State Sensing for a Remote Control

• US 20090128361A1
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monster, Inc. (Atlantic Acquisition, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Monster, Inc. (Atlantic Acquisition, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Demain, Lee, Noel, Chiro, Anthony Di
• Granted Patent: US 8,310,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.690
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system for state or status sensing of devices for a remote control or remote controlled system. The devices status indicator system 101 comprises a hand held remote control device 109, device status indicator 104, 106, 107, and device 103, 111, 112. In the alternative, a smart control device 110 can be used with or without a hand held remote control device 109. When the device 103, 111, 112 is turned ON or OFF in the remote controlled system, the device status indicator 104, 106, 107 will send a signal 102, 105, 108 to the remote control device 109 and/or the smart control device 110. This signal 102, 105, 108 triggers information to be stored in the remote control device 109 and/or the smart control device 110 that indicates that the device 103, 111, 112 is in an ON or OFF state.

Claims

1. A system for indicating status of one or more devices, said system comprising:

at least one device status indicator for receiving a signal from at least one or more of the devices; and

a remote controller coupled to the device status indicator for processing instructions therefrom.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receive signal from at least one or more of the devices is wirelessly transmitted to a wireless device status indicator.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a smart control device in communication with the device status indicator and at least one or more devices, wherein the smart control device is arranged to transmit a command signal to at least one or more of the devices to change their operating mode status.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the signal is wirelessly transmitted by way of a wireless smart control device to the at least one or more devices.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one device is a consumer electronic product selected from a group comprising:

a media player, a DVD player, a television, a cable box.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote control device includes a display screen suitable for displaying images and text.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the signal indicating the operating mode status of at least one or more of the devices is converted to text and displayed on the display screen.

8. A device status indicator for sensing the state of a device, comprising:

a communication interface for receiving signals from at least one or more devices;

a program for processing said received signal into instructions;

a communication interface for sending said processed signal instructions to a remote control device;

and a memory arranged to store data.

9. A device status indicator as recited in claim 8, wherein said processed signal instructions are the operating mode status of at least one or more of the devices.

10. A remote control device for sensing the state of a device, comprising:

a communication interface for receiving and transmitting signals to and from a device status indicator;

a processor for processing executable instructions;

and a program for generating a command to at least one or more of the devices to change their operating mode status.

11. A system for sensing the state of a device comprising:

an electronic circuit wired to a device,

said electronic circuit capable of differentiating between an output signal and no output signal received from said device, and

transmitting said signal information to a remote control.

12. A method for indicating the status of a device, comprising:

a device status indicator wired in series to said device,

said device status indicator monitoring said device for a signal,

said device status indicator receiving a signal from said device indicating state of device, and

said device status indicator transmitting said received signal information to a remote control device.

13. The method, as recited in claim 12, further comprising transmitting said received signal information to a remote control device wirelessly.

14. A method, as recited in claim 12, wherein said remote control device transmits command functions to said device.

15. A method, as recited in claim 14, wherein said remote control device tracks previous states of said device.