State-based remote control system

• US 20060192855A1
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Henry, Justin M., Harris, Glen McLean
• Granted Patent: US 8,531,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/162
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18

Abstract

A state-based remote control system for providing efficient and simple operation of a plurality of electronic devices as a coordinated system based upon an overall task. The state-based remote control system includes a housing, a keypad in communication with an electronic system contained within the housing, and a communication device in communication with the electronic system for communicating with external electronic devices. The electronic system monitors the buttons selected by a user to determine the state of all external electronic devices that are to be controlled. When the user selects a task (e.g. watch television), the electronic system automatically determines the actions required to achieve the desired task based upon the current state of the external electronic devices. After the task has been fulfilled, the electronic system updates the data to reflect the modified state of the external electronic devices.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A distributed control device, comprising:

a controller configured to store, calculate, and update simulated current state data for a set of external electronic devices; and

a transmitter configured to transmit control commands to at least one of the external electronic devices based on the simulated current state data,

wherein the controller is configured to determine the simulated current state data based on at least one action or at least one task performed by the controller prior to a next action or a next task.

18. The distributed control device of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to compare a desired state data with the simulated current state data and perform at least one action or at least one task based on the comparison.

19. The distributed control device of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to direct the transmitter to modify a state of one or more of the external electronic devices that has a current state that does not match a desired state.

20. The distributed control device of claim 17, wherein the controller and the transmitter are configured for bidirectional communications with one or more of the external electronic devices.

21. A method of operating a distributed control device configured to control a set of electronic devices, the method comprising:

determining a current state data for one or more of the electronic devices;

receiving an action request or a task request for one or more of the electronic devices;

transmitting a control command to one or more of the electronic devices to perform the action request or the task request; and

generating a simulated current state data that represent a new state of one or more of the electronic devices based on the current state data and the action request or the task request prior to performing a next action request or a next task request.

22. A method of operating a distributed control device for controlling a set of electronic devices, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an action request or a task request for at least one of the electronic devices;

transmitting a control command to at least one of the electronic devices to perform the action request or the task request; and

modifying a simulated current state data to represent a new state for at least one of the electronic devices based on the action request or the task request prior to responding to a next action request or a next task request.

23. A method of operating a distributed control device, the method comprising the steps of:

determining current state data for a set of electronic devices;

storing a desired state data for at least one of the electronic devices;

receiving an action request or a task request for at least one of the plurality of electronic devices, wherein the action request or the task request is associated with the desired state data;

determining at least one of the electronic devices that requires a modification to its state to be in the desired state data;

to effect the action request or the task request, modifying at least one of the electronic devices to conform to the desired state data; and

determining a simulated current state data based on the current state data and the modifying step, wherein the simulated current state data represents a new state of at least one of the electronic devices prior to responding to a next task or a next action.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of determining the at least one electronic device that requires a modification includes comparing the current state data with the desired state data.