Legacy device bridge for residential or non-residential networks
US8793746B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 8, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/16
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with and control legacy devices, such as consumer electronics, that rely exclusively on infrared (IR) or serial communication protocols. The legacy device bridge also performs a virtualization function that allows legacy devices to be advertised to the network as devices that comply with a packet-based discovery and control protocol, and to be controlled as such. The legacy device bridge is also adapted to probe, deduce and publish information relating to the state of a legacy device to other entities on the network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.