System and method for remote control of consumer electronics over data network with visual feedback

• US 20010053274A1
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Roelofs, Gregory Robert, Van der Meulen, Pieter Sierd
• Application Number:
  US09/886,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053274A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/231
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23043 Remote and local control panel, programming unit, switch
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32126 Hyperlink, access to program modules and to hardware modules in www, web server, browser
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• 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 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A CE device has a generator for generating data to create an on-screen menu for a GUI. These data is transferred via the Internet to a remote location where the user is given visual feedback for control of the apparatus. Control is achieved via the Internet and a home server driving an IR blaster local to the apparatus.

Claims

1. A control system for user control of an apparatus, wherein the system comprises:

a generator for supplying data to enable display of a control menu for control of the apparatus on a display monitor;

a first interface coupled between the generator and a data network for enabling the data to be transmitted to a remote location;

a second interface coupled between the data network and the apparatus for receipt of a user command from the remote location via the data network for control of the apparatus.

2. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the generator is integrated with the apparatus.

3. The system of

claim 2

, wherein:

the apparatus comprises a video recording device; and

the first interface comprises a video capture device.

4. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the first interface comprises a home server.

5. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the second interface comprises a home server

6. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the second interface comprises an IR blaster.

7. The system of

claim 1

, wherein the second interface comprises an RF blaster.

8. A software application for running on a home server to enable user remote control of an apparatus, the application redirecting data for an on-screen menu for control of the apparatus to a remote location on a data network.

9. The application of

claim 8

, comprising control script for driving an IR blaster local to the apparatus.

10. The application of

claim 8

, comprising a control script for driving an RF transmitter local to the apparatus.

11. A method of enabling a user to control an apparatus from a remote location via a data network, comprising:

enabling the user to retrieve a control menu via a data network for control of the apparatus via a display monitor; and

enabling an interaction of the user with the control menu to cause, via the data network, an associated command to be sent to the apparatus from a transmitter local to the apparatus.

12. The method of

claim 11

, wherein:

the apparatus is controllable via a server local to the apparatus; and

the enabling of an interaction of the user with the control menu also causes, via the data network, the activating of a script residing on the server.

13. The method of

claim 12

, wherein the script is customized.

14. The method of

claim 11

, wherein:

the apparatus is controllable via a server local to the apparatus; and

the enabling of an interaction of the user with the control menu also causes, via the data network, the supplying of an input to a software application running on the server.

15. The method of

claim 14

, wherein the application is customized.