Title:
MEDIA MANAGER FOR CONTROLLING AUTONOMOUS MEDIA DEVICES WITHIN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO1999059072
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A media manager provides data flow management and other services for client applications on devices coupled together within a network. Preferably, these devices are coupled together within an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. A device control module is generated for each available device for providing an abstraction for all of the capabilities and requirements of the device including the appropriate control protocol, physical connections and connection capabilities for the device. The media manager also manages the flow and format of data transfers between the devices on the network. Through an interface, a user accesses the media manager and enters functions which are to be completed using the devices coupled together on the network. If the appropriate devices are available, the media manager controls and manages the completion of the requested task. If the appropriate devices are not available, but the required subdevices are available in multiple devices, the media manager forms a virtual device from subdevices in multiple devices in order to complete the requested task. Once the appropriate devices and subdevices are assigned to a task, the media manager determines if the data to be transmitted needs to be converted from one format into another format. If necessary, the media manager will also control the format conversion during the data transfer operation. The media manager also provides network enumeration and registry searching capabilities for client applications to find available services, physical devices and virtual devices.
Inventors:
LUDTKE HAROLD A
FAIRMAN BRUCE
SMYERS SCOTT D
FAIRMAN BRUCE
SMYERS SCOTT D
Application Number:
PCT/US1999/009490
Publication Date:
February 24, 2000
Filing Date:
April 29, 1999
Export Citation:
Assignee:
SONY ELECTRONICS INC (US)
International Classes:
G06F13/00; H04L12/24; H04L12/28; G06F13/38; H04L12/40; H04L29/06; H04L29/08; H04L29/12; H04N21/436; H04L12/64; (IPC1-7): H04L12/40; H04L29/08; G06F13/00
Foreign References:
| US5457446A | 1995-10-10 |
Other References:
MINERS R F, FRIESEN J A, YANG, C L: "Dave: A plug-and-play model for distributed multimedia application development", PROCEEDINGS ACM MULTIMEDIA 94, 15 October 1994 (1994-10-15) - 20 October 1994 (1994-10-20), pages 22 - 28, XP002125719
CHEN W Y: "Emerging home digital networking needs", 1997 FOURTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY NETWORKING PROCEEDINGS, 11 September 1997 (1997-09-11) - 12 September 1997 (1997-09-12), Atlanta, USA, pages 7 - 12, XP002126574
HOFFMAN G ET AL: "IEEE 1394: A UBIQUITOUS BUS", DIGEST OF PAPERS OF THE COMPUTER SOCIETY COMPUTER CONFERENCE (SPRING) COMPCON,US,LOS ALAMITOS, IEEE COMP. SOC. PRESS, vol. CONF. 40, 5 March 1995 (1995-03-05), pages 334-338, XP000545446, ISBN: 0-7803-2657-1
WRIGHT M: "PRETENDERS, CONTENDERS, OR LOCKS FOR UBIQUITOUS DESKTOP DEPLOYMENT?", EDN ELECTRICAL DESIGN NEWS,US,CAHNERS PUBLISHING CO. NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, vol. 41, no. 9, 25 April 1996 (1996-04-25), pages 79-80,82,84,86, XP000592137, ISSN: 0012-7515
CHEN W Y: "Emerging home digital networking needs", 1997 FOURTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY NETWORKING PROCEEDINGS, 11 September 1997 (1997-09-11) - 12 September 1997 (1997-09-12), Atlanta, USA, pages 7 - 12, XP002126574
HOFFMAN G ET AL: "IEEE 1394: A UBIQUITOUS BUS", DIGEST OF PAPERS OF THE COMPUTER SOCIETY COMPUTER CONFERENCE (SPRING) COMPCON,US,LOS ALAMITOS, IEEE COMP. SOC. PRESS, vol. CONF. 40, 5 March 1995 (1995-03-05), pages 334-338, XP000545446, ISBN: 0-7803-2657-1
WRIGHT M: "PRETENDERS, CONTENDERS, OR LOCKS FOR UBIQUITOUS DESKTOP DEPLOYMENT?", EDN ELECTRICAL DESIGN NEWS,US,CAHNERS PUBLISHING CO. NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, vol. 41, no. 9, 25 April 1996 (1996-04-25), pages 79-80,82,84,86, XP000592137, ISSN: 0012-7515
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