SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN AUDIO INDICATOR VIA A REMOTE CONTROL

• US 20100208146A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Reams, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,257,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• 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 21/42222 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 5/602 for digital sound signals

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods are described for outputting audible or visual indicators via a remote control for a controlled device. A remote control queries an associated controlled device for information. The controlled device generates a request for the remote control to activate an audio or visual indicator. The request is integrated with a response to the query that is transmitted to the remote control. The remote control outputs an audio or visual indicator responsive to the request.

Claims

1. A remote control comprising:

a sound emitting device;

a wireless transceiver that transmits a query message to a controlled device and that receives a reply message from the controlled device responsive to the query message;

control logic communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and communicatively coupled to the output interface, the control logic operable to;

identify that the reply message includes a request to activate the sound emitting device; and

activate the sound emitting device responsive to the request.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control logic is operable to activate the sound emitting device for a specified period of time based on a type of the request.

3. The remote control of claim 2, wherein the request indicates activating the sound emitting device to locate the remote control.

4. The remote control of claim 2, wherein the request indicates activating the sound emitting device to provide a reminder to a user of the controlled device.

5. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control logic is operable to activate the sound emitting device to emit a specified tone determined based on a type of the request.

6. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is further operable to transmit a second query message to the controlled device and receive a second reply message from the controlled device and wherein the control logic deactivates the sound emitting device responsive to the second reply message.

7. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one light emitting device;

wherein the control logic is further operable to activate the light emitting device responsive to the request.

8. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising:

user input circuitry communicatively coupled to the control logic, the user input circuitry operable to receive user input;

wherein the control logic is operable to deactivate the sound emitting device responsive to the user input.

9. A method of locating a lost remote control, the method comprising:

receiving user input, at a controlled device, the user input requesting to locate a lost remote control for the controlled device;

receiving a first query message at the controlled device from the remote control;

transmitting a first reply message to the remote control from the controlled device responsive to the first query message, the first reply message referencing the user input requesting to locate the lost remote control; and

activating a sound emitting device of the remote control responsive to the reply message received from the controlled device by the remote control.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a second query message at the controlled device from the remote control;

transmitting a second reply message from the controlled device to the remote control; and

deactivating the sound emitting device of the remote control responsive to the second reply message received from the controlled device by the remote control.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a duration of time between the transmission of the first query message and the second query message is determined based on a schedule that is independent of the content of the first reply message.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the user input further comprises:

receiving the user input through a button of the controlled device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the user input further comprises:

receiving the user input through a second remote control for the controlled device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

deactivating the sound emitting device of the remote control after elapse of a specified period of time following activation of the sound emitting device.

15. A system comprising:

an entertainment device including;

a first wireless transceiver;

first control logic communicatively coupled to the first wireless transceiver that outputs a presentation stream for presentation on a presentation device;

a remote control including;

user input circuitry that receives first user input;

a sound emitting device;

second control logic communicatively coupled to the user input circuitry and the sound emitting device, the second control logic operable to generate a control command that controls the output of the presentation stream by the first control logic responsive to the first user input; and

a second wireless transceiver coupled to the second control logic that transmits the control command to the first wireless transceiver and that further transmits a first query message to the first wireless transceiver and responsively receives a first reply message responsive to the first query message;

wherein the second control logic processes the first reply message and responsively activates the sound emitting device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein second wireless transceiver transmits the first query message according to a pre-determined schedule.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first control logic receives second user input requesting to locate the remote control and wherein the first reply message instructs the second control logic to activate the sound emitting device to assist the user in locating the remote control based on the second user input.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first control logic operates a reminder timer regarding a specified event, and wherein the first reply message instructs the second control logic to activate the sound emitting device based on the reminder timer.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the specified event comprises a reminder for a television program receivable by the entertainment device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the reminder timer is associated with one of a plurality of users of the entertainment device, and wherein the first reply message specifies a particular tone for the sound emitting device depending on the user associated with the reminder timer.