Patent ID: 7984120
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of setting up an operating state for a plurality of predetermined devices, the method being carried out by a terminal device to which the plurality of predetermined devices are connected, the method comprising the steps of: collecting, by the terminal device, from all of the plurality of predetermined devices, all setting options and further setting options, each of the collected setting options being supported by at least one of the plurality of predetermined devices as an option of a setting item and each of the collected further setting options being supported by at least one of the plurality of predetermined devices as an option of a further setting item; displaying, by the terminal device, without selecting one of the plurality of predetermined devices, an interface element configured to receive a selection of a setting option for the setting item, wherein only the collected setting options are displayed in the interface element in a user-selectable state; displaying, by the terminal device, all of the collected further setting options of the further setting item without selecting one of the plurality of predetermined devices, together with displaying all of the collected setting options of the setting item; receiving, by the terminal device, a user selection of one of the displayed setting options of the setting item through the interface element; identifying, by the terminal device, each device supporting the selected one of the setting options of the setting item, from the plurality of predetermined devices, responsive to the user selection; judging, by the terminal device, prior to selection of one or more of the further setting options, whether each of the further setting options is selectable in response to the user selection of the one of the displayed setting options different from the further settings options, wherein judging whether each of the further setting options is selectable includes: displaying, by the terminal device, selectable further setting options, judged to be selectable by the judging step, in a first displaying state; and displaying, by the terminal device, non-selectable further setting options, judged to be not selectable in the judging step, in a second displaying state different from the first displaying state.