CA1333937C - Component audio/video system with timed control of plural peripheral devices - Google Patents
Component audio/video system with timed control of plural peripheral devicesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1333937C CA1333937C CA000566045A CA566045A CA1333937C CA 1333937 C CA1333937 C CA 1333937C CA 000566045 A CA000566045 A CA 000566045A CA 566045 A CA566045 A CA 566045A CA 1333937 C CA1333937 C CA 1333937C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- controller
- command
- recording device
- system controller
- sequence
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
- H04B1/06—Receivers
- H04B1/16—Circuits
- H04B1/20—Circuits for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
- H04B1/205—Circuits for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver with control bus for exchanging commands between units
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
- H04N21/42204—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
- Signal Processing Not Specific To The Method Of Recording And Reproducing (AREA)
- Cable Transmission Systems, Equalization Of Radio And Reduction Of Echo (AREA)
Abstract
A component audio/video system includes a system controller having an input/output port adapted for connection via a bidirectional data bus to a plurality of peripheral audio/video devices. At times determined by a system master clock the controller transmits, via the bidirectional bus, user programmed sequences of commands at user specified times to user selected peripheral devices for controlling the operating modes thereof. After transmission of a command of a sequence, the controller monitors the bus to detect a received return status message from the selected device and in response to the received message selectively (1) re-transmits the last command, (2) interrupts the transmission and (3) transmits a further command in the sequence whereby a number of individual devices may be controlled by a single master clock and the possibility of conflict between a currently transmitted command and a current device operatinq mode is minimized.
Description
COMPONENT AUDIO/VIDEO SYSTEM WITH TIMED
CONTROL OF PLURAL PERIPHERAL DEVICES
Field of the Invention This invention relates to home entertainment systems of the type employing component audio and/or audio/video peripheral devices and particularly to systems in which interconnection among various devices is effected by means of a central control unit.
Background of the Invention A wide variety of audio only and audio/video components is presently commercially available thus giving a user a number of interconnection possibilities to create a home entertainment system personalized to his own particular desires.
One method for interconnection of these various components is to manually connect cables between those components which are presently to be used and to manually change the cable connections when it is desired to use other components. One disadvantage of this method is that the cables must be re-arranged each time it is desired to change the system configuration. Moreover, a manual wiring change requires some knowledge of the individual component details, something a child or a guest may not possess.
An alternative to manually rewiring a component video system for changing the system configuration is described by Strammello, Jr. in U.S. Pat. 4,400,735 entitled MULTI-COMPONENT VIDEO SYSTEM CONTROLLER. In this system, manually operated pushbutton selectors provide D.C.
control voltages to a matrix of electronic RF switches to permit the simultaneous viewing and recording of video signals from various sources in different combinations.
Notwithstanding its advantages, the manual RF switching system lacks the facility for interconnecting audio-only devices or baseband video devices. Moreover, overall system control requires operation of the controls of each individual device plus the manual control for the RF switch matrix.
CONTROL OF PLURAL PERIPHERAL DEVICES
Field of the Invention This invention relates to home entertainment systems of the type employing component audio and/or audio/video peripheral devices and particularly to systems in which interconnection among various devices is effected by means of a central control unit.
Background of the Invention A wide variety of audio only and audio/video components is presently commercially available thus giving a user a number of interconnection possibilities to create a home entertainment system personalized to his own particular desires.
One method for interconnection of these various components is to manually connect cables between those components which are presently to be used and to manually change the cable connections when it is desired to use other components. One disadvantage of this method is that the cables must be re-arranged each time it is desired to change the system configuration. Moreover, a manual wiring change requires some knowledge of the individual component details, something a child or a guest may not possess.
An alternative to manually rewiring a component video system for changing the system configuration is described by Strammello, Jr. in U.S. Pat. 4,400,735 entitled MULTI-COMPONENT VIDEO SYSTEM CONTROLLER. In this system, manually operated pushbutton selectors provide D.C.
control voltages to a matrix of electronic RF switches to permit the simultaneous viewing and recording of video signals from various sources in different combinations.
Notwithstanding its advantages, the manual RF switching system lacks the facility for interconnecting audio-only devices or baseband video devices. Moreover, overall system control requires operation of the controls of each individual device plus the manual control for the RF switch matrix.
-2- 1 33 39 37RCA 84,188 A two-component TV-VCR system featuring RF and baseband switching controlled by a common remote control is described by Kozakai et al. in U.S. Pat. 4,527,204 entitled REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM. The TV receiver and the VCR each include respective remote control receivers for controlling RF and baseband video switching as well as the normal operating modes of the TV and VCR. A single hand-held remote control unit controls all operational aspects of both devices as well as selecting desired interconnections.
Such a system, however, is not readily adaptable for expansion to include additional components and has no provision for inclusion of audio-only devices in a comprehensive unified home entertainment system.
It has been recognized that a large number of audio/video and audio-only devices may be combined in a unified home entertainment system by providing a central control unit coupled via a digital data bus to individual device of the system. An example of such a system is described by B.W. Beyers, Jr. in U.S. Pat. 4,581,645 entitled DISTRIBUTED SWITCHED COMPONENT AUDIO/VIDEO SYSTEM.
Other examples include U.S. Pat. 4,337,480 of Bourassin et al. entitled DYNAMIC AUDIO-VIDEO INTERCONNECTION SYSTEM and U.S. Pat. 4,488,179 of Kruger et al. entitled TELEVISION
VIEWING CENTER SYSTEM. R.A. Pitsch describes a bus-oriented system in an article entitled "Dimensia: The Next Dimension of Sight and Sound" published in RCA
Engineer, July/August edition, 1985, at pp.66-70. In the described system the control bus provides two-way communication between a central controller and a plurality of individual device controllers. By this feature a user may transmit a status request and receive a response (displayed on the screen of his TV receiver) that gives the status (e.g., play, pause, etc.) of any selected device in his system. The user may also transmit commands via the two-way data bus to select and control the "status" or operating mode of individual audio and video peripheral devices connected to the bus.
It is known that one may provide timed control of a VCR, for example, by including a clock circuit in the VCR
for initiating functions such as recording time periods and channel selection at times determined by the clock. It has been recognized by Brugliera et al. in U.S. Pat. 4,631,601 entitled TIME PROGRAMMABLE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A
CONVERTER/VCR SYSTEM that an additional clock is needed for timed operation of a VCR from a cable TV converter. This is because cable converters manually provide an output signal on channel 3 or 4. Accordingly, to change channels at a programmed time an additional clock is necessary for the converter to provide channel selection with the recorder clock being used to select the converter output channel and recording times. In the Brugliera et al.
system the extra clock is included in a remote control transmitter which supplies command signals to the cable decoder on a user determined time schedule for controlling the converter time and channel selection operation to correspond to the recording time schedule established for the VCR. Brugliera et al. caution that in their two clock system the user must take care that the clock in the VCR
and the converter clock are in agreement. A lack of clock synchronization will result in a spoiled or missed recording.
