Method and system for using a personal digital assistant as a remote control

• US 6,401,059 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Josephine Miu, Shen, HongHai
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US09/318,689
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 703/23-26, 703/27, 348/114, 341/176, 386/83
• US Class Current: 703/27
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• 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 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for controlling a device. The system includes a personal digital assistant with a computer program for receiving a program information from a source and selecting a program based upon the program information; and an emulator for sending a signal to a device based upon the selected program. The personal digital assistant receives the program information from a source and selects a program based upon the program information. In the preferred embodiment, the device includes a television and a video cassette recorder. With the method and system of the present invention, a user can place into use the program schedule information in the personal digital assistant without the need for a separate remote control. This simplifies the use of the program schedule information in the personal digital assistant.

Claims

1. A personal digital assistant, comprising:

a computer readable medium with a computer program for receiving a television program information from a source;

a data storage medium coupled to the computer readable medium for storing the television program information,

wherein the computer program comprises program instructions for;

receiving a query from a user,

performing the query by searching the television program information in the data storage medium,

displaying a result of the query, and

selecting a television program from the result of the query; and

an emulator for sending a signal to a device based upon the selected television program.

2. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the source comprises a web page on the Internet.

3. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the query comprises a search based on category, actor, title, or any combination thereof.

4. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises:

setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.

5. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the emulator comprises:

a mechanism for creating the signal; and

an infrared port for outputting the signal.

6. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises:

instructions for displaying the selected television program on the device.

7. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises:

instructions for programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.

8. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the computer program receives information about the device from a web page on the Internet.

9. A system for controlling a device, comprising:

a source for television program information;

a personal digital assistant, wherein the personal digital assistant comprises;

a computer readable medium with a computer program for receiving the television program information from the source, and

a data storage medium coupled to the computer readable medium for storing the television program information,

wherein the computer program comprises instructions for;

receiving a query from a user,

performing the query by searching the television program information in the data storage medium,

displaying a result of the query, and

selecting a television program from the result of the query; and

an emulator coupled to the personal digital assistant for sending a signal to the device based upon the selected television program.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the source comprises a web page on the Internet.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the personal digital assistant receives information about the device from a web page on the Internet.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the query comprises a search based on category, actor, title, or any combination thereof.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the selecting comprises:

setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the emulator comprises:

a mechanism for creating the signal; and

an infrared port for outputting the signal.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal comprises:

instructions for displaying the selected television program on the device.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal comprises:

instructions for programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.

17. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a computer coupled between the source and the personal digital assistant for receiving the television program information in a first format from the source, converting the television program information to a second format, and filtering the converted television program information based upon user preferences; and

a transfer device coupled to the computer for transferring the converted and filtered television program information to the personal digital assistant.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer further includes:

a computer readable medium; and

a data storage medium coupled to the computer readable medium for storing the television program information.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first format is a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the second format is a Extended Markup Language (XML) format.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the filtering comprises:

extracting television program information based upon the times, days, channels, or any combination thereof of each television program in the television program information.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the transfer device comprises a cradle.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the transfer device comprises a serial connection.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the transfer device comprises a modem.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the transfer device comprises a wireless connection.

26. The system of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a television.

27. The system of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a video cassette recorder.

28. A method for controlling a device, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving television program information by a personal digital assistant;

(b) storing the television program information in the personal digital assistant;

(c) receiving a query from a user;

(d) performing the query by searching the television program information in the personal digital assistant;

(e) displaying a result of the query;

(f) selecting a television program based upon the displayed result of the query; and

(g) sending a signal to the device based upon the selected television program.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the query comprises a search based on category, actor, title, or any combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the selecting step (f) comprises:

(f1) setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the signal comprises:

(a) displaying the selected television program on the device.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the signal comprises:

(a) programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the receiving step (a) comprises:

(a1) receiving television program information in a first format by a computer;

(a2) converting the television program information to a second format;

(a3) filtering the converted television program information based upon user preferences; and

(a4) transferring the converted and filtered television program information to the personal digital assistant.

34. A system for controlling a device, comprising:

a source for television program information;

a computer for receiving the television program information in a first format from the source, converting the television program information to a second format, and filtering the converted television program information based upon user preferences;

a transfer device coupled between the computer and a personal digital assistant for transferring the converted and filtered television program information from the computer to the personal digital assistant;

the personal digital assistant for receiving the converted and filtered television program information from the computer, storing the converted and filtered television program information, receiving a query from a user, performing the query by searching the stored television program information, displaying a result of the query, and selecting a television program from the result of the query; and

an emulator coupled to the personal digital assistant for sending a signal to the device based upon the selected television program.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the computer further comprises:

a computer readable medium; and

a data storage medium coupled to the computer readable medium for storing the television program information.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the first format is a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the second format is a Extended Markup Language (XML) format.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the filtering of the computer comprises:

extracting television program information based upon the times, days, channels, or any combination thereof of each television program in the television program information.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the transfer device is a cradle.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the transfer device is a serial connection.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the transfer device is a modem.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the transfer device is a wireless connection.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the query comprises a search based on category, actor, title, or any combination thereof.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the selecting of the personal digital assistant comprises:

setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the emulator comprises:

a mechanism for creating the signal; and

an infrared port for outputting the signal.

46. The system of claim 34, wherein the signal comprises:

displaying the selected television program on the device.

47. The system of claim 34, wherein the signal comprises:

programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.

48. The system of claim 34, wherein the personal digital assistant further comprises:

a computer readable medium; and

a data storage medium coupled to the computer readable medium for storing the television program information.

49. The system of claim 34, wherein the device comprises a television.

50. The system of claim 34, wherein the device comprises a video cassette recorder.

51. A method for remote control of a device, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving television program information in a first format by a computer;

(b) converting the television program information to a second format;

(c) filtering the converted television program information based upon user preferences;

(d) transferring the converted and filtered television program information to a personal digital assistant, wherein the personal digital assistant;

(d1) receives a query from a user,

(d2) performs the query by searching the converted and filtered television program, and

(d3) displaying a result of the query;

(e) selecting a television program based upon the result of the query; and

(f) sending a signal to the device from the personal digital assistant based upon the selected television program.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the query comprises a search based on category, actor, title, or any combination thereof.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the selecting step (e) comprises:

(e1) setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the signal comprises:

displaying the selected television program on the device.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the signal comprises:

programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.

56. A computer readable medium in a personal digital assistant with program instructions for controlling a device, comprising the instructions for:

(a) receiving television program information;

(b) receiving a query from a user;

(c) performing the query by searching the television program information;

(d) displaying a result of the query;

(e) selecting a television program based upon the result of the query; and

(f) sending a signal to the device based upon the selected television program.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 56, wherein the receiving instruction (a) comprises:

(a1) receiving television program information in a first format by a computer;

(a2) converting the television program information to a second format;

(a3) filtering the converted television program information based upon user preferences; and

(a4) transferring the converted and filtered television program information to the personal digital assistant.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 56, wherein the selecting instruction (e) comprises:

(e1) setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 56, wherein the sending instruction (f) comprises:

(f1) sending a signal for displaying the selected television program on the device.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 56, wherein the sending instruction (f) comprises:

(f1) sending a signal for programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.