WO2009049641A1

WO2009049641A1 - System for actuating terminal devices

Info

Publication number: WO2009049641A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/008889
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Peter Aurenz
Original assignee: Ajames Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-10-12
Filing date: 2007-10-12
Publication date: 2009-04-23

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system in which all terminal devices (7) of a structural unit and an operating device (8) are connected to a base connector unit (6) for transmitting control commands and information signals. The base connector unit comprises program modules, control commands, and information units in order to convert the commands coming from the operating device into control signals for the terminal devices. Said base connector unit also has the ability to connect to the producers (5) that produce the terminal devices or provide services for the terminal devices or supply types of terminal devices. In order to control the terminal devices, the invention provides for selection processes entered on the operating device to be delivered to the affected terminal devices via the base connector unit. In other words, no direct connection occurs between a type of remote service and the device operated by said remote service.

Description

description

Description System for controlling terminals

The invention relates to a system for the control and / or operation of controllable terminals.

Most home entertainment devices today have a remote control capability, so they can be controlled and operated remotely. Usually, infrared connections are used for this purpose. With multiple devices, it may be necessary to use a separate remote control for each device.

There are already known universal remote controls, with the help of various devices can be operated. However, adjusting to the different devices is not always easy.

There is already known a two-way remote control between audiovisual equipment and a remote control in which the audiovisual device displays its status information on a screen of the remote control. There, for example, the user can then see and select the titles of a CD. It is also already known that, based on this information supplied by the audiovisual device via the Internet, it is possible to inquire what further details are available for this title (US Pat. No. 6,255,961).

Furthermore, a remote control for a plurality of audiovisual devices is known, which can be accessed via the Internet from a device database information and control commands for various types of devices and manufacturers. learning and graphical user interface elements that can be displayed on the remote control. This connection to the database of manufacturers can be done at regular intervals, for example, whenever the device is dropped. The then determined control commands and graphical user interfaces are stored in the remote control unit (WO03 / 100553).

Furthermore, a system for the remote control of entertainment electronics home components and for the management of media content is known (DE 10310746). The home components and the communication device are each provided with their own interface for Internet access. The commands are sent via the Internet to a central server, and from there via the Internet back to the home component. The server knows the contents of the commands.

Also known is the connection of electrical devices to a local area network and the control of these devices from the Internet. However, no data exchange is possible because the devices from the local network can not access the Internet (WO99 / 65192). Service providers can install software on a service server.

The invention is based on the object to create a way to use electronically controllable terminals in new ways and always have the most up-to-date options for the control, operation and use of electronically controllable terminals. It should also be possible to respond to events at the terminals currently.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a system with the features mentioned in claim 1. Further developments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims. The system proposed by the invention includes, on the one hand, the terminals, that is, at least one terminal. This must have the opportunity to be controlled via an interface. This is likely to be the case with most devices, since the already existing remote control option via an infrared control requires that there is an interface on the device side.

The proposed system includes a base terminal unit which is capable of establishing a communication link with external producer units in accordance with the invention. By producer units, for example, computers are to be understood from which information can be retrieved. The producers may be directly concerned with the manufacturers of terminals, or suppliers of services related to the terminal or, more generally, suppliers of information.

The production of the connections and the selection of the producer unit can be triggered in further development of the invention by status information of the terminal, that is, by information about the state of the terminal. It can be provided that the base connection unit triggers the connection on its own initiative, that is to say autonomously.

The information about the state of the terminal can either be read from the terminal itself or from inputted to an operating unit belonging to the proposed system

Control commands are derived. It can be assumed that the control command to switch on a device causes the device to be switched on and also switched on after a certain time. However, it is also possible and is proposed by the invention that the production of the connection between the basic connection unit and the external producer unit is triggered by a deliberate input to the operating device.

According to the invention, it can be provided that, after the connection between the producer unit and the basic access unit has been established, the producer is granted write access and / or read access to the terminal, which then remains until it is eliminated by changing a specific status or by input to the operator panel becomes.

It is also possible, if the supplier of information wishes to provide further choices, that the producer is granted a write access and / or read access to the HMI device, which then also persists until a change of status or further input.

In order to select the possible producers and thus the producer units with which a connection is to be established, the basic access unit can have a table in which at least one producer is stored for each terminal, possibly also several producers or even addresses of computers which other producers can be determined. From this table, the base terminal unit on the display can indicate to the user which producers are responsible for this device or can provide information for that device. He can choose from that.

For example, this table may be at least partially permanently stored in the base access unit. As an example let us mention a table of broadcasters. But it is also possible that the Table is at least partially stored temporarily in the Basisanschlusseinheit.

To fill the table or to change its contents, the communication links can serve with the terminals, or even connectable to the most diverse producer units by the Basisanschlusseinheit.

According to the invention, the system can also establish a communication connection with a management center which can be responsible for a large number of such basic access units. This management center can be used to prevent misuse, for the secure detection of customers, for the secure detection of information providers, for the production, uniqueness and distribution of keys and / or certificates and for filling the tables.

The Administration Center can also serve to objectively receive and manage reviews from information providers, other producers and even devices.

The terminal is connected via its interface with the basic terminal unit. The basic terminal unit is also connected to the input device by means of which a user inputs information. This information is delivered to the base terminal unit where it is interpreted as instructions. On the basis of this information, the latter supplies either control signals to the terminal or control signals and information signals to the display device, which is likewise connected to the basic connection unit. The input device, which corresponds in its visible effect as the previous remote control, so does not address the terminals. The terminals are addressed by the basic access unit. Also, the status information provided by the terminals via their interface are not delivered directly to the display device, but to the basic connection unit, where they can be processed or edited.

Due to these measures, it is possible that the input device is simple in construction because it works only as a terminal. Nevertheless, the control commands can take account of current instantaneously present circumstances, which are stored in the base access unit, for example in a memory.

It may be useful and is proposed by the invention that the input device and the display device in a device, a so-called control unit, are summarized. This operating unit then looks practically the same as a previous remote control. However, it is also possible to separate the input device from the display device, or else to use an input device which responds to an operating unit which nevertheless has an input device.

The basic connection unit can be designed such that it delivers the control commands to the respective or the terminals as an immediate response to information supplied by the operating device.

However, in special situations it can also be provided that it supplies control commands on its own, for example in emergency situations or when it recognizes that a terminal may be damaged, so that it is better to switch it off. This could be done, for example, in response to status information provided by the terminal itself, not the HMI device. In a development of the invention, it can also be provided that the basic connection unit supplies information to the operating device. This may be information resulting from status information of the addressed terminal. For example, information may be provided when a control command has been acknowledged by the terminal.

