REMOTE CONTROL ACTIVITY DETECTION

• US 20180103211A1
• Filed: 10/06/2017
• Published: 04/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caavo Inc
• Original Assignee: Caavo Inc
• Inventors: Marino, Nino Vincenzo, Einaudi, Andrew E., Aggarwal, Ashish Dharmpal
• Granted Patent: US 10,158,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching

Abstract

Embodiments described herein enable detection of remote control activity. For example, a determination may be made whether an RF remote control is in use by detecting a non-RF signal transmitted by the RF remote control. The non-RF signal need not actually control any device, but it may be used to detect when the RF remote control is in use. An AV switch may detect an RF remote control is in use by detecting a non-RF signal. For example, when a user uses an RF remote (e.g., to control an STB with an RF signal) the use may be detected by detecting a non-RF (e.g., an IR signal) signal and the AV switch may use the detection, for example, to control a TV (e.g., turn on), control the switch (e.g., port selection for a TV to display STB output) and/or other devices.

Claims

1. A method performed by a switching device that is operable to connect one or more source devices to one or more sink devices, the method comprising:

detecting a non radio-frequency (RF) signal transmitted by an RF remote control device that is operable to control a first device among the one or more source devices or one or more sink devices, wherein the RF remote control device is programmed to transmit the non-RF signal in response to a user interaction with the RF remote control device;

in response to the detection of the non-RF signal, determining that the RF remote control device is in use; and

in response to determining that the remote RF control device is in use, controlling a connection between one of the one or more source devices and one of the one or more sink devices, one of the one or more source devices, one of the one or more sink devices, or a second device that is not one of the one or more source devices or one or more sink devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-RF signal comprises a device identification code that indicates to one of the one or more source devices or one of the one or more sink devices that the non-RF signal should be ignored.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the one of the one or more source devices or the one of the one or more sink devices comprises:

powering on or powering off one of the one or more source devices or one of the one or more sink devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the second device comprises controlling one of:

a light;

a window shade;

a projection screen;

a thermostat;

a smart phone;

or

a surround sound system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-RF signal carries a device identification code that indicates to the switching device that the non-RF signal should be not be ignored.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-RF signal comprises an infrared signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the switching device comprises an audio/video switch, the one of the one or more of source devices comprises a set-top-box, and the one of the one or more sink devices comprises a television.

8. A switching device, comprising:

a plurality of audio/video (AV) ports;

a receiver; and

control logic that is operable to selectively connect any one of one or more source devices, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of AV ports, to one or more sink devices, each of which is connected to another corresponding one of the plurality of AV ports, the control logic being configured to;

determine that the receiver has received a non radio-frequency (RF) signal transmitted by an RF remote control device that is operable to control a first device among the one or more source devices or one or more sink devices, wherein the RF remote control device is programmed to transmit the non-RF signal in response to a user interaction with the RF remote control device;

in response to determining that the receiver has received the non-RF signal, determine that the RF remote control device is in use; and

in response to at least determining that the RF remote control device is in use;

identify a source device that is associated with the RF remote control device from among the one or more source devices;

identify a first AV port from among the plurality of AV ports to which the identified source device is connected; and

automatically connect the first AV port to the one or more AV ports to which the one or more sink devices are connected so that content can be provided from the identified source device to the one or more sink devices.

9. The switching device of claim 8, wherein the control logic is configured to identify a source device from among the one or more source devices that is associated with the RF remote control device by:

detecting a device identification code included in the non-RF signal that identifies the source device; and

associating the device identification code included in the non-RF signal with the source device.

10. The switching device of claim 9, wherein the switching device further comprises user interface logic that is configured to:

prompt a user to program the RF remote control device to include the device identification code in the non-RF signal.

11. The switching device of claim 8, wherein the control logic is further configured to:

determine that the receiver has received a second non-RF signal transmitted by a second RF remote control device that is operable to control a second device among the one or more source devices or one or more sink devices, wherein the second RF remote control device is programmed to transmit the second non-RF signal in response to a user interaction with the second RF remote control device;

in response to determining that the receiver has received the second non-RF signal, determine that the second RF remote control device is in use; and

in response to at least determining that the second RF remote control device is in use;

identify a second source device that is associated with the second RF remote control device from among the plurality of source devices;

identify a second AV port from among the plurality of AV ports to which the identified second source device is connected; and

automatically connect the second AV port to the one or more AV ports to which the one or more sink device are connected so that content can be provided from the identified second source device to the one or more sink devices.

12. The switching device of claim 8, wherein the non-RF signal comprises an infrared signal.

13. The switching device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of AV ports are High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports.

14. The switching device of claim 8, wherein the control logic is further configured to, in response to determining that the RF remote control device is in use:

transmit a control signal that causes one of the one or more source devices or one of the one or more sink devices to be powered on or powered off.

15. A first device, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

control logic that is connected to the receiver and the transmitter and is operable to selectively control a second device, the control logic being configured to;

determine that the receiver has received a non radio-frequency (RF) signal transmitted by an RF remote control device that is operable to control a third device, wherein the RF remote control device is programmed to transmit the non-RF signal in response to a user interaction with the RF remote control device;

in response to determining that the receiver has received the non-RF signal, determine that the RF remote control device is in use; and

in response to determining that the RF remote control device is in use, automatically transmit a control signal to the second device via the transmitter.

16. The first device of claim 15, wherein the non-RF signal comprises a device identification code that indicates to the second device that the non-RF signal should be ignored.

17. The first device of claim 15, wherein the non-RF signal comprises an infrared signal.

18. The first device of claim 15, wherein the control signal transmitted to the second device comprises a signal to power on or power off the second device.

19. The first device of claim 15, further comprising user interface logic that is configured to:

prompt a user to program the RF remote control device to include a device identification code in the non-RF signal.

20. The first device of claim 15, wherein the second device comprises:

a sink device;

a source device;

a light;

a window shade;

a projection screen;

a thermostat;

a smart phone;

or

a surround sound system.