Virtual Control Device

• US 20100169945A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Kummer, David A., Kennedy, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,800,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method for controlling multiple devices using a virtual device that may be displayed on a screen. The method may include providing the information for the virtual device from a set-top box to the screen. The method may also include using a control device to scroll around the virtual device and make a selection fro the options provided by the virtual device. Additionally, the buttons on the control device may not correspond to the functionality associated with the virtual buttons on the virtual device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of components, comprising:

displaying a virtual device on a display, the virtual device comprising at least one selectable option associated with control information for at least one of the plurality of components;

monitoring the virtual device for a remote indication that an option has been selected from the at least one selectable option; and

upon receiving an indication that the option is selected, determining the control information for a target component associated with the selected option, wherein the control information is included in a control command for the target component; and

transmitting the control command to the target component.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the display information for the virtual device from the set-top box to the virtual device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the control command from the set-top box.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the control command comprises a first instruction and a second instruction;

the first instruction activates a function of the component; and

the second instruction activates a second function of a second component.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading the control information for the plurality of components onto a set-top box from one storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the selectable options for the virtual device for viewing at a remote location from the set-top box, wherein the at least one selectable options for the virtual device are provided by the set-top box.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a control device at least to select an option displayed on the virtual device, wherein the control device transmits control information provided by the set-top box.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the selectable options for the virtual device for viewing at a remote location, wherein the selectable options for the virtual device are provided by the first device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a control device at least to select an option displayed on the virtual device, wherein the control device transmits control information provided by the first device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is a set-top box.

8. A method for controlling a plurality of components, comprising:

storing, on a first device, control information corresponding to the plurality of components;

providing selectable options on a display, wherein the control information for displaying the options is provided by the first device;

receiving an indication of a selected option from a second device; and

displaying the selectable options on the display, wherein the information for displaying the virtual device is provided by the first device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising communicating the display information for the virtual device from the first device to the virtual device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the control information is wirelessly transmitted from the set-top box to a target component of the plurality of components.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the control information comprises a first instruction and a second instruction;

the first instruction activates a function of the component; and

the second instruction activates a second function of a second component.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the control information is downloaded onto the first device from one storage device.

16. A method for controlling a plurality of components, comprising:

receiving an input command;

determining the component associated with the input command;

switching to a first control mode for the component associated with the input command;

transmitting a first control command to turn the component on;

transmitting a second control command to the component so that the component is configured to receive a satellite signal; and

switching to a second control mode for communicating with a satellite receiver.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving control information for the second control command from a set-top box.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the control information is downloaded onto a set-top box from one storage device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the second control mode is the default control mode.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein configuring the component to receive the satellite signal further comprises changing the channel of the component.