Method and apparatus for controlling an animatronic device using a web enabled cellular phone

• US 20010039566A1
• Filed: 12/02/2000
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Internet Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: United Internet Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Beasley, Craig James, Shuster, Brian, Sahakian, Edwin
• Application Number:
  US09/728,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039566A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45176 Animation for film scenes, show

Abstract

Methods and apparatus which enable remote control of animatronic devices over a network using a web enabled cell phone. For clients having limited programming capabilities such as a cell phone, signals created by pressing a key on a keypad are sent to an intermediate server which would have a mapping of a key to a desired animatronic control command and would convert the received signals to an animatronic control command and send the animatronic control command to a server for sending to an addressed animatronic device. A determination may be made if the animatronic control command is serviceable by the animatronic device. The animatronic control command is sent unaltered to a receiving client if the animatronic control command is serviceable by the animatronic device connected to the receiving client. The animatronic control command may be modified to a valid animatronic control command if the animatronic control command is not serviceable by the animatronic device.

Claims

1. A method for remotely controlling an animatronic device using a web enabled phone comprising the step of:

operating a first server to communicate with a web enabled phone, said first server operating to convert signals received from said web enabled phone to animatronic control signals and sending said animatronic control signals to a second server for sending to a computer having a connected animatronic device.

2. The method defined by

claim 1

wherein if said animatronic control signals correspond to a movement which said animatronic device is incapable of performing, said commands are altered to correspond to a movement which said animatronic device is capable of performing.