Universal remote control with display and printer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication system, comprising:
- a hand-held wireless controller having a display, the hand-held wireless controller operable to transmit command codes to control the operation of a first consumer electronic device and to receive data to be printed from a second consumer electronic device and to display a representation of the data to be printed in the display;
a base station adapted to receive communications from the wireless controller including the data to be printed; and
a printer coupled to the base station for use in creating a print output based on the data to be printed.
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Abstract
Portable device to interface with a printer and with a computing device. The portable device may interface with a local printer through a base mated with the portable device or with a remote printer through a wireless communication link. The portable device preferably has standard remote control capability and web browsing capability.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A communication system, comprising:
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a hand-held wireless controller having a display, the hand-held wireless controller operable to transmit command codes to control the operation of a first consumer electronic device and to receive data to be printed from a second consumer electronic device and to display a representation of the data to be printed in the display;
a base station adapted to receive communications from the wireless controller including the data to be printed; and
a printer coupled to the base station for use in creating a print output based on the data to be printed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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16. A base station for use in a communication system comprising a hand-held wireless controller adapted to interface with a consumer electronic device, the base station comprising:
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coupling means for coupling the hand-held wireless controller to the base station to receive data from the hand-held wireless controller; and
a printer to print output based on the data.
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23. A hand-held wireless controller adapted to control a consumer electronic device and communicate with a base station, the hand-held wireless controller comprising:
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a memory storing a plurality of command codes for use in commanding the operation of the consumer electronic device;
a first transmitter for transmitting signals representative of command codes to the consumer electronic device;
a receiver for receiving data to be printed;
a display module comprising a touch panel through which a user may select at least one of the plurality of command codes to transmit to the consumer appliance via the first transmitter and for displaying an image representative of the data to be printed; and
a second transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of the data to be printed to the base station.
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25. A base station for use in a communication system comprising a hand-held wireless controller adapted to interface with a consumer electronic device, the base station comprising:
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a cradle to receive the hand-held wireless controller having contacts through which data is routed between the wireless controller and the base station;
a printer connected to the cradle to print output based on the data received from the hand-held wireless controller; and
a print controller connected to the printer and the contacts for controlling the printing of the data.
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27. A base station for use in a communication system comprising a wireless controller adapted to interface with a consumer electronic device, the base comprising:
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an RF adapter for receiving data from the wireless controller;
a printer adapted to print output based on the data received from the wireless controller;
a personal computer which provides server functionality for receiving data received from the wireless controller; and
a controller linked to the RF adapter for routing the data to the printer or the personal computer.
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29. A method for handling data in a system having a hand-held wireless controller having a display in communication with a consumer appliance and a base station having an associated printer, the method comprising:
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displaying within the display of the hand-held wireless controller an image representative of data to be printed which is received from the consumer appliance;
accepting at the hand-held wireless controller a request to print the data as represented in the display;
transmitting a request from the hand-held wireless controller to the base station to determine if the printer is available for printing the representation of the image in the display and, if the printer is available, transmitting from the hand-held wireless controller to the base station a signal representative of the data for use by the printer to create a hard-copy representation of the data.
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34. A method of delivering printable information, comprising:
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transmitting candidate data for printing to a hand-held wireless controller adapted to transmit control signals to a consumer electronic device;
displaying on the hand-held wireless controller an image representative of the candidate data to be printed; and
in response to a request to print the printable information, communicating the data to be printed from the hand-held wireless controller to a base station adapted to interface to a printer.
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Specification