Remote control system for electronic devices
A method of electronic devices arranged on display walls involves a processor receiving information in a self description signal from an electronic device that characterizes it by at least an IP address and a command set which is stored in a database. A video representation is generated for display on a video display. The electronic device is selected from the database to retrieve at least a portion of the self identification information of the device from the database. Instructions are then issued to place an icon representing the device in a location on the video representation of one of the plurality of walls, where the icon is associated with the electronic device in the location on the wall with a selection of the electronic device for remote control. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
1. A method of controlling a plurality of electronic devices arranged on a plurality of display walls, comprising:
at least one or more programmed processors, receiving information in a self description signal from an electronic device that characterizes the electronic device by at least an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a command set;
storing the self description information in a database;
generating a video representation of the plurality of walls, the video representation being suitable for display on a video display;
upon receipt of a device selection user command, selecting the electronic device from the database;
upon selection of the device from the database, retrieving at least a portion of the self identification information of the device from the database;
upon receipt of a device placement user command, issuing an instruction that places an icon representing the device in a location on the video representation of one of the plurality of walls; and
associating the icon representing the electronic device in the location on the wall with a selection of the electronic device for control by a remote control function.
2. The method according to claim 1 , where the one or more programmed processors comprise at least one of a processor in a tablet computer, a smart phone or a networked server.
3. The method according to claim 1 , where the selection of the device from the database comprises a user dragging and dropping a representation of the device onto the video representation of the wall.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising defining a size of the electronic device icon.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a user selecting the electronic device and as a result, the displaying of a remote control display panel on the video display.
6. The method according to claim 5 , where remote control commands are issued to the electronic device via IP commands through a network.
7. The method according to claim 5 , where the video display comprises a touchscreen display.
8. The method according to claim 1 , where the video display comprises a touchscreen display.
9. A method of controlling a plurality of electronic devices arranged on a plurality of display walls, comprising:
at least one or more programmed processors, receiving information in a self description signal from an electronic device that characterizes the electronic device by at least an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a command set;
storing the self description information in a database;
generating a video representation of the plurality of walls, the video representation being suitable for display on a video display;
upon receipt of a device selection user command, selecting the electronic device from the database;
upon selection of the device from the database, retrieving at least a portion of the self identification information of the device from the database;
upon receipt of a device placement user command, issuing instructions that place an icon representing the device in a location on the video representation of one of the plurality of walls and defines a size of the electronic device icon; and
associating the icon representing the electronic device in the location on the wall with a selection of the electronic device for control by a remote control function;
upon a user selecting the electronic device from the video representation, the displaying a remote control display panel on the video display.
10. The method according to claim 9 , where the one or more programmed processor comprises at least one of a processor in a tablet computer, a smart phone or a networked server.
11. The method according to claim 9 , where the selection of the device from the database comprises a user dragging and dropping a representation of the device onto the video representation of the wall.
12. The method according to claim 9 , where remote control commands are issued to the electronic device via IP commands through a network.
13. The method according to claim 9 , where the video display comprises a touchscreen display.
14. An apparatus configured to control a plurality of electronic devices arranged on a plurality of display walls, comprising:
one or more programmed processors programmed to carry out instructions that:
receive information in a self description signal from an electronic device that characterizes the electronic device by at least an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a command set;
store the self description information in a database;
generate a video representation of the plurality of walls, the video representation being suitable for display on a video display;
upon receipt of a device selection user command, select the electronic device from the database;
upon selection of the device from the database, retrieve at least a portion of the self identification information of the device from the database;
upon receipt of a device location user command, issue an instruction that places an icon representing the device in a location on the video representation of one of the plurality of walls; and
associate the icon representing the electronic device in the location on the wall with a selection of the electronic device for control by a remote control function.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , where the one or more programmed processor comprises at least one of a processor in a tablet computer, a smart phone or a networked server.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14 , where the selection of the device from the database is carried out as a user drag and drop operation of a representation of the device onto the video representation of the wall.
17. The apparatus according to claim 14 , where the instructions further comprise instructions that define a size of the electronic device icon.
18. The apparatus according to claim 14 , where the instructions further comprise instructions allowing a user selection of the electronic device and as a result, the display of a remote control display panel on the video display.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , where the remote control commands are issued to the electronic device via IP commands through a network.
20. The apparatus according to claim 14 , where the video display comprises a touchscreen display.