Summary of the Invention The present invention resides in part in the recognition that the prior art method of achieving timed operation of two video devices by providing each with separate clocks is not practical in a combined audio/video system having a plurality of audio and audio-video components. If, for example, the clocks are set manually there is the possibility of human error causing a missed or spoiled recording or some other timed operation. One might consider the possibility of sending periodic updating or synchronizing signals to all clocks in the system but such an approach is relatively complex and costly.
In accordance with the present invention, a master clock is provided in a system control unit which is -4- 1333937 RCA 84,188 adapted for connection to a plurality of individual peripheral audio/video devices via a bi-directional data bus. At times determined by the master clock, the system control unit transmits via the bidirectional bus user programmed sequences of commands to user selected peripheral devices for controlling the operating modes thereof. After the transmission of each command of a sequence, the system control unit monitors the control bus for receiving a status message from the selected peripheral device and periodically re-transmits each command for which the received status message is indicative of a wait condition of the selected peripheral device.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the transmission of the command sequence is interrupted without retransmission of commands in response to receipt of one of a plurality of selected status messages.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention the plurality of selected status messages comprises a first group of messages for command sequences cont~ining the command RECORD and a second group of messages for command sequences not cont~ining the command RECORD.
Brief Description of the Drawing The foregoing and further features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a component audio/video system embodying the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a flow chart illustrating operation of the system of FIGURE 1 in accordance with the invention.
Detailed Description The component audio/video system of FIGURE 1 includes a television receiver 10, an audio amplifier 12, a compact audio disc player 14, an audio tape recorder 16, an AM/FM receiver 18, a pair of video cassette recorders 20 and 22 and a video disc player 24. The various devices are coupled together to form a system by means of a component ~5~ 1333937 RCA 84,188 audio/video bus 30 comprised of four individual buses, namely, a bidirectional data bus 32, a video bus 34, a left channel audio bus 36 and a right channel audio bus 38. As described in the aforementioned patent of B.W. Beyers, Jr., the use of "daisy chain" type of bus structure as shown advantageously simplifies the addition, deletion or replacement of peripheral devices in the system and avoids the maze of wiring characteristic of systems which employ a central switch matrix (rather than distributed switches) for device coupling. The principles of the present invention apply to bus controlled component system of either type.
The audio and video inputs and outputs of devices 10-24 are coupled to the audio and video bus conductors 34, 36 and 38 by means of switches 40-54 which are controlled as will be explained. Switch 40 provides two-way coupling of audio and video signals to receiver 10 to enable the receiver to act as a signal source for supplying signals to the bus 30 or as a signal receiver or "sink" to receive audio and video signals from the bus. Switches 50 and 52 of VCR 20 and VCR 22 are also "two-way" switches which can coupled audio and video outputs to the bus to act as a signal source device or, alternatively, they couple the VCR
inputs to the bus for purposes of recording. An open condition of the switch isolates a non-used device from the bus. Video disc player 24 is coupled to bus 30 by a "one-way" switch 54 since it only has audio and video outputs and thus can serve only as a signal source for the bus. The "audio-only" peripheral devices 14, 16 and 18 are coupled to the audio conductors (36, 38) of bus 30 via one-way switch 44, two way switch 46 and one-way switch 48, respectively. As with the video devices, different switch types are used because, the disc player 14 and tuner 18 can only act as signal sources whereas the audio tape recorder 16 can act as either a signal source or a signal sink.
Switch 42 of audio amplifier 12 differs from the other switches in that it is in series with the audio conductors 36 and 38. Switch 42 thus enables the audio bus (36, 38) to be bifurcated or "split" into two portions. This enables audio from TV receiver 10 to be supplied to the inputs of amplifier 12 while allowing other functions (e.g., audio or video duplication) to be performed. As an example, assume that a user wishes to view a TV program, listen to the sound via amplifier 12 and copy a video tape from VCR 20 to VCR 22. For this mode switch 40 would be set to decouple the TV video signal from bus 34 and to couple the TV audio signals to bus 36 and 38. Switch 42 would be set to couple the audio signals from the TV to the amplifier 12 inputs. This isolates the TV audio signals from the remainder of the audio bus. Finally, switches 50 and 52 would be activated to couple the audio and video output signals of VCR 20 to the inputs of VCR 22. There are a number of such possible switch configurations thereby allowing the user a wide choice of audio and video functions that may be performed simultaneously.
Overall control of switch 40-54 and selection of the operating modes of audio/video devices 10-24 is controlled by a system controller comprising a microprocessor 60 having a memory (RAM, ROM) 62, a master system clock 64 and a remote control receiver 66 coupled thereto. A remote control transmitter 68 is provi'ded for supplying user selected commands to microprocessor 60 via receiver 66. In a presently preferred application of the principles of the invention the microprocessor 60, system clock 64, memory 62 and receiver 66 are physically located within the receiver housing (not shown). Alternatively, these devices may be in a separate module if desired. The memory (RAM and ROM) 62 for microprocessor 60 may be internal to the device. It is shown as being external here for purposes of clarity. Microprocessor 60 is coupled to directly control the operating modes of receiver 10 and switch 40 and includes an input/output port 70 coupled to the bidirectional control bus 32 for controlling the remainder of the peripheral devices 12-24 and bus switches 42-54 in the system. This is facilitated by providing each peripheral device 12-24 with an individual controller 80-92 ~7~ 1333937 RCA 84,188 which, preferably, are also microprocessors or so-called "one-chip" microcomputers.
In operation of the portion of the system described thus far, the user sends device selection and operating mode control command information to system controller 60 by depressing keys on remote control unit 68 which, in turn, transmits the commands to a selected peripheral audio/video device (12-24). The "slave" or remote control processors 80-92 acknowledge receipt of messages from the "master" system controller by transmitting a status message back to the master system controller 60 via the bi-directional data bus 32. R.A.
Pitsch in the aforementioned article describes a suitable bus communication protocol. The status information returned via bus 32 may be displayed on the screen of TV
receiver 10 for informing the user of the current operating modes of the selected peripheral device.
