MXPA00000110A - Browser based command and control home network - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for commanding and controlling diverse home devices. A first home device capable of displaying user interface data is connected to a home network. A second home device stores user interface data that defines a user interface for commanding and controlling the second home device, also connected to the homenetwork. The first device receives the user interface data from the second device over the network. The first device then displays the user interface as defined by the data. The user interacts with the user interface displayed on the first device by a control device. User input is accepted from the user responsive to the interaction. Control and command information is sent from the first home device to the second home device in order to control the second device according to the user input. Since the user interface can be displayed from any device, a single control device may control a plurality of different devices without requiring any change in the mode of operation of the control device.

Description

HOME NETWORK WITH CONTROL AND COMMAND BASED ON AN ANALYZER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of networks, and more particularly, to networks based on an analyzer for controlling home devices. 2. Description of Related Art A typical house contains several homemade devices. When used in this document, the term "home device" encompasses all electronic devices that are typically found in the home, with the exception of general purpose computers (ie computers (PCs), small laptops, etc.). For example, the term "home device" includes but is not limited to electronic devices such as security systems, theater equipment (e.g., TVs, VCRs, stereo equipment and direct broadcast satellite services or (DBSS), also known as digital satellite services Rfsf.032415 (DSS), watering systems, lighting systems, microwave appliances, dishwashers, ovens / stoves, and washers / dryers. Actually, a car can be a home device. On the one hand, the term "device" as used herein may comprise logic devices or other units having a functionality and an ability to exchange data, and may include not only all home devices but also general purpose computers. In general, home devices are used to perform tasks that improve the owner's lifestyle and standard of living. For example, a dish washing machine performs the task of washing the dirty dishes and relieves the owner of having to wash the dishes by hand. A VCR can record a TV • program to allow an owner to watch a particular program at a later time. The security systems protect the valuable objects of the owner and can reduce the fear of the owner of an unwanted entry. Home devices (such as home theater equipment) are frequently controlled using a single common control unit, especially a remote control device. This Single common control unit allows an owner to control and command different home devices using a single interconnection. Consequently, many manufacturers have developed control units to control and command their home devices from a single interconnection. A disadvantage associated with the use of the remote control unit for controlling and controlling home devices is that it provides static control and command logic to control and command each home device. Therefore, a particular remote control unit can only control and command those home devices for which it includes the necessary command and control logic. For example, if a remote control unit comprises logic for controlling a television (TV), a video cassette recorder (VCR), and a digital video (DVD) device, but not a compact disc (CD) unit, the Remote control unit can not be used to command and control the CD drive. In addition, as new home devices have been developed, the remote control unit will not be able to control and command the new home devices that require a control logic and command that it was not known at the time when the remote control unit was developed. Another disadvantage associated with the use of a remote control unit is that it can typically be used only to command and control those home devices that are within the signal range of the remote control unit. Therefore, a user can not use the remote control unit from a single place in the house to control and command the home devices that are connected, but located in separate parts of the house. For example, a VCR that is located upstairs in a bedroom may be connected to a TV that is downstairs in the family room. If a user wishes to play a tape contained in the VCR located above in the bedroom, on the TV located below in the family room, the user can not control and command both home devices from one place. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism that dynamically provides control and command of commonly known home devices. There is also a need for a mechanism that dynamically provides control and command of the types of home devices developed subsequently. In addition, there is a need for a mechanism that provides control and command, from a single place within the user's home, home devices that are connected but located in a remote location throughout the user's home.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to overcome the problems of the prior art, and to provide a method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of devices. It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a single control apparatus, with a single mode of operation, for controlling a plurality of devices without requiring any change in the operation mode of the control apparatus for change the device that is controlled by it. It is still a further object of the invention to provide a home network to implement a form of a method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of home devices connected thereto by means of a single control apparatus without requiring any change in the mode of operation. operation of the control device (such as changing the codes generated by the keys or push buttons of the same) to change the device that is controlled by it. The present invention accordingly provides a method and system for implementing a home network to command and control home devices. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a first home device that is capable of displaying the data of the user's interconnection is connected to the home network. A second device that stores the user's interconnection data which defines an interconnection with the user to command and control the second home device, is also connected to the home network. The first home device receives the user interconnection data from the second home device over the home network. The first home device then exhibits the interconnection with the user as defined by the interconnection data with the user. The user input is then accepted from a user in response to the interaction with the user interface displayed on the first home device. Based on user input, control and command information is sent from the first home device to the second home device to control the second home device.

According to another aspect of the invention, the user interconnection data stored on the second home device is in the form of HTML page data. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a configuration manager is also connected to the home network. When the first home device is connected to the home network, it sends signals to the administrator of the configuration that is connected to the home network. The configuration manager keeps a list of the home devices that are usually connected to the home network. According to another aspect of the invention, the home network is connected to the Internet. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a home network system is provided for commanding and controlling home devices. The home network includes a configuration manager, a first home device that contains the interconnection data with the user which defines an interconnection with the user to command and control the first home device, a second home device that has a display unit that can be observed, that can be used to display the interconnection with the user to command and control the first g home device, and an electric bus that provides a means of communication that is used by the administrator of the configuration, by the first home device and by the second home device to communicate with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are described with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both in terms of its organization and its manner of operation, together with additional objects and advantages, can be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a home network constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates an example of a stratified or layered interconnection model that can be used for communication between home devices according to the present invention; Figures 3A and 3B are block diagrams illustrating the control and command of a device home using an examiner based on a Digital TV (DTV) according to one embodiment of the present invention and a specific example; Figure 4A is a block diagram illustrating a discovery mechanism of the home device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4B shows a flow diagram illustrating the generation of a file of device lists according to certain embodiments of the invention; Figure 5A is a block diagram of a link page of the devices according to the present invention; Figure 5B illustrates an example of a tree structure of home devices according to certain embodiments of the invention; Figure 6 graphically shows a view of a link page of the device according to the present invention; Figure 7 graphically shows a diagram of an alternative view of a link page of the device according to the present invention; Figure 8 graphically shows a preview of a session page according to the present invention; Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating a session manager that causes two home devices to communicate over a home network in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention; Figure 10 shows graphically a side view of the session page according to the present invention, Figure 11 shows graphically a third view of the session page according to the present invention; Figure 12A is a block diagram of a session page according to the present invention; Figure 12B is another block diagram of the session page according to the present invention; • Figure 13 is another block diagram of the session page according to the present invention; Figure 14 is a block diagram of a home network that is connected to the Internet in accordance with the present inventions; Figure 15 is a diagram illustrating the creation of a macro instruction according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating the creation of a macro instruction according to another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and describes the best modes currently contemplated by the inventors to carry out their invention of a method and apparatus for controlling home devices over a home network. . In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are described to provide a complete understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present inventions. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a home network based on an analyzer uses Internet technology to control and command home devices that are connected to a home network. Each home device contains interconnection data (for example, HTML, XML, JAVA, JAVASCRIPT, GIF, JPEG, graphics, files, or any format useful for the proposed purpose) that provide a interconnection to command and control the home device over the home network. In certain modes, each home device contains one or more pages of the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) (Hypertext Gain Language) that provides the command and control of the home device. Using analyzer technology, the home network uses Internet standards to convert HTML pages to provide users with a plurality of user interconnections ("GUIs") to command and control each of the home devices. In one mode, the home network is configured as an intranet (internal network). Figure 1 is a block diagram of a home network 100 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, a busbar of the series 1394 114 electronically connects the multiple home devices on the home network 100. In this example, the busbar of the 1394 series 114 provides the physical (middle) layer to send and receive data between several of the connected home devices. The busbar of the 1394 series 114 supports both audio / video streams multiplexed in time (A / V) and standard IP (Internet Protocol) communications. In certain modalities, the home network uses a layer of the IP network as the communication layer for home network 100. However, other communication protocols could be used to provide communications for the home network. For example, the invention can be implemented using FCP (Function Control Protocol) as defined by IEC 61883, or any other appropriate protocol. Accordingly, a network can generally include two or more devices interconnected by a physical layer for the exchange or transfer of the data in accordance with a predefined communications protocol. Figure 2 illustrates an example of a layered or layered connection model that can be used for communication between home devices in accordance with the present invention. In this example, a home device (server) 150 communicates with the client of the home device 166 using communication layers 152-164 of the network. Using the Internet Protocol standard for network layer 160, home devices can communicate with each other without having to know specific details about the other communication layers (ie application 152, presentation 154, session 156, transport 158, data link 162 and physical characteristics 164). Therefore, using the standard of Internet Protocol for layer 160 of the network, the home network can use a combination of different layers of communication in the communication between different home devices. It should be recognized that a single physical packet may include several devices which are connected in the network logically by means of a network layer, as shown for example in Figure 2, not necessarily by means of a physical network. Such devices may include a VCR and a TV in a single housing, for example. Accordingly, for such a mode, where a logical device has access to a GUI to enable the user to control a home device, the home device and the logic device can be included in the same physical package. In such modality, it could be considered that the physical device searches and attracts a GUI from the same device. However, in other embodiments, the home network interconnects the separate physical devices, where for example, a first device searches and attracts a GUI from a second device, to allow the user to interact with the GUI to control the second device. By way of definition, it is contemplated that a "client" is a device that provides a control interconnection service with a human operator, including a physical graphic display element for downward communication and a mouse or slider or other point-and-click device for upward (or backward) communication. A "server" is contemplated as a module that provides a service, which can be any service other than a control interconnection provided by a client. Established differently, the server / client relationship is a control relationship, where the server provides a service but a client can use the data, as a DTV displays the video data, but does not manipulate or alter the data. Therefore it is consistent with this definition to observe that, frequently, a server can be a source of information and a client (an analyzer, for example) can be a consumer of information. Some specific functions which can be implemented by the servers include: the return of information (data); the performance of a function (for example, a mechanical function) and the return of the state; the return of a data stream and the state; the reception of a data stream and the return of the state; or save a state for a subsequent action. Examples of the servers include the source of MPEG, direct insertion classification and screen servers. Although a server typically includes a common, integrated control program to implement control of its own physical element, a client functions for interconnection with the server. It should be noted, however, that a "server" as used here does not imply that a descriptive programming server and a protocol stack must be used. In a currently preferred embodiment, a busbar of the 1394 series is used as the physical layer 164 for data communications over the home network 100. Because of its improved bandwidth capabilities, the busbar of the • series 1394 can provide a single means for all data communications over the home network 100 (i.e., the audio / video streams and the command / control). However, the home network 100 is not restricted to the use of a busbar of the 1394 series, and, in the alternative embodiments of the present invention, other types of busbars, such as Ethernet, ATM, wireless, etc., they can be used as the physical layer if they satisfy the particular performance requirements for an individual home network.

