Automation Control of Electronic Devices

• US 20100318198A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap One LLC (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Control4 Corporation (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, W. Eric, Gist, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,152,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24097 Camera monitors controlled machine

Abstract

A system is provided for remote control of electronic devices. An automation controller can be used to control electronic devices via a network. A communication port for the automation controller is used to provide control signals for at least one electronic device via the network. An analog receiver module receives analog video signals from analog sources. A digital display module can receive a digital control interface from the automation controller. The digital control interface can include automation graphical interface controls. A display module, coupled to the automation controller, is used to composite the digital control interface received from the digital display module into a composite image with analog video signals.

Claims

1. An automation control system for control of electronic devices, comprising:

an automation controller configured to control electronic devices via a network;

an analog receiver module configured to receive analog video signals from analog sources;

a digital display module configured to receive a digital control interface from the automation controller, wherein the digital control interface includes automation graphical interface controls; and

a display module coupled to the automation controller, the display module being configured to composite the digital control interface received from the digital display module into a composite image with analog video signals received from the analog receiver module.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the display module is configured to composite a digital signal into the composite image.

3. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a motion sensitive pointer configured to control the movement of a control icon for the digital control interface on a display.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein the motion sensitive pointer includes a single user interface actuator that is a select button.

5. A system as in claim 3, wherein the motion sensitive pointer is configured to control the movement of a control icon on a display in a vertical and horizontal direction.

6. A system as in claim 3, wherein the motion sensitive pointer uses accelerometers to sense motion.

7. A system as in claim 3, wherein the motion sensitive pointer communicates with the automation controller wirelessly.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein device automation controls, home entertainment controls, and analog video input controls are jointly controlled using graphical user interface (GUI) controls provided on a display.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the display module is a display screen viewable by a user.

10. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a communication port for the automation controller, the communication port being configured to provide control signals for at least one electronic device via the network.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the analog receiver module receives multiple analog inputs among which a user may select a desired analog input.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein the multiple analog inputs can be selected from the group consisting of an analog optical disk input, an analog video tape input, an analog satellite television input, an analog cable television input, an analog television input from air transmission.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein the analog video signals and digital control interface images are composited together in a frame buffer before they are sent to the display.

14. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a display configured to display the composite image to a user.

15. An automation control system for control of electronic devices, comprising:

an automation controller configured to control automation devices via a network;

a communication port for the automation controller, the communication port being configured to provide control signals for at least one automation device via the network;

an analog receiver module configured to receive analog video signals from external analog sources;

a digital display module configured to receive a digital control interface from the automation controller, wherein the digital control interface includes automation graphical interface controls;

a display module coupled to the automation controller, the display module being configured to composite the digital control interface received from the digital display module into a composite image with analog video signals received from the analog receiver module;

a display configured to display the composite image to a user; and

an accelerometer-based motion sensitive pointer device interfaced with the automation controller and configured to control the movement of a control icon for the digital control interface on the display.

16. An automation control method for control of electronic devices, comprising:

receiving an analog video signal from an analog source at an analog receiver module in communication with an automation controller;

receiving a digital control interface including automation graphical interface controls from the automation controller on a digital display module;

compositing the digital control interface received from the digital display module into a composite image with the analog video signal received from the analog receiver module; and

displaying the composite image to a user on a display.

17. A method as in claim 16, further comprising compositing a digital video signal into the composite image.

18. A method as in claim 16, further comprising sending control signals via a motion sensitive input device to a communication port for the automation controller to control at least one automation device connected to a network.

19. A method as in claim 18, further comprising controlling multiple electronic devices connected to the network through the automation graphical interface controls using the motion sensitive input device.

20. A method as in claim 16, further comprising compositing the analog video signal and digital control interface images together in a frame buffer before they are sent to the display.