Adaptive remote controller

• US 6,791,467 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2000
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: ON Semiconductor Corporation
• Inventors: Ben-Zeʼev, Yuval
• Primary Examiner(s): Harabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DaLencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/533,250
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 340/7.55, 340/7.56, 348/734, 345/169, 345/173, 359/142, 359/145, 359/146, 341/176, 700/83, 398/106, 398/107, 398/108
• US Class Current: 340/12.25
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A method and system for the remote controlling of appliances includes an adaptive remote controller that adapts itself automatically to its environment so as to remotely control a plurality of appliances. The adaptive remote controller is RF based and has the capability of two way communication with appliances. The adaptive remote controller provides information, alerts and help to a user.

Claims

1. A method for remote controlling of appliances by a remote controller comprising:

I. In each appliance;

a. providing a receiver for receiving signals from the remote controller;

b. providing a transmitter for transmitting signals to the remote controller;

c. providing a memory containing a set-up file, said set-up file including a functional section containing information for a remote controller regarding the various signal formats that should be sent by the remote controller in order to activate corresponding various features of the appliance and information for assigning each of said features to a button of the remote controller, and optionally an identification section containing data regarding the model identification of the appliance;

d. providing decoding means for decoding signals sent by the remote controller, and accordingly either;

(a) activating a feature of the appliance;

or (b) transmitting at least a portion of said set-up file to the remote controller;

II. In the remote controller;

a. providing a plurality of buttons;

b. providing a receiver for receiving signals sent from at least one appliance;

c. providing a transmitter for transmitting signals to at least one appliance, each of said signals is either;

(a) a signal for activating a feature of the appliance;

or (b) a signal instructing the appliance to transmit at least a portion of its set-up file;

d. providing a memory storage for storing at least a portion of at least one set-up file;

e. periodically interrogating an existence of all appliances in a vicinity of the remote controller;

f. when the signal received from an appliance is a set-up file or a portion thereof, storing the same in said memory storage of the remote controller;

g. providing means in the remote controller for selecting a set-up file or a portion thereof to be an active one; and

h. using the content of said active set-up file for associating each feature of the corresponding appliance with a button in the remote controller for activating that feature.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the appliances are home appliances.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the appliances are outdoor appliances.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the range of communication between each appliance and the remote controller is generally up to about 100 meters.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the appliances and the remote controller and vice versa is multidirectional.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the appliances and the remote controller is carried out in the RF range.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller further comprises a display screen.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the display screen is a touch-sensitive display screen on which virtual buttons are displayed, and said buttons are activated by means of pressing their location on the screen.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said screen of the remote controller displays the virtual buttons for operating the appliances for which set-up files are active.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein each appliance transmits the identification portion of its set-up file periodically, and the functional portion of its set-up file upon receipt of an acquiring command from a remote controller.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the remote controller displays on its screen an identification symbol for any appliance for which it contains in its memory storage an identification portion of the appliance set-up file.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said identification symbol is an icon representing a corresponding appliance.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said identification symbol is a text representing a corresponding appliance.

14. A method according to claim 10 wherein the remote controller marks on its screen as “

existing and available”

any identification symbol of an appliance for which it contains in its memory storage a functional portion of the appliance set-up file.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said acquiring command for acquiring a functional portion of an appliance set-up file is transmitted to said specific appliance upon pressing said appliance symbol on the screen of the remote controller.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein each set-up file of the appliance further comprises a status portion, indicating the current status of the appliance.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein each identification section of the set-up file of the appliance further comprises data regarding the graphic image of the remote controller of the appliance, and of each of its buttons.

18. A method according to claim 1 wherein the identification portion of a set-up file is sent periodically by the appliance to the remote controller.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said set up file further includes a HELP section, for providing the user of the remote controller with help regarding on how to control and operate the appliance.

20. A remote controller for controlling at least one appliance in an environment, characterized in that it periodically interrogates an existence of all appliances in the environment, acquires from each appliance in said environment a set-up file containing a functional portion of at least information regarding the various signal formats that should be sent by the remote controller for activating various features of the appliance and information for assigning each of said features to a button of the remote controller, and optionally an identification information regarding the identification of said appliance.

21. A remote controller according to claim 20, comprising:

a. a plurality of buttons;

b. a receiver for receiving signals from at least one appliance;

c. a transmitter for transmitting signals to at least one appliance, each of said signals is either;

(a) a signal for activating a feature of the appliance;

or (b) an acquiring command instructing the appliance to transmit at least a portion of a set-up file thereof;

d. a memory storage for storing at least one set-up file that is received from an appliance;

e. means for selecting a set-up file to be defined as an active one; and

f. means for associating each feature of the appliance with a button of the remote controller for activating that feature.

