Method of activating a remotely controllable device

• US 20050168372A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• 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: Hollemans, Gerrit
• Application Number:
  US10/503,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168372A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for remote control of a controllable device. The system comprises a remote control (101) unit with a means (103) for communicating at least one command produced by the remote control unit to the controllable device (102). The remote control unit (101) comprises at least one detector (104) for sensing the picking up of said remote control unit (101) or the proximity of a user. According to the invention, the remote control unit (101) is arranged to communicate an activating command (105) to the controllable device (102) upon obtaining an output from the detector (104) for sensing the picking up of said remote control unit or the proximity of a user. The system further comprises the controllable device (102) which is arranged to start booting upon receiving the activating command (105) from the remote control unit (101). The controllable device (102) may be a television set.

Claims

1. A system for remote control of a controllable device, the system comprising a remote control (101) unit with a means (103) for communicating at least one command produced by the remote control unit to the controllable device (102), the remote control unit (101) comprising at least one detector (104) for sensing the picking up of said remote control unit (101) or the proximity of a user, the system being characterized in that

the remote control unit (101) is arranged to communicate an activating command (105) to the controllable device (102) upon obtaining an output from the detector (104) for sensing the picking up of said remote control unit or the proximity of a user.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controllable device (102) is arranged to start booting upon receiving the activating command (105) from the remote control unit (101).

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controllable device (102) is a television set.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control unit (101) comprises a timer (109) for measuring the period of time of not using the remote control unit (101) and/or the controllable device (101), the timer (109) being arranged to thereby provide a timer measurement,

the remote control unit (101) being arranged to communicate a further command (110) to the controllable device (102) to switch off said remote control unit (101) and/or controllable device (102) upon reaching a timer measurement equal to a pre-set period of time.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control unit (101) is arranged to communicate the activating command (105) repeatedly to the controllable device (102) upon obtaining the output from the detector (104) for sensing the picking up of said remote control unit or the proximity of a user.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control unit (101) comprises a means (103) for bi-directional communication with the controllable device (102), the controllable device (102) comprising a means (111) for bi-directional communication with the remote control unit (101).

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the controllable device (102) is arranged to communicate at least one acknowledge signal (112) to the remote control unit (101), said acknowledge signal (112) comprising a confirmation of receiving the activating command (105).

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control unit (101) comprises a plurality of means for communicating at least one command produced by the remote control unit to the controllable device (102), said at least one command being communicated in more than one spatial direction.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means (103) of the remote control unit (101) for communication to the controllable device (102) are designed to operate with RF signals.

11. A remote control unit for use in the system as claimed in claim 1, the remote control unit (101) comprising at least one detector (104) for sensing the picking up of said remote control unit (101) or the proximity of a user, the remote control unit (101) being arranged to communicate an activating command (105) to the controllable device (102) upon obtaining an output from the detector (104) for sensing the picking up of said remote control unit (101) or the proximity of a user.

10. A method of remotelye controlling a controllable device, the method comprising a step of communicating at least one command produced by a remote control unit to the controllable device, and a step (210) of sensing the picking up of said remote control unit or the proximity of a user, the method being characterized in that the method comprises

a step (230) of communicating an activating command to the controllable device upon obtaining an output from at least one detector for sensing the picking up of said remote control unit or the proximity of a user.