Method and system for using a personal digital assistant as a remote control
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A personal digital assistant, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.
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5. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the emulator comprises:
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a mechanism for creating the signal; and
an infrared port for outputting the signal.
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6. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises:
instructions for displaying the selected television program on the device.
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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.
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8. The personal digital assistant of claim 1, wherein the computer program receives information about the device from a web page on the Internet.
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9. A system for controlling a device, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.
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14. The system of claim 9, wherein the emulator comprises:
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a mechanism for creating the signal; and
an infrared port for outputting the signal.
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15. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal comprises:
instructions for displaying the selected television program on the device.
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16. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal comprises:
instructions for programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.
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17. The system of claim 9, further comprising:
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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.
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18. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer further includes:
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a computer readable medium; and
a data storage medium coupled to the computer readable medium for storing the television program information.
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19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first format is a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format.
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20. The system of claim 17, wherein the second format is a Extended Markup Language (XML) format.
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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.
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22. The system of claim 17, wherein the transfer device comprises a cradle.
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23. The system of claim 17, wherein the transfer device comprises a serial connection.
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24. The system of claim 17, wherein the transfer device comprises a modem.
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25. The system of claim 17, wherein the transfer device comprises a wireless connection.
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26. The system of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a television.
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27. The system of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a video cassette recorder.
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28. A method for controlling a device, comprising the steps of:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
(f1) setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.
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31. The method of claim 28, wherein the signal comprises:
(a) displaying the selected television program on the device.
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32. The method of claim 28, wherein the signal comprises:
(a) programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.
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33. The method of claim 28, wherein the receiving step (a) comprises:
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(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.
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34. A system for controlling a device, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
a computer readable medium; and
a data storage medium coupled to the computer readable medium for storing the television program information.
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36. The system of claim 34, wherein the first format is a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format.
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37. The system of claim 34, wherein the second format is a Extended Markup Language (XML) format.
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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.
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39. The system of claim 34, wherein the transfer device is a cradle.
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40. The system of claim 34, wherein the transfer device is a serial connection.
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41. The system of claim 34, wherein the transfer device is a modem.
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42. The system of claim 34, wherein the transfer device is a wireless connection.
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43. The system of claim 34, wherein the query comprises a search based on category, actor, title, or any combination thereof.
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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.
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45. The system of claim 34, wherein the emulator comprises:
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a mechanism for creating the signal; and
an infrared port for outputting the signal.
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46. The system of claim 34, wherein the signal comprises:
displaying the selected television program on the device.
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47. The system of claim 34, wherein the signal comprises:
programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.
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48. The system of claim 34, wherein the personal digital assistant further comprises:
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a computer readable medium; and
a data storage medium coupled to the computer readable medium for storing the television program information.
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49. The system of claim 34, wherein the device comprises a television.
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50. The system of claim 34, wherein the device comprises a video cassette recorder.
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51. A method for remote control of a device, comprising the steps of:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55)
(e1) setting an alarm to signify an imminent beginning of a television program.
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54. The method of claim 51, wherein the signal comprises:
displaying the selected television program on the device.
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55. The method of claim 51, wherein the signal comprises:
programming the device for a later recording of the selected television program.
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56. A computer readable medium in a personal digital assistant with program instructions for controlling a device, comprising the instructions for:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60)
(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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Specification