said information used for generating said listing of input plugs and said listing of output plugs is not stored on said controller device.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first listing and said second listing are the same.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first listing comprises sink devices and said second listing comprises source devices.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein in response to said selecting of said first device, said input plug, said second device and said output plug, a network connection between said first device and said second device is made, wherein said second device provides input to said first device using said network connection.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein input provided to said first device is output by said second device using only said output plug.
- 8. The method of claim 1 comprising:
querying said first device and said second device; and reading information provided in response to said querying, wherein said information is used for generating said listing of input plugs and said listing of output plugs.
- 9. The method of claim 1 comprising:
executing programmed instructions to automatically select said first device, said input plug, said second device and said output plug.
- 10. The method of claim 1 comprising:
recording selections of said first device, said input plug, said second device and said output plug.
- 11. The method of claim 1 comprising:
selecting a channel from a listing of active channels, wherein said listing of active channels identifies network connections between devices in said network.
- 12. A controller device for selecting and controlling devices in a network, said controller device comprising:
a user interface comprising an input-select element and an output-select element; wherein said input-select element is operable to cause a first device to be selected from a first listing of devices and to cause an input plug for said first device to be selected from a listing of input plugs for said first device, wherein said first device is a sink device for receiving input from another device; wherein said output-select element is operable to cause a second device to be selected from a second listing of devices and to cause an output plug for said second device to be selected from a listing of output plugs for said second device, wherein said second device is a source device for providing input to another device; and wherein said listing of input plugs and said listing of output plugs are generated using information read from said first device and said second device, respectively.
- 13. The controller device of claim 12 wherein said network is substantially compliant with the IEEE 1394 communication bus standard.
- 14. The controller device of claim 12 wherein said information used for generating said listing of input plugs and said listing of output plugs is not stored on said controller device.
- 15. The controller device of claim 12 wherein said first listing and said second listing are the same.
- 16. The controller device of claim 12 wherein said first listing comprises sink devices and said second listing comprises source devices.
- 17. The controller device of claim 12 wherein in response to selection of said first device, said input plug, said second device and said output plug, a network connection between said first device and said second device is made, wherein said second device provides input to said first device using said network connection.
- 18. The controller device of claim 17 wherein input provided to said first device is output by said second device using only said output plug.
- 19. The controller device of claim 12 wherein a selection of said first device, said input plug, said second device and said output plug is performed automatically according to programmed instructions.
- 20. The controller device of claim 12 wherein said controller device is operable to record selections of said first device, said input plug, said second device and said output plug.
- 21. The controller device of claim 12 wherein said input-select element is operable to cause a channel to be selected from a listing of active channels, wherein said listing of active channels identifies network connections between devices in said network.
- 22. A controller device for selecting and controlling devices in a network, said controller device comprising:
means for selecting a first device from a first listing of devices, wherein said first device is a sink device for receiving input from another device; means for selecting an input plug for said first device from a listing of input plugs for said first device; means for selecting a second device from a second listing of devices, wherein said second device is a source device for providing input to another device; and means for selecting an output plug for said second device from a listing of output plugs for said second device; wherein said listing of input plugs and said listing of output plugs are generated using information read from said first device and said second device, respectively.
- 23. The controller device of claim 22 wherein said network is substantially compliant with the IEEE 1394 communication bus standard.
- 24. The controller device of claim 22 wherein said information used for generating said listing of input plugs and said listing of output plugs is not stored on said controller device.
- 25. The controller device of claim 22 wherein in response to said selecting of said first device, said input plug, said second device and said output plug, a network connection between said first device and said second device is made, wherein said second device provides input to said first device using said network connection.
- 26. The controller device of claim 25 wherein input provided to said first device is output by said second device using only said output plug.
- 27. The controller device of claim 22 comprising:
means for querying said first device and said second device; and means for reading information provided in response to said querying, wherein said information is used for generating said listing of input plugs and said listing of output plugs.
- 28. The controller device of claim 22 comprising:
means for executing programmed instructions to automatically select said first device, said input plug, said second device and said output plug.
- 29. The controller device of claim 22 comprising:
means for recording selections of said first device, said input plug, said second device and said output plug.
- 30. The controller device of claim 22 comprising:
means for selecting a channel from a listing of active channels, wherein said listing of active channels identifies network connections between devices in said network.
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to the co-pending provisional patent application, Serial No. 60/241,133, Attorney Docket Number SONY50P4379.PRO, entitled “Method and System for Selecting and Controlling Devices in a Home Network,” with filing date Oct. 16, 2000, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60241133 |
Oct 2000 |
US |