In accordance with the present invention, the ROM
portion of memory 62 (which may be internal to controller 60 as previously noted) includes a program illustrated by the flow chart of FIGURE 2. Advantageously, this program enables the system user to send sequences of user specified commands to user specified components at user specified times while eliminating the possibility of a conflict occurring between a given command and a specific operating mode of a peripheral device at the time the command is sent. Moreover, the ability to perform sequences of commands enables the user to operate the system in modes heretofore not possible. As an example, the user may enter a command sequence enabling the recording of a daily broadcast at the same place on a tape by entering a command sequence including a start time, an identification of the program source and recording devices, and a command to rewind the recorder before recording. Each new broadcast will be recorded over the previous one. As another example, a number of audio playback devices may be selected for sequential operation to provide hours of sound without any user interaction.
-8- 1333937 RCA 84,188 The foregoing features require that all potential conflicts between the operating mode of a selected device and a command be resolved. As an example, a command to play would be missed if it were to be sent to a recorder operating in a rewind mode. In accordance with the invention, the transmission of a sequence of commands is coordinated with the operating modes of the selected device to avoid such potential conflicts.
As an overview, the program flow charted in FIGURE 2 avoids such potential conflicts by causing the controller 60 to monitor the bidirectional bus 32 to detect a received return status message from a selected device after the transmission of a command sequence. In response to the received status message the controller 60 selectively (1) retransmits the last command, (2) interrupts the command transmission or (3) transmits a further command of the sequence. In operation, the user stores his desired starting time, device selection and a sequence of device commands in the RAM portion of memory 62 by depressing appropriate keys on remote control unit 68.
When the time provided by clock 64 matches the schedule time stored by the user in memory 62 controller 60 fetches the command sequence from ROM and transmits the first command of the sequence. Controller 60 then enters a RECEIVE mode monitoring bidirectional bus 32 for a WAIT
status message from the selected peripheral device. The WAIT message signifies that the device is not ready to receive the command, as for example, when a device is first turned on its motor may not be up to speed or its operating voltages may have not stabilized. In this mode no command can be acted upon. If controller 60 detects the presence of a WAIT message, it enters its RETRANSMISSION mode.
Specifically, in response to a YES result of the WAIT test controller 60 delays a short time (e.g., a second or so) and retransmits the command (Loop 202).
Upon completion of the WAIT test and RETRANSMISSION mode (if WAIT received), controller 60 next executes a series of tests to determine if the command -9- 1333937 RCA 84,188 transmissions should be PAUSED. For example, if the current command is PLAY and the device status is FAST
FORWARD then the device must be stopped before changing mode. This PAUSE function interrupts the command transmission until the device stops and is implemented by loop 204 and associated tests. Specifically the PAUSE loop is activated if (1) RECORD is in the command sequence and the current device mode is RECORD, FAST FORWARD or REWIND, or (2) if RECORD is not in the sequence and the current mode is PLA~, FAST FORWARD, REWIND or SEEK. The "seek"
mode, illustratively, refers to the mode of a disc player searching for a given band. In the PAUSE mode transmissions are interrupted by the STOP status test which loops (204) until STOP is received. If STOP status is received, or if the previous two tests (1) and (2) are negative, then controller 60 enters its CONTINUE mode (loop 206) for transmitting the next command of the command sequence and the previous tests are repeated until all commands of the sequence have been transmitted at which time the program ends with a return to the main program of controller 60.
Such a system, however, is not readily adaptable for expansion to include additional components and has no provision for inclusion of audio-only devices in a comprehensive unified home entertainment system.
It has been recognized that a large number of audio/video and audio-only devices may be combined in a unified home entertainment system by providing a central control unit coupled via a digital data bus to individual device of the system. An example of such a system is described by B.W. Beyers, Jr. in U.S. Pat. 4,581,645 entitled DISTRIBUTED SWITCHED COMPONENT AUDIO/VIDEO SYSTEM.
Other examples include U.S. Pat. 4,337,480 of Bourassin et al. entitled DYNAMIC AUDIO-VIDEO INTERCONNECTION SYSTEM and U.S. Pat. 4,488,179 of Kruger et al. entitled TELEVISION
VIEWING CENTER SYSTEM. R.A. Pitsch describes a bus-oriented system in an article entitled "Dimensia: The Next Dimension of Sight and Sound" published in RCA
Engineer, July/August edition, 1985, at pp.66-70. In the described system the control bus provides two-way communication between a central controller and a plurality of individual device controllers. By this feature a user may transmit a status request and receive a response (displayed on the screen of his TV receiver) that gives the status (e.g., play, pause, etc.) of any selected device in his system. The user may also transmit commands via the two-way data bus to select and control the "status" or operating mode of individual audio and video peripheral devices connected to the bus.
It is known that one may provide timed control of a VCR, for example, by including a clock circuit in the VCR
for initiating functions such as recording time periods and channel selection at times determined by the clock. It has been recognized by Brugliera et al. in U.S. Pat. 4,631,601 entitled TIME PROGRAMMABLE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A
CONVERTER/VCR SYSTEM that an additional clock is needed for timed operation of a VCR from a cable TV converter. This is because cable converters manually provide an output signal on channel 3 or 4. Accordingly, to change channels at a programmed time an additional clock is necessary for the converter to provide channel selection with the recorder clock being used to select the converter output channel and recording times. In the Brugliera et al.
system the extra clock is included in a remote control transmitter which supplies command signals to the cable decoder on a user determined time schedule for controlling the converter time and channel selection operation to correspond to the recording time schedule established for the VCR. Brugliera et al. caution that in their two clock system the user must take care that the clock in the VCR
and the converter clock are in agreement. A lack of clock synchronization will result in a spoiled or missed recording.
Summary of the Invention The present invention resides in part in the recognition that the prior art method of achieving timed operation of two video devices by providing each with separate clocks is not practical in a combined audio/video system having a plurality of audio and audio-video components. If, for example, the clocks are set manually there is the possibility of human error causing a missed or spoiled recording or some other timed operation. One might consider the possibility of sending periodic updating or synchronizing signals to all clocks in the system but such an approach is relatively complex and costly.
In accordance with the present invention, a master clock is provided in a system control unit which is -4- 1333937 RCA 84,188 adapted for connection to a plurality of individual peripheral audio/video devices via a bi-directional data bus. At times determined by the master clock, the system control unit transmits via the bidirectional bus user programmed sequences of commands to user selected peripheral devices for controlling the operating modes thereof. After the transmission of each command of a sequence, the system control unit monitors the control bus for receiving a status message from the selected peripheral device and periodically re-transmits each command for which the received status message is indicative of a wait condition of the selected peripheral device.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the transmission of the command sequence is interrupted without retransmission of commands in response to receipt of one of a plurality of selected status messages.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention the plurality of selected status messages comprises a first group of messages for command sequences cont~ining the command RECORD and a second group of messages for command sequences not cont~ining the command RECORD.
