Methods, systems, and products for automated control of devices

• US 20070067810A1
• Filed: 11/20/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stefanik, John, Durden, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for automated control of devices. A tag is received with Electronic Programming Guide data, and the tag includes control data. The tag is stripped from the Electronic Programming Guide data and communicated to a device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a tag with Electronic Programming Guide data, the tag comprising control data;

stripping the tag from the Electronic Programming Guide data; and

communicating the control data to an external device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the tag comprises receiving a command to adjust a temperature.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the tag comprises receiving a command to mute a ringer on the device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the tag comprises receiving a command to add a reminder to a calendar application.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the tag comprises receiving a command to mute a commercial.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the tag comprises receiving a command to interface with a calendar application operating in the external device and to display an alert using the calendar application.

7. A method, comprising:

setting a reminder for an event in an Electronic Programming Guide;

interfacing with an external consumer electronics device; and

communicating the reminder to a calendar application operating in the consumer electronics device, the reminder configuring the calendar application to produce a notification of the event.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein communicating the reminder comprises configuring the calendar application to produce a visual notification before a start of the event.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein interfacing with the external consumer electronics device comprises interfacing with a personal digital assistant.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein interfacing with the external consumer electronics device comprises interfacing with a computer.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising receiving Electronic Programming Guide data and communicating the Electronic Programming Guide data to the external consumer electronics device via the interface.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising receiving a program reminder from the external consumer electronics device and setting a corresponding reminder for the program in the Electronic Programming Guide.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a tag with Electronic Programming Guide data;

stripping the tag from the Electronic Programming Guide data;

interfacing with an external consumer electronics device; and

communicating the tag to the external consumer electronics device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein communicating the tag comprises communicating a command to the external consumer electronics device to retrieve data associated with the tag.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein communicating the tag comprises communicating a command and a uniform resource locator, the command instructing the external consumer electronics device to retrieve data available at the uniform resource locator.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein communicating the tag comprises communicating a command and an associated parameter, the command instructing the external consumer electronics device to display a menu and the parameter indicating formatting for the menu.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein communicating the tag comprises communicating a command and an associated parameter, the command instructing the external consumer electronics device to display a menu and the parameter indicating when the menu is to be displayed.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein communicating the tag comprises communicating a command and an action, the command instructing the external consumer electronics device to display a menu and to implement the action upon selection of a menu option.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein communicating the tag comprises communicating an instruction to display a list of menu options.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising communicating a parameter that instructs the external consumer electronics device to display a result when a menu option is selected.