Importance

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Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) displays graphical images representing devices coupled to a bus structure. The bus structure is also graphically represented and illustratively coupled to each of the graphical device images. Preferably, the bus structure is an IEEE 1394 serial bus. The system is preferably a computer system. Alternatively, the system is a television, monitor or other display system coupled to and capable of communicating over the serial bus and including a control processor and a display device. When a device is added to the serial bus, a graphical image representing that device is automatically displayed in the graphical user interface. Similarly, when a device is removed from the serial bus, the graphical image representing that device is grayed out, leaving a shadow of the graphical image until the device is either re-coupled or the system is powered off. Tasks performed by the devices coupled to the serial bus are also controlled and monitored by the user through the graphical user interface of the computer system. In order to control such tasks, a cursor control device is used to choose options displayed in the graphical user interface. One or more task windows are included in the interface which help the user select the task to be performed. Once selected, controls, commands and data related to that task are displayed within a control display window of the graphical user interface. When a task requires data to be sent between devices, the flow of data between the devices over the serial bus network is graphically represented by an animated data stream within the graphical representation of the bus structure. When the data stops flowing between the devices, the animated data stream disappears. When a device is added to the serial bus, an animated stream of data temporarily flows between the graphical image of the new device and the computer system.

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First Claim