Cell phone multimedia controller

• US 20040259537A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Ackley, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

A system and method is provided for remotely controlling and interacting with a multimedia device using a mobile phone. This is accomplished by utilizing cell and mobile phones capable of establishing persistent Internet connections. A software application is provided for the mobile phone which receives inputs entered by a user on the mobile phone'"'"'s keypad and translates the inputs into commands that are recognized by a multimedia device. For example, the multimedia device may be a television, set top box, or a digital video recorder such as a Tivo or ReplayTV. The software application transmits the data input by the user to the device, either directly, or through at least one central server. Mapping of the commands entered on the mobile phone into commands recognized by the remote device may occur on the phone, at a central server, or at the device itself.

Claims

1. A method of remotely controlling a device using a mobile phone, comprising:

accepting a persistent network connection at a central server from at least one mobile phone;

receiving commands at the central server from the mobile phone through the persistent connection;

providing software configured to translate the commands received from the mobile phone into commands recognized by a device at a remote location; and

transmitting the commands recognized by the device at a remote location to the device at the remote location through a communications network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a multimedia device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a set top box.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is an audio or video recorder.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a gaming device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a computer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein commands from the mobile phone are input by a user through the mobile phone keypad.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the commands input by the user are intended instructions for the device at the remote location to perform.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein a user effectuates the recording of a television show through use of their mobile phone.

10. A method of remotely controlling a multimedia device using a mobile phone, comprising:

receiving at least one input from a user, the input representative of an instruction intended for a remotely located device;

translating the at least one input into a outgoing command, the outgoing command being in a format recognized by the remotely located device; and

transmitting the outgoing command to the remotely located device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the translating occurs by software on the mobile phone.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the translating occurs by software on a server.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the translating occurs by software on the remotely located device.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the transmitting occurs by sending data through SMS messaging.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the transmitting occurs by utilizing a TCP/IP network protocol.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the remotely located device is a game device.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the remotely located device is a television set top box.

18. A method of controlling a multimedia device using a mobile phone, comprising:

creating a persistent Internet connection via a mobile phone to a multimedia device;

mapping the cell phone keys to various commands and generating an identifier for each key pressed;

transmitting the identifier over the Internet to the multimedia device;

interpreting the identifier; and

translating the identifier to perform the appropriate command.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the multimedia device is a digital video recorder.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the multimedia device is a multiplayer game device.

21. A method of participating in an interactive experience, comprising:

creating a persistent network connection via a mobile phone to a server;

viewing a presentation on a video monitor, the presentation including prompts for a user to interact with; and

interacting with the presentation by pressing keys on the mobile phone, each of the keys programmed to generate an identifier;

the identifier being transmitted through the persistent internet connection to a server where the identifier is translated into the appropriate response.

22. The method of claim 21 whereby the presentation is a game.

23. The method of claim 21 whereby the presentation is a quiz.