Patent ID: 8875194
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. An audio-visual system comprising: (a) at least one audio-visual device which is operable to provide information, in a form selected from the group consisting of audio information and visual information, to a user; (b) a set-top box associated with each audio-visual device; (c) a router; (d) an Ethernet connection between each set-top box and the router; (e) a control server which operates to receive and record data from the router, the data including data indicative of an operating status each audio-visual device, an operating configuration, and a time of each change of status and configuration; and (f) at least two human interface devices for each audio-visual device, each human interface device being operable to generate TCP/IP signals representative of a desired status or configuration of a selected audio-visual device, the router being operative to receive and route the TCP/IP signals from the human interface devices via the Ethernet to the respective set-top box which is configured, in response to the TCP/IP signals, to set the status and configuration of the audio-visual device to a desired status and configuration, wherein said human interface devices operate to be automatically synchronised to a same status and configuration.