Data driven interaction for networked control of a DDI target device over a home entertainment network

In an audio/visual network of consumer electronic devices including a target means and a plurality of controller means, a system for providing networked control of said target means, said system comprising:

• a) a controller means for requesting information from said target means regarding controlling said target means;
• b) said target means for sending elements of a user interface to said controller means, said target means for maintaining in memory a structured description of said user interface including organizational and non-organizational elements;
• c) said controller means also for generating said user interface based on said control elements and based on the display capabilities of said controller means, said controller means also for allowing a user to interact with said user interface and for sending user event messages to said target means in response thereto;
• d) said target means also for interpreting said user event messages, and in response, altering an operational state of said target means and for generating a state change message for said plurality of controller means;
• and
• e) said plurality of controller means also for updating their respective user interface based on said state change message from said target means, said target means thereby maintaining consistency of among all of said plurality of controller means.

A network of electronic devices comprising:

• a common network bus;
• a target coupled to said network bus;
• and
• a plurality of controllers coupled to said network bus, wherein:
• a controller generates a request to said target for information to control said target;
• responsive to said request, said target operable to send said controller elements of a user interface, said target maintaining in memory a structured description of said user interface including organizational and non-organizational elements;
• responsive to said elements and based on the display capabilities of said controller, said controller generating said user interface and allowing a user to interact therewith, said controller sending user event messages to said target;
• said target interpreting said user event messages and based thereon altering an operational state of said target and for generating a state change message to said plurality of controllers in response thereto;
• and
• said plurality of controllers operable to update their respective user interface based on said state change message from said target, said target thereby maintaining consistency among all of said plurality of controllers.