Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type (52) from which no other device type depends and a basic device type (54) from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type from which no other device type depends and a basic device type from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type (52) from which no other device type depends and a basic device type (54) from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type (52) from which no other device type depends and a basic device type (54) from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type (52) from which no other device type depends and a basic device type (54) from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a cluster of devices (16) interconnected for the communication of data in streams, particularly digital audio and/or video data. One of the devices (10) is a source device for at least two data streams to be sent to one or more other devices (12, 14) as destination devices of the cluster. To enable synchronization of the stream presentations by the destination devices, some or all of the devices (10, 12, 14) carry respective tables (11, 13, 15) identifying, for that device, an identifier for each type of data stream that the device can process together with the processing delay for that stream. The or each such table is accessible via the cluster connection (18) to whichever of the devices, at source, destination or in between for the signal, is handling application of the necessary offsets.

Abstract: A local communication system comprises a first cluster (10) of devices interconnected for the communication of messages via a first data bus (18) and in accordance with a first set of communication protocols, a second cluster (20) interconnected via a second data bus (28) and following the first set of communication protocols; and a data channel (41) linking a device (19) of the first cluster (10) and a device (29) of the second cluster (20). The data channel (41) suitably comprises an RF link supporting communication of messages in accordance with a second set of communications protocols. A device (19) of the first cluster (10) holds a stored software representation of operational features of a selected device (DVHS-2) of the second cluster (20) and any device (11) of the first cluster wishing to interact with said selected device (DVHS-2; 22) instead interacts with said stored representation.

Abstract: A local communication system comprises a plurality of devices interconnected for data communication. One of the devices is a display device arranged to display data from one or more other devices of the system, and one of the devices is a remote control carrying a first group of controls (A . . . G) for controlling respective operational functions of a device of the system. The system is configured to identify a selected device of the system to be controlled by user operation of a remote control device, and to determine which operational functions of that selected device are missing on the remote control. For such functions, the system generates on the display device a user actuatable simulacrum of a control for that function (H, J, K, L).

Abstract: A local communication system comprises a plurality of devices (10, 12, 50) interconnected (14) for the communication of data. One of the devices (12) is a display device arranged to display data from one or more other devices of the system, and one of said devices (40) is a remote control carrying a first group of controls (A..G) for controlling respective operational functions of a device (10) of the system. The system is configured to identify a selected device (10) of the system to be controlled by user operation of said remote control device (40), and to determine which operational functions of that selected device do not have a corresponding control (C, D) on the remote control. For such functions, the system generates on the display device a user actuatable simulacrum 56 of a control for that function (H, J, K, L).

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a cluster of devices (16) interconnected for the communication of data in streams, particularly digital audio and/or video data. One of the devices (10) is a source device for at least two data streams to be sent to one or more other devices (12, 14) as destination devices of the cluster. To enable synchronization of the stream presentations by the destination devices, some or all of the devices (10, 12, 14) carry respective tables (11, 13, 15) identifying, for that device, an identifier for each type of data stream that the device can process together with the processing delay for that stream. The or each such table is accessible via the cluster connection (18) to whichever of the devices, at source, destination or in between for the signal, is handling application of the necessary offsets.