Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Information Systems America, Inc.

G Kevin Harms

Richard James Humpleman

Michael S Deacon

Robert M Wolff

Omi Chandiramani

A method provides for controlling home devices via a home network, by a first home device connected to the home network. The method includes detecting presently connected home devices on the home network automatically. A user interface is displayed and includes at least one or more areas. One of the one or more areas corresponds to a placement in a home and includes at least one representation of at least one detected home device in the placement. A user input made on a representation of a second home device from the at least one detected home device is accepted for controlling the second home device. Control information is sent to the second home device based on the user input.

Method and apparatus for a home network auto-tree builder

A method and system is provided for detecting, commanding and controlling diverse home devices currently connected to a home network. An interface is provided for accessing the home devices that are currently connected to a home network. According to the method, a device link file is generated, wherein the device link file identifies home devices that are currently connected to the home network. A device link page is created, wherein the device link page contains a device button that is associated with each home device that is identified in the device link file. A hyper-text link is associated with each device button, wherein the hyper-text link provides a link to an HTML page that is contained on the home device that is associated with the device button, and the device link page is displayed on a browser based home device.

A method and system for commanding and controlling diverse home devices is provided. A first home device capable of displaying user interface data is connected to a home network. A second home device stores user interface data that defines a user interface for commanding and controlling the second home device, also connected to the home network. The first device receives the user interface data from the second device over the network. The first device then displays the user interface as defined by the data. The user interacts with the user interface displayed on the first device by a control device. User input is accepted from the user responsive to the interaction. Control and command information is sent from the first home device to the second home device in order to control the second device according to the user input. Since the user interface can be displayed from any device, a single control device may control a plurality of different devices without requiring any change in the mode of operation of the control device.

Browser based command and control home network

A method and system for commanding and controlling diverse home devices connected to a home network is provided. According to the method, sequences of commands which are used to control a home device are stored as a macro to control the home device. A sequence of commands, used to control a plurality of home devices in tandem, is stored as a macro. The invention provides the user a capability of operating a single button to implement a sequence of control commands from within a HTML page contained on the respective home devices being controlled.

Method and apparatus for creating home network macros

A method and system for commanding and controlling diverse home devices on a home network to perform a service is provided. According to the method, a client device that is capable of displaying a user interface is connected to a home network. A software agent is executed on the client device to cause a user interface to be displayed on the client device. First and second home devices connected to the home network are selected from the user interface, and control and command data are sent from the client device to the first and second home devices to cause these devices to communicate with each other to perform the service.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

G Kevin Harms