Techniques for pairing remote controllers with host devices
First Claim
1. A method for associating a portable remote controller to one of a plurality of host devices, said method comprising:
- temporarily disabling all but a desired one of the host devices from receiving wireless transmissions from the portable remote controller;
receiving a user interaction with the portable remote controller to provide a pairing request;
wirelessly transmitting the pairing request from the portable remote controller;
receiving the pairing request at the desired one of the host devices but not at any of the other host devices; and
pairing the portable remote controller to the desired one of the host devices.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for associating a wireless controller to a host device are disclosed. Once associated, the host device is responsive to the associated wireless controller but not responsive to other wireless controllers that may be in the vicinity. Subsequently, if desired, the association with the wireless controller can be removed and a different association with another wireless controller can be invoked. As an example, the wireless controller can be a portable remote controller, and the host device can be a personal computer, a home stereo, a portable media player, or a docking station for a portable media player. In one implementation, the portable remote controller can be an infrared remote controller.
247 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for associating a portable remote controller to one of a plurality of host devices, said method comprising:
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temporarily disabling all but a desired one of the host devices from receiving wireless transmissions from the portable remote controller;
receiving a user interaction with the portable remote controller to provide a pairing request;
wirelessly transmitting the pairing request from the portable remote controller;
receiving the pairing request at the desired one of the host devices but not at any of the other host devices; and
pairing the portable remote controller to the desired one of the host devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for receiving and processing a user command at a host device, the user command being wirelessly transmitted from a portable remote controller to the host device, said method comprising:
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receiving at least the user command and a device identifier that were transmitted from the portable remote controller to the host device in a wireless manner, where the device identifier pertains to the portable remote controller;
comparing the received device identifier with a previously stored device identifier at the host device; and
executing the received user command when said comparing indicates that the received device identifier matches the previously stored device identifier, and not executing the received user command when said comparing indicates that the received device identifier does not match the previously stored device identifier. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for associating a portable remote controller to a host device, said method comprising:
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receiving a user input with respect to the portable remote controller;
identifying a command associated with the user input;
transmitting a control packet to the host device, the control packet including at least the command and a device identifier;
receiving the control packet at the host device;
acquiring at least the received command and the received device identifier from the received control packet;
comparing the received device identifier with a previously stored device identifier at the host device; and
executing the received command when said comparing indicates that the received device identifier matches the previously stored device identifier, and not executing the received command when said comparing indicates that the received device identifier does not match the previously stored device identifier. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wireless control system for remotely controlling a host device by a portable remote controller, said system comprising:
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a portable remote controller including at least;
a user input device for receiving a user input;
a persistent memory that stores a device identifier for said portable remote controller;
a controller for identifying a command associated with the user input; and
a transmitter for transmitting a control packet to the host device, the control packet including at least the command and the device identifier; and
a host device including at least;
a receiver for receiving the control packet; and
a controller for (i) acquiring at least the received command and the received device identifier from the received control packet, (ii) comparing the received device identifier with a previously stored device identifier at the host device, and (iii) executing the received command when the comparing indicates that the received device identifier matches the previously stored device identifier, and not executing the received command when the comparing indicates that the received device identifier does not match the previously stored device identifier. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for receiving and processing a user command at a host device, the user command being wirelessly transmitted from a portable remote controller to the host device, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for receiving at least a user command and a device identifier that were wirelessly transmitted from the portable remote controller to the host device, the device identifier pertaining to the portable remote controller; and
computer program code for executing the received command only when the received device identifier matches the previously stored device identifier. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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25. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for associating a portable remote controller to one of a plurality of host devices, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for configuring a desired one of the host devices to pair with a portable remote controller;
computer program code for receiving a request at the desired one of the host devices, the request being provided via wireless transmission from the portable remote controller; and
computer program code for at least pairing the portable remote controller to the desired one of the host devices in response to the request.
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Specification