REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE USAGE DETECTION BASED ON POWER CONSUMPTION

• US 20170287323A1
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caavo Inc
• Original Assignee: Caavo Inc
• Inventors: Einaudi, Andrew E., Marino, Nino V., Katiyar, Pankaj Ramesh Chandra, Aggarwal, Ashish D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,204,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/12 Power saving techniques of remote control or controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for remote control device usage detection. A smart battery may be inserted into a remote control device. The smart battery provides power to the remote control device as well as monitors the power consumption when a particular one or more interface elements of the remote control is interacted with by an end user. The power consumption information is transmitted to a receiver, which may identify the remote control device and/or the interface element(s) that has been interacted with based on the received data.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a smart battery that comprises

a battery,

a sensing device configured to detect a variation in current flow of the battery,

a current sensing circuit that is configured to determine a voltage level based on the detected variation in current flow, and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit data to a receiver, the data comprising at least one of the voltage level or information based on the voltage level; and

a receiver that comprises

an antenna configured to receive the data from the smart battery, and

control logic configured to identify at least one of a remote control device or an interface element of the remote control device that has been interacted with based on the received data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is a resistor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is a magnetic sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart battery is rechargeable.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart battery is configured to be paired with a remote control device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the smart battery further comprises a device configured to obtain acceleration information regarding movement of the paired remote control device, and

wherein the received data further comprises the acceleration information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a component of a high-definition multimedia interface switch.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface element of the remote control comprises at least one of a physical interface element or a virtual interface element displayed via a touch display screen, and

wherein the variation in the current flow from the smart battery is caused by user interaction with the interface element.

9. A receiver, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive data from a smart battery, the received data comprises at least one of a voltage level or information based on the voltage level; and

control logic configured to identify at least one of a remote control device that is paired with the smart battery or an interface element of the remote control device that has been interacted with based on the received data.

10. The receiver of claim 9, further comprising:

a memory configured to store one or more profiles, and

wherein the control logic is configured to compare the received data to the one or more profiles to perform the identification.

11. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the received data further comprises acceleration information regarding movement of the paired remote control.

12. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the control logic is further configured to determine a state of a device that was remotely controlled by the identified remote control device.

13. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the control logic is further configured to effect a change to a state of a device that was remotely controlled by the identified remote control device based on the interface element of the remote control device that has been interacted with.

14. A smart battery, comprising:

a battery;

a sensing device configured to detect a variation in current flow of the battery; and

a current sensing circuit that is configured to determine a voltage level based on the detected variation in current flow; and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit data to a receiver, the data comprising at least one of the voltage level or information based on the voltage level.

15. The smart battery of claim 14, wherein the sensing device is a resistor.

16. The smart battery of claim 14, wherein the sensing device is a magnetic sensor.

17. The smart battery of claim 14, wherein the smart battery is rechargeable.

18. The smart battery of claim 14, wherein the smart battery is configured to be paired with a remote control device.

19. The smart battery of claim 18, further comprising:

a device configured to obtain acceleration information regarding movement of the paired remote control device.

20. The smart battery of claim 19, wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit the acceleration information to the receiver.