However, it is also possible that the basic access unit does not generate a control signal on the basis of information from the operating device, but rather a further information signal which is displayed on the operating device. This applies to the case that arise from the information signal of the HMI device more options from which then still has to be selected.

It has already been mentioned that the actual control commands for the terminals are supplied by the base terminal unit in response to information coming from the HMI device. However, the operating device or, in other words, the information sent by the operating device determines which of the terminals is supplied with the control commands. The selection of the terminal is therefore not made in the Basisanschlusseinheit, but in the HMI device. At most, if there is an emergency, as already mentioned above, there may be a possibility that the base terminal unit overrides an information of the HMI device.

To repeat, the HMI device determines which terminal is selected. However, it is the basic access unit which, on the basis of this information signal, in turn determines whether a control command or further information is already being delivered. For example, it is conceivable that when a user wants to increase the volume of a device, the basic access unit does not convert this requirement into a control command, but instead alerts the operator of the operating device indicates that the volume is already very high and should not be increased.

In a development of the invention, it can be provided that the basic connection unit has information stored about the terminals connected to it in a memory. This is not about the status information that indicates the current status of the device, but about the type, model, and serial number of the device. Normally, this information changes very slowly, so it makes sense to store this information in the base access unit once in a non-temporary memory. Of course, the status information will also be saved if needed to trigger certain operations. However, this is a temporary storage.

However, it is also possible for the terminals also to constantly output their device information in addition to the status information.

According to the invention, in a further development, the basic connection unit can be designed such that it contains, for example, all the information and control signals and program modules required for a normal basic operation of the terminals connected to it in a memory.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the basic connection unit holds standard information for certain standard situations and standard devices, which it can send as a menu to an operating device. For example, when listening to audio, you can always adjust the volume, balance, treble and bass. Here, the basic access unit could hold a standard situation. However, in order to be able to supply all possible types, types and models of terminal devices with possibly newly added or not customary control commands, the basic terminal unit can be configured such that it can connect with producer units of the producers responsible for each terminal , On the basis of the information about the terminals available in her, she can determine the producer responsible for the respective terminal. Producer units are units in which device information of a specific manufacturer or other information of a service company is summarized. This is usually done in databases.

Here's something else to be said about the term producer. There are different types of producers. On the one hand, it can of course be the direct manufacturer of a device that provides the control commands for operating the device. But there are also service providers who provide services for this device, such as a television set, the various broadcasters with their programs. In this example, there may also be a parent producer, namely a producer who makes a kind of television newspaper, from which a user then selects the respective program and station.

Even with CD players, there are several types of producers, namely the manufacturer of the device, the producer of the song, possibly the composer.

It is also conceivable that the basic access unit can establish a connection with producers of general lexicons, so that a user, when playing a song of a particular com ponists can also obtain information about the composer himself.

In this case, the basic access unit is designed such that it forwards information coming from the operating unit or a terminal to the responsible or responsible producer. Which producer is responsible can result either from the status information or from the information present in the basic access unit about the terminals connected to it.

The type of information that the basic access unit provides to the producers may depend on the type of producer.

Each of these producers now delivers to the basic access unit the information or control commands that it can provide for this device or this type of device.

The base terminal unit provides this information or commands to the device connected to it and / or to the pointing device or keypad connected to it. If, in a specific case, the number of possibilities to be displayed is too large, a kind of search engine can also be displayed with the help of which the user can choose what he wants to do at the moment. For example, access to a TV is possible in a number of ways, for example via an icon for a television or also via a symbol for a television magazine.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the basic connection unit is designed in such a way that it establishes the connection to a billing unit on its own and transmits an unambiguous customer number. Thus, when a user first installs a base access unit that he has previously purchased or leased, so , ,

put it after connection e.g. to an Internet connection on its own or after input by the user the connection to a billing unit forth, which is then able to address the Basisanschlusseinheit and thus possibly identify the customer. This is especially true when calling services that are not free.

In order to enable the basic access unit to store information about the type of devices, it is conceivable to enter this information manually. This could also be done by scanning a bar code tag. However, it is particularly useful if, in a development of the invention, the terminals are designed in such a way that they also transmit their manufacturer, their type and possibly also their serial number as status information. It can be a one-off process, for example, for a first time login.

According to the invention, it can be provided that each terminal, the input device, the output device, the operating device and the base access unit have an input option for a coding key and / or a certificate. The coding key is used to encrypt the connection between the terminals, the output device, the input device, the HMI device and the basic access unit. Such encryption within a home unit makes sense, since, for example, wired or wireless networks always bring with them the possibility of tapping information from outside. The certificate serves for mutual secure recognition between the base station and the terminals, the input device, the output device and the HMI device. It is therefore possible with the aid of this method that the devices mentioned can unambiguously identify the associated basic access unit and, in turn, also the basic access unit, the devices.

The terminals, the input device, the output device and the operating device can be designed such that, after the coding key has been input, they establish the connection to the basic connection unit on their own. Since the basic access unit can also have an input possibility for the coding key, ie can know the coding key, it can be provided that the basic access unit establishes the connection between a terminal and a producer unit only if the coding keys match.

An encoding key once entered into a device can remain in the device, so that the initialization only has to take place once.

In a further development of the invention can be provided that the Basisanschlusseinheit has a cache, which can serve to temporarily cache status information of the terminals and on the other hand, for example, larger amounts of data coming from the outside, cache, if, for example, the connection to the Internet is rather slow ,

The control programs required for the mentioned basic operation of the terminals are supplied by the respectively associated producers and stored in the basic access unit. It can be ensured by appropriate encryption that a producer can only access his data. The information held in the basic access unit can also be encrypted according to the customer and / or manufacturer.

It is useful if the coding key and / or the certificate are present in hardware, so that the user in turn can provide his devices with the coding key and / or the certificate, with insertion of a stick is the preferred option, a device with the coding key and / or to provide the certificate so that it can then subsequently register with a basic access unit. This stick can contain, for example, the individual customer number, which can serve to identify the customer or the household. This makes the identification of a customer independent of the hardware of the basic access unit.

In order to be able to take into account the settings and preferences of different users within a local unit, that is, for example, an apartment, it can be provided according to the invention that a plurality of person-specific operating units are available for a basic connection unit. Although they can all use the same coding key, they can be distinguished by additional features which can also be transmitted to a billing unit.

This is the simplest way to provide different users within a local unit with the ability to control a device. However, there is also the possibility of what the invention proposes in a further development, splitting an operating device into a part which serves, for example, only the display, and a second part, which serves only the input. This could be, for example, a microphone that performs voice-controlled certain input operations that are displayed on a screen. In such a division, it is possible that several microphones are present with transmitters, the to work person-specifically. Again, in the simplest case, it is again possible to assume that several such input devices, now called simplified microphones, act on a normal operating device, which thus also has input options via keyboards or a touchscreen. Again, however, given the opportunity to use special display devices that only serve the display, so have no own input option in training.

If there are a plurality of such display-only display devices, one can provide the ability to associate a display device with only one person. This ensures that this display device only displays choices for the one user. Of course, the assignment itself takes place on an input device, for example the HMI device.

In a development of the invention, it can be provided that the input device, the output device and / or the operating device are provided with a fingerprint reader or another biometric data reader for differentiating the various users.

Within a local unit where multiple devices are connected to a basic access unit, communication may advantageously be wireless to avoid laying cables.

In such a wireless network according to the invention may be provided in a further development that multiple receivers are distributed in the housing unit in order to allow a location of the HMI device. In this way, for example, without further selection, the light in just turn on the room or turn off, in which the control unit is currently located. - -

The HMI device can be a device that has a similar structure to a remote control or a PDA, ie a small screen and buttons or a touch screen. In this case, the display is a visual indicator. There, the information can be displayed as icons.

However, it is also possible for visually impaired persons to use an acoustic display as a display device. This could for example be done so that after touching the HMI device the possibilities are read out, and the user triggers the selection at a certain time by a button.

It is also possible for the display device to be an active display in which certain symbols are pressed out of a surface.

The input device likewise present on the operating device can, for example, react to pressure, that is to say be a pressure-sensitive screen. Individual keys for controlling a cursor may also be provided.

It is particularly useful if the input device is a voice input. The speech recognition can take place in the basic access unit. In a development of the invention, the voice commands can be forwarded to a voice recognition unit connected to the basic access unit. Here, the invention is particularly valuable, since the actual speech recognition can then be done with the most modern methods within the speech recognition unit. In the case of an input device using speech, the basic access unit can be designed in such a way that, on the basis of the voice information, a user identification can also take place.

Of course, the HMI device also has a manufacturer, so that during the initialization of the HMI device here, too, the basic connection unit can inform the assigned producer who carries out the initialization.

In a development of the invention, the basic access unit can be designed such that it itself handles the switching of the output of a terminal to one of several possible other terminals. Here is a case thought that the output of an audio device should be to one of several speakers, which are for example in different rooms. To determine which of these speakers or pairs of speakers should receive the output signal, it may not be necessary to consult the manufacturers.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the data are transmitted by switching the basic access unit directly from one terminal to another.

In order to identify the basic connection unit, the system may include base identification means, which is inserted or inserted, for example, in the basic connection unit. The base identifier may be arranged to contain the information needed to encrypt and secure the information exchange and to identify the household-specific billing, such as a unique serial number, certificates and both parts of an asymmetric key. Advantageously, these data are in production in the base identifier enrolled in such a way that they can not be subsequently changed. It also ensures that the secret key of the key pair is not accessible from the outside. A supplier of the basic access unit produces a certain number of basic identification means, for example SIM cards, which are recorded in a database. After the sale of such a card whose serial number is unlocked and coupled to the corresponding customer number.

It is also possible that the system includes a personal identification means for uniquely identifying a person. For a household, for example, it is possible to provide a basic access unit with a basic identification means, for example a SIM card. A personal identification means can then be provided for this household, which, for example, purchases a person together with the basic access unit from a service provider. For several members of the household, individual personal identification means can be acquired which have either the same authorization as the first identification means or graduated authorizations.

Similar to the base identifier, the personal identifier may be configured to include the information needed to encrypt the information exchange and to identify the bill, such as a unique serial number, certificates, and both parts of an asymmetric key. Advantageously, these data are written into the personal identification means during production, in such a way that they can not subsequently be changed. It also ensures that the secret key of the key pair is not accessible from the outside. The manufacturer produces a certain number of personal identification means, For example, dongles that are recorded in a database. After the sale of such a dongle its serial number is unlocked and coupled to the corresponding customer number.

With the personal identification means, it is possible to identify the person to be billed when certain services are provided against payment. It is thus possible for a subscriber to the system, for example, in a hotel or in a public institution, to arrange such services, which are then billed directly to him and not via the hotel.

In a development of the invention, it is proposed that the basic identification means and / or the personal identification means can be physically implemented, for example as a SIM card and / or as a dongle or stick. The base identification means is preferably arranged permanently in the basic connection unit.

The personal identification means can also be used for the first time to enable the terminals connected to a basic access unit. This is a one-time process so that the personal identification means does not remain connected to the terminal.

In particular, an operating device and / or an input device may have a possibility of being connected to a personal identification means, for example a plug connection.

In a development of the invention, it can be provided that it is possible with the aid of the input device to submit a rating of each terminal which is connected to the assigned base connection unit. Since the identification of the person who issues a rating, for example via a signature, a certificate, a serial number o- which is clearly possible with the help of a key, it is also possible to check whether a person gives multiple ratings in order to manipulate the rating. The system may operate such that upon a repeated assessment, the user is taken to his previous entry, which he can then change without giving a new rating as an additional score.

It is also conceivable to rule out manipulation allegations that a customer can make several reviews, but it is noted that this is multiple information.

In addition to the evaluation of terminals themselves, a customer can of course also evaluate producers and other service providers, so for example, television programs or television magazines.

The evaluation can proceed as follows. Whenever the user has selected on the input device or the operating device a device or information which he now wishes to be able to control or drive to, the system makes available to him as a selectable point the possibility of providing a rating. After selecting the rating point, the system provides him with grading levels or grades, as well as different criteria. These criteria may vary depending on the type of device being assessed and vary from type to type. For example, one can judge the quality, the ease of handling, the price-performance ratio, the appearance and so on. It is conceivable that the assessment options including the criteria are provided by the manufacturer of the device. However, it makes sense that the evaluation criteria and the grading grades are provided by another body. This can be, for example, an additional administration center, or else a kind of consumer center that prepares criteria for different types of devices. This review concerns not just devices, but also services that in the faintest sense have something to do with such devices.

As this type of assessment can be performed using the existing system, all other options mentioned here are available, including the encryption of the rating and the anonymity of the location where the rating is stored and, where appropriate, processed.

Of course, all customers of such a system have read access to all other ratings, if necessary only to an evaluation of the ratings as a whole.

The invention proposes several ways of using such a system.

One type of use is that, in addition to content displayed on an audiovisual device, additional information relating to the displayed content is provided by an information provider and displayed, for example, on the audiovisual terminal itself, another terminal or the operating unit , The information provider who is granted write access to the terminal or the HMI device is determined based on status information. In this case, status information of staggered states can be taken into account. The first state would be, for example, that a particular audiovisual device is turned on. The second level below is a specific station. A third stage is the program of the transmitter. These three states can be determined by querying status information of the terminal or HMI device. A fourth stage would be the current program that an information provider can obtain by polling the broadcaster or by flagging the broadcast. - -

For example, if it is a news broadcast, a report about a particular conference may serve as the fifth level. Here, an information provider selected on the basis of the first three levels could now open the system user the option of receiving information about the conference on his HMI device. In each case, the accessibility of the information provider is maintained until either a state changes, or the user makes a selection that leads to a further selection.

Another possibility for using the terminals is that an information provider is selected via the operating unit for a specific terminal and a certain state, which is then given the opportunity to present additional information to a second audiovisual device, in which case the use of the the first audiovisual device can be switched off, if the information by the information supplier appears more interesting.

Another mode of use of the terminals is that the control of all terminals is carried out by means of a control unit, which displays their choices in a way that makes sense to the user on a display device, from which the user then selects. This selection goes as a control signal to the Basisanschlusseinheit and from there to the terminals. The conversion of the control commands is done in the Basisanschlusseinheit. If no implementation is possible for certain control commands, the base access unit may obtain the converted signal by establishing a connection to the supplier for the terminal, eg the actual manufacturer, or direct read / write access to the terminal and / or the supplier Enable the HMI device via the basic connection unit. A method proposed by the invention is that a terminal identifies itself to a base terminal unit. The base terminal unit generates a display on an operator panel from which a user selects a device. This selection information is converted in the basic access unit into a control signal for this device, which then sends it directly to the terminal, bypassing the HMI device.

The invention also proposes a method with the features of the method claims, to the implementation of which a system is used in particular, as has been described herein. All of the features described herein can be used in these methods, in particular methods for encryption, for unambiguous identification and for anonymization or pseudonymization. For this purpose, a so-called proxy can be used, which is then also part of the system.

All features that are realized in one embodiment, apply to all other embodiments. Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and abstract, the wording of which is incorporated herein by reference, the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the drawing. Hereby show:

Figure 1 is an overview of a system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the possible sequence of a command sequence;

Figure 3 connected to a base unit terminals schematically in greater detail; FIG. 4 shows the view of an operating device in a first state;

Figure 5 shows the view of the HMI device in a second state;

Figure 6 shows the view of the HMI device in a third state;

Figure 7 simplifies a basic connection unit;

FIG. 8 shows a system with accounting units and a management center;

FIG. 9 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 6 of an input field of an operating unit;

Figure 10 is a representation corresponding to Figure 7 in a further developed embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of the system according to the invention. The system contains a unit 4 that can be described as a household. But it does not have to be in the household, it can also be commercial facilities, offices, hotels or the like. Such a spatial unit 4, of which there can be a large number, contains a basic connection unit 6 to which a plurality of electronically controllable terminals 7 are connected. The connection is a connection for transmitting control signals and transmitting status information. The connection is a bidirectional one. Furthermore, an operating device 8 is connected to the basic connection unit 6, also bidirectionally. Again, this is a connection to the transmission of control signals and status information. There is no direct connection between the electronically controllable terminals 7 and the HMI device 8. The entire communication is done through the Basisanschlusseinheit 6 therethrough. Each of the terminals 7 is provided with an interface, which makes it possible to provide control signals to the device via this interface, which run the functions of the device. The interface is also capable of providing status information, either active or only when interrogated. All this information in both directions goes to the basic terminal unit 6.

The operating device 8 serves to trigger the control and / or operation of the terminals 7. The actual processing logic of the inputs on the operating unit 8 is not contained in the terminals and the operating unit 8 itself, but in the basic connection unit 6.

Electronically controllable devices are devices that have functions that can be triggered and queried via a standardized interface. It does not need to be electronic devices in the true sense. Even washing machines or the like, which have a mechanical drive, fall under the concept of these devices.

As can further be seen from FIG. 1, there are naturally a large number of such units 4, of which FIG. 1 shows only two units. These units are all provided with a basic connection unit 6, at least one operating unit 8 and at least one electronically controllable terminal 7.

Each of the basic access units 6 now has the option of connecting to any producer units 5 via, for example, the Internet, all of which are also connected to the Internet. The producer units are, for example, computers that hold information from producers of various types and levels. The first stage of producers are the actual manufacturers of the terminals. The second stage of production _

are suppliers of information for the terminals, such as TV channels. A third tier of producers may be other information providers, for example offering program guides. The Basisanschlusseinheit 6, which may also be part of the control unit 8, now has in principle the ability to connect to each of the producer units 5. The selection of which producer is addressed is determined based on status information and / or manual selections by a user.

FIG. 2 is to be read in conjunction with FIG. Here the simplest case is described. On the operating device 8, which can also be referred to as a remote control F, a signal is delivered, which is supplied via the signal connection or communication connection to the base terminal unit 6. In the Basisanschlusseinheit 6 information, control commands, program parts or the like are stored in tables, memories or the like. The base terminal unit 6 now checks whether it contains an associated command for the signal just delivered, which it can issue to the terminal 7 in response to the input to the operating unit 8. In the normal simple cases, the base terminal unit has such a command available and gives it to the terminal.

However, if the base terminal unit 6 finds that it has no answer for this input command, it automatically connects to a producer unit 5, and knows from the information it has about the type of device addressed which producer is responsible. Then, the basic terminal unit continues to command the HMI device 8. The producer generates the appropriate signal and returns it to the basic access unit. This now sends this command to the terminal 7th , -

The producer can also provide information for the operating device 8, which lead to new control signals by selection by the user. Under control of the basic connection unit, the producer thus has a direct read and / or write access to the operating unit 8 and / or the device 7.

Figure 2 in but can also describe another case. Without a terminal 7 being switched on, a user on the operating unit 8 can select a selection of options provided by the basic connection unit 6, for example a selection of department store catalogs. This selection of department store catalogs supplies the basic connection unit 6 as control and information signals to the operating unit 8. After being selected by the user, the basic connection unit 6 establishes a communication connection to the department store catalog producer 5. This provides either a further subselection to the operating unit 8 or equal information to the audiovisual terminal 7 which is now to be switched on.

FIG. 3 now shows on a selected example which devices can be addressed, for example.

At the basic terminal unit 6 of the special household, a television set 11, a tuner 12, a washing machine 13, a video recorder 14, a DVD player 15 and a CD player 16 are connected. So these are the devices of this particular household. Furthermore, of course, the HMI device 8 is connected to the Basisanschlusseinheit 6.

As already mentioned, after an initial initialization, the basic connection unit 6 knows the devices present in this household. Now, when the HMI device 8 is put into operation, the basic terminal unit 6 delivers to the screen 9 of the HMI device, the symbols for the devices that in the basic terminal unit for this Household are noted. The symbols for the terminals of FIG. 3 therefore appear on the screen 9 of the operating device 8. This is shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. In this illustrated example, it is assumed that the operating device 8 has a pressure-sensitive screen 9 and no other buttons or actuators. Now it is up to the user of the device to select which device he wants to control or operate now. He can do this by touching the symbol assigned to the device, for example with the help of a stylus or with a finger. It is now assumed that the operator wants to hear music from the tuner 12, so that he now presses the icon for the tuner.

Because of this information, which arrives at the basic access unit 6, no control command can be generated to the terminal, as there are more choices available. The base terminal unit 6 has in its internal memory a list of all the possible transmitters that can be received by the tuner 12. It now provides a new screen content to the HMI device 8, which now lists, for example as a bar, the individual transmitters, see Figure 5. Using a running bar 20, which can be moved by the user by pressing with his finger, or by direct pressure on one Bars, the user can now select a station and possibly also the program.

In response to this information signal, a further screen is now generated by the basic connection unit 6 and delivered to the screen 9 of the device 8. This is shown in FIG. With a slider 21 shown above, the user can now adjust the volume, with a second indicated slider 22, the balance between right and left, and he can choose whether he wants to turn on the speaker or a headphone. -

In the example shown, therefore, a three-level menu is provided, whereby a control command can go to the audio device 12 even in the second menu.

In the same way, the user can also select and control the other devices.

In the example described above, entertainment devices and a washing machine were mentioned as possible terminals. It is quite possible to control other devices within a home or office in this way, such as temperature controls, blackouts, blinds, heaters, doors, alarms and computers.

It is also possible to further disassemble devices, so that, for example, a tuner or other audio device is regarded as a unit separate from the loudspeaker, so that the loudspeaker can be controlled and addressed as a separate device. It is also possible to use a screen of a television as a display device for a computer, so that then the screen is a separate terminal.

FIG. 7 shows in greater detail how a basic connection unit 6 can be constructed. This basic terminal unit 6 includes a SIM card 30 which a user acquires. This SIM card 30 contains an identification so that a clear association between the household in which the basic access unit 6 is arranged and the billing center assigned to this household is given. The SIM card is inserted into the base terminal unit 6.

The basic connection unit 6 also contains a plug connection for a dongle 31, which is above all a method, to uniquely identify a specific person. Furthermore, a dongle 31 can be used to hand over certificates to the base access unit, the input device, the output device and the HMI device so that they can unambiguously identify each other. In addition, the dongle 31 when connecting to the base terminal unit 6, the public key of the inserted into the basic terminal unit 6 SIM card 30 take over. The dongle 31, which identifies the person, can thus also be used simultaneously to vaccinate the individual terminals that are connected to the basic access unit 6 via the indicated connections 32 for the first time, ie the public key of the SIM card inserted into the base access unit 6 30 so that they are initialized and thus can connect to the base terminal unit 6.

The use of a personal identification means in the form of a dongle 31 or any other tag containing a key pair whose public key and / or serial number, certificate, or other identifier uniquely identifies the user makes it possible, on the one hand, to carry out person-specific billing For example, if there are multiple personal identification means 31 within a household. Moreover, it makes such a person identification possible to turn on such a dongle on the HMI device 8 to a basic terminal unit 6 of another household and to allow access to their own household. Thus, a remote control or a remote maintenance or remote monitoring can be realized.

FIG. 8 shows schematically a further embodiment of a system according to the invention. It is now a system where one

A large number of households H and a large number of producers P can be connected to one another. The indicated producers, at those who are the manufacturers of the terminals or suppliers of information for the terminals are addressable via the Internet so that they can be addressed by households or their basic access units 6, since they naturally have information for all in the household Want to deliver devices.

The basic access units 6 contain a SIM card, which in turn can be assigned to a billing unit A, so that the household can be identified, for example for the granting and billing of paid services, such as access to the Internet.

All the producers and basic access units 6 in this illustrated example can be connected to a single management center V, which, for example, manages license statements or carries out certifications.

In the exemplary embodiment indicated here, there is a database 40 for households or basic access units 6 in the administration center and a database 50 for producers. It is assumed that, according to a business model, the Baisanschlussgeräte 6 whenever they want to contact a producer for the first time to report this to the management center. The management center then certifies the producer to the household and the household to the producer. Of course, another order is possible. For example, the producers themselves can report to the Administration Center and obtain certification.

Each household is thus noted in the database 40. It is unambiguously noted there, namely via its serial number and / or via its public key and / or via another unique identifier. More details about the budget, which was his , ,

identification by name and location are not required here.

In addition, each personal identification holder has the option of providing a rating for each device in his household connected to a basic access unit 6 and / or for each producer, in particular the supplier of information for the devices. These ratings are noted in a database 50 to which the owner has read access. However, each owner can only give a rating for the devices available to him, and this only once. If he wants to give a second evaluation to the same device or to a same supplier of information, this leads to the change of his already noted entry. In this way, it is ensured that no customer can manipulate the rating by constantly inputting. In addition, it is ensured that each customer can only give reviews of a device that he himself has in operation. This is another feature of the Administration Center.

FIG. 9 again shows, similar to FIG. 6, the view of an operating device 8. The operating device 8 has a number of fields 38 in which fixed symbols or numbers prescribed by the system are arranged. A free field 37 is provided for the free display of each new symbols or indications to be selected. This field is also available to producers and / or suppliers of information. You can output screen content to field 37 and receive commands from there.