As shown in Figure 1, the home network 100 has several home devices connected to the busbar of the 1394 series 114. In this example, the home devices include a DBSS 104 which receives the signals of the transmission from a satellite 122. for the subsequent exhibition. Associated with the DBSS is a network interconnection unit ("NIU") which, among other things, provides an interconnection between the DBSS satellite transmissions and the busbar of the 1394 series 114. A digital video device ( "DVD") 108 is also connected to the exemplary home network 100. The DVD 108 can be used to digitally display the encoded videos on a home television. Also connected to the exemplary home network 100 is a digital video cassette recorder ("DVCR") 110, that is, a digital VCR, and a digital TV 102. In this example, the DTV 102 provides human interconnection for the home network 100 using the analyzer technology for allow users to control and command home devices over home network 100. Unlike most other home devices that are typically connected to a home network, DTV 102 can provide human interconnection for home network 100 because the It includes a screen to display HTML pages. However, other home devices that have a display capacity can be used to provide human interconnection. Therefore, in certain embodiments of the inventions, a device such as a personal computer ("PC") is used to provide human interconnection for a respective home network, because a PC typically takes shape in a display unit. Although the busbar 114 of the 1394 series is shown using the HTTP / IP interconnection protocol, certain home devices may require other types of protocol interconnections (eg TCP / IP, UDP / IP, FTP / IP, TELNET / IP , SNMP / IP, DNS / IP, SMTP / IP). Therefore, the HTTP / IP protocol may not be able to satisfy all the connection requirements of home devices. Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the invention, a bridge-connection representative 116 is used to interconnect the two networks using different interconnect protocols on their respective means which, when connected, comprise the home network 100. In certain embodiments, the two media of the network are of the same type. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the busbar of the 1394 series 114 that uses the The HTTP / IP interconnection protocol is connected by a bridge connection representative 116 to the busbar of the 1394 series 118, which uses the IEC61883 interconnect protocol. Using the bridge connection representative 116 for the interconnection between the HTTP / IP and IEC61883 protocols, the security system 120, which uses the interconnection protocol IEC 61883, is also accessible over the home network 100. In certain other modes , a home network can be comprised of two network media of different types, for example a busbar of the 1394 series and Ethernet. Therefore, in certain embodiments of the invention, a bridge connection representative is used to interconnect two different media types to form a single home network. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server 106 is used for the discovery of home devices that are powered by power and are connected to the home network 100. The discovery process of the home device is described in more detail later.

REVIEW OF THE HOME NETWORK As shown in Figure 1, the DTV 102, the DVCR 110, the DVD 108, the DSS-NIU 104 and the security system 120 represent home devices that are usually connected to home network 100. A client-server relationship it exists between the linked devices, with the DTV 102 behaving typically as the client and the home devices DVCR 110, DVD 108, DSS-NIU 104 and the security system 120 behaving as servers. As mentioned previously, each home device is associated with one or more Hypertext Profit Margin Language (HTML) files. HTML files define the control and command functions associated with a particular home device. Each HTML file can also contain interleaved references for the other HTML files. The DTV 102 based on the analyzer (which acts as a client), receives and interprets the HTML files associated with the home devices (which act as servers) and graphically displays the respective command and control information on its observable screen. In accordance with Internet standards of the Language of Profit Margin Hypertext (HTML) and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), each home device sends its custom GUI to the DTV 102 based on the analyzer. The DTV 102 based analyzer receives the HTML files from the home devices on the home network 100 using the HTTP protocol. Each HTML file contains control information and specific command for a respective home device. The HTML files make it possible for the analyzer-based DTV 102 to graphically display the control and command information to a user for a particular home device. Therefore, because each home device provides its own GUI through its own HTML files to the DTV 102 based on the analyzer, the DTV 102 based analyzer can provide a command and control interconnection for a home device without having to know any of the specific details about the particular device. This feature allows home network 100 to contain home devices from a multitude of different manufacturers. In addition, home devices can be added or removed transparently from the home network 100 without affecting the total system because, according to the invention, each home device defines its own command and control interconnection through its respective HTML files.

TWO-WAY HTML MECHANISM Figure 3A shows an exemplary embodiment in which a DTV 102 based on the analyzer (client) provides the characteristics of a home device 204 (server) over a home network. The home device 204 is represented by one or more HTML files stored in an accessible area within the home device 204. The one or more HTLM files are ASCII text files containing specific information pertaining to the particular home device 204., in the company of the data that make it possible for an analyzer to present the information graphically. In addition to presenting the HTML file on the DTV 102 based on the analyzer, using the technology of the forms, the DTV 102 based on the analyzer can return the information to the home device 204, thereby providing a two-way communication. Other common techniques for providing two-way communication may include the use of Control Gate or Java Interconnections (CGIs). Once the information contained in an HTML file of the device is graphically displayed on the DTV 202 based on the analyzer, the user can control the home device 204 from the DTV 202 by selecting the icons that have associated hyperlinks to start the control programs displayed on the DTV screen and / or enter the data to the DTV 202 HTML FILES OF THE HOME DEVICE As previously established, each home device connected to the home network has one or more associated HTML files. The HTML files for a respective home device define the control and command functions for this particular home device. Each HTML file can also contain interleaved references for the other related HTML files. A device connected to the home network that has an observable visual indicator (for example, the screen) and employs analyzer technology, can receive and interpret the HTML files associated with the home devices connected to the home network, and graphically display the information contained there using a GUI on its screen. This is illustrated by Figure 3A which shows an interaction between a client and the Executable features of the server. However, it is a feature of the invention to provide control by the interaction between the executable features of two servers or of a client and several servers. Accordingly, according to the invention control is typically implemented by the service control programs (executable programs which are trying to be remotely operated), communications, commands and (if necessary), human interconnection with a program of server control through a GUI. As an example, Figure 3B shows the localization of the components of the file and the program locally, allowing control actions to be implemented by running programs and scripts on the device itself. This aspect of the invention therefore allows the implementation to be carried out in a local manner which may be proprietary to the device instead of being carried out by remote control, and which therefore does not require a standardized 1394 command setting. For example, the user may wish to change the brightness of the screen. To implement such a change, the user can click on a "Brilliance" button on the User's HTML GUI page.