22. A remote controller according to claim 21, further provided with means for displaying on the display screen representing identifications of all appliances of which an identification portion is received by the remote controller.

23. A remote controller according to claim 22, further comprising means for deleting from the memory storage of the remote controller a setup file of an appliance if the identification portion of said set-up file is not received during a predetermined time period.

24. A remote controller according to claim 22, further comprising means for deleting from the memory storage of the remote controller the identification portion of a setup file of an appliance if said identification portion is not received during a predetermined time period.

25. A remote controller according to claim 22, further comprising means for sending an acquiring command to a specific appliance, for acquiring from the appliance the functional portion of its set-up file, and for storing said functional portion in the remote controller memory.

26. A remote controller according to claim 25 further comprising means for marking an identification symbol of all appliances in the environment for which their functional portion of their set-up file is stored in the memory storage of the remote controller as “

existing and available”

, the remaining identification symbols of the rest of the appliances, for which a functional portion has not been acquired by the remote controller remain marked as “

existing but not available”

.

27. A remote controller according to claim 21, further comprising means for acquiring a status section of a set-up file from the appliance.

28. A remote controller according to claim 27, wherein said means for acquiring said status section of a set-up file includes a status acquiring command that is sent from the remote controller to the appliance, asking appliance to transmit said status portion.

29. A remote controller according to claim 28, further comprising means for displaying on the display a current status of the appliance who sent said status portion.

30. A remote controller according to claim 21 further comprising means for determining from a received status section of a set-up file of an appliance the current status of the appliance.

31. A remote controller according to claim 30, further comprising indicating and alerting means, for informing the user of the remote controller according to the determining of a received status portion.

32. A remote controller according to claim 20, further comprising safety feature means.

33. A remote controller according to claim 20, further comprising security feature means.

34. A remote controller according to claim 33, wherein said security feature means includes user authentication means.

35. A system for remote controlling of appliances in an environment, said environment including at least one appliance and at least one remote controller, each appliance in said environment has its specific features and its predefined signals for remotely activating said features, the system comprising:

I. at least one appliance, comprising;

a. a set up file containing a functional portion of information on how to remotely activate features of said appliance, and optionally an identification portion identifying the appliance;

b. a receiver for receiving commands from a remote controller;

c. a transmitter for transmitting information from the appliance to the remote controller; and

d. a logic circuit for decoding commands from a remote controller and;

d.1 when a command is found as an activating command, activating a corresponding feature of the appliance; and

d.2 when a command is decoded as an acquiring command, transmitting at least a portion of said set-up file to the remote controller who sent the acquiring command;

II. at least one remote controller for controlling said at least one appliance in the environment, characterized in that it periodically interrogates an existence of all appliances in the environment, acquires from each appliance in said environment said set-up file containing a functional portion of at least information regarding the various signal formats that should be sent by said remote controller for activating various features of said appliance and information for assigning each of said features to a button of said remote controller, and optionally an identification information regarding the identification of said appliance; and

III. a wireless communication protocol in each appliance and remote controller for managing communication in the environment between the at least one remote controller and the at least one appliance in said environment.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein the communication protocol between each appliance and the remote controller and vice versa is a wireless communication protocol for appliances.

37. A system according to claim 35, wherein the communication protocol between each appliance and the remote controller and vice versa, is selected from the group consisting of “

Home-RF (HomePNA)”

, “

Wireless LAN”

, and “

Bluetooth”

.

38. A remote controller for controlling at least one appliance in an environment, characterized in that it acquires from each appliance in said environment a set-up file containing a functional portion of at least information regarding the various signal formats that should be sent by the remote controller for activating various features of the appliance and information for assigning each of said features to a button of the remote controller, and optionally an identification information regarding the identification of said appliance;

the remote controller further comprising;

a. a plurality of buttons;

b. a receiver for receiving signals from at least one appliance;

c. a transmitter for transmitting signals to at least one appliance, each of said signals is either;

(a) a signal for activating a feature of the appliance;

or (b) an acquiring command instructing the appliance to transmit at least a portion of a set-up file thereof;

d. a memory storage for storing at least one set-up file that is received from an appliance;

e. means for selecting a set-up file to be defined as an active one; and

f. means for associating each feature of the appliance with a button of the remote controller for activating that feature;

wherein the remote controller is further provided with means for displaying on the display screen representing identifications of all appliances of which an identification portion is received by the remote controller, and wherein the remote controller further comprises means for deleting from the memory storage of the remote controller a setup file of an appliance if the identification portion of said set-up file is not received during a predetermined time period.

