Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates generally to the field of device control, and more particularly for controlling audio and/or video functions of a device.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Being able to communicate with audio/visual devices connected to a network allows users greater flexibility in viewing, storing and distributing audio/visual programming. Users are able to remotely record and view audio/visual content through a computer, video cassette recorder, digital video disc recorder, and digital video recorder which are connected to a network. In order for users to control these audio/visual devices, these devices typically need to be compatible with each other. Further, these audio/visual device also typically need to be networked to each other in order to communicate with each other. Additionally, the controlling device is typically also networked with the controlled device(s).  
           [0003]    Many newer audio/visual devices are network compatible. One such popular network standard is IEEE1394 (1394) which is also known as iLink™ and Firewire™. Currently, many audio/video devices are 1394 compatible. For these audio/video devices to properly communicate with each other assuming a 1394 standard is utilized, the controlling device as well as the controlled device would need to be 1394 enabled and connected to a common 1394 bus.  
           [0004]    Unfortunately, the 1394 standard has several limitations. A distance limitation restricts the distance allowed between the 1394 enabled device and the 1394 bus. For example, a 1394 enabled device cannot communicate with another 1394 enabled device several hundred feet away because of the distance limitation inherent in the 1394 standard.  
           [0005]    Another limitation inherent with a 1394 network is that a system wide bus reset occurs whenever a 1394 enabled device is connected to the 1394 bus or disconnected from the 1394 bus. This bus reset becomes more disruptive as more and more devices are connected to the same 1394 bus. For example, if there are four 1394 enabled devices connected to the same 1394 bus and one particular 1394 enabled device is disconnected from the 1394 bus, then the 1394 bus is reset and the remaining three 1394 enabled devices are momentarily interrupted with the bus reset.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The invention illustrates a system and method of translating commands between a 1394 network and an IP network. The invention is configured to allow 1394 enabled devices to communicate with a variety of interfaces and devices through an IP network. The method for translating a command comprises: receiving the command via an IP network; translating the command into a 1394 message; and transmitting the 1394 message to a recipient 1394 device. The method may further parse the command into a unique device identifier portion and an AV/C command portion. The AV/C command portion would comprise the 1394 message, and the unique device identifier portion would correspond to a dynamic address for the 1394 message addressed to the recipient 1394 device. In addition to translating, the method of tracking a 1394 device comprising: receiving a status change message from the 1394 device; updating a unique identifier representing the 1394 device; updating a dynamic address of the 1394 device; and selectively broadcasting the unique identifier and the dynamic address through a TCP/IP message.  
           [0007]    Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrated by way of example of the principles of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a block diagram system overview according to the invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a network AV/C module according to the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary GUID table according to the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary AV/C module command according to the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary process flow diagram of initiating a network AV/C module according to the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary process flow diagram of processing a status change within a network AV/C module according to the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary process flow diagram of processing a command within a network AV/C module according to the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary process flow diagram of processing an event notification within a network AV/C module according to the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    Specific reference is made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention is described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The various embodiments are intended to illustrate the invention in different applications. Further, specific details are set forth in the embodiments for exemplary purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention.  
         [0017]    With reference to FIG. 1, a system is shown for controlling 1394 devices by issuing audio video control (AV/C) commands over a conventional network. In one embodiment, the conventional network is an Internet Protocol (IP) based network utilizing widely recognized TCP/IP standards.  
         [0018]    The system in FIG. 1 is for illustrative purposes only. Fewer or additional elements may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, elements may be combined or separated without departing from the scope of the invention. To illustrate the transmission of an AV/C command from one 1394 device to another 1394 device over the IP network, two set-top boxes are utilized to illustrate this capability; two set-top boxes are not required to implement the invention. The system includes a set-top box  100 , a 1394 bus  125 , a digital video cassette recorder (VCR)  130 , a mini-disc (MD)  135 , an IP network  140 , a remote application  145 , a set-top box  150 , a 1394 bus  175 , a digital video camera  180 , and an audio/video hard drivel 85 .  
         [0019]    The IP network  140  is coupled to the set-top box  100 , the remote application  145 , and the set-top box  150 , such that the remote application  145  may communicate with the set-top boxes  100  and  140 . Additionally, the set-top box  100  may communicate with the remote application  145  and the set-top box  140 . Similarly, the set-top box  140  may communicate with the remote application  145  and the set-top box  100 . When the remote application  145  and the set-top boxes  100  and  140  communicate with each other, they utilize a recognized standard such as TCP/IP. In other embodiments, various other standards or protocols may be utilized to effectuate communication between these devices.  
