Remote control of electronic devices

• US 20070178891A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Seymour, Eric, Shebanek, Michael, Louch, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

A controlling device (e.g., a telephony device) can remotely control various tasks associated with a controlled device (e.g., a personal computer), including the navigation of user interfaces associated with applications or an operating system associated with the controlled device. A task can be controlled at the controlled device by mapping user input received at the controlling device to control commands suitable for execution at the controlled device.

Claims

1. A method of remotely controlling an electronic device, comprising:

establishing communication between a controlling device and a controlled device;

receiving input from the controlling device;

mapping the input to control commands;

executing the control commands at the controlled device; and

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining audio descriptions associated with the execution of the control commands; and

providing the audio descriptions to the controlling device.

3. A method, comprising:

determining a first spatial position in relation to a plurality of objects on a user interface;

receiving through a network an input from a device;

determining a second spatial position on the user interface in response to the input; and

outputting an audio segment related to the second spatial position.

4. The method of claim 3, where the input is input from a keypad.

5. The method of claim 3, where the input is input from a keypad of a telephone.

6. The method of claim 3, where the input is a voice signal.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising manipulating a cursor to move from the first spatial position to the second spatial position on the user interface.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising stepping from the first spatial position to the second spatial position in the user interface.

9. A method, comprising:

determining a first state of a device to be controlled;

receiving through a network an input from a remote device;

determining a second state of the device; and

outputting an audio segment related to the second state.

10. The method of claim 9, where the input is input from a keypad.

11. The method of claim 9, where the input is input from a keypad of a telephone.

12. The method of claim 9, where the input is a voice signal.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising manipulating the device to transition from the first state to the second state.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising stepping from the first state to the second state in a user interface associated with the device to be controlled.

15. A method comprising:

receiving an input from a controlling device;

using the input to control a user interface associated with a controlled device, the user interface having a plurality of objects, wherein controlling the user interface, comprises;

directionally stepping through the plurality of objects in the user interface to select an object of interest;

activating the object of interest in the user interface; and

producing an output associated with the activation of the object of interest in the user interface.

16. The method of claim 15, where the input is a tone.

17. The method of claim 15, where the input is a voice command.

18. The method of claim 15, where the controlling device is a telephone.

19. The method of claim 15, where the controlling device is a computer.

20. The method of claim 15, where the user interface is a graphical user interface.

21. The method of claim 15, where the output includes audio signals of speech descriptions.

22. The method of claim 15, where the output produces audio feedback in the controlling device.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving user authentication data from the controlling device.

24. The method of claim 23, where the user authentication data identifies a custom user profile for use in manipulating the user interface.

25. The method of claim 15, where the input generates control commands for maneuvering through a hierarchical structure of objects within applications associated with the controlled device.

26. The method of claim 15, where a function mapped to an input at the controlling device provides access to objects within an application associated with the controlled device.

27. The method of claim 15, where a function mapped to an input provided at the controlling device provides access to a desktop features from a plurality of desktop features consisting of:

searching for files or information, navigating the desktop or other user interface, launching an application or operating system task, or selecting an item, icon or file.

28. The method of claim 15, where a function mapped to an input provided at the controlling device provides for execution of an application-specific or client-specific command.

29. The method of claim 15, where a function mapped to an input provided at the controlling device initiates a text-input mode.

30. The method of claim 15, where a function mapped to an input provided at the controlling device initiates gathering information to determine the state of the controlled device.