Software Based System for Control of Devices

Abstract

A control system includes a plurality of audio/video and environmental devices, a server and a client system. Each one of said plurality of audio/video devices receives or sends an audio/video signal. The server is connected to each one of said plurality of audio/video devices and is configured to controllably receive and send audio/video signals to and from the plurality of audio/video devices. The server is connected to each one of said plurality of environmental devices and is configured to controllably operate the environmental devices. The client system is interoperable with the server and with a user of the client system through a user interface. At least one medical device may also be connected to communicate with said server. The user can control the plurality of audio/video and environmental devices through the client system and the server, and receive the audio/video signal outputted from any one of the plurality of audio/video and environmental devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of selecting an audio/video device from a network of connected audio/video devices for a client system in a medical environment control system comprising:
 providing a user with a client system incorporating a plurality of audio/video devices that are inputs, each input is able to receive an audio/video signal, the client system having a plurality of audio/video devices that are outputs, each output is able to send an audio/video signal, wherein a server comprises a data access layer that comprises configuration files;   providing a user interface having a device list area and a design area;   configuring said medical environment control system by receiving user input dragging audio/video devices from the device list area and dropping the audio/video devices into the design area;   displaying information about a connection upon receiving a hovering user input over an input or output;   creating a configuration file that identifies which inputs are connected to which outputs, the server interoperable with each of the inputs and each of the outputs;   loading the configuration file onto said server that is separate from said client system,   identifying the availability of each of the inputs and outputs through said server based on one of said configuration files;   sending a list of the identified available inputs from said configuration files to the client system;   displaying a plurality of selectable input tabs, each input tab corresponding to a type of input;   after receiving a user selection of an input tab, displaying selectable inputs corresponding to said selected input tab;   receiving a selection of one of said identified available inputs;   displaying through the user interface all corresponding available outputs in relation to the selected input, wherein said corresponding available outputs depend upon the input selected and are immediately selectable on the same interface screen once an input has been selected; and   receiving through the user interface a selection of one of said corresponding available outputs, wherein a signal is then routed from said selected output to said selected input; and   displaying within said selected input tab corresponding inputs, corresponding outputs, and controls for a selected input or output or both, each being immediately selectable by a single user input.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the user interface permits the user to make settings for the control system. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein:
 the user interface permits a plurality of configurations to be created, saved and modified. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of selecting an audio/video device from a network of connected audio/video devices of  claim 1  wherein the configuration file is a customized XML file. 
     
     
         5 . The method of selecting an audio/video device from a network of connected audio/video devices of  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying through a graphical configuration interface each input and each output for the user to select, the graphical configuration interface is on the client system; 
 generating a configuration file in the following steps:
 having the user select one input displayed through the graphical configuration interface: 
 having the user select one output displayed through the graphical configuration interface; 
 having the user connect the one input to the one output; and 
 recording all of the user's selected connections of inputs to outputs. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of selecting an audio/video device from a network of connected audio/video devices of  claim 1  wherein:
 the user interface has a design area; and 
 the user interface permits a plurality of audio/video devices to be created by drawing virtual connections between audio/video devices in the design area of the user interface. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of selecting an audio/video device from a network of connected audio/video devices of  claim 1  further comprising instructing the client system to route an audio/video signal from the selected input to the selected output. 
     
     
         8 . The method of selecting an audio/video device from a network of connected audio/video devices of  claim 1  further comprising the user options through the user interface include controlling the selected output through the user interface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of configuring a medical environment control system of  claim 1  wherein: said device controls include a video preview window within said selected input tab. 
     
     
         10 . A medical environment control system comprising:
 a plurality of audio/video devices that are inputs, each configured to receive an audio/video signal;   a plurality of audio/video devices that are outputs, each configured to send an audio/video signal;   a server interoperable with each input and each output, said server configured to receive audio/video signals from each output, said server configured to send audio/video signals to each input, said server comprising a data access layer that comprises configuration files;   a client having a processor, memory, and a user interface in a graphical configuration program;   said client receives user input dragging audio/video devices from a device list area and dropping said audio/video devices into a design area;   said client identifies the availability of each input and output through said server and determines which output is connected to which input through said server;   said user interface displays a plurality of selectable input tabs, each input tab corresponding to a type of input;   after receiving a user selection of an input tab, said user interface displays selectable inputs corresponding to said selected input tab;   based on the selected input, said user interface displays all connected outputs to said selected input;   said user interface receives a selection of one said connected output and routes the audio/video signal from said selected output to said selected input through said server;   said user interface displays routed connection information upon receiving a hovering user input over an input or output and corresponding device configuration selections and system settings selections;   said client receives, for each audio/video signal, a user-selected input and a user-selected output and corresponding device configuration selections and system settings selections;   said server saves, to one of said configuration files, all selected inputs, all selected outputs, and all user-specified device configurations;   an executable setup program maps all user-selected inputs and all user-selected outputs;   said client receives user input that generates a control application different from said graphical configuration program;   said control application generates a custom user interface on said client based on all selected inputs, all selected outputs, and all user-specified device configurations; and   said user interface displays within said selected input tab corresponding inputs, corresponding outputs, and controls for a selected input or output or both, each being immediately selectable by a single user input.   
     
