Patent ID: 8520674

Claim:
An audio/video network system for use in a school, comprising: a central processor; an audio/video source configured to receive commands from the central processor; an audio/video encoder coupled to the audio/video source; a local area network coupled to the audio/video encoder and to the central processor; a classroom control hub coupled to the local area network; an audio/video device coupled to the classroom control hub; a computer coupled to the local area network; and a local device controller coupled to the classroom control hub and to the audio/video device, the local device controller configured to receive a signal from the classroom control hub and in response transmit a control to the audio/video device, wherein: the central processor and audio/video encoder are configured to send UDP message packets to the classroom control hub via the network using a bit-wise address; the classroom control hub is configured to receive message packets from the network and recognize message packets destined for the classroom control hub based upon a bit-wise address; the computer is configured with executable software to perform steps comprising: presenting a graphical user interface of audio/video device controls; receiving a user input via the graphical user interface; generating a command in response to the received user input; and transmitting the command on the local area network in a UDP message packet; the classroom control hub is further configured to receive the command from the computer and transmit the command to the central processor in a UDP message packet addressed with an IP address of the central processor; and the classroom control hub is further configured to execute the command at the classroom control hub if it is determined that the command can be executed by the classroom control hub by sending a signal to the local device controller.