DUAL MODE REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090058707A1
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Core Brands, LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: SpeakerCraft Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Craze, Jason, Stanchfield, Todd, Wu, Kris, Liu, Gilbert
• Application Number:
  US11/848,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058707A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• 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

Abstract

A remote control system includes a plurality of devices located in a plurality of zones in an operational area. A controller is coupled to and controls the plurality of devices. A handheld control device includes a first wired interface and a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter commands the controller to control a first set of devices selected from the plurality of devices. A docking station is located in one of the plurality of zones. The docking station is connected to the controller through a wired network and has a second wired interface connectable with the first wired interface when the handheld control device is docked such that the handheld control device connects to the controller through the wired network to control a second set of devices selected from the plurality of devices. The second set of devices is different from the first set of devices.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

a plurality of devices located in a plurality of zones in an operational area;

a controller coupled to and controlling the plurality of devices;

a handheld control device having a first wired interface and a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter commanding the controller to control a first set of devices selected from the plurality of devices;

a docking station located in one of the plurality of zones; and

the docking station connected to the controller through a wired network and having a second wired interface connectable with the first wired interface when the handheld control device is docked such that the handheld control device connects to the controller through the wired network to control a second set of devices selected from the plurality of devices,

wherein the second set of devices is different from the first set of devices.

2. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the second set of devices is a subset of the first set of devices.

3. The remote control system of claim 2, wherein the second set of devices are located in a same one of the plurality of zones as the docking station.

4. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the first set of devices consists of all of the plurality of devices.

5. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is adapted to connect to the controller through a wireless network.

6. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the docking station is wall mounted.

7. A remote control system comprising:

a plurality of devices located in a plurality of zones in an operational area;

a controller coupled to and controlling the plurality of devices;

a handheld control device having a first wired interface and a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter commanding the controller to control a first set of devices selected from the plurality of devices using a first set of available commands; and

a docking station located in one of the plurality of zones and connected to the controller through a wired network, the docking station having a second wired interface connectable with the first wired interface when the handheld control device is docked such that the handheld control device connects to the controller through the wired network to control a second set of devices using a second set of available commands,

wherein the second set of available commands is different from the first set of available commands.

8. The remote control system of claim 7, wherein the second set of available commands is a subset of the first set of available commands.

9. The remote control system of claim 7, wherein the first set of available commands is a subset of the second set of available commands.

10. The remote control system of claim 7, wherein the first set of devices is the same as the second set of devices.

11. A method for remotely controlling a plurality of devices within a plurality of zones in an operational area, comprising:

providing a docking station within one of the plurality of zones, the docking station coupled to the plurality of devices through a wired network;

providing a handheld control device connectable with the docking station and having a wireless transmitter;

automatically allowing control of a first set of devices selected from the plurality of devices by the handheld control device through the wired network when the handheld control device is connected to the docking station; and

automatically allowing control of a second set of devices selected from the plurality of devices by the handheld control device through the wireless transmitter when the handheld control device is not connected to the docking station.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of devices is different from the second set of devices.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

allowing a first set of features of the first set of devices to be controlled when the handheld control device is connected to the docking station; and

allowing a second set of features of the second set of devices to be controlled when the handheld control device is not connected to the docking station,

wherein the first set of features is different from the second set of features.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of devices is a subset of the second set of devices.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of devices is determined by the zone in which the docking station is provided.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the automatically allowing control of the first set of devices further comprises:

preventing control of the plurality of devices through the wireless transmitter when the handheld control device is connected to the docking station.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a MAC address to the handheld control device;

providing a zone address to the docking station;

associating the zone address of the docking station to the handheld control device when the control device is connected to the docking station.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

automatically retaining control of the first set of devices after the handheld control device is disconnected from the docking station.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating to a controller with the handheld control device through the wired network via a polling communication protocol when the handheld control device is connected to the docking station; and

communicating to the controller with the handheld control device through a wireless network via a non-polling communication protocol when the handheld control device is not connected to the docking station.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the non-polling communication protocol further comprises:

transmitting a talk request on the wireless network to obtain permission to transmit commands to the second set of devices.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the non-polling communication protocol further comprises:

transmitting commands from the handheld control device to the second set of devices;

transmitting a system update message from the controller to the handheld control device in response to the transmitted commands;

transmitting an acknowledgment message from the handheld control device to the controller if the system update message is received by the handheld control device; and

re-transmitting the system update message from the controller to the handheld control device if the system update message is not received by the handheld control device.