Brief Description of the Drawing The foregoing and further features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a component audio/video system embodying the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a flow chart illustrating operation of the system of FIGURE 1 in accordance with the invention.
Detailed Description The component audio/video system of FIGURE 1 includes a television receiver 10, an audio amplifier 12, a compact audio disc player 14, an audio tape recorder 16, an AM/FM receiver 18, a pair of video cassette recorders 20 and 22 and a video disc player 24. The various devices are coupled together to form a system by means of a component ~5~ 1333937 RCA 84,188 audio/video bus 30 comprised of four individual buses, namely, a bidirectional data bus 32, a video bus 34, a left channel audio bus 36 and a right channel audio bus 38. As described in the aforementioned patent of B.W. Beyers, Jr., the use of "daisy chain" type of bus structure as shown advantageously simplifies the addition, deletion or replacement of peripheral devices in the system and avoids the maze of wiring characteristic of systems which employ a central switch matrix (rather than distributed switches) for device coupling. The principles of the present invention apply to bus controlled component system of either type.
The audio and video inputs and outputs of devices 10-24 are coupled to the audio and video bus conductors 34, 36 and 38 by means of switches 40-54 which are controlled as will be explained. Switch 40 provides two-way coupling of audio and video signals to receiver 10 to enable the receiver to act as a signal source for supplying signals to the bus 30 or as a signal receiver or "sink" to receive audio and video signals from the bus. Switches 50 and 52 of VCR 20 and VCR 22 are also "two-way" switches which can coupled audio and video outputs to the bus to act as a signal source device or, alternatively, they couple the VCR
inputs to the bus for purposes of recording. An open condition of the switch isolates a non-used device from the bus. Video disc player 24 is coupled to bus 30 by a "one-way" switch 54 since it only has audio and video outputs and thus can serve only as a signal source for the bus. The "audio-only" peripheral devices 14, 16 and 18 are coupled to the audio conductors (36, 38) of bus 30 via one-way switch 44, two way switch 46 and one-way switch 48, respectively. As with the video devices, different switch types are used because, the disc player 14 and tuner 18 can only act as signal sources whereas the audio tape recorder 16 can act as either a signal source or a signal sink.
Switch 42 of audio amplifier 12 differs from the other switches in that it is in series with the audio conductors 36 and 38. Switch 42 thus enables the audio bus (36, 38) to be bifurcated or "split" into two portions. This enables audio from TV receiver 10 to be supplied to the inputs of amplifier 12 while allowing other functions (e.g., audio or video duplication) to be performed. As an example, assume that a user wishes to view a TV program, listen to the sound via amplifier 12 and copy a video tape from VCR 20 to VCR 22. For this mode switch 40 would be set to decouple the TV video signal from bus 34 and to couple the TV audio signals to bus 36 and 38. Switch 42 would be set to couple the audio signals from the TV to the amplifier 12 inputs. This isolates the TV audio signals from the remainder of the audio bus. Finally, switches 50 and 52 would be activated to couple the audio and video output signals of VCR 20 to the inputs of VCR 22. There are a number of such possible switch configurations thereby allowing the user a wide choice of audio and video functions that may be performed simultaneously.
Overall control of switch 40-54 and selection of the operating modes of audio/video devices 10-24 is controlled by a system controller comprising a microprocessor 60 having a memory (RAM, ROM) 62, a master system clock 64 and a remote control receiver 66 coupled thereto. A remote control transmitter 68 is provi'ded for supplying user selected commands to microprocessor 60 via receiver 66. In a presently preferred application of the principles of the invention the microprocessor 60, system clock 64, memory 62 and receiver 66 are physically located within the receiver housing (not shown). Alternatively, these devices may be in a separate module if desired. The memory (RAM and ROM) 62 for microprocessor 60 may be internal to the device. It is shown as being external here for purposes of clarity. Microprocessor 60 is coupled to directly control the operating modes of receiver 10 and switch 40 and includes an input/output port 70 coupled to the bidirectional control bus 32 for controlling the remainder of the peripheral devices 12-24 and bus switches 42-54 in the system. This is facilitated by providing each peripheral device 12-24 with an individual controller 80-92 ~7~ 1333937 RCA 84,188 which, preferably, are also microprocessors or so-called "one-chip" microcomputers.
In operation of the portion of the system described thus far, the user sends device selection and operating mode control command information to system controller 60 by depressing keys on remote control unit 68 which, in turn, transmits the commands to a selected peripheral audio/video device (12-24). The "slave" or remote control processors 80-92 acknowledge receipt of messages from the "master" system controller by transmitting a status message back to the master system controller 60 via the bi-directional data bus 32. R.A.
Pitsch in the aforementioned article describes a suitable bus communication protocol. The status information returned via bus 32 may be displayed on the screen of TV
receiver 10 for informing the user of the current operating modes of the selected peripheral device.
In accordance with the present invention, the ROM
portion of memory 62 (which may be internal to controller 60 as previously noted) includes a program illustrated by the flow chart of FIGURE 2. Advantageously, this program enables the system user to send sequences of user specified commands to user specified components at user specified times while eliminating the possibility of a conflict occurring between a given command and a specific operating mode of a peripheral device at the time the command is sent. Moreover, the ability to perform sequences of commands enables the user to operate the system in modes heretofore not possible. As an example, the user may enter a command sequence enabling the recording of a daily broadcast at the same place on a tape by entering a command sequence including a start time, an identification of the program source and recording devices, and a command to rewind the recorder before recording. Each new broadcast will be recorded over the previous one. As another example, a number of audio playback devices may be selected for sequential operation to provide hours of sound without any user interaction.
-8- 1333937 RCA 84,188 The foregoing features require that all potential conflicts between the operating mode of a selected device and a command be resolved. As an example, a command to play would be missed if it were to be sent to a recorder operating in a rewind mode. In accordance with the invention, the transmission of a sequence of commands is coordinated with the operating modes of the selected device to avoid such potential conflicts.
As an overview, the program flow charted in FIGURE 2 avoids such potential conflicts by causing the controller 60 to monitor the bidirectional bus 32 to detect a received return status message from a selected device after the transmission of a command sequence. In response to the received status message the controller 60 selectively (1) retransmits the last command, (2) interrupts the command transmission or (3) transmits a further command of the sequence. In operation, the user stores his desired starting time, device selection and a sequence of device commands in the RAM portion of memory 62 by depressing appropriate keys on remote control unit 68.
