Communication system and method

• US 20100064328A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• 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 8,413,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• 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 21/43637 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82

Abstract

A media device comprising: a memory storing a communication client application; a processor, 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; and a remote control unit comprising wireless communication means arranged to transmit data to the processor, a control means coupled to the wireless communication means and configured to control the wireless communication means, user input means coupled to the control means and arranged to receive input commands from the user and provide the input commands to the control means, and a microphone coupled to the control means and arranged to receive audio signals from a user, wherein, responsive to the control means receiving a command to establish a call from the user input means, the control means is arranged to activate the wireless communication means from a deactivated state, establish a wireless connection with the processor, and transmit data comprising audio signals from the microphone using the wireless communication means to the processor for transmission in a call over the packet-based communication network.

Claims

1. A media device comprising:

a memory storing a communication client application;

a processor, 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; and

a remote control unit comprising wireless communication means arranged to transmit data to the processor, a control means coupled to the wireless communication means and configured to control the wireless communication means, user input means coupled to the control means and arranged to receive input commands from the user and provide the input commands to the control means, and a microphone coupled to the control means and arranged to receive audio signals from a user,

wherein, responsive to the control means receiving a command to establish a call from the user input means, the control means is arranged to activate the wireless communication means from a deactivated state, establish a wireless connection with the processor, and transmit data comprising audio signals from the microphone using the wireless communication means to the processor for transmission in a call over the packet-based communication network.

2. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control unit further comprises a further wireless communication means coupled to the control means and arranged to transmit data to the processor.

3. A media device according to claim 2, wherein the further wireless communication means is an infra-red transmitter.

4. A media device according to claim 2, wherein the control means is arranged to transmit a call establishment message to the processor using the further wireless communication means responsive to receiving the command to establish a call from the user input means.

5. A media device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is arranged to connect the call over the packet-based communication network responsive to receiving the call establishment message.

6. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to connect the call over the packet-based communication network responsive to the establishment of the wireless connection with the remote control unit.

7. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the communication client application is arranged to encode the audio signals received at the processor as voice over internet protocol packets for transmission over the packet-based communication network.

8. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication means comprises a radio transmitter.

9. A media device according to claim 8, wherein the radio transmitter is a Bluetooth transmitter.

10. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the command to establish a call from the user input means is a command to accept an incoming call.

11. A media device according to claim 10, wherein the microphone is retractable from the remote control unit, and the remote control unit is arranged to accept the incoming call responsive to the user retracting the microphone.

12. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the command to establish a call from the user input means is a command to initiate an outgoing call.

13. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is further arranged to activate the microphone responsive to the control means receiving a command to establish a call from the user input means.

14. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the communication client application is arranged to generate notifications to the user of incoming communication events from other users.

15. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the communication client application is arranged to generate a user interface for output on a television screen.

16. A media device according to claim 15, wherein the user interface comprises a list of one or more other users of the packet-based communication network associated with the user.

17. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control unit further comprises a speaker and a radio receiver, and wherein the processor is arranged to transmit audio signals received from the packet-based communication network in a call to the radio receiver of the remote control unit, and the remote control unit is arranged to play the audio signals from the speaker.

18. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the communication client application is further arranged to establish an instant messaging session with one or more other users, and the remote control unit arranged to transmit alphanumeric data received at the input means to processor using the wireless communication means for transmission over the packet based communication network in the instant messaging session.

19. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the client application is programmed to allow the user to establish calls via a peer-to-peer connection in the packet based communication network.

20. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the media device comprises one of a television set and a set-top box arranged to connect to a television set.

21. A media device according to claim 20, further comprising a television receiver operable to receive broadcast television signals.

22. A media device according to claim 21, wherein the processor is arranged to reduce the volume of an audio component of the broadcast television signal received at the television receiver responsive to the establishment of a call.

23. A media device according to claim 1, wherein the media device comprises one of a video disc player arranged to connect to a television set and a personal video recorder arranged to connect to a television set.

24. A method of establishing a call over a packet-based communication network in a media device having a processor executing a communication client and a remote control unit comprising a microphone, the method comprising:

receiving a command to establish a call from a user input means of the remote control unit at a control means of the remote control;

responsive to receiving the command, the control means activating a wireless communication means from a deactivated state;

the wireless communication means establishing a wireless connection with the processor; and

transmitting data comprising audio signals from the microphone of the remote control unit using the wireless communication means to the processor for transmission in a call over the packet-based communication network.

25. A computer program product comprising program code means which, when executed by a computer implement the steps of:

receiving a command to establish a call from a user input means of the remote control unit at a control means of the remote control;

responsive to receiving the command, the control means activating a wireless communication means from a deactivated state;

the wireless communication means establishing a wireless connection with the processor; and

transmitting data comprising audio signals from the microphone of the remote control unit using the wireless communication means to the processor for transmission in a call over the packet-based communication network.