WO2004053694A1

WO2004053694A1 - Communication system with display of the actual network topology

Info

Publication number: WO2004053694A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/005538
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dale R. Heron; Timothy J. Everett; Richard M. Miller-Smith
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2002-12-12
Filing date: 2003-11-27
Publication date: 2004-06-24
Also published as: GB0229234D0; AU2003282298A1

Abstract

A person enters a living-room containing high-quality audio/video unit (1) which includes a television receiver (2), a cinema centre (3) and a hi-fi unit (4). The person wishes to play the mini-disc, which is in his portable player (5), on the high-quality loudspeakers of audio/video unit (1). Accordingly, the person detaches from mini-disc player (5) a connectivity icon (6) (hereinafter called a 'connicon') and plugs it into a socket on unit (1). By this action, display (7) of unit (1) changes to show the player (5) is available for operation.

Description

DESCRIPTION

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ITH DISPLAY OF THE ACTUAL NETWORK TOPOLOGY

The present invention relates to electronic units which are electronically linked together.

A well-known problem of wirelessly connected systems is the user's lack of a mental model regarding the actual network topology, particularly with portable devices, as the topology changes dynamically.

An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement which informs the user of the actual network topology which exists.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the user to operate the components of the network topology effectively and efficiently.

The present invention provides a communication system comprising one electrical unit and another electrical unit for transfer of data between the two units; an identification device associated with the one electrical unit, wherein the identification unit is engageable with the other unit to indicate operability between the units. In this way, a user is aware of the network topology, enabling him or her to operate the components effectively and efficiently.

Preferably the identification device comprises one or more of the following:

• means to engage mechanically and/or electrically with said other unit; • means to interact optically with said other unit;

• means to interact with said other unit using wireless communication;

• means to interact with said other unit with infra-red signals;

• means to interact with said other unit by inductive coil;

• magneto-electric means to interact with said other unit. The apparatus may include any one or more of the following features:- • the identification device is operable to interact with said other unit thereby to provide a display to indicate that the units are operable;

• said other unit comprises a display of options of operations including at least one related to the said one unit. • the identification device comprises means to customise a display;

• the identification device is detachable from said one unit and is engageable with said other unit.

The present invention also provides an identification device for use in a system according to the present invention, wherein the device comprises identification data associated with said one unit, the identification device comprising means to engage with said other unit to effect operation between the units.

The present invention also provides a method of operating a communication system for the communication of data between two units, the method comprising engaging an identification device, which is associated with one unit, to the other unit thereby to indicate operability between the two units.

The present invention also provides a product directly loadable into the internal memory of a digital computer, comprising software code portions for performing the steps when said product is run on a computer. The present invention also provides a carrier, which may comprise electronic signals, for such computer program.

The present invention also provides electronic distribution of a computer program of the invention.

The present invention is applicable to any suitable form of electronic unit, for example portable music players/recorders, and/or portable DVD units, and/or portable mobile telephones, and/or portable games consoles, which are linkable to fixed immovable electronic base stations. The data link between the portable unit(s) and the base stations may be of any appropriate form, for example wireless communication (e.g. Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), infra-red, laser, or other optical communication. In order that the invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate units embodying the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a situation in which a person enters a living-room containing a permanently-located high-quality audio/video unit 1 which includes a television receiver 2, a cinema centre 3 and a hi-fi unit 4.

The person is carrying a portable mini-disc player 5 and he wishes to play the mini-disc, which is in player 5, on the high-quality loudspeakers of audio/video unit 1 , which does not have a mini-disc player unit.

Accordingly, the person detaches from mini-disc player 5 a connectivity icon 6 (hereinafter called a "connicon") and plugs it into a socket on unit 1. By this action, display 7 of unit 1 changes from showing the permanent three operating options for unit 1 being:-

1. TELEVISION

2. CINEMA

3. Hi-Fi by adding a fourth, being:- 4. PORTABLE MINI-DISC PLAYER.

The data link between mini-disc player 5 and unit 1 is effected by a wireless connection between them (for example using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi protocols) and not by the transfer of connicon 6 which acts as a physical marker. Thus the connicon 6 acts as a temporary physical object that the user would link between units to reinforce his perception of the network. This physical device does not necessarily have to carry any data, just signify a connection. The user plugs connicon 6, acting as a "mental model reinforcer", between the CD player and the Hi-Fi. This acts as a constant reminder of the physical state of the system. Inclusion of player 5 in the list of selectable options on display 7 further prompts the user and assists in effective and efficient operation of the system. The concept of the reinforcer can be simplified to an object that is removed from player 5 and attached to unit 1 to suggest the requested connection.

The direction of action (A to B) only signifies the instigator of the link and what this means can be application dependent. Connicon 6 would only have to contain ID data of the device A, which device B can use to establish the link.

The remaining data transactions are carried out using the wireless link.