When the time provided by clock 64 matches the schedule time stored by the user in memory 62 controller 60 fetches the command sequence from ROM and transmits the first command of the sequence. Controller 60 then enters a RECEIVE mode monitoring bidirectional bus 32 for a WAIT
status message from the selected peripheral device. The WAIT message signifies that the device is not ready to receive the command, as for example, when a device is first turned on its motor may not be up to speed or its operating voltages may have not stabilized. In this mode no command can be acted upon. If controller 60 detects the presence of a WAIT message, it enters its RETRANSMISSION mode.
Specifically, in response to a YES result of the WAIT test controller 60 delays a short time (e.g., a second or so) and retransmits the command (Loop 202).
Upon completion of the WAIT test and RETRANSMISSION mode (if WAIT received), controller 60 next executes a series of tests to determine if the command -9- 1333937 RCA 84,188 transmissions should be PAUSED. For example, if the current command is PLAY and the device status is FAST
FORWARD then the device must be stopped before changing mode. This PAUSE function interrupts the command transmission until the device stops and is implemented by loop 204 and associated tests. Specifically the PAUSE loop is activated if (1) RECORD is in the command sequence and the current device mode is RECORD, FAST FORWARD or REWIND, or (2) if RECORD is not in the sequence and the current mode is PLA~, FAST FORWARD, REWIND or SEEK. The "seek"
mode, illustratively, refers to the mode of a disc player searching for a given band. In the PAUSE mode transmissions are interrupted by the STOP status test which loops (204) until STOP is received. If STOP status is received, or if the previous two tests (1) and (2) are negative, then controller 60 enters its CONTINUE mode (loop 206) for transmitting the next command of the command sequence and the previous tests are repeated until all commands of the sequence have been transmitted at which time the program ends with a return to the main program of controller 60.
Claims (3)
1. In a system of the type comprising:
a system controller having an input/output port adapted for connection to a plurality of components via a bidirectional data bus;
a system master clock means coupled to said system controller for supplying time information thereto;
keyboard means coupled to said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit a sequence of device commands and time information;
and memory means in said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit said sequence of device commands via said bidirectional data bus to selected ones of a peripheral devices for controlling the operating modes thereof;
said system controller being responsive subsequent to transmission of a command of a sequence for monitoring said bus for detecting a received return status message from a selected device:
c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t:
said components comprise audio/video components including at least one recording device having a plurality of operating modes, and wherein for preventing potential conflicts between transmitted commands and a current operating mode of said recording device, said system controller further comprises:
means in said controller for periodically re-transmitting a given command to said recording device when the received status message from said recording device is indicative that said recording device is not ready to execute the given transmitted command.
a system controller having an input/output port adapted for connection to a plurality of components via a bidirectional data bus;
a system master clock means coupled to said system controller for supplying time information thereto;
keyboard means coupled to said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit a sequence of device commands and time information;
and memory means in said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit said sequence of device commands via said bidirectional data bus to selected ones of a peripheral devices for controlling the operating modes thereof;
said system controller being responsive subsequent to transmission of a command of a sequence for monitoring said bus for detecting a received return status message from a selected device:
c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t:
said components comprise audio/video components including at least one recording device having a plurality of operating modes, and wherein for preventing potential conflicts between transmitted commands and a current operating mode of said recording device, said system controller further comprises:
means in said controller for periodically re-transmitting a given command to said recording device when the received status message from said recording device is indicative that said recording device is not ready to execute the given transmitted command.
2. In a system of the type comprising:
a system controller having an input/output port adapted for connection to a plurality of components via a bidirectional data bus;
a system masterclock means coupled to said system controller for supplying time information thereto;
keyboard means coupled to said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit a sequence of device commands and time information;
and memory means in said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit said sequence of device commands via said bidirectional data bus to selected ones of said peripheral devices for controlling the operating modes thereof;
said system controller being responsive subsequent to transmission of a command of a sequence for monitoring said bus for detecting a received return status message from a selected device:
c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t:
said components comprise audio/video components including at least one recording device having a plurality of operating modes, and wherein for preventing potential conflicts between transmitted commands and a current operating mode of said recording device, said system controller further comprises:
means in said controller for interrupting transmission of a given command to said recording device when the transmitted command sequence includes a RECORD, FAST FORWARD OR REWIND command and the current recording device status is not STOPPED; and means in said controller for enabling transmission of said RECORD, FAST FORWARD or REWIND command upon receipt of a status message indicative that the recording device is in a STOP mode.
a system controller having an input/output port adapted for connection to a plurality of components via a bidirectional data bus;
a system masterclock means coupled to said system controller for supplying time information thereto;
keyboard means coupled to said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit a sequence of device commands and time information;
and memory means in said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit said sequence of device commands via said bidirectional data bus to selected ones of said peripheral devices for controlling the operating modes thereof;
said system controller being responsive subsequent to transmission of a command of a sequence for monitoring said bus for detecting a received return status message from a selected device:
c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t:
said components comprise audio/video components including at least one recording device having a plurality of operating modes, and wherein for preventing potential conflicts between transmitted commands and a current operating mode of said recording device, said system controller further comprises:
means in said controller for interrupting transmission of a given command to said recording device when the transmitted command sequence includes a RECORD, FAST FORWARD OR REWIND command and the current recording device status is not STOPPED; and means in said controller for enabling transmission of said RECORD, FAST FORWARD or REWIND command upon receipt of a status message indicative that the recording device is in a STOP mode.
3. In a system of the type comprising:
a system controller having an input/output port adapted for connection to a plurality of components via a bidirectional data bus;
a system masterclock means coupled to said system controller for supplying time information thereto;
keyboard means coupled to said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit a sequence of device commands and time information;
and memory means in said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit said sequence of device commands via said bidirectional data bus to selected ones of said peripheral devices for controlling the operating modes thereof;
said system controller being responsive subsequent to transmission of a command of a sequence for monitoring said bus for detecting a received return status message from a selected device:
c h a r a c t e r i z e d in t h a t:
said components comprise audio/video components including at least one recording device having a plurality of operating modes, and wherein for preventing potential conflicts between transmitted commands and a current operating mode of said recording device, said system controller further comprises:
means in said controller for interrupting transmission of a given command to said recording device when the transmitted command command sequence includes PLAY, FAST FORWARD or REWIND and the current recording device status is not indicative of a STOPPED condition of said recording device; and means in said controller for enabling transmission of said given command to said recording device upon receipt of a status message indicative of a STOPPED condition of said recording device.
