Embedding web access functionality into a device for user interface functions

Abstract

Web access functionality is embedded in a device to enable low cost widely accessible and enhanced user interface functions for the device. A web server in the device provides access to the user interface functions for the device through a device web page. A network interface in the device enables access to the web page by a web browser such that a user of the web browser accesses the user interface functions for the device through the web page.

33 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a copier, comprising: 
 (a) a copier web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a copier web page which enables control functions for the copier, the web server being embedded in the copier;  
 a network interface embedded in the copier and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the copier and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the copier and monitors a set of information pertaining to the copier; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the copier web page.    
     
     
         34 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         35 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         36 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         37 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         38 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         39 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         40 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         41 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path includes serial communication links.  
     
     
         42 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path includes parallel communication links.  
     
     
         43 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         44 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path includes: 
 a local area network;  
 a communication bridge coupled to the local area network; and  
 the world-wide web, the world-wide web being coupled to the communication bridge.  
 
     
     
         45 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the communication path includes: 
 a home-based network;  
 a communication bridge coupled to the home-based network; and  
 the world-wide web, the world-wide web being coupled to the communication bridge.  
 
     
     
         46 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the web browser has audio capability.  
     
     
         47 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the web browser is embodied in a computer system that executes a set of web browser software.  
     
     
         48 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         49 . (New) The system of  claim 33  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         50 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a printer, comprising: 
 (a) a printer web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a printer web page which enables control functions for the printer, the web server being embedded in the printer;  
 a network interface embedded in the printer and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the printer and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the printer and monitors a set of information pertaining to the printer; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the printer web page.    
     
     
         51 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         52 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         53 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         54 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         55 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         56 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         57 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         58 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         59 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         60 . (New) The system of  claim 50  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         61 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a fax machine, comprising: 
 (a) a fax machine web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a fax machine web page which enables control functions for the fax machine, the web server being embedded in the fax machine;  
 a network interface embedded in the fax machine and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the fax machine and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the fax machine and monitors a set of information pertaining to the fax machine; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the fax machine web page.    
     
     
         62 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         63 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         64 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         65 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         66 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         67 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         68 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         69 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         70 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         71 . (New) The system of  claim 61  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         72 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a video player that reads video and audio information from a storage medium, comprising: 
 (a) a video player web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a video player web page which enables control functions for the video player, the web server being embedded in the video player;  
 a network interface embedded in the video player and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the video player and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the video player and monitors a set of information pertaining to the video player; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the video player web page.    
     
     
         73 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the storage medium is an optical storage medium.  
     
     
         74 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the storage medium is magnetic tape.  
     
     
         75 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the video player is a video player/recorder that reads and writes video and audio information to an optical storage medium.  
     
     
         76 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the video player is a video player/recorder that reads and writes video and audio information to a magnetic tape storage medium.  
     
     
         77 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         78 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         79 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         80 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         81 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         82 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         83 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         84 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         85 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         86 . (New) The system of  claim 72  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         87 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a television, comprising: 
 (a) a television web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a television web page which enables control functions for the television, the web server being embedded in the television;  
 a network interface embedded in the television and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the television and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the television and monitors a set of information pertaining to the television; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the television web page.    
     
     
         88 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         89 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         90 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         91 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         92 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         93 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         94 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         95 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         96 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         97 . (New) The system of  claim 87  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         98 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a thermostat, comprising: 
 (a) a thermostat web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a thermostat web page which enables control functions for the thermostat, the web server being embedded in the thermostat;  
 a network interface embedded in the thermostat and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the thermostat and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the thermostat and monitors a set of information pertaining to the thermostat; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the thermostat web page.    
     
     
         99 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         100 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         101 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         102 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         103 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         104 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         105 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         106 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         107 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         108 . (New) The system of  claim 98  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         109 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a refrigerator, comprising: 
 (a) a refrigerator web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a refrigerator web page which enables control functions for the refrigerator, the web server being embedded in the refrigerator;  
 a network interface embedded in the refrigerator and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the refrigerator and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the refrigerator and monitors a set of information pertaining to the refrigerator; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the refrigerator web page.    
     
     
         110 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         111 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         112 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         113 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         114 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         115 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         116 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         117 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         118 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         119 . (New) The system of  claim 109  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         120 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a washing machine, comprising: 
 (a) a washing machine web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a washing machine web page which enables control functions for the washing machine, the web server being embedded in the washing machine;  
 a network interface embedded in the washing machine and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the washing machine and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the washing machine and monitors a set of information pertaining to the washing machine; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the washing machine web page.    
     
     
         121 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         122 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         123 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         124 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         125 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         126 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         127 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         128 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         129 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         130 . (New) The system of  claim 120  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         131 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a disk drive, comprising: 
 (a) a disk drive web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a disk drive web page which enables control functions for the disk drive, the web server being embedded in the disk drive;  
 a network interface embedded in the disk drive and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the disk drive and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the disk drive and monitors a set of information pertaining to the disk drive; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the disk drive web page.    
     
     
         132 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         133 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         134 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         135 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         136 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         137 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         138 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         139 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         140 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         141 . (New) The system of  claim 131  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         142 . (New) A system for providing a web page for an oscilloscope, comprising: 
 (a) an oscilloscope web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates an oscilloscope web page which enables control functions for the oscilloscope, the web server being embedded in the oscilloscope;  
 a network interface embedded in the oscilloscope and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the oscilloscope and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the oscilloscope and monitors a set of information pertaining to the oscilloscope; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the oscilloscope web page.    
     
     
         143 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         144 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         145 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         146 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         147 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         148 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         149 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         150 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         151 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         152 . (New) The system of  claim 142  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.  
     
     
         153 . (New) A system for providing a web page for a spectrum analyzer, comprising: 
 (a) a spectrum analyzer web server mechanism, including: 
 a web server that generates a spectrum analyzer web page which enables control functions for the spectrum analyzer, the web server being embedded in the spectrum analyzer;  
 a network interface embedded in the spectrum analyzer and coupled to the web server;  
 a monitor embedded in the spectrum analyzer and coupled to the web server, wherein the monitor controls device-specific functions of the spectrum analyzer and monitors a set of information pertaining to the spectrum analyzer; and  
 a control/monitor path coupled to the monitor;  
   (b) a communication path coupled to the network interface; and    (c) a web browser coupled to the communication path for rendering the spectrum analyzer web page.    
     
     
         154 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the communication path is a home-based network.  
     
     
         155 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the communication path is a home-based network, and wherein home-based network includes twisted pair communication links.  
     
     
         156 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the communication path is a local area network.  
     
     
         157 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the communication path includes power line communication links.  
     
     
         158 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the communication path includes radio frequency communication links.  
     
     
         159 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the communication path includes infrared communication links.  
     
     
         160 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the communication path includes telephone lines and cellular telephone links.  
     
     
         161 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the communication path is a direct Internet connection to the world-wide web.  
     
     
         162 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized television hardware.  
     
     
         163 . (New) The system of  claim 153  wherein the web browser is embodied in specialized telephone system hardware.