     
         11 . The medical environment control system according to  claim 10  wherein said server communicates with at least one of the inputs over a different network connection than it communicates with said at least one client. 
     
     
         12 . The medical environment control system according to  claim 10  wherein said client comprises a plurality of clients and each of said plurality of clients is at a different location. 
     
     
         13 . The medical environment control system according to  claim 10  wherein:
 said server comprises a business layer and a data access layer; and 
 said business layer includes configuration management of said configuration files. 
 
     
     
         14 . The medical environment control system of  claim 10  wherein said user interface allows the user to control said selected input from said selected output by displaying a plurality of selectable input tabs, each input tab corresponding to a type of input;
 after receiving a user selection of an input tab, displaying selectable inputs corresponding to said selected input tab; 
 displaying all corresponding available outputs in relation to the selected input, wherein said corresponding available outputs depend upon the input selected and are immediately selectable on the same interface screen once an input has been selected; 
 receiving a selection of one of said identified available inputs; 
 displaying all corresponding available outputs in relation to the selected input, wherein said corresponding available outputs depend upon the input selected; and 
 displaying within said selected input tab corresponding inputs, corresponding outputs, and controls for a selected input or output or both, each being immediately selectable by a single user input. 
 
     
     
         15 . The medical environment control system of  claim 10  wherein:
 said user interface allows the user to control said one said connected input from said one output by displaying all corresponding available outputs in relation to the selected input, wherein said corresponding available outputs depend upon the input selected and are immediately selectable on the same interface screen once an input has been selected, the user selection being accomplished through one of a point and click, double click, drag and drop, or touch. 
 
     
     
         16 . The medical environment control system of  claim 10  wherein said user interface permits the user to instruct said client to route the audio/video signal from said one output to said selected input through said server. 
     
     
         17 . The medical environment control system of  claim 10  wherein said user interface displays all available outputs and all available inputs through a single window on said user interface. 
     
     
         18 . The medical environment control system according to  claim 10 , wherein said server receives said settings configuration file into a directory specified by the user. 
     
     
         19 . The medical environment control system of  claim 10  wherein:
 said client comprises a plurality of clients; 
 each of said plurality of clients is located in different locations; and 
 each of said plurality of clients is interoperable with each output and each input through said server. 
 
     
     
         20 . A medical environment control system comprising:
 a plurality of audio/video devices that are inputs, each configured to receive an audio/video signal;   a plurality of audio/video devices that are outputs, each configured to send an audio/video signal;   a server interoperable with each input and each output, said server configured to receive audio/video signals from each output, said server configured to send audio/video signals to each input, said server comprising a data access layer that comprises configuration files;   a client having a processor, memory, and a user interface in a graphical configuration program;   said user interface displays a device list area and a design area;   said client receives user input dragging audio/video devices from said device list area and dropping said audio/video devices into said design area;   said client identifies the availability of each input and each output and determines which output is connected to which input;   said user interface displays available inputs and receives a selection of one available input;   based on the selected input, said user interface displays outputs connected to said selected input and receives a selection of one connected output;   said user interface instructs said client to route the audio/video signal from said selected output to said selected input;   said client receives, for each audio/video signal, a user-selected input and a user-selected output;   said client receives, in response to each audio/video device being selected as an input and each audio/video device being selected as an output, device configuration selections and system settings selections;   said server saves, to one of said configuration files, all selected inputs, all selected outputs, and all user-specified device configurations;   said server maps all audio/video devices that are inputs and audio/video devices that are outputs and incorporates all user-selected inputs and all user-selected outputs;   said client receives user input that generates a control application different from said graphical configuration program; and   said control application dynamically generates a custom user interface on said client based on all selected inputs, all selected outputs, and all user-specified device configurations.