Turning now to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 indicates the possibility that a plurality of operating devices 8 are present in a household with a basic connection unit 6. By inserting a personal identification means 41, the holder of such a personal identification means of making this control unit 8 to his. Due to default settings, he can now do certain things on his operating unit, while another user at another operating unit 8, also recognized by his personal identification means, can only do other things. It certainly does not make sense for two users to be able to control the same device at the same time. However, it makes perfect sense for a user to be able to control devices in one room while the other user can control devices in another room with his control unit 8. It is assumed in this general consideration that the operating units 8 are those devices which have an input capability and a display capability, similar to what is indicated in FIG. 6 and FIG.

However, it is also possible and will now also be indicated with reference to FIG. 10 that the input part of an operating device can be separated from the display part of an operating device. The input part would therefore be a separate device 42, which contains a microphone 43, for example. By means of this microphone 43, voice inputs can be made which are processed in exactly the same way as inputs on an operating unit 8, ie interpreted in the basic access unit 6, forwarded to a speech recognition unit and / or to the producer. The reaction to such a voice control, if it does not lead directly to a change of a device 7, can then be displayed as information on an existing HMI device 8. A development would be that there is a special display device that does not have the option of input via buttons. Even with the separation of display and input at the control unit, an assignment of specific people to a particular display unit can be made. Since microphones 43 and the associated electronics can be made substantially smaller than a display device, such a solution is also suitable, for example, for a household constantly. Then it is also suitable for the aforementioned location of a special person to determine which devices are to be controlled.

It has already been mentioned several times that the flow of information should be encrypted. The encryption can be done as follows. The page that wants to send information randomly creates a symmetric key with which it encrypts the data to be transmitted. It then encrypts the symmetric key with the public key of the recipient. It then transmits the encrypted data and the encrypted key. The receiver decrypts with its secret key the encrypted symmetric key and then the data encrypted with it. This possibility of encryption has the advantage that symmetric encryption takes little time, and that the time-consuming asymmetric encryption concerns only the short symmetric key itself.

Another advantage of this method is that the symmetrically encrypted data can be made available to multiple receivers. For this purpose, the randomly selected symmetric key is encrypted and transmitted for each recipient with the respective public key.

This type of encryption can also be applied if the producers store their data in the basic access unit 6, for example on a hard disk for a longer period.

In addition to the indicated and described so to speak usual types of operation and use of terminals, it is with the

System according to the invention also possible to carry out applications that were previously not possible or known with such devices. Here Now, some such additional applications will be described.

Application Example 1

In the following, an application example will be described, which is possible with the system according to the invention.

A user selects the TV set from the operating unit 8 in a first step and a specific station in a second step. This selection goes to the base terminal unit 6, where the actual commands for the television set are generated. The state of the television set, namely the tuned transmitter, is known to the base terminal unit 6.

The Basisanschlusseinheit contains a table of responsible for each program producers of the second kind in any way encoded Internet addresses, either as an IP address or URL. This table can be used to connect to a wide variety of producers.

The base terminal unit 6 can now, similar to what is indicated in Figure 2, make a notification to the producer of the second kind, namely the producer of the current television broadcasts for the television set, that a certain program is now running. This producer, for example, the broadcaster itself or the producer of a currently broadcasted via the broadcaster advertising program, can now provide the Basisanschlusseinheit 6 information for display on the control unit 8, which contain certain additional information about the program shown on the TV. For example, this information could be a subtitle that is now displayed on the HMI device instead of on the TV. However, the base terminal unit may also provide the producer with read and write access to the operator device 8, allowing the producer, for example, to present a selection from which the user can select. For example, he can use the HMI device to select the answer to a question asked about the TV in a quiz program.

This application example makes it possible, in general terms, that when a terminal connected to the system is used in a certain way, the basic terminal unit is presented or maintained with additional information or facilities on the HMI device because of its information stored in it or with third-party producers. It is also conceivable, if in addition to the television still an external monitor is connected to the basic terminal unit that the producer in addition to the display on the control unit has the opportunity to display more information on the monitor or a second TV.

It is thus the possibility to provide an additional benefit when using a terminal connected to the system.

Application Example 2:

As already mentioned, the user can display the currently running programs on the operating unit 8 in an overview, for example, without having already given the command for switching on the television. This may be useful to decide whether he wants to watch TV or listen to the radio at all. , ,

In a similar way, however, he can also look at an overview of product catalogs, for example. Here, in a further example of application, if the user has given the command to display a goods catalog on the screen of the operating device to the basic connection unit on the operating device 8, they can pass on the instantaneous state of the operating device to the producer of the goods catalog. Because it certainly does not make sense that the basic access unit has stored extensive product catalogs whose content can change constantly.

Here, the invention proposes as a possibility that when selecting a specific article or a specific article group, which is communicated to the provider of the goods of the goods catalog, this is the possibility opened, images or in a so-called stream animated image sequences on the TV or any other larger monitor.

More generally, it is a matter here that operations which are to be displayed and read on the operating unit 8 are additionally supplemented by information from another terminal 7 connected to the basic access unit. It is therefore practically the reverse of the first application, as described above.

Application Example 3

A user acquires a special device for whose control the base access unit does not hold any control signals. If the user selects this device via the operating device 8, then the basic connection unit determines from the table of the producers to the responsible producer. Since she has no standard information about the particular device, she makes a message to the responsible producer. It then allows him a read / write access on the one hand to the HMI device 8 and on the other hand to the device to be controlled.

The producer can now display information on the operating device 8, which are used to control the device. If the user controls the device by touching the HMI device 8, this information is forwarded to the producer via the basic connection unit. Thereupon, the producer can send control signals to the basic access unit, which forwards them to the device and changed information for presentation on the operating device 8.

More generally, in this case, the actual processing logic is neither in the terminals nor in the base-line unit, but is delivered by the producers, in real-time. The basic access unit only conveys the requirements of the terminal to the responsible producers and the control commands generated therefrom back to the terminal.

Application Example 4:

As mentioned earlier, a user can use the HMI device to make judgments about producers and each terminal connected to the associated base terminal unit. For this purpose, for example, a symbol is displayed on the HMI device in a fixed field, which is always displayed.

Whenever the user has selected on the HMI device a device or information from a producer, the system provides him with the opportunity to submit a rating. After selecting the rating point, the system provides rating levels or grades for different criteria. For example, grades 1 to 6 could be offered for selection for any of the following criteria: value for money, product quality, handling, error rate, quality of service.

