System for remotely controlling consumer electronics using a web-cam image

• US 20030037341A1
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• 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: Van Der Meulen, Pieter Sierd
• Application Number:
  US09/932,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037341A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A system is provided which uses a camera to generate an image of an environment to be controlled by the user. The image is displayed on a display monitor of a control device. The control device allows the user to interact with a region of the image on the display monitor. The region corresponds to controllable consumer electronics (CE) equipment displayed within the image of the environment. Interaction with the region causes the CE equipment to be controlled in a pre-programmed manner.

Claims

1. An information processing system, comprising:

a camera for capturing an image of controllable equipment;

a server coupled to the camera and to a data network;

an apparatus for receiving the image from the server via the network and comprising;

a display monitor for displaying the image; and

a control interface that associates the image with a command for control of the controllable equipment upon a user-interaction with the control interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control interface associates respective regions of the image with respective commands for control of the controllable equipment upon the user-interaction with the respective region.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control interface comprises a touch screen.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control interface comprises a computer mouse.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control interface comprises controls for controlling the camera.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the equipment is controllable via the server.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the apparatus comprises software for configuring the associating of the respective regions with the respective commands.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the control interface comprises a touch screen.

8. A method for enabling a user to remotely control equipment, the method comprising:

capturing an image of the equipment via a camera coupled to a server;

retrieving the image from the server via a data network;

displaying the image on a display monitor; and

enabling the user to interact with a control interface that associates the image with a command for control of the equipment upon a user-interaction with the control interface.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

enabling the user to control a plurality of controllable entities of the equipment;

associating a respective region of the image with a respective command for control of a respective one of the plurality of controllable entities; and

enabling the user to interact with the respective region for effecting the control of the respective one of the plurality of controllable entities.

10. A remote control system for remotely controlling equipment, the device comprising:

a camera for capturing an image of the equipment;

a data input for receiving, via a network, data representing the image of the equipment;

a display monitor for display of the image; and

a control interface for associating the image with a command for control of the equipment upon a user-interaction with the control interface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the network is the Internet.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a Personal Digital Assistant having a wireless modem includes the data input, display monitor, and control interface for wirelessly communicating with a server via the network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a control network is coupled between the server and the equipment.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising software for associating a region of the image with a command for control of the equipment upon the user-interaction with the control interface.

15. A remote control device for remotely controlling an apparatus, the device comprising:

a control interface for associating a video image of the apparatus with a command for control of the apparatus via a control network upon a user-interaction with the control interface.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the video image of the apparatus is obtained by a video camera and transmitted to the control interface via network coupled to the control network.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the network is the Internet.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the control interface comprises a computer mouse.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the control interface comprises controls for controlling the camera.