Dual-mode controller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- a controller, comprising a first processor, a first memory, and a first interface;
wherein the controller is configured to provide a first number of a plurality of control operations for regulating performance of at least a portion of a plurality of peripheral elements;
the plurality of peripheral elements coupled to and in two-way communication with the controller, said peripheral elements including two or more of a location positioning element, an audio/visual element, a temperature control element, an alarm element, one or more sensors, or one or more transducers; and
a handheld device communicatively coupled to the controller via a wireless communication channel, the handheld device comprising a second processor, a second memory, and a second screen interface, whereinthe second processor is configured to host an application for providing control of one or more of the plurality of peripheral elements at the handheld device;
wherein hosting the application includes providing, via the application, a second number of the plurality of control operations for regulating performance of at least a portion of the plurality of peripheral elements;
wherein the first processor of the controller is operative to switch the controller between a first control mode and a second control mode responsive to receipt of a signal from the handheld device indicative of a user interaction with the handheld device to enter the second control mode, wherein, when in the first control mode,the first screen interface of the controller serves as an input-output interface for input of commands corresponding to the first number of the plurality of control operations, andwherein, when in the second control mode, the first processor enables the handheld device toa) serve as primary input-output interface for input of commands corresponding to the second number of the plurality of control operations, andb) perform two-way communication with a portion of the one or more of the plurality of peripheral elements,wherein the second number of the plurality of control operations is greater than the first number of the plurality of control operations, andwherein, for certain operations included in both the first number and the second number of the plurality of control operations, the first processor displays a portion of data or information at the first screen interface of the controller that is displayed at the second screen interface of the handheld 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.
109 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a controller, comprising a first processor, a first memory, and a first interface;
wherein the controller is configured to provide a first number of a plurality of control operations for regulating performance of at least a portion of a plurality of peripheral elements;the plurality of peripheral elements coupled to and in two-way communication with the controller, said peripheral elements including two or more of a location positioning element, an audio/visual element, a temperature control element, an alarm element, one or more sensors, or one or more transducers; and a handheld device communicatively coupled to the controller via a wireless communication channel, the handheld device comprising a second processor, a second memory, and a second screen interface, wherein the second processor is configured to host an application for providing control of one or more of the plurality of peripheral elements at the handheld device;
wherein hosting the application includes providing, via the application, a second number of the plurality of control operations for regulating performance of at least a portion of the plurality of peripheral elements;wherein the first processor of the controller is operative to switch the controller between a first control mode and a second control mode responsive to receipt of a signal from the handheld device indicative of a user interaction with the handheld device to enter the second control mode, wherein, when in the first control mode, the first screen interface of the controller serves as an input-output interface for input of commands corresponding to the first number of the plurality of control operations, and wherein, when in the second control mode, the first processor enables the handheld device to a) serve as primary input-output interface for input of commands corresponding to the second number of the plurality of control operations, and b) perform two-way communication with a portion of the one or more of the plurality of peripheral elements, wherein the second number of the plurality of control operations is greater than the first number of the plurality of control operations, and wherein, for certain operations included in both the first number and the second number of the plurality of control operations, the first processor displays a portion of data or information at the first screen interface of the controller that is displayed at the second screen interface of the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13)
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10. A method comprising:
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performing two-way communication, by processing circuitry of a controller, with a plurality of peripheral elements, wherein the plurality of peripheral elements comprises two or more of a location positioning element, an audio/visual element, a temperature control element, an alarm element, one or more sensors, or one or more transducers, and the controller houses the processing circuitry, the controller further comprising a first screen interface and input-output controls for providing a first number of a plurality of control operations for regulating the plurality of peripheral elements; receiving, by the processing circuitry, a signal from a wirelessly connected handheld device, the signal indicative of a user interaction with the handheld device, wherein the handheld device hosts an application for regulating one or more of the plurality of peripheral elements at the handheld device, and wherein hosting the application includes providing, via the application, a second number of the plurality of control operations for regulating performance of at least a portion of the plurality of peripheral elements; and responsive to receiving the signal from the handheld device indicative of the user interaction with the handheld device, switching, by the processing circuitry, between a first control mode and a second control mode of the controller, wherein operating in the first control mode comprises presenting, by the processing circuitry at the first screen interface of the controller, a portion of the first number of the control operations at an input-output interface for used selection, and operating in the second control mode includes providing, via the application at the second screen interface of the handheld device, the second number of the control operations for regulating performance of the plurality of peripheral elements, wherein the second number of control operations is greater than the first number of the control operations, wherein, for certain operations included in both the first number and the second number of the plurality of control operations, the processing circuitry displays a portion of data or information at the first screen interface of the controller that is displayed at the second screen interface of the handheld device, performing two-way communication, via the application, with a portion of the one or more of the plurality of peripheral elements, and accepting, by the processing circuitry, commands associated with the second number of the control operations entered by a user at the second screen interface of the handheld device via the application, whereby the user'"'"'s control of a portion of the plurality of peripheral elements may be enhanced by the user'"'"'s familiarity with a user interface of the handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 14, 15)
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Specification