SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A REMOTE ALARM

• US 20100154006A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Reams, William
• Granted Patent: US 9,094,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• 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 21/42204 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods of issuing a reminder from a remote control are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, an exemplary embodiment has a remote control and a set top box (STB). In at least one embodiment, the remote control has a transmitter that transmits information corresponding to at least one reminder event with a reminder time, a reminder alert receiver that receives a reminder alert, and at least one of a sound emitter that issues audible reminder alerts, a vibration generator that issues vibration reminder alerts, and a light source that issues visible reminder alerts. In at least one embodiment, the STB has a receiver that receives the information corresponding to the reminder event from the remote control, a STB processing system that generates a reminder alert based upon the received reminder event, and a reminder alert transmitter that transmits the reminder alert to the remote control.

Claims

1. A method for issuing a reminder from a remote control, the method comprising:

receiving a specification for an event of interest with at least a reminder time;

comparing the current time with the reminder time; and

in response to the current time reaching the reminder time, issuing a reminder alert from the remote control.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a reminder event in response to receiving the specification of the event of interest;

storing the reminder event in a memory of a set top box;

in response to the current time reaching the reminder time, generating the reminder alert based upon the reminder event; and

communicating the reminder alert from the set top box to the remote control via a wireless signal, wherein the reminder alert is issued from the remote control.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a reminder event in response to receiving the specification of the event of interest;

communicating the reminder event to the remote control via a wireless signal;

storing the reminder event in a memory of the remote control;

in response to the current time reaching the reminder time, retrieving the reminder event from the memory of the remote control; and

generating the reminder alert based upon the reminder event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein issuing the reminder alert from the remote control comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of an audible alert reminder, a visual alert reminder, and a vibratory alert reminder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the specification for an event of interest comprises:

transmitting the specification for the event of interest from the remote control; and

receiving the specification for the event of interest at a set top box.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the reminder alert;

in response to the current time reaching the reminder time, transmitting the reminder alert from a set top box; and

receiving the reminder alert at the remote control.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving supplemental information corresponding to the event of interest; and

in response to the current time reaching the reminder time, presenting the supplemental information on a display.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein presenting the information of interest on the display comprises:

presenting the supplemental information on a media presentation device display that is communicatively coupled to a set top box that is configured to be controlled by the remote control.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein presenting the information of interest on the display comprises:

presenting the supplemental information on a remote control display.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a specification for an event of interest comprises:

receiving the specification of a program of interest scheduled for presentation beginning at a future time; and

defining the reminder time as the time scheduled for the beginning of presentation of the program of interest.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the specification for an event of interest comprises:

receiving a user specified reminder time; and

in response to the current time reaching the user specified reminder time, issuing the reminder alert from the remote control.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

presenting a plurality of predefined messages on a display, wherein each predefined message is associated with unique information of interest;

receiving selection of one of the plurality of predefined messages; and

in response to the current time reaching the reminder time, presenting the selected predefined message on the display.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a user defined message from a user; and

in response to the current time reaching the reminder time, presenting the user defined message on the display.

14. A reminder alert system, comprising:

a remote control comprising;

a transmitter configured to transmit information corresponding to at least one reminder event with a reminder time;

a reminder alert receiver configured to receive a reminder alert; and

at least one of a sound emitter configured to issue an audible reminder alert, a vibration generator configured to issue a vibration reminder alert, and a light source configured to issue a visible reminder alert; and

a set top box comprising;

a receiver configured to receive the information corresponding to the reminder event from the remote control;

a set top box (STB) processing system configured to generate a reminder alert based upon the received reminder event; and

a reminder alert transmitter configured to transmit the reminder alert to the remote control.

15. The reminder alert system of claim 14, wherein the set top box further comprises:

a memory configured to store the reminder alert, wherein the reminder alert comprises supplemental information pertaining to the reminder event; and

a presentation device interface communicatively coupled to a display of a media presentation device, wherein the supplemental information is presented on the display substantially concurrently with transmittal of the reminder alert to the remote control.

16. The reminder alert system of claim 15, wherein the reminder event is a program of interest, and wherein the set top box further comprises:

a program content stream interface configured to receive a stream of programming content comprising a plurality of programs, wherein the supplemental information presented on the display corresponds to supplemental information embedded in the stream of programming content.

17. The reminder alert system of claim 15, wherein the reminder event is an event of interest, wherein the memory is configured to store a plurality of selectable messages that are configured to be presented on the display, and in response to selection of one of the selectable messages, information corresponding to the selected message is presented on the display substantially concurrently with transmittal of the reminder alert to the remote control.

18. The reminder alert system of claim 14, wherein the STB processing system is configured to compare a current time with the reminder time, and in response to the current time reaching the reminder time, the reminder alert is transmitted to the remote control.

19. The reminder alert system of claim 14, wherein the remote control further comprises:

a memory configured to store the reminder alert; and

a clock set top configured to compare a current time with the reminder time.

20. The reminder alert system of claim 14, wherein the reminder alert comprises supplemental information pertaining to the reminder event, and wherein the remote control further comprises:

a display, wherein the supplemental information is presented on the display substantially concurrently with issuance of the reminder alert from the remote control.