a system controller having an input/output port adapted for connection to a plurality of components via a bidirectional data bus;
a system masterclock means coupled to said system controller for supplying time information thereto;
keyboard means coupled to said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit a sequence of device commands and time information;
and memory means in said system controller for causing said controller, at times determined by said master clock means, to transmit said sequence of device commands via said bidirectional data bus to selected ones of said peripheral devices for controlling the operating modes thereof;
said system controller being responsive subsequent to transmission of a command of a sequence for monitoring said bus for detecting a received return status message from a selected device:
c h a r a c t e r i z e d in t h a t:
said components comprise audio/video components including at least one recording device having a plurality of operating modes, and wherein for preventing potential conflicts between transmitted commands and a current operating mode of said recording device, said system controller further comprises:
means in said controller for interrupting transmission of a given command to said recording device when the transmitted command command sequence includes PLAY, FAST FORWARD or REWIND and the current recording device status is not indicative of a STOPPED condition of said recording device; and means in said controller for enabling transmission of said given command to said recording device upon receipt of a status message indicative of a STOPPED condition of said recording device.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US048,107 | 1987-05-08 | ||
| US07/048,107 US4855730A (en) | 1987-05-08 | 1987-05-08 | Component audio/video system with timed control of plural peripheral devices |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1333937C true CA1333937C (en) | 1995-01-10 |
Family
ID=21952775
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000566045A Expired - Fee Related CA1333937C (en) | 1987-05-08 | 1988-05-05 | Component audio/video system with timed control of plural peripheral devices |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4855730A (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2915911B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1333937C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3815579C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2615060B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2204755B (en) |
Families Citing this family (91)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5237319A (en) * | 1987-05-22 | 1993-08-17 | Pioneer Electronic Corporation | Remote control device with learning function |
| DE3903461A1 (en) * | 1989-02-06 | 1990-08-09 | Grundig Emv | COMBINATION OF A CAR RADIO WITH OTHER COMMUNICATION MEANS |
| JPH02260997A (en) * | 1989-03-31 | 1990-10-23 | Toshiba Corp | Input/output switching circuit |
| US5287547A (en) * | 1989-05-11 | 1994-02-15 | Pioneer Electronic Corporation | Transmission and reception system |
| DE3922041A1 (en) * | 1989-07-05 | 1991-01-17 | Thomson Brandt Gmbh | Remote control using microprocessor - with memory cells retaining various programs for remote control of several, different electronic appts. |
| US5650775A (en) * | 1989-07-06 | 1997-07-22 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Control system for controlling consumer apparatus |
| CA2023455A1 (en) * | 1989-08-24 | 1991-02-25 | Richard J. Paynting | Multiple zone audio system |
| US5182552A (en) * | 1989-08-24 | 1993-01-26 | Bose Corporation | Multiple zone audio system |
| JP2933647B2 (en) * | 1989-08-30 | 1999-08-16 | アイワ株式会社 | Electronic equipment system |
| US5223825A (en) * | 1989-09-19 | 1993-06-29 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Communication control system and communication control apparatus |
| EP0500680B1 (en) * | 1989-10-30 | 2002-01-23 | Starsight Telecast, Inc. | Cable television decoder to television accessory interfacing |
| US5170252A (en) * | 1990-04-09 | 1992-12-08 | Interactive Media Technologies, Inc. | System and method for interconnecting and mixing multiple audio and video data streams associated with multiple media devices |
| EP0467587B1 (en) * | 1990-07-17 | 1999-10-13 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Audio-visual system |
| US5539390A (en) * | 1990-07-19 | 1996-07-23 | Sony Corporation | Method for setting addresses for series-connectd apparatuses |
| EP0722224B1 (en) * | 1990-07-19 | 1999-02-03 | Sony Corporation | Method for setting addresses for electronic appliances |
| JPH0495291A (en) * | 1990-08-10 | 1992-03-27 | Sony Corp | Electronic apparatus device |
| EP0473276B1 (en) * | 1990-08-31 | 1996-12-18 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Integrated digital processing apparatus |
| GB2248001A (en) * | 1990-09-11 | 1992-03-18 | Concourse Communications Ltd | Controlling sound volume in dependence on ambient noise |
| GB9021859D0 (en) * | 1990-10-08 | 1990-11-21 | D2B Systems Co Ltd | Test apparatus and method |
| JP3100975B2 (en) * | 1990-10-25 | 2000-10-23 | パイオニア株式会社 | Data communication system |
| JP3106495B2 (en) * | 1990-11-21 | 2000-11-06 | ソニー株式会社 | Home bus controller |
| GB2251970A (en) * | 1991-01-18 | 1992-07-22 | Marconi Gec Ltd | Remotely controlled information transmission system |
| DE69203525T3 (en) * | 1991-04-26 | 2002-08-08 | Pioneer Electronic Corp | Data transmission system in a vehicle. |
| KR930010362B1 (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 1993-10-16 | 주식회사 금성사 | Audio deck comprising vcr |
| JP3298909B2 (en) * | 1991-07-06 | 2002-07-08 | ソニー株式会社 | How to control audio or video equipment |
| US5241631A (en) * | 1991-08-23 | 1993-08-31 | Nec Technologies, Inc. | Personal computer having a local bus interface to a video circuit |
| DE4128974A1 (en) * | 1991-08-31 | 1993-03-04 | Telefunken Electronic Gmbh | OPERATING A SYSTEM USING A REMOTE CONTROL |
| JPH05160841A (en) * | 1991-12-09 | 1993-06-25 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | State information reply method |
| JPH05189944A (en) * | 1992-01-14 | 1993-07-30 | Sony Corp | Electronic equipment control method |
| EP0859510B1 (en) * | 1992-04-08 | 2003-06-04 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Video interconnection system |
| JPH06133367A (en) * | 1992-09-23 | 1994-05-13 | Walt Disney Co:The | Method and apparatus for remote synchronization of audio, illumination, animation and special effect |
| JP3158364B2 (en) * | 1992-10-13 | 2001-04-23 | ソニー株式会社 | Electronics |