         [0020]    The 1394 bus  125  is coupled to the set-top box  100 , the digital VCR  130 , and the MD  135 , such that the set-top box  100 , the digital VCR  130 , and the MD  135  may communicate with each other through the 1394 bus  125 . When the set-top box  100 , the digital VCR  130 , and the MD  135  communicate with each other through the 1394 bus  125 , they utilize commands compatible with the 1394 standards. In other embodiments, various other standards or protocols may be utilized to effectuate communication between these devices.  
         [0021]    Similarly, the 1394 bus  175  is coupled to the set-top box  150 , the digital video camera  180 , and the audio video hard drive  185 , such that the set-top box  150 , the digital video camera  180 , and the audio video hard drive  185  may communicate with each other through the 1394 bus  175 . When the set-top box  150 , the digital video camera  180 , and the audio video hard drive  185  communicate with each other through the 1394 bus  175 , they utilize commands compatible with the 1394 standards. In other embodiments, various other standards or protocols may be utilized to effectuate communication between these devices.  
         [0022]    The set-top box  100  includes a network AV/C module  105 , TCP/UDP socket  110 , an application  115 , and an application  120 . The network AV/C module  105  is coupled between the 1394 bus  125  and the TCP/UDP socket  110 . The applications  115  and  120  are coupled to the TCP/UPD socket  110 . The TCP/UPD socket  110  is coupled to the IP network  140 . In other embodiments, additional or fewer applications are utilized within the set-top box.  
         [0023]    Similarly, the set-top box  150  includes a network AV/C module  155 , TCP/UDP socket  160 , an application  165 , and an application  170 . The network AV/C module  155  is coupled between the 1394 bus  175  and the TCP/UDP socket  160 . The applications  165  and  170  are coupled to the TCP/UPD socket  160 . The TCP/UPD socket  160  is coupled to the IP network  140 . In other embodiments, additional or fewer applications are utilized within the set-top box.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary network AV/C module  200 . Paths  210 ,  220 ,  230 , and  240  merely illustrate an exemplary interface for the network AV/C module  200 . The paths  210  and  220  couple the network AV/C module  200  with an IP network  250 . The network AV/C module  200  interfaces with the IP network  250  via the paths  210  and  220  utilizing a communications standard such as TCP/IP. The paths  230  and  24  couple the network AV/C module  200  with a 1394 bus  260 . Similarly, the network AV/C module  200  interfaces with the 1394 bus  260  via the paths  230  and  240  utilizing a communications standard such as the 1394 command sets.  
         [0025]    Commands from the IP network  250  pass through the path  220  and are received by the AV/C module  200 . These commands received by the AV/C module  200  from the IP network  250  are configured according to a standard such as TCP/IP. These commands may contain information such as a globally unique identification (GUID) and AV/C Command as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The GUID uniquely identifies a 1394 enabled device connected to a 1394 bus such as the 1394 bus  260 . However, the GUID may identify a 1394 enabled device which is either not currently connected to a 1394 bus or currently connected to a 1394 bus that is connected to different network AV/C module. The AV/C command provides a signal to a 1394 enabled device. In this case, the signal is addressed to the unique 1394 enabled device which is identified by the GUID. The signal may instruct the 1394 enabled device to start playing, start recording, stop all functions, fast forward, rewind, and the like. The AV/C commands are quite varied depending on the specific capabilities of the associated 1394 enabled device.  
         [0026]    The network AV/C module  200  tracks 1394 enabled devices connected to the 1394 bus  260 . Each of these 1394 devices have a unique GUID. The network AV/C module  200  maintains a list of all 1394 enabled devices connected to the 1394 bus  260  by listing their unique GUID and their respective location. An exemplary list is illustrated in FIG. 3B. Other 1394 enabled devices which are not connected to the specific 1394 bus  260  are not tracked by the specific network AV/C module  200 .  
         [0027]    After the network AV/C module  200  receives a command from the IP network  250 , the network AV/C module  200  checks if the GUID identified in the command is associated with a 1394 enabled device connected to the AV/C module  200 . The network AV/C module  200  may check a list similar to the one in FIG. 3B.  
         [0028]    If the network AV/C module  200  determines that GUID in the command is associated with a 1394 enabled device connected to the AV/C module  200 , then the network AV/C module  200  translates the command from the IP network  250  into an appropriate AV/C command conforming to 1394 standards and transmits this AV/C command to the location of the 1394 device via the path  230 . The location of the 1394 device is tracked by the network AV/C module  200  and may be referred to as a dynamic address. The location is stored in a list similar to the one in FIG. 3A.  
         [0029]    In one embodiment, if the network AV/C module  200  determines that GUID in the command is not associated with a 1394 enabled device connected to the AV/C module  200 , then the network AV/C module  200  takes no action.  
         [0030]    Through the path  240 , 1394 enabled devices connected to the 1394 bus  160  may transmit AV/C commands to the network AV/C module  200 . These AV/C commands may be status confirmations, connect signals, disconnect signals, functional instructions, and the like.  
         [0031]    If the AV/C command through the path  240  changes the status and/or dynamic address of the particular 1394 enabled device, the network AV/C module  200  updates the tracking list similar to the one shown in FIG. 3A. If the AV/C command through the path  240  is directed to a different device other than a 1394 enable device connected to the 1394 bus  260 , the network AV/C module  200  translates the AV/C command into a format suitable for transmission over the IP network  250  via the path  250 .  
         [0032]    The operation of the system of FIG. 1 while initiating the network AV/C modules  105  and  155  is described with references to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 4. At Block  400 , the process of initiating the network AV/C modules  105  and  155  begins. At Block  410 , the network AV/C modules  105  and  155  obtain a list of 1394 devices by polling devices that are connected to the network busses  125  and  175 , respectively. For example, the digital VCR  130  and the MD  135  would be discovered by the network AV/C module  105 . In another example, the digital video camera  180  and the audio/video hard drive  185  are discovered by the network AV/C module  155 .  
         [0033]    At Block  420 , a device availability table is built by each of the network AV/C modules  105  and  155 . The device availability table includes the GUID of the device identified by the network AV/C modules  105  and  155 . The device availability table may resemble the table in FIG. 3A. At Block  430 , the dynamic addresses of the devices listed in the device availability table are discovered. At Block  440 , the device availability table is updated with the dynamic addresses of the devices identified by the GUID. In Block  450 , the device availability table is selectively broadcasted to other devices that request this information. For example, the set-top box  150  and the remote application  145  may register that they are interested in the device availability table from the set-top box  100 . In this case, the network AV/C  105  distributes the device availability table to the set-top box  150  and the remote application  145 . In one embodiment, the selective broadcast of the device availability table is performed via TCP/IP. In other embodiments, different transfer protocols may be utilized. In yet another embodiment, the device availability table may be broadcasted to other nodes which have registered to receive this information. In Block  460 , the initiation of the network AV/C terminates.  
         [0034]    The operation of the system of FIG. 1 while updating the network AV/C modules  105  and  155  of a status change is described with references to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 5. At Block  500 , the process of updating the device availability table within the network AV/C modules  105  and  155  begins. In Block  510 , a 1394 enabled device changes status. A change in status includes a connection to a 1394 bus, disconnection to a 1394 bus, a connected device issues an autonomous bus reset without disconnecting from the bus, and the like. For example, the digital VCR  130 , the MD  135 , the digital video camera  180 , and the A/V hard drive  185  being connected or removed from their respective 1394 busses would constitute a status change. In Block  520 , a bus reset is performed on the appropriate 1394 bus. For example, if the digital VCR  130  or the MD  135  is connected or disconnected from the 1394 bus  125 , a bus reset would be performed on the 1394 bus  125 . Similarly, if the digital video camera  180  or the A/V hard drive  185  is connected or disconnected from the 1394 bus  175 , a bus reset would be performed on the 1394 bus  175 .  
         [0035]    In Block  530 , a bus reset is received by a network AV/C module. For example, if a bus reset is performed on the 1394 bus  125 , the network AV/C module  105  receives the bus reset. Similarly, if a bus reset is performed on the 1394 bus  175 , the network AV/C module  155  receives the bus reset. In Block  540 , the device availability table is updated based on the bus reset. For example, the bus reset is performed based on a connection or disconnection of a 1394 device, and the device availability table is updated accordingly. In Block  550 , the device availability table, which was updated in the Block  540 , is selectively broadcasted to other devices that request this information. In Block  560 , the update of the network AV/C terminates.  
         [0036]    The operation of the system of FIG. 1 while the network AV/C modules  105  and  155  process a command is described with references to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 6. At Block  600 , processing a command within the network AV/C modules  105  and  155  begins. At Block  610 , a command is issued to a network AV/C module via a TCP/IP message. For example, the network AV/C module  105  may receive a command from the remote application  145  or the set-top box  150 . The command from the set-top box  150  may originate from the application  165 , the application  170 , the digital video camera  180 , or the AV hard drive  185 . The command may include a play command, forward command, rewind command, stop command, record command, and the like. The particular command varies depending on the functionality of the device as the intended recipient of the command. The command may resemble the sample shown in FIG. 3B having a GUID component and the actual AV/C command.  
         [0037]    In Block  620 , the network AV/C module parses the command into the GUID component and the AV/C command. In Block  630 , the network AV/C module matches the GUID from the command to the device availability table for the particular network AV/C module. For example, if the network AV/C module  105  parses the command, the network AV/C module  105  matches the GUID with the device availability table for the AV/C module  105 . In Block  640 , assuming that the GUID was matched to the device availability table in the Block  630 , the dynamic address is accessed from the device availability table with the network AV/C module. In Block  650 , the AV/C command, previously parsed in the Block  620 , is sent by the network AV/C module to the dynamic address identified by the GUID. In Block  660 , the device identified by the dynamic address sends a confirmation back to the originating device through the corresponding network AV/C module. In Block  670 , the command processing within the network AV/C terminates.  
         [0038]    For example, the AN hard drive  185  originates a “record” command addressed to the digital VCR  130 . The network AV/C module  155  receives the “record” command through the 1394 bus; translates the “record” command into a TCP/IP message; and broadcasts this message over the IP network  140 . [Block  610 ] The “record” command formatted is received by the network AV/C module  105  and is parsed into the GUID component (digital VCR  130 ) and the AV/C command (record command). [Block  620 ] The network AV/C module  105  matches the GUID component with the device availability table. The network AV/C module  105  finds that the GUID component matches the digital VCR  130 . [Block  630 ] The network AV/C module  105  locates the dynamic address for the digital VCR  130  from the device availability table. [Block  640 ] The network AV/C module  105  sends the AV/C command (record command) to the dynamic address for the digital VCR  130 . [Block  650 ] The digital VCR  130  sends a confirmation back to the A/V hard drive  185  by sending a 1394 message back to the network AV/C module  105 . The network AV/C module  105  converts the 1394 message into a TCP/IP message addressed to the AN hard drive with a “confirmation” command. The network AV/C module  105  sends this TCP/IP message through the IP network  140 . [Block  660 ] By sending this “confirmation” command through the IP network  140 , the network AV/C module  105  sends a command as described by Block  610 .  
         [0039]    The operation of the system of FIG. 1 while the network AV/C modules  105  and  155  process an event notification is described with references to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 7. At Block  700 , processing an event notification within the network AV/C modules  105  and  155  begins. In Block  710 , a 1394 enabled device generates an event notification. An event notification includes an end of tape message, a user initiated function, a battery warning, and the like. The user initiated function includes stop command, rewind command, record command, forward command, and the like.  
         [0040]    In Block  720 , a network AV/C module receives the event notification. For example, if the tape inside the digital video camera  180  runs out of tape, the digital video camera  180  generates an “end of tape” event notification. The network AV/C module  155  receives this “end of tape” event notification. In Block  730 , a network AV/C module formats the event notification into a TCP/IP message and selectively broadcasts the notification to devices which are interested. In another embodiment the “end of tape” event notification is addressed to the MD  135 . Accordingly, the event notification is addressed to the GUID corresponding to the MD  135 . In Block  740 , the event notification processing within the network AV/C terminates.  
         [0041]    The flow diagrams as depicted in FIGS. 4, 5,  6 , and  7  are merely one embodiment of the invention. The blocks may be performed in a different sequence without departing from the spirit of the invention. Further, blocks may be deleted, added or combined without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0042]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. For example, the invention is described within the context of set-top boxes as merely embodiments of the invention. The invention may be applied to a variety of other devices.  
         [0043]    They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed, and naturally many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Technology Category: h