Method and apparatus for controlling network devices

A method for controlling devices on a network comprising steps of:

• designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;
• providing in response to a first message received from said master node an indication at a plurality of slave nodes capable of being selected to control said device;
• transmitting a second message from a selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to said master node to indicate selection of said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to control said device;
• sending a third message from said master node to said plurality of slave nodes to stop providing said indication;
• sending a fourth message from said master node to said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to display an indication of a second device to be designated to be controlled.

Apparatus for controlling network devices comprising:

• a plurality of slave nodes coupled to a network, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;
• a plurality of devices to be controlled coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device;
• a master node coupled to said network for managing said plurality of slave nodes and said plurality of devices to be controlled,
• said master node comprising means for transmitting a first message to said plurality of slave nodes to cause said plurality of slave nodes to provide an indication at each of said plurality of slave nodes of being capable of being selected for control of said first device,
• said first slave node comprising means for transmitting a second message to said master node to indicate that said first slave node has been selected,
• said master node comprising means for transmitting a third message to said plurality of slave nodes to cause said plurality of slave nodes to stop providing an indication at each of said plurality of slave nodes of being capable of being selected;
• and
• wherein said first slave node comprises means for transmitting a fourth message to said master node, said master node comprises means for transmitting a fifth message to said first slave node, and said first slave mode comprising means for providing a second indication of communication integrity between said first slave node and said master node.

Apparatus for controlling network devices comprising:

• a plurality of slave nodes coupled to a network, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;
• a plurality of devices to be controlled coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device;
• a master node coupled to said network for managing said plurality of slave nodes and said plurality of devices to be controlled,
• said master node comprising means for transmitting a first message to said plurality of slave nodes to cause said plurality of slave nodes to provide an indication at each of said plurality of slave nodes of being capable of being selected for control of said first device,
• said first slave node comprising means for transmitting a second message to said master node to indicate that said first slave node has been selected, and
• said master node comprising means for transmitting a third message to said plurality of slave nodes to cause said plurality of slave nodes to stop providing an indication at each of said plurality of slave nodes of being capable of being selected;
• wherein said master node comprises sending a fourth message to said first slave node to indicate to said user a second device to be designated to be controlled.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform method steps for controlling devices on a network, said method steps comprising the steps of:

• designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;
• providing in response to a first message received from said master node an indication at a plurality of slave nodes capable of being selected to control said device;
• transmitting a second message from a selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to said master node to indicate selection of said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to control said device;
• sending a third message from said master node to said plurality of slave nodes to stop providing said indication;
• sending a fourth message from said master node to said selected one of said plurality of slave nodes to display an indication of a second device to be designated to be controlled.

A method for controlling devices on a network comprising steps of:

• designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;
• transmitting a first message to a first slave node capable of being selected to control said device;
• providing a first indication at said first slave node in response to receiving said first message;
• awaiting confirmation that said first slave node has been selected to control said device;
• designating at said master node said first slave node for control of said device if said confirmation is received;
• transmitting a second message to a second slave node capable of being selected to control said device if said confirmation is not received, wherein said first indication comprises an audible indication.

A method for controlling devices on a network comprising steps of:

• designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;
• transmitting a first message to a first slave node capable of being selected to control said device;
• providing a first indication at said first slave node in response to receiving said first message;
• awaiting confirmation that said first slave node has been selected to control said device;
• designating at said master node said first slave node for control of said device if said confirmation is received;
• transmitting a second message to a second slave node capable of being selected to control said device if said confirmation is not received, wherein said confirmation is provided via a user input device for said master node.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform method steps for controlling devices on a network, said method steps comprising the steps of:

• designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;
• transmitting a first message to a first slave node capable of being selected to control said device;
• providing a first indication at said first slave node in response to receiving said first message;
• awaiting confirmation that said first slave node has been selected to control said device;
• designating at said master node said first slave node for control of said device if said confirmation is received;
• transmitting a second message to a second slave node capable of being selected to control said device if said confirmation is not received, wherein said first indication comprises an audible indication.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said machine to perform method steps for controlling devices on a network, said method steps comprising the steps of:

• designating at a master node of a network a device to be controlled;
• transmitting a first message to a first slave node capable of being selected to control said device;
• providing a first indication at said first slave node in response to receiving said first message;
• awaiting confirmation that said first slave node has been selected to control said device;
• designating at said master node said first slave node for control of said device if said confirmation is received;
• transmitting a second message to a second slave node capable of being selected to control said device if said confirmation is not received, wherein said confirmation is provided via a user input device for said master node.

A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

• designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;
• periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;
• receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• indicating functionality of wiring at said first slave node after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message.

A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

• designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;
• periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;
• receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• wherein said first slave node rejects application level messages until said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message has occurred.

A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

• designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;
• periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;
• receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• wherein said first identification message comprises device type information.

A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

• designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;
• periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;
• receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• wherein said first identification message comprises device version information.

A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

• designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;
• periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;
• receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• wherein said first identification message comprises device manufacturer information.

A method for automatically detecting devices on a network comprising steps of:

• designating a master node and a plurality of slave nodes, said plurality of slave nodes comprising a first slave node;
• periodically broadcasting a first identification message from said first slave node;
• receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• transmitting from said master node to said first slave node a second message after said step of receiving at said master node said first identification message;
• receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• terminating said step of periodically broadcasting said first identification message after said step of receiving at said first slave node said second message;
• wherein said first slave node can be in one of a plurality of states, said plurality of states comprising:
• a first state in which all messages transmitted by said first slave node are broadcast and any application messages received by said first slave node are ignored;
• a second state in which all of said messages transmitted by said first slave node are directed specifically to said master node and any of said application messages received by said first slave node are ignored;
• a third state in which all of said messages transmitted by said first slave node are directed specifically to said master node and any of said application messages received by said first slave node are processed by said first slave node.

A network controller coupled to a network comprising:

• memory for storing data representative of capabilities of each of a plurality of devices coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device and a second device;
• a processor coupled to said memory for establishing bindings between said data of said first device and said data of said second device;
• a receiver coupled to said processor for receiving incoming signals from said first device, said processor modifying said data in response to said incoming signals, wherein said incoming signals are representative of a state of said first device;
• a transmitter coupled to said processor for transmitting outgoing signals to said second device in response to said data modified by said processor.

A network controller coupled to a network comprising:

• memory for storing data representative of capabilities of each of a plurality of devices coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device and a second device;
• a processor coupled to said memory for establishing bindings between said data of said first device and said data of said second device;
• a receiver coupled to said processor for receiving incoming signals from said first device, said processor modifying said data in response to said incoming signals;
• a transmitter coupled to said processor for transmitting outgoing signals to said second device in response to said data modified by said processor, wherein said outgoing signals control a state of said second device.

A network controller coupled to a network comprising:

• memory for storing data representative of capabilities of each of a plurality of devices coupled to said network, said plurality of devices comprising a first device and a second device;
• a processor coupled to said memory for establishing bindings between said data of said first device and said data of said second device;
• a receiver coupled to said processor for receiving incoming signals from said first device, said processor modifying said data in response to said incoming signals;
• a transmitter coupled to said processor for transmitting outgoing signals to said second device in response to said data modified by said processor;
• a display coupled to said processor for graphically displaying said data.