In response, another GUI can be used or brought up, with the "Brightness" and "Darkness or Opacity" buttons. In response to the user's click on one of these two buttons, the http server will cause a program to control the brightness for the screen to be operated, to control the action of the desired physical device. For the local action for the DTV, the DTV can therefore include a capacity of the server, to interpret the subsequent actions from the analyzer. In this regard, to enable subsequent actions to control their local physical devices, all DTV devices of the home network preferably have a server capability. For such an operation, an analyzer can receive the local html files and present the files to a GUI, without invoking the http server. To invoke the local http server to respond, clicking on a button preferably involves http access to the name of the local machine or IP address. In turn, the http server invokes the control program of the local device, such as the "Brilliance" in the example above. In general, the control can be implemented by the transfer of a graphical control object (GCO), which preferably lies on the server, from the server to the presentation to the client, to make the GUI. As an advantageous result of this approach, the detailed controls return to the server causing the GCO to be proprietary, because the server device "understands" and is alert with respect to its own GUI controls. Additionally, the view and touch of the GUI originate with the connected server (for example, the program server, the server device or the medium) and not with the cl. The independence of the command language makes the operating arrangement independent of any new features added to the devices, which can be included in the GCO sent from the server, as well as any other future modifications, that is, the configuration of the home network is inherently makes "proof of a new feature" and "proof of the future". In addition, because a specific device can be selected for the control of an icon, there is no need for a reconfiguration of the physical elements to implement the control of different (or updated) devices. Consequently, a single-command adjustment can be used in a remote control to control several devices (different), communicating with the client's device the presentation of the GUI. For the control of server to server without involving a user and without GUI, the automatic operation can be initiated or established by the control of the user by means of a client, but the subsequent action is implemented by the interaction of the control language between the servers without involving a client. To implement the above, a server operating in accordance with the invention preferably has one or more control programs to execute a required service. The server, which stores its GCO, provides the GCO to a client and a GUI presented on the interconnections of the client with the control program (s) of the executable server (s). In addition, the server control program is able to save or save the state which has been controlled by the GUI, such as the setting of a timer file action for example. The server may also include a clock to implement various timer operations. The client therefore did not require to have any knowledge of the server device that is controlled, and it is not necessary to provide the client with the ability to save a previously controlled state. Really, as described elsewhere in here, the client can not be running for a part of the time in which the server is running. Accordingly, preferably the server is not based on another device, such as the client, for its operation and can serve multiple clients simultaneously. A client, which receives GCO transfers from one or more servers, includes a GUI presenter to form the GUI from a received GCO. It is within the scope of the invention for a limited number of GCOs, for a limited number of servers, to reside in the client. However, for the inventive configuration of a home network, the large number of different types of servers currently in existence and contemplated for the future demonstrates the advantage that arises from the GCOs that reside in the servers, thus freeing the client from a requirement of some integrated knowledge of the server (s) that is (are) controlled (s). In the operation, during the initial selection of the device, the GCO is searched and presented by the client, to form the GUI and makes it possible for the actions and responses to be communicated between the GUI and the control program (s) of the client (s).

For server-server control, an interconnection of the command language and the command library can be provided on a server. For any individual server, it is not necessary to provide the full command language. Instead of this, a server is only able to support these commands that are necessary to send and receive, to perform its functions. It is a simpler task to provide such configuration than to build in the command language the interconnection and the library to a client to control all present and future servers. In addition to the one or more HTML files stored there, each home device connected to a home network contains a Properties file. In one mode, the Properties file for a respective home device includes the name of the device manufacturer, the name of the device, the type of the device, the model of the device, and the Uniform Resource Locator ("URL") of the page Homemade HTML from the device manufacturer. The top level page associated with each home device can be called the device / defalt .HTML file. Each home device connected to the home network also contains a LOGO image file (LOGO) . A LOGO image file for a respective home device is a file that contains an image that represents the manufacturer of the device. In a modality, the LOGO image file for a particular home device contains an image with the name and logo of the manufacturer of the home device. In the following description, a program agent which helps the user in the interaction with the network and to control the various home devices connected to the network, and which consequently acts as the primary interconnection between the user and the home network, is called an administrator of the session. For example, the user's program agent (that is, the session administrator) can access the devices to give the user more information, to help the user with the make of the selections associated with the devices, or with the management of the devices. Such assistance with the control of a device can include the modification of the GUI screen for this device, as well as losing sight or making some buttons gray, thus inhibiting the selection of several options (or devices) based on the previous selections and the capabilities of the devices. Still additionally, the administrator of the session, which acts as the agent of the user, can link two or more devices selected by the user and can establish a communication route between them, freeing the user from tedium and the detail of implementing such control functions. In certain embodiments, for a session administrator to properly locate the LOGO image file of a respective home device, all home devices connected to the home network use a standard file name for the particular LOGO image file. which is going to be exhibited. In one mode, each of the home devices names their respective LOGO image file to be displayed LOGO.GIF. In certain modalities, an image file of LOGO for a respective home device is of a standard size, for example 120 x 40 pixels. A standard size ensures that the logos of the device have a uniform, clear look, when observed in the GUI displayed to the user. In certain modalities, the image of the LOGO image file can also be animated. In certain modalities, multiple versions of the LOGO image file may reside on a respective home device, with the home device responsible for the determination of which version is last displayed to the user. The home device can update the version that will be displayed to the user during the course of time, based on the criteria of the device manufacturer's choice. Each home device connected to a home network also contains an ICON image file. An ICON image file for a respective home device is a file that contains an image that represents the particular type of home device; for example, a DTV or a DVCR. In certain embodiments, the ICON image file contains an image of the device or a symbol that represents the type of the device. A manufacturer's model number can be included in the background part of the image in the ICON image file, to aid in the identification of the home device over the home network. In certain modalities, different variations of the ICON image file reside on a respective home device, with each variation of the ICON representing a particular state of the home device. For example, for a DVCR, the ICON image files may contain images of a DVCR that reproduces, Rewind, with a medium inserted, with an absent medium, etc. To represent the various status images of the device, the manufacturer can use a variety of symbols, colors and animation. The home device is responsible for the determination with which the version of the ICON image is going to be displayed to the user, based on the representative status of the device at any particular time. This allows the ICON image file for a respective home device to provide a feedback to the user as the particular state of the home device. In certain embodiments, a file of the ICON image for a respective home device is of a standard size, for example, 120 x 90 pixels. A standard size ensures that the images of the device will have a uniform, sharp observation when they are displayed. in the GUI displayed to the user. In one modality, for a session administrator to properly locate the ICON image file of a respective home device that is to be displayed, all home devices connected to the home network use a standard ICON image file name for the respective ICON image file that is going to be presented. Each home device can name its respective ICON image file that is going to be displayed ICON.GIF. As previously established, each home device connected to the home network has one or more HTML files associated with it. One of these HTML files is a home page or basic page file for the particular home device. To help access a home page from the particular home device, in certain modalities, each home device uses a file name from the standard home page. In one mode, each home device names its own file from the respective home page USER.HTML.

DISCOVERY PROCESS OF THE HOME DEVICE Communication over the home network is provided through the use of the protocols of the standard network of the Control Protocol / Internet Protocol of the Transmission (TCP / IP). The TCP layer provides a reliable delivery mechanism while the IP layer provides an assignable addressing mechanism for the data packets on the home network 100. In the discovery process of the home device, each home device is associated with a unique IP address and a logical name, which are used to identify a particular home device connected to the home network. To associate each home device with a unique IP address and logical name pair, a configuration manager is provided, which dynamically assigns a unique IP address and a logical name for each home device that became available on the home network An available home device is a home device that is both powered with power and connected to the home network. The IP address and logical name pairs of the available home devices are stored in a list file of the devices within the configuration manager. The file of the device list is updated dynamically when the home devices are added and removed from the home network 100 (ie, they become available and not available on the home network 100). By using the address manager to assign unique IP addresses for each home device, device manufacturers are relieved of having to associate a predefined IP address with each home device. However, in certain embodiments of the invention, when a Particular home device is associated with a predefined IP address, the configuration manager uses the predefined IP address as the unique IP address of the home device over the home network 100. In one embodiment of the invention, a protocol server dynamic guest configuration ("DHCP") 106 of Figure 1 performs the functions of a configuration manager for a home network 100. DHCP is a common industry standard and, for a particular home network, multiple home devices may be capable to perform the required DHCP server functions 106. However, although multiple home devices may be capable of functioning as the DHCP server 106, in a preferred mode currently, the home device that is the least likely type of device to be duplicated over the home network 100 (i.e., less likely to have more than one of its home device types resident on the home network 100) is nominated to function as the DHCP server 106. In the home network 100 exemplary of Figure 1, the DSS 104 is nominated to be the DHCP server 106 for home network 100 because it is less likely to be duplicated on network 100.

