Methods and Apparatus for Controlling One or More Electronic Devices Based on the Location of a User

• US 20100188279A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Shamilian, John H., Wood, Thomas L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,497,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling one or more electronic devices based on the location of a user. A remote control is configured by determining a location of a user; and automatically configuring the remote control with one or more menus that are appropriate for the location. The remote control may be, for example, a personal user interface. The user location can be determined, for example, using triangulation techniques by determining if the user is in proximity of a fixed Bluetooth device. The remote control may be automatically configured to present one or more menus for one or more of activities and a device located in the location.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a remote control, comprising:

determining a location of a user; and

automatically configuring said remote control with one or more menus that are appropriate for said location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said remote control is a personal user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step employs triangulation techniques.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step determines if said user is in proximity of a fixed Bluetooth device.

5. The method of step 1, wherein said automatically configuring step further comprises the step of presenting one or more menus for one or more of activities and a device located in said location.

6. The method of step 5, wherein said device located in said location is determined based on a device location model.

7. The method of step 1, further comprising the step of configuring one or more lighting devices in said location based on one or more of user preferences, time of day and location of a plurality of users.

8. The method of step 1, further comprising the step of configuring one or more heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) devices in said location based on one or more of user preferences, time of day and location of a plurality of users.

9. The method of step 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the volume of one or more devices in said location when a telephone call is answered in said location.

10. The method of step 1, further comprising the step of transferring a media signal from a first device in said location to a media player on said remote control.

11. An apparatus for configuring a remote control, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

determine a location of a user; and

automatically configure said remote control with one or more menus that are appropriate for said location.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said remote control is a personal user interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said location of a user is determined using triangulation techniques.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said location of a user is determined based on whether said user is in proximity of a fixed Bluetooth device.

15. The apparatus of step 11, wherein said remote control is automatically configured to present one or more menus for one or more of activities and a device located in said location.

16. The apparatus of step 15, wherein said device located in said location is determined based on a device location model.

17. The apparatus of step 11, wherein said processor is further operative to configure one or more lighting devices in said location based on one or more of user preferences, time of day and location of a plurality of users.

18. The apparatus of step 11, wherein said processor is further operative to adjust the volume of one or more devices in said location when a telephone call is answered in said location.

19. The apparatus of step 11, wherein said processor is further operative to transfer a media signal from a first electronic device in said location to a media player on said remote control.

20. An article of manufacture for configuring a remote control, comprising a machine readable storage medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

determining a location of a user; and

automatically configuring said remote control with one or more menus that are appropriate for said location.