Remote control

• US 20060271968A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• 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 21/42204 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

Abstract

Methods, devices, and computer program products describe a remote control for consumer electronics devices. The remote control has multiple transceivers simultaneously receiving multiple streams of content, and multiple displays simultaneously presenting the streams of content. The remote control includes means for switching between multiple sources for each stream of content displayed on each display. The multiple sources may include wireless content from a wireless source, cable content from a cable service provider, satellite content from a satellite service provider, broadband content from a broadband service provider, and local content from a local source. The remote control also has a communication mode when a voice over internet protocol telephone call is received. One of the transceivers terminates its stream of content and a processor mutes an audible portion of all other streams of content, and the transceiver begins receiving the communication.

Claims

1. A device remotely controlling a consumer electronics device, comprising:

at least one transceiver capable of simultaneously receiving multiple streams of content;

multiple display areas simultaneously presenting the streams of content; and

a processor for controlling display of the received multiple streams of content on the multiple display areas.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for switching between multiple sources for each stream of content displayed on each display area.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the means for switching between the multiple sources comprises selections for any two of:

i) wireless content from a wireless source;

ii) cable content from a cable service provider;

iii) satellite content from a satellite service provider;

iv) broadband content from a broadband service provider;

v) local content from a local source; and

vi) Internet content from an Internet Service Provider.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the processor mutes an audible portion of a stream of content when a voice over internet protocol telephone call is received.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein when an incoming audible communication is detected, the processor terminates receipt of a stream of content by a transceiver and mutes an audible portion of all other streams of content, and the transceiver begins receiving the incoming audible communication.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein when an incoming communication is detected, a prompt is visually displayed, and the prompt requests to terminate a stream of content.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for audibly presenting any stream of content, such that any stream of content may be chosen and audibly presented.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein when an incoming communication is detected, the processor automatically causes a control signal to be sent to mute the consumer electronics device.

9. A method for remotely controlling consumer electronics devices, comprising:

simultaneously receiving at a transceiver multiple streams of content;

simultaneously presenting the streams of content at multiple display areas; and

controlling display of the received multiple streams of content on the multiple display areas.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising switching between multiple sources for each stream of content displayed on each display area.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising muting an audible portion of a stream of content when a voice over internet protocol telephone call is received.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein when an incoming audible communication is detected, then terminating receipt of a stream of content by a transceiver and muting an audible portion of all other streams of content, and receiving the incoming audible communication.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein when an incoming communication is detected, then visually displaying a prompt that requests to terminate a stream of content.

14. A method according to claim 9, further comprising audibly presenting any stream of content, such that any stream of content may be chosen and audibly presented.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein when an incoming communication is detected, then automatically causing a control signal to be sent to mute a consumer electronics device.

16. A computer program product for remotely controlling consumer electronics devices, comprising:

a computer-readable medium storing computer code, the computer code performing the following steps;

simultaneously receiving at a transceiver multiple streams of content;

simultaneously presenting the streams of content at multiple display areas; and

controlling display of the received multiple streams of content on the multiple display areas.

17. A computer program product according to claim 16, further comprising computer code for switching between multiple sources for each stream of content displayed on each display area.

18. A computer program product according to claim 16, further comprising computer code for muting an audible portion of a stream of content when a voice over internet protocol telephone call is received.

19. A computer program product according to claim 16, further comprising computer code for when an incoming audible communication is detected, then terminating receipt of a stream of content by a transceiver and muting an audible portion of all other streams of content, and receiving the incoming audible communication.

20. A computer program product according to claim 16, further comprising computer code for when an incoming communication is detected, then automatically causing a control signal to be sent to mute a consumer electronics device.