Method and apparatus for establishing and using hierarchy among remotely controllable theatre devices

Abstract

A theatre system operating in compliance with the DMX512 protocol is also able to support remote channel assignment of the various theatre devices included therein as well as other auxiliary operating modes by establishing a device hierarchy based on unique ID numbers assigned to the theatre devices when DMX communication is inactive. The theatre devices communicate with each other bi-directionally to establish a device hierarchy. Each theatre device has a pre-assigned unique device identification number, and a hierarchy is established based on these unique ID numbers. One way to establish a hierarchy is to create a list of the unique device identification numbers of the bi-directional theatre devices in the system, and then determine the position of each theatre device on the list. The list may be assembled by one of the bi-directional theatre devices and broadcast to all when completed, or each bi-directional theatre device may itself assemble a complete list. Determining the positions of the theatre devices may be performed by each of the bi-directional theatre device for itself, in which case the bi-directional theatre devices store substantially identical lists and each of them compares its unique ID number to the list to establish its position in the list. Alternatively, one of the bi-directional theatre devices may calculate the respective positions in the list of all of the bi-directional theatre devices, and then communicate the position information for a particular theatre device to that device.

What is claimed is  
     
         1 . A method of performing operations on a plurality of theatre devices that are remotely controllable over a communications system from a central controller, the theatre devices having respective identifying information and settable starting addresses, the method comprising: 
 generating a list of the identifying information over the communications system;    instructing a first one of the theatre devices to operate in a manner that is observable to a human observer from the central controller using the identifying information of the first theatre device in the list;    instructing a second one of the theatre devices to operate in a manner that is observable to a human observer from the central controller using the identifying information of the second theatre device in the list; and    performing operations on the first and second theatre devices in response to the first theatre device instructing step and the second theatre device instructing step.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communications system is compatible with a DMX protocol.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein where the identifying information of the first and second theatre devices are unique.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the identifying information of the first and second theatre devices are factory-set.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the first and second theatre devices are multiparameter lights;  
 the settable starting address of the first and second theatre lights are DMX starting addresses; and  
 the operations performing step comprises: 
 setting the settable DMX starting address in the first theatre device; and  
 setting the settable DMX starting address in the second theatre device.  
 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein: 
 at least the first theatre device is a multiparameter light; and  
 the operations performing step comprises a set up operation for the first theatre device.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the set up operation is a channel assignment operation.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the set up operation is a quiet mode operation.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the set up operation is a high speed parameter change mode operation.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the set up operation is a reduced capacity operation.  
     
     
         11 . A multiparameter theatre light remotely controllable using a DMX protocol comprising: 
 a communications transceiver;    means for storing a unique device identifier;    means for furnishing the unique device identifier to the communications transceiver for transmission;    means for changing an observable parameter of the multiparameter light substantially upon the unique device identifier being furnished to the communications transceiver by the furnishing means; and    means for setting a start channel in response to a DMX channel contained in a communication received by the transceiver.    
     
     
         12 . A theatre lighting system comprising: 
 a communications system; and    a plurality of theatre devices remotely controlled by a DMX protocol, wherein each of the theatre devices has a unique device identifier and a settable starting address, is capable of bi-directional communications, and comprises: 
 means for sending the unique device identifier thereof over the communication system for enabling formation of a list of the unique device identifiers of the theatre devices;  
 means for performing an operation that is observable to a human observer in response to a communication over the communications system based on the unique device identifier thereof; and  
 means for performing a set up operation in response to a communication over the communications system.  
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the set up operation is setting a starting address.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the set up operation is a quiet mode operation.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the set up operation is a high speed parameter change mode operation.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the set up operation is a reduced capacity operation.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the set up operation is a channel assignment operation.  
     
     
         18 . A method of setting a starting address for a particular theatre device, the particular theatre device being one of a plurality of theatre devices connected to a communication system and having respective unique device identifiers and respective settable starting addresses, the method comprising: 
 transmitting the unique device identifier of the particular theatre device to the plurality of theatre devices over the communication system;    receiving the unique identifier of the particular theatre device;    producing a theatre effect with the particular theatre device that is observable by a human observer after the receiving step and based on the unique device identifier of the particular theatre device; and    setting the settable starting address thereof in response to a communication of a DMX channel over the communication system based on an observation of the theatre effect from the producing step.