Each time the user wants to rate the same device or the same information of a producer, he is offered his possibly already made rating for the change again. Each user can only give one rating.

A central location, for example the administration center, stores the ratings of all users pseudonymised in a database and, as a special producer of the second type, offers an evaluation of these ratings.

A user selects this producer via the operating device and then in further steps the desired device or information from producers, for example a news producer, about whom he would like to hear the evaluation of others. This then contains, for example, the number of submitted evaluations and an average value per evaluation criterion.

However, a user can also act differently. For example, he may search for news producers who have been best rated in a criterion he has specified. As a result, he can see in a list the producers with the respective average value.

Application Example 5: It has been mentioned that the basic terminal unit 6 for the standard equipment can display standard operating information on the operating unit 8. This standard operating information thus makes it possible for each device or device to retrieve the basic functions. This standard information may not meet the specific aesthetic needs of the user of a HMI device. Here, the invention proposes that the HMI device has the option or that the HMI device 8 the possibility of the basic connection unit 6 is provided to get a different appearance of the screen of the HMI device at a producer for operating information. This different appearance of the user interface of the operating device 8 can then replace, for example, in the basic connection unit 6, the existing there standard setting and from now on always be used until the user changes his taste again.

Claims

_ _Patent claims

1. System for using electronically controllable terminals (7), with

1.1 at least one terminal (7), the

1.1.1 has an interface for receiving control signals (and for providing status information),

1.2 at least one input device that

1.2.1 a device for entering information and / or instructions; and

1.2.1 contains a display device for displaying information,

1.4 a basic connection unit (6),

1.4.1 which is connected to the at least one terminal (7), to which at least one input device and to the at least one display device for the transmission of information signals and / or control signals,

1.4.2 receiving information from the terminal (7) and / or the input device and / or the display device,

1.4.3 provides control signals to the terminal (7) and / or the input device and / or the Anzeigeeinrichtun and

1.4.4 is designed such that it can establish a communication link with external producer units of the terminal (7) responsible producers.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the establishment of the connection can be triggered by status information of the terminal.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the production of the connection between the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) and external producer units by the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) is autonomously triggered.

4. System according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the status information from the terminal can be read out.

5. System according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the status information can be derived from input to the operating unit control commands.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the preparation of the connection between the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) and the external producer units can be triggered by an input to the operating unit.

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein after establishing the connection with the producer this a write access and / or read access is granted to the terminal, which remains up to a further input

8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein after establishing the connection with the producer this a write access and / or read access is granted to the operating device, which persists until a further input.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base terminal unit (6) includes a table of producers responsible for each terminal from which the indications are generated on the display of the HMI device.

A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base terminal unit (6) includes a table of producers responsible for each terminal for establishing the connection with the producer.

A system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the table is at least partially permanently stored in the base terminal unit (6).

A system according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the table is at least partially temporarily stored in the base terminal unit (6).

13. System according to claim 9 to 12, wherein the content of the table of Basisanschlusseinheit (6) via the communication link with external producer units and / or via the connections with the terminals is changeable.

14. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) is designed such that it can establish a communication link with a management center autonomously and / or in response to inputs to the operating device.

15. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein for the exchange of information and / or control signals, the input device and / or the display device only with the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) and at several terminals (7) of each of the terminals (7) only with the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) is connected.

16. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control signals for the at least one terminal (7) in the base Connecting unit (6) are generated in response to information supplied to the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) information.

17. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) is designed to supply information to the display device, in particular in response to information supplied by the input device

18. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information supplied by the input device determine which terminal (7) is driven.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base terminal unit (6) decides in response to the information provided by the input means whether further information is supplied to the display means and / or a control signal to the terminal (7).

20. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) information about the terminals connected to it (7) has stored.

21. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) information via the terminal (7) and / or information from the input device to the competent producer (5) forwards and coming from the producer unit (5) there in response to the information generated generates control commands and / or information to the affected terminal (7) and / or the display device.

22. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the terminals (7) are designed such that they as status information their manufacturer, their type and, if applicable, their serial number.

23. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each terminal (7), the input device, the output device, the operating unit (8) and the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) have an input option for a coding key and / or a certificate, the / Encryption of the connection and the unique mutual recognition between the terminals (7), the input device, the output device, the operating device (8) and the base terminal unit (6) is used.

24. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each terminal (7), the input device, the output device and the operating device (8) are designed such that they can uniquely identify the associated Basisanschlusseinheit (6).

25. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) is designed such that it can uniquely identify the associated terminals (7), the input device, the output device and the operating device (8).

26. System according to claim 24 or 25, wherein each terminal (7), the input device, the output device and the operating device (8) after entering the coding key or the certificate establish the connection to the basic terminal unit (6) of itself.

27. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) required for a basic operation of the terminals connected to it (7) control commands and at standard terminals (7) has a standard operating information stored.

28. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exchange of information and control signals between the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) and the producers (5) is encrypted.

29. System according to any one of claims 13 to 28, wherein the coding key or the certificate is realized in a hardware device and / or stored, for example a dongle (31) and / or a SIM card (30).

30. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for a Basisanschlusseinheit (6) a plurality of person-specific operating devices (8) are provided.

31. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication between the base terminal unit (6) and its associated terminals (7), the input device, the output device, and the operating device (8) is wireless.

32. System according to one of the preceding claims, with a plurality of distributed in a residential unit of a basic terminal unit (6) associated receivers for locating the input device or the HMI device (8).

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display means comprises a visual indicator, a display with icons, an audible indicator or a tactile indicator, optionally in combination.

34. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the input device, in particular the input device of the operating device (8), responds to pressure, to speech input or to movement of the HMI device, optionally in combination.

35. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the initialization of the input device, the output device and the operating device (8) by the Basisanschlusseinheit (6).

36. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the initialization of a terminal (7) by the Basisanschlusseinheit (6).

A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the base terminal unit (6) is arranged to control the switching of the output of a terminal (7) to one of a plurality of possible terminals (7).

38. System according to one of the preceding claims, with a plurality of a base terminal unit (6) or an input device or an operator unit associated person identification means, which may have different permissions.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the personal identification means for initial activation of the connected to a Basisanschlusseinheit (6) terminals (7) is used.

40. System according to claim 38 or 39, in which the input device connected to a personal identification means or the operating device (8) is designed to control and / or operate the terminals (7) which are connected to the base station. Final unit (6) are connected to the person identification means is assigned.

41. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device or the operating device (8) has an input option for assessing each connected to the associated base terminal unit (6) terminal (7) and / or each producer and / or supplier of information.

42. System according to claim 41, in which the input possibility is designed for a one-time evaluation of the terminal (7) and / or producers and / or suppliers of information.

43. The system of claim 41 or 42, wherein the input device or the operating device (8) has an input option for changing a given by this Basisanschlusseinheit (6) and / or this person assessment.

44. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device or the operating device (8) has an input option for selecting a display of the assessments of controllable using the system terminals (7) and / or producers and / or suppliers of information.

45. System according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one operating device (8), which has the display device, the input device and a bidirectional interface,

46. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) in the operating device (8) is integrated. _ _

47. System according to one of claims 1 to 45, wherein the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) in a terminal (7) is integrated.

48. A system for operating or controlling electronically actuated terminals (7), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an input device (8) for inputting information; a base terminal unit (6) for communicating with the input device (8) and a producer associated with the controllable terminal (7), the base terminal unit (6) being arranged to receive the information that sends information to the producer, a signal from the producer receives the signal generated by the producer based on the information; and a terminal configured to be communicatively connectable with the base terminal unit (6) for receiving the signal and for operating or controlling the terminal (7) using the signal.

49. A method for using electronically controllable terminals (7), in which a user selects a terminal on an operating unit, puts the selected terminal in one of the possible states of this device, depending on the type of terminal an information supplier selected and this the write access and / or read access to this and / or another terminal is allowed to persist until further input.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein in the case of a plurality of user types of the terminal, the selected information provider Write access and / or read access to the display of the HMI device for displaying further usages of this or another terminal on the display is allowed for selection by the user.

51. The method according to claim 49 or 50, in which several information providers responsible for the terminal display several, in particular all information suppliers on the display of the operating device for selection.

52. The method according to any one of claims 49 to 51, wherein in the case of a plurality of terminals, these are displayed on a display of the operating device for selection by the user.

53. Method for using electronically controllable terminals (7), in which a plurality of information providers are displayed for selection on a display of an operating device, a user selects one of the information suppliers on the operating device, the selected information provider is allowed write access to a terminal (7) which persists until another input.

54. Method for using electronically controllable terminals (7), in which a display of an HMI device several ways of using the terminal are displayed for selection, a user selects on the HMI device one of the multiple uses of the terminal, generates a selection of the user control signals is transmitted, the control signal to the terminal and _

the terminal is put in the selected state.

55. The method according to any one of claims 49 to 54, are considered in the status information about the state of the terminal (7) before and / or after the selection by the user on the HMI device.

56. The method according to any one of claims 49 to 55, wherein in the access of the information supplier status information about the state of the terminal (7) and / or the HMI device (8) are taken into account.

57. The method of claim 55 or 56, wherein the status information from the terminal (7) is read or determined from the control commands of the HMI device (8).

58. The method according to any one of claims 55 to 57, are considered in the status information of different state levels.

59. The method according to any one of claims 55 to 58, are considered in the status information from the write data of the information provider in his access to the terminal.

60. The method according to any one of claims 49 to 59, wherein

60.1 all terminals (7) are connected to a basic access unit (6) for the transmission of information signals and / or control signals,

60.2 an input device for transmitting information signals and / or control signals is connected to the basic access unit (6), and

60.3 the user makes his selection of the input device.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein a display device for transmitting information signals and / or control signals to the basic terminal unit (6) is connected and the choices for the user are displayed on the display device.

62. The method of claim 60 or 61, wherein in the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) information about the terminals connected to it (7) are stored in a memory, from the Basisanschlusseinheit to the display device and / or the input device information about the connected to it Terminals (7) are supplied, are transmitted from the user-performed inputs to the Basisanschlusseinheit (6), in the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) in response to the inputs control signals and / or information signals are generated, the generated information signals and / or control signals to the selected Terminal (7) are supplied.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein upon receipt of an input command it is checked whether an information associated with this input command is present in the memory of the basic access unit (6) and, if the check is positive, this signal is sent to the relevant terminal (7), the display device or input device.

64. The method of claim 62 or 63, wherein checks on arrival of an input command checks whether an information associated with this input command is present in the memory of the Basisanschlus- sheitheitness and in the negative outcome of this review from the Basisanschlusseinseinheit a query at a the producer addressed to the device addressed takes place and the control signal retrieved there from the base connection unit is transmitted to the relevant terminal (7), the display devices or the input device.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the signal supplied by the producer remains stored in a memory of the basic terminal unit.

66. The method according to any one of claims 56 to 65, wherein the terminal (7) relative to the base terminal unit (6) by its manufacturer and its type designation is identified.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the terminal (7) identifies itself.

68. A method for operating or controlling own electronically actuated terminal (7), in particular according to one of claims 49 to 67, with the following method steps: at a base terminal unit (6) information is received, which are associated with the operation or control of a terminal (7) configured for communication with the base terminal unit (6), the information being received by an input device (8) adapted for information communication with the base terminal unit (6); the information is sent to a producer associated with the terminal (7); at the base terminal unit (6), receiving from the producer a signal to operate or control the terminal (7), the signal being generated by the producer based on the information; and

, _

the signal is sent to the terminal (7) where it is used by the terminal (7) to operate or control the terminal (7).

69. Basic access unit (6) for operating or controlling electronically actuated terminals (7), in particular for use in a system according to one of claims 1 to 48, comprising: an interface for the information coupling to a terminal (7) and to the terminal (7) is assigned to associated producers, a processor for receiving information associated with the terminal (7), for sending the information to the producer, for receiving a signal from the producer for operating or controlling the terminal (7), and for Sending the signal to the terminal (7) through the interface, the signal being generated by the producer based on the information.

70. A producer device for operating or controlling electronically actuatable terminals (7), in particular for use in a system according to one of claims 1 to 48, comprising: an interface, which is designed for information coupling to a base terminal unit; and a processor for receiving information from said base terminal unit (6) associated with a terminal (7) communicatively coupled to said base terminal unit (6) for generating an information-based signal for use by said terminal (7) for actuation o- the control of the terminal (7) and for transmitting the signal to the Basisanschlusseinheit (6) is formed by the interface.

, ,

71. An electronically operable terminal (7), comprising: an interface adapted for communication coupling to a base terminal unit (6); and a processor adapted to receive a signal from the base terminal unit (6) through the interface, which signal was generated by a producer coupled to the basic terminal unit (6), using information received from the basic terminal unit (six) and to use the signal to operate or control the terminal (7).