SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A TERMINAL DEVICE
First Claim
1. A control system comprising:
- a housing having an engagement means for a mounting surface;
a sensor contained within said housing, said sensor forming an interactive zone defined by a range of said sensor, said interactive zone being aligned with said mounting surface, said sensor being in a fixed position relative to said engagement means, wherein a contact interaction associated with said mounting surface within said interactive zone is detected by said sensor as data signals;
a server in communication with said sensor, said server being comprised of a routing module, a processing module being connected to said routing module, and an output module connected to said processing module, said routing module receiving said data signals from said sensor, said processing module determining a data pattern corresponding to said data signals of said contact interaction and matching said data pattern with a gesture profile, said gesture profile being associated with a command; and
a terminal device being comprised of a receiving module and means for initiating activity of said terminal device corresponding to said command, said terminal device being in communication with said server, said output module transmitting said command to said receiving module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system includes a housing engaged to a mounting surface, a sensor contained within the housing, a server in communication with the sensor, and a terminal device in communication with the server. A gesture by a user associated with the mounting surface controls activity of the terminal device, such as a knock on a wall lowering a thermostat. The control system enables a mounting surface independent from the terminal device to become a controller for the terminal device. The sensor forms an interactive zone, and a contact interaction with the mounting surface within the interactive zone is detected by the sensor as data signals. The server receives the data signals, determines a data pattern corresponding to the data signals, and matches the data pattern with a gesture profile. The gesture profile is associated with a command transmitted to the terminal device to control activity of the terminal device.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control system comprising:
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a housing having an engagement means for a mounting surface; a sensor contained within said housing, said sensor forming an interactive zone defined by a range of said sensor, said interactive zone being aligned with said mounting surface, said sensor being in a fixed position relative to said engagement means, wherein a contact interaction associated with said mounting surface within said interactive zone is detected by said sensor as data signals; a server in communication with said sensor, said server being comprised of a routing module, a processing module being connected to said routing module, and an output module connected to said processing module, said routing module receiving said data signals from said sensor, said processing module determining a data pattern corresponding to said data signals of said contact interaction and matching said data pattern with a gesture profile, said gesture profile being associated with a command; and a terminal device being comprised of a receiving module and means for initiating activity of said terminal device corresponding to said command, said terminal device being in communication with said server, said output module transmitting said command to said receiving module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling a terminal device, the method comprising the steps of:
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installing a housing on a mounting surface by an engagement device, said housing being comprised of a sensor contained within said housing, said sensor forming an interactive zone defined by a range of said sensor, said interactive zone being aligned with said mounting surface, said sensor being in a fixed position relative to said engagement device; connecting a server in communication with said sensor, said server being comprised of a routing module, a processing module being connected to said routing module, and an output module connected to said processing module; connecting a terminal device in communication with said server, said terminal device being comprised of a receiving module; making a physical impact on said mounting surface so as to generate a contact interaction; detecting said contact interaction as data signals with said sensor; receiving said data signals from said sensor with said routing module of said server; determining a data pattern corresponding to said data signals of said contact interaction with said processing module; matching said data pattern to a gesture profile with said processing module, said gesture profile being associated with a command; transmitting said command to said receiving module of terminal device with said output module of said server, said command corresponding to activity of said terminal device; and performing said activity with said terminal device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification