PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONTROL OF OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20130331086A1
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TMW Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TMW Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Pearson, David
• Application Number:
  US13/489,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/02 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves

Abstract

A smartphone or other portable electronic device is used to control another electronic device using the existing audio output of the phone without modification. The audio link can be ultra-sonic, sub-sonic, or audible and, if the controlled device has an audio output, bi-directional communications may be achieved using the microphone of the smartphone. The smartphone acts as a control panel to program or operate the external device. In one disclosed example, the smartphone is used to control and tune a portable sports event radio using an acoustic link and tone pattern(s).

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electronic device with a portable device having an audio output, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic device having a microphone, a controller, and electronic circuitry to be controlled;

transmitting a pattern of acoustic control tones from the portable device to the electronic device using the audio output of the portable device and the microphone of the electronic device;

interpreting the pattern of acoustic control tones in the electronic device using the controller; and

controlling the electronic circuitry in the electronic device in accordance with the pattern of acoustic control tones.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the portable device has a microphone and the electronic device has an audio output; and

transmitting a pattern of acoustic tones from the electronic device to the portable device using the audio output of the electronic device and the microphone of the portable device, thereby facilitating bidirectional acoustic communications between the portable device and the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic device is a radio receiver; and

the pattern of acoustic control tones from the portable device to the electronic device is operative to tune the radio to a particular channel frequency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the portable device has a touch-screen display; and

the portable device includes an application (app) enabling the touch-screen display to function as a control panel for the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the portable device has a touch-screen display; and

the portable device includes an application (app) enabling the touch-screen display to provide soft buttons used to control the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the portable device has a touch-screen display;

the electronic device is a radio; and

the portable device includes an application (app) enabling the touch-screen display to provide soft buttons used to tune the radio to particular channel frequencies.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device includes an application (app) operative to deliver targeting advertising to the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device includes an application (app) operative to deliver pay-per-view or pay-to-listen content the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:

encrypting the pattern of acoustic tones sent by the portable device; and

decrypting the pattern in the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the portable device has a microphone and the electronic device has an audio output; and

acoustically transmitting a serial number or other identifier from the electronic device to the portable device enabling the electronic device to receive specific content from the portable device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the portable device has a microphone and the electronic device has an audio output; and

acoustically transmitting a serial number or other identifier from the electronic device to the portable device enabling the electronic device to receive pay-per-view or pay-to-listen content.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device includes an application (app) operative to send an automatic text message or store usage information associated with the electronic device for later retrieval through a phone call or data connection.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic device is a radio; and

the portable device includes an application (app) operative to send an automatic text message or store usage information associated with channel usage data of the radio for later retrieval through a phone call or data connection.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic control tones are ultra-sonic, sub-sonic, or audible.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern of acoustic control tones comprises a burst of FSK, AM or other modulated tones.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device is a smartphone.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable device is a palmtop, laptop, tablet or other portable computer.

18. A system enabling an electronic device to be controlled with a portable device having a touch-screen display and an audio output, the system comprising:

an electronic device having a microphone, a controller, and electronic circuitry to be controlled;

an application program on the portable device enabling the portable device to generate a pattern of acoustic control tones;

the electronic device being operative to receive and interpret the pattern of acoustic control tones from the portable device; and

wherein the app further enables the touch-screen display of the portable device to act as a control panel to operate the electronic circuitry of the electronic device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the portable device has a microphone and the electronic device has an audio output; and

the electronic device is operative to transmit a pattern of acoustic tones to the portable device using the audio output of the electronic device and the microphone of the portable device, thereby facilitating bidirectional acoustic communications between the portable device and the electronic device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the electronic device is a radio receiver; and

the pattern of acoustic control tones from the portable device to the electronic device is operative to tune the radio to a particular channel frequency.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the touch-screen display of the portable device provides soft buttons used to control the electronic device.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the electronic device is a radio; and

the touch-screen display of the portable device provides soft buttons used to tune the radio to particular channel frequencies.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the acoustic control tones are ultra-sonic, sub-sonic, or audible.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the pattern of acoustic control tones comprises a burst of FSK, AM or other modulated tones.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the portable device is a smartphone.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the portable device is a palmtop, laptop, tablet or other portable computer.