Methods, systems, and products for controlling devices

• US 20080180301A1
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,736,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for controlling a device. A signal is received and a power of the signal is determined. The power is associated to a command, and the command is executed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a device, comprising:

receiving a signal;

determining a power of the signal;

associating the power to a command; and

executing the command.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining the power of the signal comprises determining an average power of the signal.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining the power of the signal comprises determining an instantaneous power of the signal.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising i) determining a sequence of at least one average power of the signal over time to obtain a power signature of the signal, and ii) querying a database of power signatures for the command, the database of power signatures associating power signatures to different commands.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising i) determining a sequence of at least one instantaneous power of the signal over time to obtain a power signature of the signal, and ii) querying a database of power signatures for the command, the database of power signatures associating power signatures to different commands.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising i) receiving a coded identifier that uniquely indicates a sending device that transmitted the signal, and ii) associating the power and the coded identifier to the command, such that the device may be controlled by multiple sending devices, each of the sending devices having a unique coded identifier.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising storing the power of the signal over time in a database of power signatures, the database of power signatures associating power signatures to different commands.

8. A system for controlling a device, the system operative to:

receive a signal;

determine a power of the signal;

associate the power to a command; and

execute the command.

9. A system according to claim 8, further operative to determine an average power of the signal.

10. A system according to claim 8, further operative to determine an instantaneous power of the signal.

11. A system according to claim 8, further operative to i) determine a sequence of at least one average power of the signal over time to obtain a power signature of the signal, and ii) query a database of power signatures for the command, the database of power signatures associating power signatures to different commands.

12. A system according to claim 8, further operative to i) determine a sequence of at least one instantaneous power of the signal over time to obtain a power signature of the signal, and ii) query a database of power signatures for the command, the database of power signatures associating power signatures to different commands.

13. A system according to claim 8, further operative to i) receive a coded identifier that uniquely indicates a sending device that transmitted the signal, and ii) associate the power and the coded identifier to the command, such that the device may be controlled by multiple sending devices, each of the sending devices having a unique coded identifier.

14. A system according to claim 8, further operative to store the power of the signal over time in a database of power signatures, the database of power signatures associating power signatures to different commands.

15. A computer program product storing computer-readable instructions for:

receiving a signal;

determining a power of the signal;

associating the power to a command; and

executing the command.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for determining an average power of the signal.

17. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for determining an instantaneous power of the signal.

18. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for i) determining a sequence of at least one average power of the signal over time to obtain a power signature of the signal, and ii) querying a database of power signatures for the command, the database of power signatures associating power signatures to different commands.

19. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for i) determining a sequence of at least one instantaneous power of the signal over time to obtain a power signature of the signal, and ii) querying a database of power signatures for the command, the database of power signatures associating power signatures to different commands.

20. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for i) receiving a coded identifier that uniquely indicates a sending device that transmitted the signal, and ii) associating the power and the coded identifier to the command, such that the device may be controlled by multiple sending devices, each of the sending devices having a unique coded identifier.