Savant Systems, Inc.

David M Benvenuti

Robert P Madonna

Kevin C Kicklighter

Michael C Silva

Arthur A Jacobson

Bryan S Bonczek

Gerald W Shields

Nicholas J Cipollo

James F Allen

Nicholas Cippolo

Peter Bennett

Nicholas Cipollo

In one embodiment, graphical programming is used to configure a system of audio, video, lighting, HVAC and/or security components. Representations of components from a component library are displayed. Each representation of a component corresponds to a physical component that is available for inclusion in the system and associated with a corresponding component profile for that physical component that includes information regarding the component's capabilities. A selected plurality of representations of components from the component library are placed in a configuration workspace of the graphical user interface, to indicate their inclusion in the system. One or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are determined based on the selected plurality of components; and indications of the one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are displayed to the user.

Configuring a system of components using graphical programming environment

In one embodiment, graphical programming is used to configure a system of audio, video, lighting, HVAC and/or security components. Representations of audio, video, lighting, heating, HVAC and/or security components are displayed in a graphical user interface. Each representation corresponds to a physical component that is available for inclusion in the system. A zone map that represents one or more zones is displayed in the graphical user interface. A selected representation of an audio, video, lighting, heating, HVAC or security component is dragged and dropping to a selected zone of the zone map to indicate installation of a selected physical component in the corresponding room. One or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are determined based at least in part on the selected zone of the zone map. Thereafter, an output is provided based on the one or more realized services.

Configuring a system of components using graphical programming environment having a zone map

In one embodiment, a component library stores representations of audio/video components, the representations of audio/video components corresponding to physical audio/video components that are available for inclusion in a system. A configuration workspace is provided into which a selected plurality of representations of audio/video components from the component library are placed to indicate their inclusion in the system. A drawing tool may be used to draw connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components in the configuration workspace. Further, a configuration compiler may determine one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing based on the selected plurality of audio/video components and the drawn connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components, and may display to the user indications of the one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing.

Programming environment for configuring a system of audio/video components

In one embodiment, a multimedia control and distribution architecture is provided. A media server/controller generates a plurality of graphics signals, each graphics signal including a separate user interface to be displayed on a particular device, such as a touch screen unit. A universal extender (UVX) coupled to the media server/controller converts and extends the graphics signals for transmission on a plurality of universal transmission pathways. Each of the plurality of devices receives a graphic signal passed thereto, displays graphics embodied in the graphics signals, and accept user input in response to the graphics signal. For example, the one or more touch screen units may accept a user touch and pass a location of the user touch back on a universal transmission pathway to the UVX, for transmission to the media server/controller. The media server/controller generates control commands and provides the control commands.

Multimedia control and distribution architecture

A multimedia controller, based on a general purpose computer, which is capable of interfacing with, controlling or managing a wide variety of audio, video, telecommunications, data communications or other devices. A configuration tool, based on a graphical user interface, provides a simple, schematic way to configure even highly complex systems having numerous components or devices which are to be interconnected with or interfaced to the multimedia controller. A user interface programming tool enables a user to customize the appearance and functionality of a graphical user interface to the multimedia controller. A metadata manager automatically collects metadata that is available within the multimedia controller, automatically detects the presence of new media and collects metadata from it, and may also access web resources to locate additional pertinent metadata.

Growing community of inventors

Osterville, MA, United States of America

David M Benvenuti