Systems and methods for connecting networked devices

Abstract

Systems and methods that facilitate the selection and connection of sub-devices managed by virtual device or logical units (LUs) within a network. In one exemplary embodiment, LU connections are preferably brought to the IP layer using HTTP commands and responses. These IP layer commands are used to communicate connection information among the LUs involved in the connection and to allow for LUs to determine which sub-devices within the LU will be used in a connection. When the specific details have been determined, the sink device will work at the network specific level to make the actual connection. This allows for the connections between LUs to be network independent until all of the specific details of the connection have been determined. After that, a connection is established using network specific commands and protocols.

1 . In a digital network of devices wherein the services and functions of the devices and sub-devices of the devices are represented as a plurality of logical units and wherein the logical units comprise one or more logical units that represent the services and control the functions of a single physical device, one or more logical units that represent the services and control the functions of one or more sub-devices of a single physical device, one or more logical units that represent the services and control the functions of a sub-device of a single physical device, and one or more logical units that represent the services and control the functions of a plurality of sub-devices of more than one physical device, the improvement comprising
 a control system in communication with the devices and sub-devices, wherein the control system is configured to present on a display to a user a list of source logical units from the plurality of logical,   wherein the control system is configured to communicate a connection request from a control logical unit to a first logical unit selected by the user to be a source logical unit of a connection, the request including an identification of a second logical unit selected by the user to be a sink logical unit of the connection, wherein the source logical unit controls a plurality of source sub-devices comprising more than one sub-device of a single physical device or a plurality of sub-devices of more than one physical device, and wherein the sink logical unit controls a plurality of sink sub-devices comprising more than one sub-device of a single physical device or a plurality of sub-devices of more than one physical device,   wherein the control system is configured to identify a source sub-device for connection to a sink sub-device, wherein the source logical unit determines which of the plurality of source sub-devices it controls is available for connection to a sink sub-device,   wherein the control system is configured to append the identity of the source sub-device determined to be available for connection to a sink sub-device to the connection request,   wherein the control system is configured to communicate the connection request from the source logical unit to the sink logical unit,   wherein the control system is configured to identify a sink sub-device for connection to the source sub-device determined to be available for connection to the sink sub-device, wherein the sink logical unit determines which of the plurality of sink sub-devices it controls is available for connection to a source sub-device determined to be available for connection to a sink sub-device, and   wherein the control system is configured to connect the source sub-device determined to be available for connection to a sink sub-device to the sink sub-device determined to be available for connection to a source sub-device.   
     
     
         2 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the control system is configured to present a list of sink logical units. 
     
     
         3 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further configured to present a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the control system is configured to communicate using an IP that is independent of an underlying network protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The network of  claim 4  wherein the IP is a web based protocol. 
     
     
         6 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the control system is configured to communicate over a medium that is separate from a medium over which the devices are linked. 
     
     
         7 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further configured to assign a connection ID to the connection. 
     
     
         8 . The network of  claim 7  wherein the control system is further configured to store the connection ID in persistent memory. 
     
     
         9 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further configured to issue a notification to the user to resolve an ambiguity when determining the available source sub-device. 
     
     
         10 . The network of  claim 9  wherein the notification includes a program guide associated with the source sub-devices. 
     
     
         11 . The network of  claim 9  wherein the notification includes a track list associated with the source sub-devices. 
     
     
         12 . The network of  claim 1  wherein the control system is further configured to create and store a results file upon successful connection. 
     
     
         13 . The network of  claim 12  wherein the results file includes a unique connection ID and an identification of the logical unit that owns the connection. 
     
     
         14 . The network of  claim 13  wherein the results file further identifies a connection initiator logical unit, the logical unit, the logical unit, the sub-device and the sub-device. 
     
     
         15 . The network of  claim 13  wherein the control system is further configured to communicate a request to display a service banner of the source sub-device on the sink sub-device from the control logical unit to the source logical unit, and identify the service banner to be displayed using the unique connection ID. 
     
     
         16 . The network of  claim 13  wherein the control system is further configured to communicate a request to display a control panel of the source sub-device on the sink sub-device from the control logical unit to the source logical unit, and identify the control panel to be displayed using the unique connection ID. 
     
     
         17 . The network of  claim 13  wherein the control system is further configured to prevent a logical unit that is not the owner of the connection from altering the connection.