Multi-functional residential communication approach
First Claim
1. A signal-repeating device control arrangement for use in a facility having different types of user-controllable devices that are co-located with respective user-interface units in various zones of the facility and that provide user-selectable information to the user, the respective user-interface units providing input selectors for controlling operation of the user-controllable devices, the signal-repeating device control arrangement comprising:
- a user-interface control device having a user interface for receiving inputs from a user and having a transceiver for sending data wirelessly in response to the user inputs and for receiving data;
for use in communicating with the zone-located user-controllable devices, a signal-repeating base-station including a base-station transceiver adapted to communicate data with the user-interface control device, and a data-routing circuit adapted respond to the user inputs received via the base-station transceiver by sending designated groups of digital data sets to manipulate operation of at least one of the different types of user-controllable devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A signal-repeating device control arrangement facilitates user control of various types of media equipment in a facility. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the different types of user-controllable media equipment are located with respective user-interface units in various zones of the facility to provide user-selectable interaction for the user. The signal-repeating device control arrangement includes a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a user'"'"'s remote control, a data-routing circuit for communication with packet-communicating devices such as over an Ethernet, and an emulation circuit for providing an interface to manufacturer-specific equipment for control of other devices types and/or user input devices. Another aspect of the invention is directed to a related arrangement in which the base station includes a data port adapted to download information for configuring both the signal-repeating base-station and, via the base-station transceiver, for configuring the user-interface control device.
10 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A signal-repeating device control arrangement for use in a facility having different types of user-controllable devices that are co-located with respective user-interface units in various zones of the facility and that provide user-selectable information to the user, the respective user-interface units providing input selectors for controlling operation of the user-controllable devices, the signal-repeating device control arrangement comprising:
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a user-interface control device having a user interface for receiving inputs from a user and having a transceiver for sending data wirelessly in response to the user inputs and for receiving data;
for use in communicating with the zone-located user-controllable devices, a signal-repeating base-station including a base-station transceiver adapted to communicate data with the user-interface control device, and a data-routing circuit adapted respond to the user inputs received via the base-station transceiver by sending designated groups of digital data sets to manipulate operation of at least one of the different types of user-controllable devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A signal-repeating device control arrangement for use in a facility having different types of user-controllable devices that are co-located with respective user-interface units in various zones of the facility and that provide user-selectable information to the user, the respective user-interface units providing input selectors for controlling operation of the user-controllable devices, the signal-repeating device control arrangement comprising:
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a user-interface control device having a user interface for receiving inputs from a user, having a transceiver for sending data wirelessly in response to the user inputs and for receiving data, and having a programmable configuration for providing user control over the different types of user-controllable devices;
for use in communicating with the zone-located user-controllable devices, a signal-repeating base-station including a base-station transceiver adapted to communicate data with the user-interface control device, a data-routing circuit adapted respond to the user inputs received via the base-station transceiver by sending designated groups of digital data sets to manipulate operation of at least one of the different types of user-controllable devices, and a data port adapted to download information for configuring both the signal-repeating base-station and, via the base-station transceiver, for configuring the user-interface control device.
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Specification