US 2005/0097478 A1 · User interface for multi-device control

Abstract

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of system components connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The system components include audio/visual components (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). A portable controller allows a user to access and control the system components from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The portable controller includes a user and management interface that contains customized control screens for the system components. The control screens are stored in a hierarchical architecture that is searchable by region or component type.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A graphical user interface for managing a plurality of system components within a controlled environment, comprising:

a first set of control objects, wherein said control objects are associated with system components within the controlled environment;
and
a component control interface for presenting control options for a selected system component, wherein activation of a control object from said first set denotes said selected system component and populates the user interface with said control options, wherein each control option is associated with a sequence of commands that, when executed, sends instructions to control the operations or functions of said selected system component.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embedded in said medium for causing a computer to manage a plurality of system components within a controlled environment, comprising:

first computer readable program code means for presenting, on a user interface, a first set of control objects, each object being associated with one or more system components within the controlled environment;
second computer readable program code means for selecting a system component in response to receiving an activation signal associated with a control object from said first set;
third computer readable program code means for populating said user interface with control options for the selected system component;
and
fourth computer readable program code means for associating each control option with a sequence of executable commands that sends instructions to control the operations or functions of the selected system component.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

User interface for multi-device control

Life of this patent

User interface for multi-device control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30