The DHCP server 106 over the home network 100 generates a unique IP address and, for each home device that is available over the home network 100, retrieves a logical name pair from the device. In certain embodiments, if an individual home device on the home network 100 has a predefined IP address already associated therewith, the DHCP server 106 uses the predefined IP address as the unique IP address from this home device. The DHCP server 106 causes the IP address and logical name pairs associated with the available home devices to be stored within a list file of the devices. The list file of the devices is updated dynamically when the home devices are added and removed from home network 100. In certain configurations, a plurality of home devices with the DHCP server capabilities can exist over a single home network. Therefore, in certain modalities, an arbitrary protocol is used to select and design a home device to function as the DHCP server for the home network. In another modality, the communication protocol is used between the different home devices with the DHCP server capabilities that they are present over the home network, leading to a DHCP server designated only for the home network. Figure 4A is a block diagram illustrating a discovery process of the home device according to an embodiment of the invention. When a home device 302 that is connected to the home network is activated, the home device 302 broadcasts its presence over the home network to extract its configuration from the DHCP server 306. During the reception of the broadcast, the DHCP server 306 generates a unique IP address and a logical name that will be associated with the home device 302. After generating the unique IP address and observing the logical name pair, the DHCP server 306 returns the IP address pair and the logical name to the home device 302. The unique IP address is then used for communication with the home device 302 over the home network. In addition to sending the IP address pair and the logical name to the home device 302, the DHCP server 306 stores the IP address pair and the logical name generated within the file of the devices list. This discovery process is repeated for each home device that is activated and connected to the home network. Accordingly, the DHCP server 306 provides the dynamic assignment of the IP address pairs and the logical name to reconfigure the connected and activated home devices. Figure 3A shows a flow chart illustrating the generation of a file from the list of devices 318 according to certain embodiments of the invention. In this example, a DHCP Server 310 communicates with a home device 312 that is accessible over the home network to generate a unique IP address and logical name for the home device 312. The DHCP server 310 stores this information in the base of DHCP data 314. When home devices become available / not available over the home network, the information in the DHCP database 314 is continually updated in the manner described below. The GENIP is an application based on a Win32 console which interacts with external programs, databases (indirectly) and administrators of the session / devices. The central interaction is an indirect contact with the product of the standard DHCP Server which is part of the Windows NT Server package, through a program known as DHCPCMD.exe, which is part of the NT Server Resource set or set (NT Server Resources) about the DCROM sets from the MSDN developer. In the operation, DHCCPCMD.exe interacts with external programs and databases through an "enumclients" command, which creates a list of all the common databases of DHCP clients. Accordingly, GENIP operates the DHCPCMD installation or resource and generates a "common" internal database of the active leased IP in the DHCP database from the DHCPCMD installation output. The GENIP process 316 of Figure 4B periodically reads the information of the devices contained in the DHCP database 314 and compares it with the device information commonly contained in the file of the device list 318. Comparing the GENIP information 316 can determine if a home device has been added or removed from the home network. More specifically, the "common" database is compared item by item or point-by-point against the previously read database and, if any difference is found, an update of the data base is made, which is why it is provided a detection of any devices connected again on the work network. In a modality, if the device information contained in the DHCP database 314 differs from the device information contained in the device list file 318, the GENIP 316 process sends signals to a process to update a device link page and repaint a client screen. The link page of the device is described in more detail later. ReadDHCPDBO is the working horse of the GENIP, which manages the establishment and execution of the DHCPCMD as well as the reading of the output resulting from it, which reads it in the "common" database, which compares with the database " prior, "and then write a new" outbound "database for customers. For breach, the GENIP operates on the basis of DHCP data every 3 seconds, and therefore it is advantageous to have the GENIP running on the same physical machine as the DHCP server itself. Similarly, because the administrators of the devices and / or the session will be accessing the output database frequently as well, the output file must be replaced in a directory which is shared by the server and the server. which clients have access. Although this requires agreement by the client about where the output database will be stored, this protocol feature can be improved by providing a protocol which is non-polluting for events as it does not require manual configuration. For example, instead of writing to a file, the UpdateDBO element of the GENIP can prepare a packet from the network which could be disseminated to the subnet of interest, the package that contains the instructions for the client on how to give the information of the final database. This can be implemented simply by using the http protocol, placed over an unused opening such as 8080 for example, so that the broadcast message could contain http: // server_ip_address: 8080 / network_db. txt. The "network_db-txt" portion of the message may not be used if the only use for opening 8080 is the network database. For purposes of enhanced expansion and future capacity, other information could be allowed to be transmitted through this same http gate, and a real full URL is provided.

AUTOCONSTRUCTOR OF THE TREE In one embodiment of the invention, a tree self-builder uses the contents of the file from the list of devices in a home network to generate a link page of the device. The link page of the device is displayed to the user on the screen of a home device based on an analyzer. The link page of the device contains a button of the home device for each home device identified in the file of the device list. Each button of the home device on the link page of the device is associated with a hypertext link (hyperlink) on the top level page of the respective home device. If a user selects a button of the particular home device contained in the link page of the device, the home page of the respective device is subsequently displayed to the user on the screen of the home device based on the analyzer. Figure 5B illustrates an example of a tree structure 400 of the home device according to certain embodiments of the invention. In this example, the structure of the home device tree 400 contains a file 410 of the device list, a link page 412 of the device and three pages of the device of the upper level (DSS 414, DTV 416 and DVD 418). Using the information of the device contained in file 410 of the list of devices 410, the autoconstructor of the tree generates the link page 412 of the device and inserts the links (for example the hypertext links) to the top level page of each device (DSS 414, DTV 416 and DVD 418). In this example, the DSS of the device page contains several data files 420 which can be accessed by means of the link between the link page 412 of the device and page 414 of the device of the higher level of DSS. In certain modalities, in the generation of the link page of the device, the autoconstructor of the tree uses the file of the list of devices to create an HTML file of the device that contains a button of the home device for each home device that is connected commonly with the home network. Using the IP addresses contained in the file of the list of devices, the tree's autoconstructor has access to each home device to obtain the information of the Properties file and the URL of the top-level page (ie the USER.HTML file). ) associated with each home device. Using the respective URL information, the tree's autoconstructor converts each button of the home device in the device's HTML file to a hypertext link for the top-level page of the respective home device. This file The HTML of the device is then used as the link page of the device. For example, Figure 5A is a link page of device 402 according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown, the link page of the device 402 contains the buttons 406 of the home device for each home device connected to the home network 100. Each button 406 of the home device is associated with a hypertext link for the home page of the top level of the corresponding home device . If a user selects a button of the particular home device 406 contained on the link page 402 of the device 402, the home page of the respective device is subsequently displayed to the user. In certain embodiments of the invention, the tree self-constructor also retrieves the file from the ICON image. GIF that is stored in each home device. The tree's autoconstructor then uses the ICON images. GIF to display each of the corresponding home device buttons. In addition to ICON images, in certain modes, the tree's autoconstructor also obtains the LOGO image file. GIF for each home device. The autoconstructor of the tree associates each image of LOGO.GIF with a hypertext link for the home page of the device manufacturer. The LOGO image is then included in the HTLM file of the device. For example, Figure 6 is a link page 502 of the device according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown, the link page 502 of the device contains the buttons 504 of the home device and the buttons 506 of the device of the manufacturer. The buttons 504 of the home device are represented by the ICON.GIF images of each corresponding device. The buttons 506 of the manufacturer's device are represented by the LOGO images. GIF of the respective manufacturer of the corresponding home device. In certain modalities, as shown in the Figure 7, the user can define the arrangement of the images of the device 602 and the logos 604 on the link page 606 of the device, according to his own criteria. For example, a user may arrange images 602 of the device and associated logos 604 in the groups according to the placement of the respective home device in the home, for example, on a room-by-room basis. In such an example, a hand-held, light-weight television camera with a built-in VCR, manufactured by SONY, a DTV manufactured by Samsung and a DBSS manufactured by Zenith can all be grouped in a group of a living or active room 608. In this mode, the user can also include the additional lines of text 610 to describe the groupings and / or the devices shown by the images of the device 602 and the associated logos 604.

SESSION ADMINISTRATOR As previously noted, a session administrator provides the primary interconnection between a user and a home network. The session administrator, when activated appropriately, generates a page of the session that provides an interconnection which allows users to command and control the home devices that are connected to the home network to perform various functions and / or services. Some typical services that are available on a home network include, but are not limited to, starting a movie playback, programming a DBBS, and registering a television program. The session administrator displays the services of the home network (servers) available and matches the capabilities and selections made in a interconnection of the graphic user (GUI) with another GUI to facilitate a sensitive and facilitated selection, thus simplifying the use of the home network. Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating an administrator of session 750 that causes two home devices (DTV 752, DVCR 754) to communicate over a home network according to certain embodiments of the invention. As shown in this example, by sending the command and control information to the home devices (DTV 752, DVCR 754), the administrator of session 750 causes the home devices (DTV 752, DVCR 754) to communicate with each other (is say the audio / video stream). For example, to display a registered TV program, the administrator of session 750 sends the command / control information to cause the DVCR 754 to broadcast the information (for example - the TV program) on a particular stream in the home network . In addition, the administrator of the session 750 sends the command / control information to cause the DTV 752 to display the information that is being broadcast on the particular stream in the home network. Similarly, although not shown in the Figure of the drawings, the session administrator can send the command / control information to cause a tuner (for example, the DBSS) broadcast a TV program over a stream in a network and may also send additional command / control information to either or both of the DTV and the DVCR to display and / or record the TV program. In yet another alternative modality, if a single physical housing, or package, had to include both a DTV and a tuner (ie, two separate logic devices), the command / control information sent to the housing could cause the tuner therein to broadcast a program of TV in a stream over the home network to either (or both) of the DTVs in the same housing and / or to the separately hosted DVCR. More specifically, the control actions of the client server can be implemented to initiate a current source of the program and a direct insertion server stream. Once the data is flowing, the client of the session administrator can undock this activity and perform other functions. In controlling the illustrative configuration, the session administrator can cause the DVCR 754 to save or save a first state, for example, "the timer record", and the DTV save or save a second state, for example, " the timer selects a program ". A watch later triggers or activates the states saved in action. In this example, no additional control action is required from the session administrator. However, for more complex examples, the session administrator may remain in, or regain, control, or may initiate additional control of other devices. Although the basic model illustrated in Figure 9 shows a client and two servers, a server that represents the control program that controls the DTV providing an exhibition service and the other that represents the control program that controls the DVCR to provide a service of registration, the model can be extended to a plurality of N servers where N > 2. Figure 8 illustrates a page of session 702 according to one embodiment of the invention. In this example, the session page 702 contains frames 704, 706 and 708. As shown, frame 704 contains a link page 710 of the device containing device buttons 712 for each home device commonly connected to the home network . When the administrator of the session is activated, it causes the tree's autoconstructor process to generate a new link page for the device. In certain modalities, the session administrator is notified when home devices are added and dynamically removed from the home network. For example, referring again to Figure 4B, when the GENIP 316 process determines that a home device has been either added to or removed from the home network, the GENIP 316 process notifies the administrator of the session. The administrator of the session then causes the tree's autoconstructor process to generate a new link page for the device. In an alternative mode, the session administrator periodically scrutinizes or verifies file 318 from the list of devices to determine if it has been updated with new information from home devices. If the administrator of the session determines that file 318 of the list of devices has been updated, the administrator of the session causes the process of the autoconstructor of the tree to generate a new page of link of the device. In certain embodiments of the invention, the functions of the autoconstructor process of the tree are contained within the administrator of the session. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, the session administrator generates the link page of the device performing the functions of the tree self-builder described previously. A critical function of the session administrator is to make it possible for a user to initiate an available service over the home network. An available service is a particular function that can be performed by one or more home devices that are operated concurrently and connected to the home network. For example, a service may consist of selecting a DTV to watch a particular TV show and tuning the DBSS to a particular station that is carrying the respective TV show. To enable a user to initiate an available service, when the user selects a button 712 of the particular home device from the link page 710 of the device, the session administrator causes the home page of the upper level of the selected home device to be displayed. within a framework contained on page 702 of the session. For purposes of explanation, it should be assumed that a user selects the button 712 of the device that corresponds to the "Dad's TV". As shown in Figure 10, when the button 712 of the device for dad's television, the administrator of the session displays the home page 804 of upper level in a frame 706 of the page of session 802. Figure 10 is similar to Figure 8 and, therefore, similar components have been numbered in a similar manner. As shown in Figure 10, in certain embodiments of the invention, the LOGO 806 image that is associated with the selected home device is displayed within the frame 706. After a 712 image of the device is selected, the session administrator continues to display the content of the page. 710. However, in certain embodiments, the button of the selected device 712 is deactivated and therefore, it is not responsible for further selection by the user. For example, when the button 712 of the device corresponding to the TV of Dad is selected, it is deactivated and becomes not responsible for an additional selection by the user. When the user selects a button 712 of the home device, the administrator of the session obtains the particular capabilities of the selected home device. The particular capabilities of a home device include a list of standard functions that the respective home device is capable of performing, for example, the capabilities of a home device.

