Remote control system with LED indicators

• US 6,946,957 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Simon Riegels
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHMOOD, JENNIFER
• Application Number:
  US10/405,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.17, 340/825.36, 340/825.37, 340/7.1, 340/7.2, 340/7.21, 340/7.22, 340/7.23, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 340/539.16, 340/539.22, 340/539.25, 340/7.32, 340/7.33, 340/7.36, 340/7.39
• US Class Current: 340/539.17
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches
• 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 21/42204 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

Abstract

A method and system are provided for remotely notifying a user of incoming information. The system comprises detection tools for detecting incoming information on a processing device and a signal generator for generating and sending a signal to a remote control device based on the detected incoming information on the processing device. The system additionally comprises signal reception apparatus on the remote control device for receiving the signal and an indicator on the remote control device for indicating the type of information to a user. The indicator is preferably a visible indicator including at least one LED.

Claims

1. A system for remotely notifying a user of incoming information, the system implemented through a controlling device, the system comprising:

event selection tools on the controlling device, the event selection tools allowing a user to select at least one type of information;

notification selection tools for allowing a user to select a type of notification to be sent by the controlling device in connection with each selected type of information;

detection tools for detecting each selected type of incoming information on the controlling device;

a signal generator within the controlling device for generating and sending a signal to a remote control device based on the detected incoming information and selected notification type on the controlling device, the remote control device comprising components for controlling a remotely located audio or video apparatus using one of RF and IR signals;

signal reception apparatus on the remote control device for receiving the signal from the controlling device; and

an indicator on the remote control device for indicating the incoming information to a user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a visible indicator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the visible indicator comprises at least one LED.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the visible indicator comprises an LED having a first color and an LED having a second color.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the visible indicator comprises a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first color indicates a first type of information and the second color indicates a second type of information.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first color indicates a message for a first user and the second color indicates a message for a second user.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the LED has at least two flash rates, wherein a first flash rate indicates a first type of message and a second flash rate indicates a second type of message.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first type of message has a high priority and the second type of message has a lower priority.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlling device comprises a personal computer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the information is an electronic mail message.

12. A method for remote notification using a remote control device, the method comprising:

storing a user selection of an information type for remote notification on a controlling device

processing incoming information on the controlling device;

determining a type of incoming information using the controlling device;

generating a signal based on the information type received by the controlling device if the information type corresponds to the user selection;

sending the signal to a remote control device including components for controlling a remote video or remote audio system;

notifying the user of the information transmitted using at least one visible LED indicator on the remote control device, the indicator pre-selected by the user to correspond to the information type.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the visible indicator comprises an LED having a first color and an LED having a second color.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the visible indicator comprises a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the first color to indicate a message for a first user and a second color to indicate a message for a second user.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising flashing the LED at a first flash rate to indicate a first type of message and flashing the LED at a second flash rate to indicate a second type of message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first type of message has a high priority and the second type of message has a lower priority.

15. The method of claim 30, further comprising using the first color LED to indicate a first type of information and using the second color LED to indicate a second type of information.