US 6,665,020 B1 · Digital television apparatus for controlling a peripheral device via a digital bus

Abstract

A minimal level of interoperability for exchanging audio/video (A/V) content and associated control between common consumer electronic (CE) devices is defined. This interoperability is based on the IEEE 1394 serial bus for the physical and link layers and makes use of AV/C or CAL as the control language. This invention provides for reducing the number of remote controls that the user might need by allowing remote control commands to always be received by a controlling device (e.g., digital television) and then routed to the appropriate peripheral device (e.g. digital VCR) after translation into a universal format.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A digital television apparatus comprising:

(a) means for communicating via a digital bus with a peripheral device;
(b) means for receiving, from a data entry means associated with said digital television apparatus, a user initiated command associated with controlling said peripheral device, said user initiated command being recognized by said digital television apparatus and comprising header information and control information for controlling an operating mode of said peripheral device;
(c) means for mapping said control information into a universal command capable of being interpreted by said peripheral device, said peripheral device not being responsive to said user initiated command;
and
(d) means for transferring said mapped control information over said digital bus to said peripheral device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Digital television apparatus for controlling a peripheral device via a digital bus

Life of this patent

Digital television apparatus for controlling a peripheral device via a digital bus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12