This concept of a physical marker also may be used to solve possible contention problems (i.e. two CD players in the same room). By having to plug into a socket, the number of available sockets reflects the number of possible simultaneous connections/users.

Clearly, unit 1 may have a number of sockets for receiving a variety of connicons at one time, so that for example the operating options available could be:-

I . TELEVISION 2. CINEMA

3. Hi-Fi

4. PORTABLE MINI-DISC PLAYER 1

5. PORTABLE MINI-DISC PLAYER 2

6. PORTABLE CD PLAYER 1 7. PORTABLE CD PLAYER 2

8. PORTABLE RADIO 1

9. PORTABLE MP3 PLAYER 1

10. MOBILE PHONE 1

I I . MOBILE PHONE 2 12. GAMES CONSOLE 1

13. GAMES CONSOLE 2

Different types of connicon, and different forms of engagement with unit 1 , could be used for different types of media so that, for example a physical connection involving a single prong could be used for audio links, and a physical connection involving two prongs could be used for video links. In a variant, the connection mechanism between connicon 6 and unit 1 is, for example by an inductive coil arrangement and/or by infra-red or other optical connection.

Connicon 6 may indicate a successful connection with unit 1 being in operation in any suitable way, for example by a flashing LED or LCD, and/or by an indication on display 7.

Connicon 6 may include personalised data and/or message(s) and/or graphics, so that for example when it is connected to unit 1 it could give additional information e.g:-

"4. KATE'S FUNKY MD PLAYER-YO! J3".

The provision of a connicon 6 may define and limit the number of possible connections (e.g. the number of CD players in a room which can be connected to unit 1).

In a variant, unit 1 may incorporate personalised data and/or message(s) and/or graphics, for example from a library of data. Unit 1 may have features to create such data messages, or to download such data messages which are created elsewhere. Connicon 6 may have its own power source and/or it may use the power source(s) of player 5 and/or unit 1.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising: one electrical unit (2) and another electrical unit (1) for transfer of data between the two units; an identification device (6) associated with said one electrical unit, wherein the identification unit is engageable with said other unit to indicate operability between the units.

2. A system according to Claim 1 wherein the identification device (6) o comprises one or more of the following: means to engage mechanically and/or electrically with said other unit (1); means to interact optically with said other unit (1); means to interact with said other unit (1 ) using wireless s communication; means to interact with said other unit (1 ) with infra-red signals; means to interact with said other unit (1) by inductive coil; magneto-electric means to interact with said other unit (1 ).

o 3. A system according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the identification device (6) is operable to interact with said other unit (1) thereby to provide a display (7) to indicate that the units (1 and 2) are operable.

4. A system according to any preceding claim wherein said other unit 5 (1) comprises a display of options of operations including at least one involving said one unit (2).

5. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the identification device (6) comprises means to customise a display (7). 0

6. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the identification device (6) is detachable from said one unit (2) and is engageable with said other unit (7).

7. An identification device (6) for use in a system according to any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises identification data associated with said one unit (2), the identification device comprising means to engage with said other unit (1 ) to effect operation between the units.

8. An identification unit (6) according to Claim 7 wherein the identification device (6) comprises one or more of the following: means to engage mechanically and/or electrically with said other unit (1 ); means to interact optically with said other unit (1); means to interact with said other unit (1) using wireless communication; means to interact with said other unit with (1 ) infra-red signals; means to interact with the second unit (1 ) by inductive coil; and magneto-electric means to interact with the second unit (1 ).

9. An identification unit (6) according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein the identification device (6) is operable to interact with said other unit (1) thereby to provide a display (7) to indicate that the units are operable.

10. An identification unit (6) according to any of Claims 7 to 9 wherein the second unit (1) comprises a display of options of operations including at least one related to the first unit (2).

11. An identification unit (6) according to Claims 7 to 10 wherein the identification device (6) comprises means to customise a display (7).

12. An identification unit (6) according to any of Claims 7 to 11 wherein the identification device (6) is detachable from said one unit (2) and is engageable with said other unit (1).

13. A method of operating a communication system for the communication of data between two units (1 ,2), the method comprising engaging an identification device (6), which is associated with one unit (2), to

5 the other unit (1 ) thereby to indicate operability between the two units.

14. A method according to Claim 13 comprising effecting connection between the identification device (6) and the other of the units (1 ) by any one or more of the following:- o engaging mechanically and/or electrically; interacting optically and/or by infra-red signals; interacting with wireless signals; interacting by inductive coils or magneto-electrically.

s 15. A method according to Claim 13 or 14 wherein the identification device (6) is operable to effect a display of options of operations including at least one related to the unit (2) with which it is associated.

16. A method according to any of Claims 13 to 15 wherein the 0 identification device (6) is operable to effect customisation of a display (7).

17. A computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of a digital computer, comprising software code portions for performing the steps of any one or more of Claims 13 to 16 when said product is run on a 5 computer.