# US 2012/0084472 A1 · Programmable multimedia controller with flexible user access and shared device configurations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0084472 A1 - Document ID: US20120084472A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/238,141 - Filed: 2011-09-21 - Published: 2012-04-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-22 - Assignees: Savant Systems, LLC - Inventors: Timothy R. Locascio; Robert P. Madonna; David McKinley; Michael C. Silva - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120084472A1 ## CPC - G06F 9/44505: {Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files} - H04L 12/2829: {involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered} - H04N 21/4131: {home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices (home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807)} - H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)} - H04N 21/4325: {by playing back content from the storage medium (reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79)} - H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)} - H04N 21/4751: {for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children} - H04N 21/4753: {for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password (cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08)} - H04N 21/4858: {for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A system which includes a programmable multimedia controller is provided in which flexible user access is provided through a combination of user profiles and usernames/pas swords. A configuration for a given device which may form part of the system or may interoperate with the system may be shared by multiple similar devices. A sharable device configuration is stored by a master device and can be shared by other devices of the same type as the master device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system which includes a programmable multimedia controller that is capable of interfacing with and controlling audio, video, telecommunications, data communications and other devices, said system comprising: a programmable multimedia controller, including a general-purpose computer, which is capable of interfacing with and controlling audio, video, telecommunications and data communications devices; a master user profile, stored in said programmable multimedia controller, which permits a master user to have access to and control over said system; a master username and master password which when presented to and accepted by said system causes said system to permit access to and control over said system in accordance with said master user profile; at least one non-master user profile which permits one or more non-master users to have restricted access to and control over said system based on predetermined information stored in said non-master user profile; and is at least one non-master username and master password which when presented to and accepted by said system cause said system to permit access to and control over said system in accordance with said non-master user profile. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said programmable multimedia controller, including a general purpose computer, has associated therewith a plurality of universal serial bus ports interconnected to a USB hub. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as defined in claim 2 further comprising: a memory card interface configured to accept one or more memory card formats. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1 when a USB switch is employed to switch USB links to a processing subsystem. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of IEEE fire wire TM ports that are interconnected to IEEE hub and to an IEEE switch, for switching to the processing subsystem. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a micro controller being connected to a serial peripheral interface and an inter-integrated distribution circuit, which provides a serial communication interface to load data transfer rate devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a microcontroller that is connected to an infrared interface, an RS 232 interface and an RF interface permitting further interconnection with external devices; and a device control interface to communicate with lighting, home automation, and loader and/or relay operated devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising: an expansion port being provided for linking several programmable multimedia controllers together to form an expanded system having a front panel display, having a touch screen with a liquid crystal display that is provided to display status, configuration, and/or other information to a user as well as to accept user input. ### Claim 9 A system which includes a programmable multimedia controller based upon a general purpose computer, said system comprising: a configuration for said programmable multimedia controller that includes a data structure having one or more fields for one or more user profiles, said user profile field s including information for identifying an appropriate user interface for a user associated with the profile. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system as defined in claim 9, wherein said user profile further having associated therewith a user name and password. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system as defined in claim 10 wherein said user profile further comprises a device name, which is a name assigned to the respective device that a particular user employs to interact with the programmable multimedia controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system as defined in claim 11, wherein said profile name is a name assigned to a respective user profile. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system as defined in claim 11 furhter comprising device capability flags indicating particular capabilities of the user's device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as defined in claim 13 further comprising access rights, which specify a level of access to the programmable multimedia controller that is permitted. ### Claim 15 A method of gaining access by a user to control a programmable multimedia controller; comprising: configuring a user's device by which a user interfaces with said programmable multimedia controller; and receiving, at said user's device, a device configuration that enables the device to render an appropriate user interface for interaction with a programmable multimedia controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as defined in claim 15, further comprising: at said user's device, discovering the programmable multimedia controller by using a Bonjour Name Service®. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: presenting on the user's device, a list of possible user interfaces that the device supports. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: receiving a user's selection of a desired user interface, and prompting the user to enter a user name and password. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: validating, at said programmable multimedia controller, the user name and password entered by the user, by comparing the user name and password to the user name and password stored in the user's associated user profile. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising: providing, at a controller, a unique identifier for the user's device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising rendering at the user's device an appropriate user interface, the rendered user interface being based on a selection made by the user and device configuration information previously stored in the device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising issuing commands at said user device to access and control said programmable multimedia controller based on the access rights specified in the associated user profile. ### Claim 23 A method of operating a programmable multimedia controller system, comprising: configuring said programmable multimedia controller with one or more sharable device configurations; and storing said sharable device configurations in a processing subsystem within the programmable multimedia controller. ### Claim 24 A programmable multimedia controller system, comprising: a sharable device configuration that includes graphics, layout and metadata configured to render a user interface on the device which is associated with the configuration; a sharable device configuration data structure that includes: i. graphics data and images that appear in the user interface; ii. graphics layout information specifying the spatial relationships to be applied to said graphics data to properly render the user interface; iii. system commands stored in the data structure that are valid with a particular combination of graphics data and graphics layout information; and iv. system state information for the device associated with the configuration to communicate with a real-time system on a programmable multimedia controller. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system as defined in claim 24, further comprising: a sharable device configuration created and stored in a processing subsystem with said programmable multimedia controller. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system as defined in claim 24 further comprising: a sharable device configuration being stored such that a device may be considered a master device with respect to the other devices of the same type. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The system as defined in claim 24 wherein said other devices of the same type as the master device, when added to the system, obtaining and sharing a copy of the sharable device configuration of the master device, and said master device stores the sharable device configuration instead of the programmable multimedia controller storing said sharable device configuration. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The system according to claim 27, further comprising: distributing a shareable device configuration using a WiFi or other wireless or wired communication functionality. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The system according to claims 27 further comprising: a copy of the sharable device configuration being transferred to an appropriate device, such as a mobile device.