| US5565929A (en) * | 1992-10-13 | 1996-10-15 | Sony Corporation | Audio-visual control apparatus for determining a connection of appliances and controlling functions of appliances |
| CA2108054C (en) * | 1992-10-13 | 2003-04-08 | Shigeo Tanaka | Audio-visual control apparatus for determining a connection of appliances and controlling functions of appliances |
| US5420801A (en) * | 1992-11-13 | 1995-05-30 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for synchronization of multimedia streams |
| US5657414A (en) * | 1992-12-01 | 1997-08-12 | Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. | Auxiliary device control for a subscriber terminal |
| KR940016216A (en) * | 1992-12-28 | 1994-07-22 | 오오가 노리오 | Audio / Video System and Connection Settings |
| US5488357A (en) * | 1993-01-06 | 1996-01-30 | Sony Corporation | Remote controlling method and system feature starting method and controlling method for audio/visual system |
| JP3217519B2 (en) * | 1993-02-12 | 2001-10-09 | パイオニア株式会社 | Two-way remote control system |
| JP3193176B2 (en) * | 1993-03-05 | 2001-07-30 | パイオニア株式会社 | Two-way remote control system |
| KR970008290B1 (en) * | 1994-04-01 | 1997-05-22 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Interconnecting apparatus of audio-video systems |
| JP3358291B2 (en) * | 1994-04-22 | 2002-12-16 | ソニー株式会社 | Communication control method |
| JP3588385B2 (en) * | 1994-05-10 | 2004-11-10 | 三星電子株式会社 | Remote control system |
| JP3681186B2 (en) * | 1994-06-22 | 2005-08-10 | パイオニア株式会社 | Remote control system |
| US5689244A (en) * | 1994-06-24 | 1997-11-18 | Sony Corporation | Communication system and electronic apparatus |
| WO1996041274A1 (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 1996-12-19 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Dynamically reconfigurable data bus |
| US6380866B1 (en) * | 1995-06-08 | 2002-04-30 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | System and apparatus for controlling an appliance situated within a premises |
| KR100233516B1 (en) * | 1995-08-28 | 1999-12-01 | 윤종용 | Home automation device for using digital tv receiver |
| KR0164089B1 (en) * | 1995-12-20 | 1998-12-01 | 양승택 | Remote control method and system thereof |
| CA2245990C (en) | 1996-02-02 | 2001-10-30 | Karl Francis Horlander | Copy management method |
| JP3867313B2 (en) * | 1996-03-29 | 2007-01-10 | ソニー株式会社 | AV data processing control apparatus and method |
| US5838393A (en) * | 1996-04-12 | 1998-11-17 | Stargrabber Llc | Audio/video/control remote switching device |
| US5848146A (en) * | 1996-05-10 | 1998-12-08 | Rane Corporation | Audio system for conferencing/presentation room |
| JP3783282B2 (en) * | 1996-06-04 | 2006-06-07 | ソニー株式会社 | COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USED FOR THE SAME |
| GB9617264D0 (en) * | 1996-08-16 | 1996-09-25 | Thwaite Paul | Improvements relating to means of controlling different apparatus |
| KR0175264B1 (en) * | 1996-08-21 | 1999-04-01 | 김광호 | Monitor control device and control method of video communication system |
| JP3612696B2 (en) * | 1996-12-18 | 2005-01-19 | ソニー株式会社 | Information processing apparatus and method, and remote control system |
| EP0939549B1 (en) * | 1998-02-25 | 2008-01-09 | Nec Corporation | Network comprising a network managing apparatus, linking a plurality of video broadcast storing and displaying devices |
| FR2779596B1 (en) * | 1998-06-08 | 2000-07-21 | Thomson Multimedia Sa | METHOD FOR SCHEDULING RESOURCE ACTIONS IN A HOME COMMUNICATION NETWORK |
| US20010026533A1 (en) * | 1998-07-06 | 2001-10-04 | Andreas Schwager | Method to perform a scheduled action of network devices |
| JP3685635B2 (en) * | 1999-01-26 | 2005-08-24 | 三洋電機株式会社 | REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONTROLLED BY SAME, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF |
| US6971119B1 (en) | 1999-03-29 | 2005-11-29 | The Directv Group, Inc. | Method and apparatus for transmission, receipt, caching and display of one-way broadcast programming and data |
| JP3462793B2 (en) * | 1999-05-28 | 2003-11-05 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Audio component system |
| CN1290876A (en) * | 1999-06-30 | 2001-04-11 | 惠普公司 | Method and device for remote function key |
| CA2325647A1 (en) * | 1999-11-10 | 2001-05-10 | Scott Casavant | Method and apparatus for background caching of encrypted programming data for later playback |
| US6961430B1 (en) | 1999-11-10 | 2005-11-01 | The Directv Group, Inc. | Method and apparatus for background caching of encrypted programming data for later playback |
| JP4491956B2 (en) * | 1999-11-18 | 2010-06-30 | ソニー株式会社 | COMMUNICATION METHOD, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE |
| US6993606B1 (en) * | 1999-11-18 | 2006-01-31 | Sony Corporation | Communication method and communication apparatus for data communication between devices connected by a network |
| KR100746183B1 (en) * | 2000-02-09 | 2007-08-03 | 소니 가부시끼 가이샤 | Control apparatus, control method and recording medium |
| US6912607B2 (en) * | 2002-02-06 | 2005-06-28 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Method and apparatus for ascertaining the status of multiple devices simultaneously over a data bus |
| WO2003088583A1 (en) * | 2002-04-09 | 2003-10-23 | Lg Electronics Inc. | System and method for remote controlling and monitoring electric home appliances |
| US7370212B2 (en) | 2003-02-25 | 2008-05-06 | Microsoft Corporation | Issuing a publisher use license off-line in a digital rights management (DRM) system |
| US20060242406A1 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2006-10-26 | Microsoft Corporation | Protected computing environment |
| US8347078B2 (en) | 2004-10-18 | 2013-01-01 | Microsoft Corporation | Device certificate individualization |
| US8336085B2 (en) | 2004-11-15 | 2012-12-18 | Microsoft Corporation | Tuning product policy using observed evidence of customer behavior |
| US8176564B2 (en) | 2004-11-15 | 2012-05-08 | Microsoft Corporation | Special PC mode entered upon detection of undesired state |
| US8464348B2 (en) | 2004-11-15 | 2013-06-11 | Microsoft Corporation | Isolated computing environment anchored into CPU and motherboard |
| US7669056B2 (en) * | 2005-03-29 | 2010-02-23 | Microsoft Corporation | Method and apparatus for measuring presentation data exposure |
| US8438645B2 (en) | 2005-04-27 | 2013-05-07 | Microsoft Corporation | Secure clock with grace periods |
| US8725646B2 (en) | 2005-04-15 | 2014-05-13 | Microsoft Corporation | Output protection levels |
| US9363481B2 (en) | 2005-04-22 | 2016-06-07 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Protected media pipeline |
