Dual-mode controller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer interface system, comprising:
- a dual-mode controller disposed in a mounted fixture, the dual-mode controller including a processor, a non-transitory machine-readable memory and a display; and
a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to and in bi-directional communication with the dual-mode controller, said peripheral devices including two or more of a media controller, an audio/visual subsystem, a temperature control subsystem, an alarm subsystem, one or more sensors and one or more transducers;
wherein the dual-mode controller is operative to switch between a master mode and slave mode responsive to the occurrence of bothi) detection of a portable computing device, andii) receipt of a signal from the portable computing device indicative of a user interaction with the portable computing device to enter the slave mode, wherein,when in the master mode, the dual-mode controller serves as exclusive command entry interface for user entry of commands controlling performance of the plurality of peripheral devices, andwherein, when in the slave mode, the dual-mode controller enables the portable computing device toa) serve as primary command entry interface for one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices, andb) bi-directionally communicate with at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices, wherebythe user'"'"'s control of certain of the plurality of peripheral devices is enhanced by the user'"'"'s familiarity with an operating system of the portable computing device.
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Abstract
A dual-mode controller may include a communication interface between a handheld electronic device and subsystems on a computing bus or network. The dual-mode controller may operate in a “master mode” when a user directly manipulates the dual-mode controller to communicate with any subsystem(s). In this mode, the dual-mode controller may serve as a master controller and accesses and controls various subsystems on the bus or network (such as audio/visual subsystems, temperature control subsystems, alarm subsystems, sensors and transducers) as a master controller. In a slave mode, the interface may act as an adapter or interface between the handheld device and the subsystems.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer interface system, comprising:
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a dual-mode controller disposed in a mounted fixture, the dual-mode controller including a processor, a non-transitory machine-readable memory and a display; and a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to and in bi-directional communication with the dual-mode controller, said peripheral devices including two or more of a media controller, an audio/visual subsystem, a temperature control subsystem, an alarm subsystem, one or more sensors and one or more transducers; wherein the dual-mode controller is operative to switch between a master mode and slave mode responsive to the occurrence of both i) detection of a portable computing device, and ii) receipt of a signal from the portable computing device indicative of a user interaction with the portable computing device to enter the slave mode, wherein, when in the master mode, the dual-mode controller serves as exclusive command entry interface for user entry of commands controlling performance of the plurality of peripheral devices, and wherein, when in the slave mode, the dual-mode controller enables the portable computing device to a) serve as primary command entry interface for one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices, and b) bi-directionally communicate with at least a portion of the one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices, whereby the user'"'"'s control of certain of the plurality of peripheral devices is enhanced by the user'"'"'s familiarity with an operating system of the portable computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operation of a dual-mode controller, the method comprising:
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bi-directionally communicating, by processing circuitry of the dual-mode controller, with a plurality of peripheral devices, the plurality of peripheral devices including two or more of a media controller, an audio/visual subsystem, a temperature control subsystem, an alarm subsystem, one or more sensors and one or more transducers; detecting, by the processing circuitry, presence or absence of a portable computing device within communication range of the dual-mode controller; receiving, by the processing circuitry, a signal from the portable computing device indicative of a user interaction with the portable computing device; and switching, by the processing circuitry, between a master mode and a slave mode of operation of the dual-mode controller responsive to detecting the presence of the portable computing device and receiving the signal from the portable computing device indicative of the user interaction with the portable computing device to enter the slave mode, wherein operating in the master mode includes providing, by the processing circuitry, an exclusive command entry interface for user entry of commands controlling performance of the plurality of peripheral devices to the dual-mode controller, and operating in the slave mode includes accepting, by the processing circuitry, commands for controlling performance of at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices entered by the user via the portable computing device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification