Portable Phone Remote

• US 20100330979A1
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,412,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• 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 21/42218 for mapping a matrix of displayed objects on the screen to the numerical key-matrix of the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739

Abstract

A video device and a remote control function for a video device that can be carried out over a remote device such as a phone. The phone connects to the video device over a network.

Claims

1. A video device, comprising:

a video producing unit, which produces video information, having a first output which outputs said video information, and a second output, which connects to a network; and

a processing part, which operates to produce a controlling program, said controlling program enabling receiving commands directly from a remote control, and also receiving commands over said network via said second output, said commands controlling the producing of said video information by said video producing unit at a current time when said commands are received.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said processing part establishes a connection with a cellular phone device that is remote from said video producing unit, and accepts commands from said cellular phone.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said video device runs a security routine that requires determining if said cellular phone is authorized to control said video device, and accepts commands only from cellular phones which are authorized to control said video device.

4. A device as in claim 3, further comprising running a routine in said television that pairs with said phone, and stores details about said phone, and thereafter accepts commands from said phone.

5. A device as in claim 2, wherein said video device provides an output to said phone that provides information to said phone about controlling said video device over a network connection.

6. A video device as in claim 1, wherein said network connection is over the Internet, wherein said phone connects to said Internet and wherein said video device connects to the and turn it.

7. A video device as in claim 1, wherein said television provides a preview of what is currently playing on said video device, to said phone.

8. The video device as in claim 1, wherein said video device provides additional modes which do not include said preview, and which enable searching for programs.

9. A method, comprising:

from a portable phone, establishing communication with a remote video device which is accessible over a network;

from said portable phone, entering commands which change an item which is currently being viewed on said remote video device.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said establishing a connection comprises establishing a connection from said portable phone, to the Internet, and from the Internet to said video device.

11. A method as in claim 9, further comprising executing a security routine, to identify said phone to said TV, prior to running said whatever.

12. A method as in claim 9, wherein said commands include commands to control a current program that is playing on the video device.

13. A method as in claim 9, further comprising viewing a current item that is playing on the video device, on said portable phone.

14. A method as in claim 9, further comprising viewing programs that are currently available for playing on said portable phone, and enabling one of said programs to currently play on said video device.

15. A method as in claim 9, wherein said establishing communication comprises establishing communication with a website that is in communication with said video device.

16. A video device, comprising:

a video producing part, which produces a video output, based on a local command indicating the desired video output; and

a network part, which automatically provides a reduced resolution version of said of a current video output being produced by said video producing part two a remote, network-connected, device which connects to said video producing part.