Remote control with UPnP support and wireless communication service

• US 20080001774A1
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Yung-Lang, Ma, Tsung-Yu, Tu, Yu-Cheng
• Application Number:
  US11/812,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20080001774A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.72
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/94 Smart cards

Abstract

A remote control, which can control a plurality of devices with UPnP support, and establish or receive a network phone call. Also a mobile memory module is provided for accessing the data of network account, financial account, or personal data stored in a mobile memory device to support the functions of phone number listing, wireless network payment service, or accessing or showing of personal data. The functions of network phone service and remote controlling are combined to increase the versatility and convenience of a remote control.

Claims

1. A remote control with UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) support, comprising:

a display module, for displaying a user control interface;

an audio receiver module, for receiving an audio data;

a wireless module, for transmitting the audio data wirelessly;

a microcontroller unit, connected to the display module, the audio receiver module, and the wireless module, transmitting via the wireless module a wireless control signal for controlling the operation of at least a device when the user control interface is being operated on; and

a mobile memory module, coupled to the microcontroller unit, for retrieving at least a piece of data stored on a mobile memory access unit disposed within the mobile memory module.

2. The remote control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio receiver module is a phone handset or a microphone.

3. The remote control as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an audio amplifier module, the audio amplifier module being a phone handset, an earphone, a speaker, or an audio amplifier.

4. The remote control as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an input key module for controlling the operation of the user control interface, wherein the input key module comprising a directions key for providing biaxial movements, a number input key for providing number input, and a function input key for providing functional input for a phone conversation.

5. The remote control as claimed in claim 4, wherein the function input key provides input for signaling call hang-up, confirm, delete, power on/off, and volume adjustment functions.

6. The remote control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display module is an LCD module.

7. The remote control as claimed in claim 6, wherein the LCD module is a touch-screen LCD module.

8. The remote control as claimed in claim 7, wherein the user control interface comprises an input key module, the input key module being displayed on the touch-screen LCD module and touching the input key module displayed on the touch-screen LCD module for inputting to the remote control.

9. The remote control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller unit comprises a security certification mechanism for authenticating at least the piece of data stored on the mobile memory access unit.

10. The remote control as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least the piece of data retrieve by the mobile memory module is a phone number, a network account, a financial account, or personal data.

11. The remote control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile memory module is a card reader or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) slot.

12. The remote control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile memory access unit is a smart card, a memory card, or a memory stick.

13. The remote control as claimed in claim 1, wherein an UPnP supported device identified by the microcontroller device is representatively displayed by the display module as a device icon.

14. The remote control as claimed in claim 13, wherein the display module further displays a device icon representative of a network phone, the remote control providing network phone functions by connecting with a network via the wireless module.

15. The remote control as claimed in claim 14, wherein the wireless module connects to a network bank or dials to a consuming telephone number via the network, and transmits both a consuming record, and the account number and password information retrieved from the mobile memory access unit, for providing wireless network payment service.

16. The remote control as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display module displays a list of phone numbers retrieved from the mobile memory access unit, allowing a phone number to be selected from the list to initiate a network call.

17. A method of controlling a remote control with UPnP support, the remote control capable of controlling at least a UPnP supported device and operating as a network phone, the remote control having a mobile memory module, the mobile memory module capable of providing hold for a mobile memory access unit, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an audio data, and transmitting the audio data wirelessly;

operating a user control interface to transmit a wireless control signal to control the operation of at least a device; and

retrieving at least a piece of data stored in the mobile memory access unit disposed in the mobile memory module.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of retrieving at least a piece of data is to retrieve a list of phone numbers stored on the mobile memory access unit, allowing a phone number to be selected from said list to initiate a network call.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of retrieving at least a piece of data is to retrieve account numbers and password information stored on the mobile memory access unit, for providing wireless network payment service.