Network-based remote control

• US 10,469,894 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Danciu, Daniel, Bernstein, Yaniv, Bobohalma, Ramona, Heckmann, Oliver, Kent, Jasmine, Sinpalean, Alin
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang, Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US16/038,556
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1222, 340 122
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control

Abstract

The subject matter of the present disclosure can be implemented in, among other things a computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing a programmable processor to receive, by a server, a first message from a remote control that is distinct from and external to the server, wherein the first message includes a remote control identifier and control information for controlling one or more functions of at least one device other than the remote control. The instructions also cause the programmable processor to retrieve, by the server, a controlled device identifier that uniquely identifies a controlled device that is distinct from and external to the server. The instructions also cause the programmable processor to send a second message from the server to the controlled device identified by the controlled device identifier to control an operation of the controlled device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

launching, using a hardware processor on a remote control device, a remote control application;

authenticating, using the hardware processor, the remote control device by transmitting, using the remote control application, user account information associated with a user account to a server and determining whether the user account includes a permission corresponding to the remote control device, wherein the user account includes permissions regarding a plurality of remote control devices and a plurality of controlled devices;

receiving, using the hardware processor, a session identifier that was assigned to the remote control device;

causing, using the hardware processor, a user interface to be presented on a display of the remote control, wherein the user interface presents a plurality of previously paired controlled devices for selection;

receiving, via the user interface, a selected controlled device from the plurality of previously paired controlled devices;

generating, using the hardware processor, a session with the selected controlled device using the session identifier;

transmitting, using the hardware processor, messages containing control information to the selected controlled device;

receiving a playlist of future media content items to be presented using the selected controlled device; and

updating, using the hardware processor, the user interface to include the playlist of future media content items.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a notification that the remote control device is connected to a communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the session identifier uniquely identifies the remote control device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of previously paired controlled devices are associated with permissions corresponding to each of the plurality of previously paired controlled devices and wherein each of the plurality of previously paired controlled devices is uniquely identified by a controlled device identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the messages include a message to the selected controlled device to manage playback of a media content item being presented using the selected controlled device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving event messages from the selected controlled device, wherein the event messages relate to one or more media content items being presented using the selected controlled device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a preview of a media content item being presented using the selected controlled device; and

updating the user interface to include the preview of the media content item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is associated with a remote control identifier that uniquely identifies the remote control device, wherein the selected controlled device is associated with a controlled device identifier that uniquely identifies the selected controlled device, and wherein the remote control identifier and the controlled device identifier are associated with the session.

9. A remote control device comprising:

a memory; and

a hardware processor that, when executing computer executable instructions stored in the memory, is configured to;

launch a remote control application;

authenticate the remote control device by transmitting, using the remote control application, user account information associated with a user account to a server and determining whether the user account includes a permission corresponding to the remote control device, wherein the user account includes permissions regarding a plurality of remote control devices and a plurality of controlled devices;

receive a session identifier that was assigned to the remote control device;

cause a user interface to be presented on a display of the remote control, wherein the user interface presents a plurality of previously paired controlled devices for selection;

receive, via the user interface, a selected controlled device from the plurality of previously paired controlled devices;

generate a session with the selected controlled device using the session identifier;

transmit messages containing control information to the selected controlled device;

receive a playlist of future media content items to be presented using the selected controlled device; and

update the user interface to include the playlist of future media content items.

10. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to transmit a notification that the remote control device is connected to a communication network.

11. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the session identifier uniquely identifies the remote control device.

12. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of previously paired controlled devices are associated with permissions corresponding to each of the plurality of previously paired controlled devices and wherein each of the plurality of previously paired controlled devices is uniquely identified by a controlled device identifier.

13. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the messages include a message to the selected controlled device to manage playback of a media content item being presented using the selected controlled device.

14. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to receive event messages from the selected controlled device, wherein the event messages relate to one or more media content items being presented using the selected controlled device.

15. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

receive a preview of a media content item being presented using the selected controlled device; and

update the user interface to include the preview of the media content item.

16. The remote control device of claim 9, wherein the remote control device is associated with a remote control identifier that uniquely identifies the remote control device, wherein the selected controlled device is associated with a controlled device identifier that uniquely identifies the selected controlled device, and wherein the remote control identifier and the controlled device identifier are associated with the session.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the process to perform a method for providing media guidance with a plurality of media sources, the method comprising:

launching, on a remote control device, a remote control application;

authenticating the remote control device by transmitting, using the remote control application, user account information associated with a user account to a server and determining whether the user account includes a permission corresponding to the remote control device, wherein the user account includes permissions regarding a plurality of remote control devices and a plurality of controlled devices;

receiving a session identifier that was assigned to the remote control device;

causing a user interface to be presented on a display of the remote control, wherein the user interface presents a plurality of previously paired controlled devices for selection;

receiving, via the user interface, a selected controlled device from the plurality of previously paired controlled devices;

generating a session with the selected controlled device using the session identifier;

transmitting messages containing control information to the selected controlled device;

receiving a playlist of future media content items to be presented using the selected controlled device; and

updating the user interface to include the playlist of future media content items.