DVCR generally include "accept the video" and "display the video". In certain modalities, the session administrator obtains the particular capabilities of a selected home device by accessing the file called standard over the respective home device. After obtaining the particular capabilities of the selected home device, the session administrator searches for the capabilities of the other home devices that are represented on the device's 710 link page (that is, listed in the device list file) , to match them with the particular capabilities of the selected home device. For each home device that is found to have a mapping capability with the selected home device, the session administrator continues to activate the 712 button of the respective device (ie, maintains the responsiveness with respect to the selection by the user) . For each home device that is found to have no match or match capabilities with respect to the selected home device, the session administrator deactivates the 712 button of the respective device (that is, it is set as the answer negative to the selection by the user) so that the user can not additionally select the respective device for the common session. For example, where the user has selected a client device such as a TV screen, the session administrator can search specifically to match the devices which are capable of acting as video servers, or resources or sources, instead of other visual indicators. Under these circumstances, the administrator of the session can deactivate the buttons for the other visual indicators. Alternatively, in a "control only" mode of operation, where a client-server relationship is not being established, the session administrator does not look for a second device which can act as a source for the selected device. More particularly, according to the invention it is possible to operate with a number of devices representing programming agents that are capable of controlling the lights, for example. In such environment, the user could select either a control device, which is not a source or server of the information, and one or more devices of the light that are to be controlled by it. When the user first selects the control device, the session administrator can then identify several devices capable of being controlled by, or interact with, the selected device and continue to activate the buttons of the respective device thereof, while the buttons for the devices are deactivated. other devices. Actually, it should be appreciated that the administrator of the session can select any number of devices for presentation to the user as the possible choices for the operation, for which the buttons of the selection remain activated. The devices may or may not cooperate with each other. That is, devices whose buttons remain activated can operate in cooperation with, or independently of, each other. Where a display device of the information is selected, it may be possible for a plurality of servers to remain active for a possible selection. For example, according to some embodiments of the invention, when a button of the device for a DTV or DVCR is selected, the session administrator can activate the buttons of the device for various information sources, such as an audio server and a video server. Actually, it is also possible that the buttons on the device selection can remain activated for the selection of plural video servers, and that during the selection of a video server the buttons for the selection of the other servers will remain activated, to take into account the situations where you want to provide multiple images on a single screen. For example, it may be desirable to display an entertainment video while simultaneously being displayed, such as an image-in-picture video from a security camera or from another server. Alternatively, the video information from one or more sources may be communicated to a plurality of client screens. It should be appreciated that, when appropriate information about the interaction capabilities of the device is provided to the session administrator, the session administrator will indicate that several of the devices are, or are not, enabled for user-based selection. in the appropriate selections of the user. Acting as an agent for the user, the session administrator obtains information that refers to the capacity of the device and, in response to this, deactivates the selection buttons for the particular devices while keeping the device selection buttons active. for others dispositives. By determining if and which devices have corresponding or matched capabilities, and by making gray (deactivating) the buttons for the non-corresponding devices and activating the buttons for the corresponding devices, the session administrator therefore assists the user with the making of the associated selections with the devices, or with the management of the devices. With such help, the user can then select a second home device to interact with the previously selected home device to carry out the desired service. Where the administrator of the session has inhibited some possibilities of selection and has enabled others, the selection of the user is simplified. Where the equalization, selection, inhibition or enabling have not been carried out by the session administrator, the user makes the selection based on several criteria. For example, the user may simply wish to select or activate a specific device. Alternatively, the user may wish to select all devices capable of performing a specific function. In this regard, the administrator of the session can generate a page which includes all the network content, and all functional capabilities, regardless of the specific device. Accordingly, the HTML page can identify the services available to the user for the content, such as by providing a list of video or audio programs, etc., which are available over the home network regardless of the device over which such content is being provided. Such a visual indicator is transparent to the user in the sense that the user is allowed to select the sources of information based on the content, instead of the equipment, the device or the channel through which the information becomes available. During the selection of the second home device, the session administrator displays the home page for the second home device in frame 708. The order in which the recurring pulse cycles are chosen to display the home page of each selected device is not critical, and therefore, in certain embodiments of the invention, the home page of the first selected device is displayed in the frame 708 and the home page of the second selected device is displayed in the frame 706. Figure 11 illustrates the page of the session 902 after the selection of a second home device according to the embodiment of the invention. As shown in Figure 11, when the user selects the button 712 of the device corresponding to the Jaime DVD in this example, the session administrator displays the home page of the upper level 904 for the respective home device in a frame 708 of the page of session 902. Figure 11 is similar to Figure 9 and Figure 10 and, therefore, similar components have been numbered equally. As shown in Figure 11, in certain embodiments of the invention, the LOGO 906 image associated with the selected home device is displayed within the frame 708. Once the images of the home device have been selected, the administrator of the session it allows the respective home devices to communicate with each other to establish and perform the desired service that was selected by the user through the options displayed on the respective home pages 804 and 904 of each selected home device. An example of a mode of session 1002 of the session manager is shown in Figures 12A, 12B and 13. In this example, as shown in Figure 12A, the user can choose one of four images of the device displayed in a page of link of the device 1022 contained in the frame 1004 of a page of the session 1012. In this example, the user can select a button 1014 of the DSS device, a button of the CD device 1016, a button 1018 of the DTV device or a button 1020 of the DVCR device. For purposes of explanation, it should be assumed that the user selected button 1020 of the DVCR device. As shown in Figure 12B, when button 1020 of the DVCR device is selected, the session administrator displays the home page for the respective DVCR in frame 1006 of the page of session 1012. The session administrator continues displaying the four images of the device on the link page 1022 of the device of the session page 1012. After the user selects the button 1020 of the DVCR device, the session administrator determines the particular capabilities of the selected DVCR device and it compares them with the particular capabilities of the other accessible devices on the home network, that is, the DBSS, the CD and the DTV. In this example, the session administrator determines that there is an equality or correspondence in the capabilities between the selected DVCR and both the DTV co or the DBSS. The administrator of the session also determines that there is no equality or correspondence between the capabilities of the selected DVCR and the capabilities of the CD. Accordingly, the session administrator deactivates the button 1016 of the device for the CD on the link page 1022 of the device. Additionally, because the button 1020 of the DVCR device was selected by the user, the session administrator now deactivates the button 1020 of the DVCR device on the link page 1022 of the device. Because the session administrator finds corresponding capabilities between the selected DVCR and the DBSS and the DTV devices connected to the home network, the session administrator continues to keep the active device buttons 1014 and 1018 for these devices respective home on the link page 1022 of the device. Therefore, in this particular example, the user can now further select either button 1018 of the DTV device or button 1014 of the DSS device so that the respective selected device can interact with the previously selected DVCR to perform a particular service. in the home network. However, because the button 1016 of the CD device has been deactivated, because there are no shared capabilities between the CD and the DVCR previously selected, the user can not select the button 1016 of the CD device at this time. In this example, the user further selects the DTV button 1018 contained on the link page 1022 of the device. As shown in Figure 13, the session administrator then displays the home page for the respective DTV in frame 1008 of the 1012 session page. The session administrator continues to display the home page of the DVCR device in the session. frame 1006 and the four buttons 1014, 1016, 1018 and 1020 of the device on link page 1022 of the device of the page of session 1012. The user can now select the control options from the home pages of each selected device (by example, to reproduce 1044 and volume 1042 respectively of the DVCR and the home pages of the DTV) to command and control the respective home devices so that they work in a particular way. Any home device connected to a home network that can act as a client, that is, which has the ability to display the HHTML records through its respective display unit (by example, a DTV or a PC), can be designated a server of the session. A session server is a device that contains a session manager, a display unit (that is, a screen), its own files from the HTML page, including a file from the home-level, top-level HTML page , and an analyzer. In certain modalities, when a session server (for example, a DTV, a general-purpose computer) is booted, the administrator of the associated session is executed and a page of the session, as previously described in Figure 12A, it is displayed on the display unit of the server of the particular session. The user can then select a home device to command, to perform a desired function or service. In an alternative mode, when a server of the session is activated, its respective analyzer is operated and displays the top-level home page for the server of the respective session. In certain modes, the home page of the session server is associated with a standard file name, such as USER.HTML. Associated with the home page of the session server is a button option on the device page which, when select, causes the session administrator to run on the session server to display a page of the session as previously described in Figure 12A.

EXECUTING A SERVICE As previously indicated, the administrator of the session is the primary interconnection between the user and a home network. It is a tool capable of accessing and controlling each home device over the network, and in general, it must be available on each household device based on an analyzer, that is, the client's device. The administrator of the session makes it possible for the user to start a service over the home network. As previously described, with respect to Figures 12A, 12B and 13, a session administrator allows a user to choose up to two home devices at a time, which he or she wishes to control to perform a specific service. Each home device has one or more capabilities. For example, a DVCR is capable of both accepting and outputting a video signal, a CD player is capable of outputting a signal of audio, and a DTV is capable of accepting the video signal. The capabilities are either similar to a source or similar to a direct insertion device. A CD player has a capacity similar to a source, because it is capable of outputting an audio signal. In contrast, a DVCR has capabilities similar to a source and similar to a direct insertion device because it can accept and output a video signal. Each capacity similar to the source has a capacity similar to a complementary direct insertion device that is compatible with it. For example, the output video capability of a home device is complemented by the video acceptance capability of a second home device. Each capacity is associated with a certain set of data specifications. For example, when a DVCR outputs a video signal, the video signal is broadcast on a particular stream from the top of the home network. The current number and other information about the signal are part of the specification message of the DVCR data (home device output). Therefore, in a modality, to execute a session, a first home device (output from the home device) communicates a message from specification of the data to a second home device (acceptance of the home device) by means of the administrator of the session. To provide home device communication, each home device has a control application associated with it. The control application for a home device manages communication between the session administrator of the respective home network and the home device. Therefore, the control application for two respective home devices provides a mechanism that allows two home devices to communicate with each other through the control manager. In certain embodiments, the control application is a specific package for the Java code device that communicates with the physical device of the respective home device, whereby this home device is controlled. Having a control application associated with each home device over the home network, the implementation details of the respective home device control are grouped and maintained within an application of the device supplied by the vendor. The control application of a home device also makes it possible for the respective vendors provide their own control scenarios for their devices. All control applications of home devices over the home network, however, must meet certain predefined specifications to make it possible for a respective home device to communicate with the administrator of the session. In certain embodiments, each home device on the home network has a list of data specifications associated with it. For example, a DVCR that has been instructed to "Exit the Video Signal", that is, transmit a video signal, diffuses the video signal over a particular isochronous current. The current identification information and other details about the video signal are part of the data specifications for the DVCR. The control application of a home device, for example, a DVCR, is capable of storing and warning the specifications of the data of the home device when asked by the administrator of the session. As previously described, the session administrator can ask or question several home devices about their particular capabilities. The administrator of the session is also responsible for asking several home devices about your data specifications, to ensure that the required user's service is established and performed appropriately. Once a user selects two home devices to perform a particular service, the user must choose certain device options for each of the home devices selected to perform this particular service. By choosing various options of the device, the physical element of the respective device is started to perform the service. The session administrator coordinates the communication between the selected devices to establish their configurations of the physical element and to carry out the required service. As an example, with reference again to the Figure 13, if a user wishes to play a video about the DTV, the service will consist of the reproduction of a video in the DVCR and the exhibition of the respective video about the DTV. After the user selects the PLAY (PLAYBACK) command option on the DVCR, the DVCR, among other tasks, chooses the isochronous current that the video signal will be broadcasting. This information, as well as other pertinent information regarding the signal to be broadcast and the establishment or adjustment of the physical element of the particular DVCR for dissemination, is say, the 'specifications of the DVCR data for the PLAY (PLAY) service, are subsequently passed on to the session administrator. The administrator of the session, during the reception of the data specifications from the DVCR, advances the information to the DTV, so that the DTV can properly initiate its physical element to display the video signal broadcast by the DVCR. Some time after this, the session administrator deletes the session 1012 page from the DTV display screen, allowing the DTV to display the video broadcast by the DVCR.

EXTERNAL CONNECTION Because the home network is compatible with the Internet protocol, connecting the home network to the Internet can provide the advantage of being able to control home devices from outside the home. Therefore, in certain embodiments of the invention, a connection is provided which allows the home network to interconnect with the Internet. Figure 14 shows a home network 1100 connected to the Internet 1102 according to the present invention. Because many of the components in Figure 14 are similar to Figure 1, similar components are numbered in the same way. As shown in Figure 14, in certain embodiments an Internet representative 1104 is used to provide an interconnection between home network 1100 and Internet 1102. Providing an interconnection between home network 1100 and Internet 1102 a user can remotely control home devices connected to the home network 1100. For example, if a user is required to work at the end and is therefore unable to observe the soccer game on Monday night, the user can program a DVCR connected to their network Homemade through the Internet, to record the particular event. The connection of the home network to the Internet can induce potential security access issues. Therefore, in certain modalities, a security mechanism is associated with the home network that is used to restrict access to the work network for individual authorized users.

MACROINSTRUCTIONS As described above, a user typically performs a sequence of steps to cause that a home device runs a particular service. In addition, because users of a home network typically have different preferences as to the particular settings of certain home devices, a sequence of steps may be performed repeatedly to adjust the settings or fixations of a respective home device. For example, a first user may have a particular preference in terms of brilliance, the dye and / or contrast of a particular DTV, while a second user has different preferences. To reduce the number of repeated steps typically performed by a user to adjust the settings or fixations of a particular home device, in certain embodiments of the invention a sequence of steps can be saved as a macro instruction. A macro instruction is a sequence of commands that is saved in a memory on a home device and to which it can be accessed and executed by a user. The macro instruction runs as if the user actually selects a particular button or will perform a particular action from inside the HTML page contained on the respective home device.

The use of macroinstructions can significantly reduce the amount of work that is required by a user to perform a particular function because a single macro instruction can be used to facilitate the adjustment and convenient control of several devices in series. For example, a user may wish to register a particular TV program on channel 2 at 8:00 p.m. for 1 hour every Tuesday night. This usually requires the user to select a DBSS or DTV as the program source and enter a particular sequence of steps to program a DVCR to receive and register the program. However, using a macro instruction, the user only needs to perform the step of executing the particular macro instruction. The macro instruction then executes the necessary steps of selection and command of the particular devices to register the program. There are several ways to generate macroinstructions depending on the programming capabilities of the respective particular home devices and the implementation of their HTML pages. In certain embodiments of the invention a prefixed type of macro instruction is used, which saves the actual values of the parameters of a device. He The macro-type preset type can be used in a home network in which the values of the parameters of a particular home device can be required and set. The pre-set or preset macro instruction is created by saving the usual value of a particular set of home device parameters. Each macro instruction is associated with a name so that it can be easily retrieved and executed at a later time. When a macro instruction is executed subsequently, it issues the appropriate commands to set the chosen parameters of the respective home device to its assigned value. For example, Figure 15 shows the creation of a prefixed macro instruction 1200 according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in Figure 15, when a button 1202 of the macro instruction to create on the respective HTML page of a home device is selected, a macro instruction generation process 1204 begins to run. Execution of the process of generating the macro instruction 1204 causes a set of parameter values 1208 of the device, selected by the user, selected from the parameter list 1206 of the home devices, to be saved to a file 1210 of the macro instruction. To the 1210 file of the macro instruction it is assigned a unique macro-instruction name 1212 and is saved on the home device. The name 1212 of the macro instruction is saved as a button of the name of the macro instruction on the HTML page 1214 of the list of macro instructions of the home device. After this, a user may select the button of the name of the macro instruction, causing the file of the respective macro instruction 1210 to be executed. In one embodiment of the invention, a macro instruction button is included on a home HTML page of the respective home device. The selection of the macro button causes the HTML page 1214 of the macro instruction list to be displayed to the user. In one embodiment, the button 1202 of the create macro is contained in the HTML page 1214 of the macro instruction list for a respective home device. In an alternative mode, a macro reproduction of the piano is created by a physical element and / or programming element of the home device, saving the particular steps taken by a user while interacting with the HTML pages of the device (for example, the selections of the user's button, the entries of the data and / or cursor movements are saved as they are executed by the user). Again, the macroinstructions created are associated with a particular name so that they can be retrieved and easily executed at a later time. When the micro playback of the piano is executed, it performs the particular sequence of instructions as if the user were accessing the HTML page (s) of the respective home device and was executing the sequence of steps directly. For example, Figure 16 shows the creation of a reproduction macro instruction of the piano 1300 according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in Figure 16, when a button of the create macro 1302 is selected, a process 1304 of generating the macro instruction is started. The execution of the macro-generation generation process 1304 causes an interaction with the user 1306 to be interpreted as a particular action by a command interpreter 1308. The respective actions are copied into a macro-file 1310, which is saved on the macro-instruction. respective home device and assigned to a unique macro name 1312. The name of the macro instruction 1312 is saved as a button of the name of the macro instruction on the page of HTML 1314 of the list of macro instructions of the home device. After this, a user can select the button of the name of the macro instruction, causing the file 1310 of the respective macro instruction to be executed. In addition to the macros created by the user, in certain embodiments of the invention, a predefined set of macro instructions is stored in the memory of the respective home device for ss by a user. Because macroinstructions are typically dependent on the device, in certain embodiments of the invention the manufacturer of a particular home device creates and defines a set of macro instructions that can be executed on the respective home device.

PROGRAM GUIDE OF THE HOME NETWORK To provide a user with a list of available multi-media material (eg audio and video programs, TV programs, and CDs), one or more program guides home network are associated with a home network. The one or more guides Home network programming can be categorized as the multi-media material available on a particular home device or can be combined in several ways to show a particular group of ssible multi-media material. A television programming guide typically provides a list and planning of programs that are available for observation on a particular channel. Most digital satellite services provide programming information through an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). The EPG displays a list of available programs and the specific time in which the programs can be observed through the service. EPGs are continually updated to reflect a common window of available programs. The home network uses the EPG information to build a HTML program guide for the home network. The HTML program guide is developed using the HTML standards and can be displayed on a home device based on an analyzer. In addition, users can manufacture the information of the particular programming that is displayed. For example, if a user might prefer not to display the program for a particular channel, for example, because of its programming content, the The user may require that the channel be removed from the HTML program guide. The information contained in an EPG depends on the particular DBSS that is used, and as such, there is usually no standard format for transmitting this information. Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, the process extracts the information from a particular EPG and converts it into a standard program format. The format of the standard program is then used to build a HTML program guide. The HTML program guide can be displayed on any home device based on an analyzer (for example, a DTV or a PC). Similar to the EPGs, the HTML program guide is updated periodically to reflect the commonly available programs. As stated above, the user can fabricate the displayed HTML program guide to observe only a particular set of available information. If a standard EPG format is developed, the HTML program guide can be constructed without first converting the EPG information into the standard program format. Therefore, in certain embodiments of the invention, the HTML programming guide is built using a standard EPG format as transmitted by a particular DBSS. In addition to the EPG received over a DBSS, the home network can be associated with other home devices that contain the multi-media material. For example, a DVD may contain certain movies, a PC can contain specific files (for example, games, pictures of paintings), a DVCR can contain a particular movie, and a CD player can contain specific CDs. In certain modalities, each home device maintains a file of the HTML program guide that contains a list of material commonly available about the respective home device. By using a home device based on an analyzer, a user can display the available material on a particular home device by giving or presenting the HTML program guide file of the particular home device. In certain other embodiments of the invention, a multi-media identification process is placed as a task with the search for accessible home devices to determine what material is currently available on each of them. In one modality, the process of identifying multiple media has access to each device Home to obtain a file or directory that contains a list of available material about the particular home device. A process of the contents of the home device then creates one or more HTML program guide files that show the material currently available to the user. A user can display the available material by giving or presenting a file of the particular HTML program guide. In an alternative mode, the multi-media identification process obtains the HTML program guide file that is maintained on a respective home device. Using the HTML program guide files obtained from the particular home network devices of the home network, the multi media identification process creates one or more files of the HTML program guide that show the material usually available to the user. A user can display the available material by giving or presenting a file of the particular HTML program guide.

