Communication system and method

• US 20100060477A1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Skype Limited (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaal, Madis, Laasik, Marek
• Granted Patent: US 8,866,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.690
• 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 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

A remote control unit for controlling a media device, comprising: a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source; a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source; a processor coupled to the first and second wireless transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second wireless transmitters and is arranged to be powered from the first power; and monitoring means arranged to monitor power levels of the second power source and provide power level information to the processor.

Claims

1. A remote control unit for controlling a media device, comprising:

a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source;

a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source;

a processor coupled to the first and second wireless transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second wireless transmitters and is arranged to be powered from the first power; and

monitoring means arranged to monitor power levels of the second power source and provide power level information to the processor.

2. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to transmit a status message comprising the power level information using the first wireless transmitter.

3. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to compare the power level information to a predetermined threshold level, and transmit a status message using the first wireless transmitter if the power level information is less than the predetermined threshold level.

4. A remote control unit according to claim 1, further comprising microphone circuitry arranged to provide audio information to the processor, and arranged to be powered from the second power source and.

5. A remote control unit according to claim 4, wherein the processor is arranged to transmit data representing the audio information using the second wireless transmitter.

6. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless transmitter is an infra-red transmitter.

7. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless transmitter is an radio transmitter.

8. A remote control unit according to claim 7, wherein the radio transmitter is a Bluetooth transmitter.

9. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the first and second power sources are batteries.

10. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring means is arranged to monitor the voltage level of the second power source.

11. A system comprising a remote control unit, the remote control unit comprising:

a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source;

a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source;

a processor coupled to the first and second wireless transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second wireless transmitters and is arranged to be powered from the first power source and is further arranged to transmit a status message comprising the power level information using the first wireless transmitter; and

monitoring means arranged to monitor power levels of the second power source and provide power level information to the processor.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the system comprises a system unit, the system unit comprising:

a memory storing a communication client application;

a communication processing means, coupled to the memory and operable to execute the communication client application, wherein the client application is programmed so as when executed to allow a user to establish a call with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network;

a first wireless receiver arranged to receive signals from the first wireless transmitter of the remote control unit and coupled to the communication processing means; and

a second wireless receiver arranged to receive signals from the second wireless transmitter of the remote control unit and coupled to the communication processing means.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the system unit is one of a television receiver unit, a games console unit or a video-playback unit.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the first wireless receiver is arranged to receive the status message from the first wireless transmitter and provide the status message to the communication processing means, and the communication processing means is arranged to generate a warning message for display to the user responsive thereto.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein the warning message indicates to the user that a call cannot be established over the packet-based communication network due to depletion of the second power source.

16. A system according to of claim 12, wherein the communication processing means is arranged to transmit a notification message to the one or more other users over the packet-based communication network responsive to receiving the status message from the remote control unit.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the notification message indicates to the one or more other users that a call cannot be established with the user over the packet-based communication network.

18. A system according to claim 12, wherein the system unit comprises television receiver means operable to receive broadcast television signals.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the television receiver means is arranged to be controlled by commands transmitted from the first wireless transmitter of the remote control unit and received at the first wireless receiver.

20. A television receiver system according to claim 12, wherein the system comprises one of a television set and a set-top box.

21. A television receiver system according to claim 12, wherein the client application is configured establish a call with one or more other users via a peer-to-peer packet-based communication network.

22. A system according to claim 12, wherein the system unit is a video-playback unit comprising one of a video disc player and a personal video recorder.

23. A method of monitoring power in a remote control unit for controlling a media device, the remote control unit having a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source and a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source, the method comprising:

measuring a power level of the second power source;

comparing the power level of the second power source to a predetermined threshold; and

transmitting a status message using the first wireless transmitter in the case that the power level of the second power source is less than the predetermined threshold.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of receiving a signal to accept an incoming call request from a user of the remote control unit, and wherein the steps of measuring, monitoring and transmitting are performed responsive to receiving the signal to accept an incoming call.

25. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of receiving a signal to initiate a call from a user of the remote control unit, and wherein the steps of measuring, monitoring and transmitting are performed responsive to receiving the signal to initiate a call.

26. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of starting a periodic timer, wherein the steps of measuring and monitoring are performed responsive to the expiry of the periodic timer.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the step of transmitting is performed responsive to the expiry of the periodic timer.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the step of transmitting is performed responsive to receiving a command to transmit a signal using the first wireless transmitter from a user of the remote control unit.

29. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the status message at a first wireless receiver located remote from the remote control unit; and

displaying a warning message indicating the depletion of the second power source on a display means to a user of the remote control unit.

30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of transmitting a notification message to one or more other users over a packet-based communication network responsive to receiving the status message from the remote control unit.