Remote control via local area network

• US 10,524,014 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, Sr., James Carlton, Levine, David A., McClenny, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US15/351,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20170064406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• 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 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6336 directed to decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method and system for remote control of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to establish a connection between a customer premises equipment (CPE) gateway and a local area network (LAN) device that is a personal user device. A user of the LAN device may be authenticated. Responsive to user input, the LAN device may send remote control messages corresponding to remote control functions for an MCDN terminal device. The CPE gateway may determine a network address for the MCDN terminal device, and forward the remote control messages to the addressed MCDN terminal device. The LAN device may so remotely control the addressed MCDN terminal device.

Claims

1. A remote control method, comprising:

detecting, by first terminal device coupled to a first segment of a local area network provided by a residential gateway, a local connection to a remote control emulator, wherein the remote control emulator is coupled to a second segment of the local area network and wherein the first segment and the second segment are coupled through a bridge of the residential gateway, wherein the residential gateway is configured to deliver multimedia content from an access network to one or more terminal devices coupled to the first segment and wherein the residential gateway includes a firewall between the one or more terminal devices and the access network;

determining whether a user associated with the remote control emulator is an authorized user;

pairing the remote control emulator and the first terminal device, wherein the first terminal device is configured to process the multimedia content for display on a display device; and

responsive to receiving an emulated remote control signal indicative of a remote control function executable by the first terminal device, performing the remote control function.

2. The remote control method of claim 1, wherein the remote control emulator comprises a personal computer.

3. The remote control method of claim 1, wherein the remote control emulator comprises a mobile device.

4. The remote control method of claim 3, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile telephone.

5. The remote control method of claim 1, wherein the local connection comprises a wireless connection.

6. The remote control method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to detecting a status change associated with the first terminal device, sending information indicative of the status change to the remote control emulator.

7. The remote control method of claim 6, further comprising:

de-pairing the remote control emulator and the first terminal device.

8. The remote control method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a user identity associated with the user of the remote control emulator;

authorizing a remote control message indicative of the remote control function based on the user identity; and

sending the remote control message to the first terminal device.

9. A multimedia content system, comprising:

a gateway including;

a processor coupled to a bus;

a local transceiver coupled to the bus;

a local area network adapter coupled to the bus;

an access network adapter coupled to the bus; and

memory media, accessible to the processor, including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

detecting, by a first terminal device coupled to an a first segment of a local area network provided by a residential gateway, a local connection to a remote control emulator, wherein the remote control emulator is coupled to a second segment of the local area network and wherein the first segment and the second segment are coupled through a bridge of the residential gateway, wherein the residential gateway is configured to deliver multimedia content from an access network to one or more terminal devices coupled to the first segment and wherein the residential gateway includes a firewall between the one or more terminal devices and the access network;

determining whether a user associated with the remote control emulator is an authorized user;

pairing the remote control emulator and the first terminal device, wherein the first terminal device is configured to process the multimedia content for display on a display device; and

responsive to receiving an emulated remote control signal indicative of a remote control function executable by the first terminal device, performing the remote control function.

10. The multimedia content system of claim 9, wherein the remote control emulator comprises a personal computer.

11. The multimedia content system of claim 9, wherein the remote control emulator comprises a mobile device.

12. The multimedia content system of claim 11, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile telephone.

13. The multimedia content system of claim 9, wherein the local connection comprises a wireless connection.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium, including processor executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

detecting, by a first terminal device coupled to a first segment of a local area network provided by a residential gateway, a local connection to a remote control emulator, wherein the remote control emulator is coupled to a second segment of the local area network and wherein the first segment and the second segment are coupled through a bridge of the residential gateway, wherein the residential gateway is configured to deliver multimedia content from an access network to one or more terminal devices coupled to the first segment and wherein the residential gateway includes a firewall between the one or more terminal devices and the access network;

determining whether a user associated with the remote control emulator is an authorized user;

pairing the remote control emulator and the first terminal device, wherein the first terminal device is configured to process the multimedia content for display on a display device; and

responsive to receiving an emulated remote control signal indicative of a remote control function executable by the first terminal device, performing the remote control function.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the local connection comprises a wireless connection.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operations include:

responsive to detecting a status change associated with the first terminal device, sending information indicative of the status change to the remote control emulator.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operations include:

de-pairing the remote control emulator and the first terminal device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operations include:

determining a user identity associated with s the user of the remote control emulator;

authorizing a remote control message indicative of the remote control function based on the user identity; and

sending the remote control message to the first terminal device.