US 10,594,508 B2 · HDMI smart switch

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatuses are described for intelligent device integration. A device (e.g., an HDMI “smart” switch) with multiple communication interfaces (e.g., HDMI, LAN, BT, IR) may monitor communications for control signals from multiple controllers configured to control respective devices (e.g., HDMI source, sink and/or switch devices). A device LAN may couple HDMI source and sink devices and non-HDMI devices. LAN communications may be monitored for device and control information. Control signals from controllers may be used to control devices that the controllers and their control signals are not configured to control. Interpreted control decisions may be based on, for example, an interpreted control in the context of a detected configuration and/or state of devices. A device may, thereby, expand the utility of incompatible controllers (without reprogramming), integrate an environment of incompatible devices and controllers, and provide relief to end-users.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multimedia switching device comprising:

a wide area network interface configured to couple the multimedia switching device to a wide area network;
a local area network interface, the multimedia switching device configured to couple devices coupled to the local area network interface to the wide area network;
and
a processor configured to:
receive a protocol message from a first control device coupled to the local area network interface, the first control device and the protocol message being configured to control a first multimedia device of a plurality of multimedia devices that are coupled to the local area network interface, the first control device and the protocol message not being configured to control a second multimedia device of the plurality of multimedia devices;
determine that the second multimedia device is being utilized;
generate one or more control messages for the second multimedia device based on the protocol message received from the first control device;
and
transmit the one or more control messages to the second multimedia device.

6 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions recorded thereon that, when executed by processor of a multimedia switching device comprising a wide area network interface configured to couple the multimedia switching device to a wide area network, perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a protocol message from a first control device coupled to a local area network interface included in the multimedia switching device, the protocol message configured to control a first multimedia device of a plurality of multimedia devices coupled to the local area network interface, the first control device and the protocol message not being configured to control a second multimedia device of the plurality of multimedia devices, the multimedia switching device configured to couple devices coupled to the local area network interface to the wide area network;
determining that the second multimedia device is being utilized;
generating one or more control messages for the second multimedia device based on the protocol message received from the first control device;
and
transmitting the one or more control messages to the second multimedia device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

HDMI smart switch

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HDMI smart switch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20