Method and an apparatus for an adaptive remote controller

• US 20020070873A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Davies, Nigel Andrew Justin, Raverdy, Pierre-Guillaume
• Granted Patent: US 6,753,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.22
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25187 Transmission of signals, medium, ultrasonic, radio
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25192 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25196 Radio link, transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for an adaptive remote controller are provided. The remote controller comprises a user control input, a detector, and a user interface. The user control input is configured to receive user input and issue at least one control signal to a target device. The detector is configured to detect if the remote controller is within a target device feedback range. If the remote controller is out of the target device feedback range, the user interface provides feedback that the control signal was successfully sent to and executed by the target device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a user control input configured to receive user input and issue at least one control signal to a target device;

a detector configured to detect if the apparatus is within a target device feedback range; and

if the apparatus is out of the target device feedback range, a user interface to provide feedback that the control signal was successfully sent to and executed by the target device.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the user control input comprises an infrared system to send at least one signal to the target device.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the user control input comprises an infrared system to send at least one signal to the target device when the input controller is within the target device feedback range.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the user control input comprises a radio frequency (RF) system to send at least one signal to the target device.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the user control input comprises a radio frequency system (RF) to send at least one signal to the target device when the user control input is not within the target device feedback range.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the target device feedback range is an unobstructed line of sight between the apparatus and the target device.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a toggling mechanism to switch between the infrared system and the radio frequency system.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the target device feedback range is an audible hearing distance between the apparatus and the target device.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the user control input is selected from the group consisting of user buttons and a control display.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the user speaks audible requests to the user control input.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the feedback is selected from the group consisting of a sound, a visual image, illuminating buttons, and a message.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the step of sending at least one signal from the remote controller to the target device using an infrared system.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the step of sending at least one signal from the remote controller to the target device using an infrared system when the remote controller is within the target device feedback range.

16. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the step of sending at least one signal from the remote controller to the target device using a radio frequency (RF) system.

17. The method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising the step of sending at least one signal from the remote controller to the target device using a radio frequency (RF) system when the remote controller is not within the target device feedback.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the target device feedback range is an unobstructed line of sight between the apparatus and the target device.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 further comprising the step of switching between the infrared system and the radio frequency system.

20. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the target device feedback range is an audible hearing distance between the apparatus and the target device.

21. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the user control input is selected from the group consisting of user buttons and a control display.

22. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the user speaks audible requests to the user control input.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the feedback is selected from the group consisting of a sound, a visual image, illuminating buttons, and a message.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a remote controller that transmits at least one control signal to a target device based on user input, the remote controller having a detector configured to detect if the target device is within a target device feedback range of the remote controller; and

if the target device is not within the target device feedback range of the remote controller, a user interface on the remote controller to provide feedback as to whether the control signal was sent to and executed by the target device.

13. A method comprising:

sending at least one signal from a remote controller to a target device to perform a function on the target device;

determining if the remote controller is within a target device feedback range; and

providing feedback through the remote controller as to whether the function was executed by the target device if the remote controller is not within the target device feedback range.