Apparatus for remote interrogation and/or remote control of an operating state of a device, especially a household appliance

• US 20040051625A1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schott AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Schott AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Schaupert, Kurt, Nass, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/612,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.31
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/75 by polling or interrogating the sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/02 Automatically-operated arrangements

Abstract

With the apparatus according to the invention remote interrogation and/or remote control of operating states of a device (1), especially a household appliance or entertainment device, by a data service station (3) remote from the device occurs with a temporary telephone connection between the data service station and a data interface of the device. According to a first embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes an infrared data interface (2) provided in the device (1) and a commercially available mobile telephone (5) provided with an infrared interface (6) for data transmission. The mobile telephone (5) with the infrared interface (6) provides the temporary telephone connection for the remote interrogation and/or remote control. Alternatively the infrared data interface can be replaced by a radio transmitter operating according to the “Bluetooth” principle and the mobile telephone can have a “Bluetooth” interface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for remote interrogation and/or remote control of operating states of a device (1) by a data service station (3) remote from the device with a temporary telephone connection between the data service station and a data interface of the device, wherein said apparatus comprises an infrared data interface (2) provided in the device (1) and a commercially available mobile telephone (5) provided with an infrared interface (6) for data transmission, said mobile telephone (5). with said infrared interface (6) providing means for making the temporary telephone connection for the remote interrogation and/or remote control.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is a household appliance or household entertainment device.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is a heating plant for a house.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is an apparatus for producing current or warm water for a house.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is a commercial food preparation unit or refrigerator.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is a passenger car.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is a household appliance or household entertainment device.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is a heating plant for a house.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is an apparatus for producing current or warm water for a house.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is a commercial food preparation unit or refrigerator.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the device is a passenger car.

7. An apparatus for remote interrogation and/or remote control of operating states of a device (1) by a data service station (3) remote from the device with a temporary telephone connection between the data service station and a data interface of the device, wherein said apparatus comprises a data transmitter operating according to a “

Bluetooth”

principle and a commercially available mobile telephone provided with a “

Bluetooth”

interface for data transmission, said mobile telephone providing means for making the temporary telephone connection for the remote interrogation and/or remote control.