CONCLUSION According to the invention described, the control of a plurality of devices (for example, a VCR, a CD player, a DVD player or any other device) is implemented with the help of a single closed-loop control, established from a video screen of a client device (such as a TV or a PC) to a user, to a remote control device, to a detector (such as an IR detector) on the customer's device. Such a closed control circuit is usable to control the plurality of devices, whereby a requirement of the front panel controls on such devices is eliminated. In one form of the invention, the closed control circuit can be implemented by connecting the devices to a home network. Instead of using the traditional front panel controls, the invention thus provides control of such devices through the home network by interaction with the respective GUI as given or presented on the client's device. The invention also eliminates a requirement for a remote control device to include there, or have access to, the specific control codes of each of the devices on the network. In the illustrative embodiment described herein, the remote control device may search for a GUI to provide the appropriate control function. In a modification, the remote control may include a visual indicator on the same to display the searched GUI, thereby eliminating the need for a separate visual indicator on a client device. The invention thus allows the remote control to access and control a plurality of devices using a single remote control and a single screen, with a unique method of display and operation, without requiring any change in the mode of operation thereof to change the device controlled by it. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not proposed to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms described, since many modifications or variations thereof are possible in the light of the previous teaching. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments described herein are chosen and described to better explain the principles of the invention and their practical application, whereby it is possible for other persons skilled in the art to use the invention in various modalities and with various modifications that are suitable for the use particular contemplated for it. The embodiments of the invention are proposed so that the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims thereto., when they are interpreted according to the total extension for which they are legally and equitably authorized. The specification and the drawings, consequently, are going to be considered in an illustrative sense instead of a restrictive sense. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the preferred embodiments described so far can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced in a manner different from that specifically described herein.

It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (29)

1. A method for implementing the command and control of home devices by means of a home network, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: connecting a first home device to the home network, where the first home device is capable of displaying the data of user interconnection; connecting a second home device to the home network, the second home device stores the interconnection data with the user in a selected format defining an interconnection with the user to command and control the second home device; receiving the interconnection data with the user in the first home device by means of the home network from the second home device; displaying the interconnection with the user defined by the interconnection data with the user on the first home device; accept the user's input, from a user, in response to the interaction with the user's interconnection displayed on the first home device; and control the second home device by sending the control and command information from the first home device up to the second home device, based on user input.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage step in the second home device of the interconnection data with the user includes the step of storing the interconnection data with the user as the data of a selected interconnection.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of connecting the first home device to the home network includes the step of sending signals to a configuration administrator that the first home device is connected to the home network, where The configuration manager maintains a list of home devices that are commonly connected to the home network.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the step of sending signals to the administrator of the configuration that the first home device is connected to the home network includes the step of sending signals to a protocol server of the guest configuration, dynamic, of that the first home device is connected to the home network.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the first home device performs the additional step of having access to the list of home devices maintained by the configuration administrator.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of storing in the second home device the data of the interconnection with the user includes the step of storing the interconnection data with the user as the HTML data.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of connecting the first home device to the home network includes the step of connecting the first home device to a bus of the 1394 series.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of connecting the second home device to the home network includes the step of connecting the second home device to a busbar of the 1394 series.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of connecting the first home device to the home network includes the step of connecting the first home device to an Ethernet bus bar.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of connecting the second home device to the home network includes the step of connecting the second home device to an Ethernet bus bar.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: the step of connecting a first home device to the home network includes the step of connecting the first home device to a first bus bar; and the step of connecting a second home device to the home network includes the step of connecting the second home device to a second bus bar; where the first busbar is connected to the second busbar using a bridge-connection representative, where the bridge-connection representative provides a communication interconnection between the first busbar and the second busbar.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises the step of connecting the home network to the Internet.

13. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of displaying the interconnection with the user includes the step of displaying an HTML page associated with the second home device, wherein the HTML page is stored on the second home device.

14. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that it also comprises the step of displaying a link page of the device that contains a button that identifies a manufacturer of the second home device, wherein the button is a hyperlink that provides a link to a page Homemaker associated with the manufacturer.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the step of displaying the link page of the device comprises the step of accessing and displaying the list of home devices maintained by the configuration administrator.

16. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of connecting the second home device to the home network includes the step of sending signals to a configuration administrator that the second home device is connected to the home network, where The configuration manager maintains a list of home devices that are usually connected to the home network.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the step of sending signals to the configuration administrator that the second home device is connected to the home network includes the step of sending signals to a protocol server of the guest configuration, dynamic, that the second home device is connected to the home network.

18. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of storing the interconnection data with the user in the second home device includes the step of storing the interconnection data with the user as one or more formats selected from the group consisting of HTML, XML, JAVA, JAVASCRIPT, GIF, and JEPG.

19. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of connecting the first home device to the home network comprises the step of using an Internet Protocol (IP) and the step of connecting the second home device to the home network comprises the step of using an IP.

20. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the home network uses a different layer of a layer of the IP network as a communication layer for it.

21. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the home network uses a Function Control Protocol (FCP) for communication.

22. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: the step of receiving the interconnection data with the user in the first home device over the home network, includes the steps of receiving the interconnection data with the user in the first home device about the Internet; and the step of controlling the second home device by sending control and command information includes the step of controlling the second home device by sending control and command information about Internet.

23. A home network system for controlling and controlling home devices, the home network is characterized in that it comprises: a configuration manager; a first home device containing the interconnection data with the user defining an interconnection with the user to command and control the first home device; a second home device having an observable display unit, wherein the observable display unit exhibits the interconnection with the user to command and control the first home device; and a physical layer, where the physical layer provides a means of communication that can be used by the configuration manager, the first home device and the second home device that communicate with each other.

24. A control system for controlling a plurality of devices, characterized in that it comprises: a remote control for controlling the plurality of devices; a client device that includes means for displaying a device selection page to a user on the display means, the device selection page includes respective display sections corresponding to each of the plural devices; and the remote control includes communication means to communicate with either the client device and to provide a control command thereto; where the client device controls at least one of the plural devices in response to the control command from the remote control, to cause at least one of the plural devices to perform a predetermined function corresponding to the control command from the remote control.

25. The control system according to claim 24, the remote control is characterized in that it further comprises selection means for selecting one of the plural devices displayed on the selection page of the device and providing a selection command to the client device.

26. A control system for controlling a plurality of devices, characterized in that it comprises: a remote control for controlling the plurality of devices; a client device that includes display means for displaying a device selection page to a user on the display means, the device selection page includes respective display sections corresponding to each of the plural devices; Y the remote control includes communication means for communicating (alternating) with any of the plural devices by means of the client device and for controlling the first of the plural devices to perform a predetermined function by providing a control command corresponding thereto, for the client device; wherein the client device receives the control command from the remote control and in response to it provides a command corresponding to the first of the plural devices to cause the first of the plural devices to perform the predetermined function.

27. The control system according to claim 26, characterized in that the client device selects one of the plural devices in response to the selection command from the remote control and displays a GUI for one selected from the plural devices.

28. A control system for controlling a plurality of devices, characterized in that it comprises: a remote control to control plural devices; a client device that includes display means for displaying a device selection page to a user on the display means, the device selection page includes respective display sections corresponding to each of the plural devices; and the remote control includes communication means for communicating with any of the plural devices by means of the client device and for controlling the first of the plural devices by providing a control command to control the client's device; wherein the client device controls the first of the plural devices in response to the control command from the remote control, to cause at least one of the plural devices to perform a predetermined function corresponding to the control command from the remote control.

29. The control system according to claim 28, characterized in that the client device responds to the control command by controlling the first selected plural devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling and controlling various home devices. A first home device capable of displaying the interconnection data with the user is connected to a home network. A second home device stores the interconnection data with the user that defines an interconnection with the user to command and control the second home device, also connected to the home network. The first device receives the interconnection data with the user from the second device on the network. The first device then exhibits the interconnection with the user as defined by the data. The user interacts with the interconnection with the user displayed on the first device by a control device. User input is accepted from the user in response to the interaction. The control and command information is sent from the first home device to the second home device to control the second device according to the user input. Since the interconnection with the user can be displayed from any device, a single control device can control a plurality of different devices without that any change in the operation mode of the control device is required.