39. A remote controller for controlling at least one appliance in an environment, characterized in that it acquires from each appliance in said environment a set-up file containing a functional portion of at least information regarding the various signal formats that should be sent by the remote controller for activating various features of the appliance and information for assigning each of said features to a button of the remote controller, and optionally an identification information regarding the identification of said appliance;

the remote controller further comprising;

a. a plurality of buttons;

b. a receiver for receiving signals from at least one appliance;

c. a transmitter for transmitting signals to at least one appliance, each of said signals is either;

(a) a signal for activating a feature of the appliance;

or (b) an acquiring command instructing the appliance to transmit at least a portion of a set-up file thereof;

d. a memory storage for storing at least one set-up file that is received from an appliance;

e. means for selecting a set-up file to be defined as an active one; and

f. means for associating each feature of the appliance with a button of the remote controller for activating that feature;

wherein the remote controller is further provided with means for displaying on the display screen representing identifications of all appliances of which an identification portion is received by the remote controller, and wherein the remote controller further comprises means for deleting from the memory storage of the remote controller the identification portion of a setup file of an appliance if said identification portion is not received during a predetermined time period.

40. A method for remote controlling of appliances by a remote controller comprising:

I. In each appliance;

a. providing a receiver for receiving signals from the remote controller;

b. providing a transmitter for transmitting signals to the remote controller;

c. providing a memory containing a set-up file, said set-up file including a functional section containing information for a remote controller regarding the various signal formats that should be sent by the remote controller in order to activate corresponding various features of the appliance and information for assigning each of said features to a button of the remote controller, and optionally an identification section containing data regarding the model identification of the appliance, said set-up file further including a HELP section for providing the user of the remote controller with help regarding on how to control and operate the appliance;

d. providing decoding means for decoding signals sent by the remote controller, and accordingly either;

(a) activating a feature of the appliance;

or (b) transmitting at least a portion of said set-up file to the remote controller;

II. In the remote controller;

a. providing a plurality of buttons;

b. providing a receiver for receiving signals sent from at least one appliance;

c. providing a transmitter for transmitting signals to at least one appliance, each of said signals is either;

(a) a signal for activating a feature of the appliance;

or (b) a signal instructing the appliance to transmit at least a portion of its set-up file;

d. providing a memory storage for storing at least a portion of at least one set-up file;

e. when the signal received from an appliance is a set-up file or a portion thereof, storing the same in said memory storage of the remote controller;

f. providing means in the remote controller for selecting a set-up file or a portion thereof to be an active one; and

g. using the content of said active set-up file for associating each feature of the corresponding appliance with a button in the remote controller for activating that feature.

41. A remote controller for controlling at least one appliance in an environment, characterized in that it acquires from each appliance in said environment a set-up file containing a functional portion of at least information regarding the various signal formats that should be sent by the remote controller for activating various features of the appliance and information for assigning each of said features to a button of the remote controller, and optionally an identification information regarding the identification of said appliance;

the remote controller further comprising;

a. a plurality of buttons;

b. a receiver for receiving signals from at least one appliance;

c. a transmitter for transmitting signals to at least one appliance, each of said signals is either;

(a) a signal for activating a feature of the appliance;

or (b) an acquiring command instructing the appliance to transmit at least a portion of a set-up file thereof;

d. a memory storage for storing at least one set-up file that is received from an appliance;

e. means for selecting a set-up file to be defined as an active one; and

f. means for associating each feature of the appliance with a button of the remote controller for activating that feature;

wherein the remote controller is further provided with means for displaying on the display screen representing identifications of all appliances of which an identification portion is received by the remote controller, wherein the remote controller further comprises means for sending an acquiring command to a specific appliance, for acquiring from the appliance the functional portion of its set-up file, and for storing said functional portion in the remote controller memory, and wherein the remote controller further comprises means for marking an identification symbol of all appliances in the environment for which their functional portion of their set-up file is stored in the memory storage of the remote controller as “

existing and available”

, the remaining identification symbols of the rest of the appliances, for which a functional portion has not been acquired by the remote controller remain marked as “

existing but not available”

.

42. A remote controller for controlling at least one appliance in an environment, characterized in that it acquires from each appliance in said environment a set-up file containing a functional portion of at least information regarding the various signal formats that should be sent by the remote controller for activating various features of the appliance and information for assigning each of said features to a button of the remote controller, and optionally an identification information regarding the identification of said appliance, and wherein the remote controller further comprises safety feature means.

43. A remote controller for controlling at least one appliance in an environment, characterized in that it acquires from each appliance in said environment a set-up file containing a functional portion of at least information regarding the various signal formats that should be sent by the remote controller for activating various features of the appliance and information for assigning each of said features to a button of the remote controller, and optionally an identification information regarding the identification of said appliance, and wherein the remote controller further comprises security feature means.

44. A remote controller according to claim 43, wherein said security feature means includes user authentication means.