Remote Control Operation Using a Wireless Home Entertainment Hub

• US 20080065232A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Technology Patents & Licensing Incorporated
• Inventors: Igoe, Patrick T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,185,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/08 by combining tones G10H1/14, G10H1/16 take precedence; chord G10H1/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440209 for formatting on an optical medium, e.g. DVD
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of operating a remote control in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub comprises receiving an assignment of actuators for the remote control from the wireless home entertainment hub. A selection by a user to change a parameter of a source device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub based on the user activating one of the actuators of the remote control is received. An indication of the actuator activated by the user is transmitted.

Claims

1. A method of operating a remote control in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

(a) receiving an assignment of actuators for the remote control from the wireless home entertainment hub;

(b) receiving a selection by a user to change a parameter of a first source device registered with the wireless home entertainment hub based on the user activating one of the actuators of the remote control; and

(c) transmitting an indication of the actuator activated by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the assignment of the actuators is based on the first source device transmitting program content in the home entertainment system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) changing the assignment of the actuators at the remote control based on changing from the first source device to a second source device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the changing the assignment of the actuators includes receiving a different assignment of the actuators from the wireless home entertainment hub.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the actuator activated is wirelessly transmitted to the source device transmitting program content in the home entertainment system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the actuator activated is wirelessly transmitted to the wireless home entertainment hub.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein parameters include programming channels of a set-top box.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein parameters include selection of program content on a DVD-player.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control is a personal communications device configurable to communicate with the wireless home entertainment hub and the one or more devices in the home entertainment system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the personal communications device is a cellular telephone.

11. A method of operating a remote control in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

(a) transmitting an assignment of actuators for the remote control from the wireless home entertainment hub;

(b) receiving from the remote control an indication of a user selection corresponding to activating one of the actuators of the remote control to change a parameter of a first source device; and

(c) transmitting to the first source device the indication of the actuator activated by the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the assignment of the actuators is based on the first source device transmitting program content in the home entertainment system.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

(d) transmitting a different assignment of the actuators to the remote control based on changing from the first source device to a second source device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the changing from the first source device to the second source device includes receiving a selection from the user to present program content from the second source device in the home entertainment system.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein activating one of the actuators includes pressing a button on the remote control.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the remote control.

17. A method of operating a remote control in a home entertainment system containing a wireless home entertainment hub, the method comprising:

(a) receiving from the wireless home entertainment hub an indication of the state of one or more devices registered with the wireless home entertainment hub, wherein the indication of the state of the one or more devices includes the activity of the device;

(b) analyzing the state of the one or more devices to determine whether a first source device of the one or more devices is transmitting program content; and

(c) providing an assignment of the actuators of the remote control based on the first source device transmitting program content in the home entertainment system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

(d) receiving a selection by a user to change a parameter of the first source device based on the user activating one of the actuators of the remote control; and

(e) transmitting to the first source device an indication of the actuator activated.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

(d) changing the assignment of the actuators at the remote control based on receiving from the wireless home entertainment hub an indication that the state of the one or more devices has changed.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the state of a device includes low power mode.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the state of a device includes full power mode.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the remote control is a personal communications device configurable to communicate with the wireless home entertainment hub and the one or more devices in the home entertainment system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the personal communications device is a cellular telephone.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the personal communications device is personal digital assistant.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless home entertainment hub is included in the remote control.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the assignment of the actuators of the remote control for each source device is stored in an internal memory of the remote control.