| US9436804B2 (en) * | 2005-04-22 | 2016-09-06 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Establishing a unique session key using a hardware functionality scan |
| US20060265758A1 (en) | 2005-05-20 | 2006-11-23 | Microsoft Corporation | Extensible media rights |
| KR100638138B1 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2006-10-24 | 주식회사 픽스트리 | A hardware apparatus having video/audio encoding function and multiplexing function, and method thereof |
| US8353046B2 (en) | 2005-06-08 | 2013-01-08 | Microsoft Corporation | System and method for delivery of a modular operating system |
| US20080184026A1 (en) * | 2007-01-29 | 2008-07-31 | Hall Martin H | Metered Personal Computer Lifecycle |
| US8438503B2 (en) * | 2009-09-02 | 2013-05-07 | Universal Electronics Inc. | System and method for enhanced command input |
| US8633986B1 (en) | 2010-11-05 | 2014-01-21 | Google Inc. | Methods and systems for acquiring specifications for remotely controlling electronics |
| US8766783B1 (en) * | 2010-11-05 | 2014-07-01 | Google Inc. | Methods and systems for remotely controlling electronics |
| JP2015088822A (en) * | 2013-10-29 | 2015-05-07 | 東芝ライテック株式会社 | Communication device, communication method, and communication system |
| US9782672B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2017-10-10 | Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. | Gaming headset with enhanced off-screen awareness |
Family Cites Families (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3922641A (en) * | 1974-12-11 | 1975-11-25 | Jr William A Gates | Automatic video and audio source selector for entertainment center |
| US4279012A (en) * | 1978-10-23 | 1981-07-14 | Massachusetts Microcomputers, Inc. | Programmable appliance controller |
| FR2449379A1 (en) * | 1979-02-15 | 1980-09-12 | Scart | AUDIO-VIDEO DYNAMIC INTERCONNECTION SYSTEM |
| JPS5658391A (en) * | 1979-10-19 | 1981-05-21 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Data transmission system for system equipment |
| DE3036552C2 (en) * | 1980-09-27 | 1985-04-25 | Blaupunkt-Werke Gmbh, 3200 Hildesheim | Television reception system |
| US4418333A (en) * | 1981-06-08 | 1983-11-29 | Pittway Corporation | Appliance control system |
| JPS57207497A (en) * | 1981-06-17 | 1982-12-20 | Toshiba Corp | Serial data transmitting circuit system |
| US4400735A (en) * | 1981-07-10 | 1983-08-23 | Zenith Radio Corporation | Multi-component video system controller |
| CA1203018A (en) * | 1982-02-12 | 1986-04-08 | Daisuke Kozakai | Remote control system |
| JPS58190154A (en) * | 1982-04-30 | 1983-11-07 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Data transmitter |
| NL8302091A (en) * | 1983-06-13 | 1985-01-02 | Philips Nv | REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM CONTAINING A CONTROL DEVICE WITH A DISPLAY SCREEN AND POSITION DETAILED THANKS TO THAT. |
| DE3321616C2 (en) * | 1983-06-15 | 1985-10-31 | Süddeutsche Kühlerfabrik Julius Fr. Behr GmbH & Co. KG, 7000 Stuttgart | Fluid friction clutch controlled as a function of temperature and speed |
| US4628370A (en) * | 1983-06-20 | 1986-12-09 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Apparatus for copying magnetic tape |
| US4581645A (en) * | 1983-06-28 | 1986-04-08 | Rca Corporation | Distributed switched component audio/video system |
| US4581644A (en) * | 1983-06-28 | 1986-04-08 | Rca Corporation | Video bus |
| DE3479277D1 (en) * | 1983-06-28 | 1989-09-07 | Rca Licensing Corp | Interconnection apparatus |
| JPH0632508B2 (en) * | 1984-03-29 | 1994-04-27 | ソニー株式会社 | Remote control device |
| US4631601A (en) * | 1984-10-05 | 1986-12-23 | Zenith Electronics Corporation | Time programmable control system for a converter/VCR system |
| US4649428A (en) * | 1985-06-18 | 1987-03-10 | Zenith Electronics Corporation | Digital TV with low cost auxiliary device communication system |
-
1987
- 1987-05-08 US US07/048,107 patent/US4855730A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1988
- 1988-05-05 CA CA000566045A patent/CA1333937C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-05-06 DE DE3815579A patent/DE3815579C2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-05-06 FR FR888806164A patent/FR2615060B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-05-06 GB GB8810793A patent/GB2204755B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-05-06 JP JP63111359A patent/JP2915911B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4855730A (en) | 1989-08-08 |
| JP2915911B2 (en) | 1999-07-05 |
| GB2204755A (en) | 1988-11-16 |
| FR2615060A1 (en) | 1988-11-10 |
| DE3815579A1 (en) | 1988-11-24 |
| JPS63300464A (en) | 1988-12-07 |
| GB2204755B (en) | 1991-02-20 |
| FR2615060B1 (en) | 1992-11-27 |
| DE3815579C2 (en) | 1997-03-27 |
| GB8810793D0 (en) | 1988-06-08 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1333937C (en) | Component audio/video system with timed control of plural peripheral devices | |
| US4808992A (en) | Component audio/video system with automatic turn-off of peripheral devices | |
| US7194755B1 (en) | Information signal transmission system and remote control device for the same | |
| US4817203A (en) | Remote control system | |
| EP0471025B1 (en) | Video selection and distribution system | |
| KR100246281B1 (en) | Signal transmitting system | |
| JPH07123326A (en) | Concentrated recording reservation control system for one or more vtrs | |
| JPH0583765A (en) | Remote control system | |
| JP2687392B2 (en) | Remote control device | |
| KR100294867B1 (en) | Control of signal lines of audio and video equipment | |
| KR100201447B1 (en) | Signal transmission system for a home network | |
| JPH09130716A (en) | Av system modularized by function | |
| JP2000270380A (en) | Device and method for remote synchronization control | |
| JPS5922486A (en) | Automatic switching system | |
| JPH06205463A (en) | Remote control method for av system | |
| KR20040011167A (en) | A/V Combination system capable of controlling operating by using communication protocol | |
| JP2667284B2 (en) | Video tape recorder with answering machine function | |
| JPH0287349A (en) | Reproducing device | |
| JP2000187549A (en) | Wireless keyboard | |
| JPH02182096A (en) | Remote control system | |
| JPH09200163A (en) | Broadcast system and display device for status of transmission equipment | |
| JPH0437394A (en) | Signal processing unit | |
| JPH05284577A (en) | Audio/video equipment remote controller | |
| JPH05276578A (en) | Home automation system | |
| JPH0437393A (en) | Transmitter |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |