The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 13, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 31, 2000
Hiroshi Takano, San Diego, CA (US);
Satoshi Kobayashi, Tokyo, JP;
Kazuhiro Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Makoto Sato, Tokyo, JP;
Yuji Kimura, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroshi Takano, San Diego, CA (US);
Satoshi Kobayashi, Tokyo, JP;
Kazuhiro Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Makoto Sato, Tokyo, JP;
Yuji Kimura, Tokyo, JP;
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Sony Electronics Inc., Park Ridge, NJ (US);
Abstract
A method including integrating information regarding receiving, transmitting and converting capabilities of each device in a network with regard to signal formats, so that a pertinent transmission path can be determined. Such possible transmission paths can be specified in terms of the order of devices involved in the transmission paths and a signal format between these devices involved. One of the possible transmission paths that match the transmitting device and the transmitted signal format is selected as a pertinent transmission path. The method displays the selected transmission path on a monitor. Commands are issued to devices involved in the pertinent path, and the input/output of these devices is controlled according to the commands to establish the selected transmission path automatically. According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes a means for storing device capability information. Also included is a memory for storing capability information of other devices. An analog input terminal and a digital input/output terminal are included. A decoder coupled to the digital input/output interface is included. A controller to produce possible transmission paths is included. A monitor for displaying a selected path is included to assist a user in manually selecting the path. The controller includes a command generator for issuing commands to devices involved in the possible selected paths. Also, a selector for selecting the path automatically is included.