Method and system for remotely accessing and controlling remote devices

• US 7,194,072 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oliver W. Gamble
• Original Assignee: Oliver W. Gamble
• Inventors: Gamble, Oliver W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/803,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,202 Days
• Field of Search: 379/563, 37910201-10209, 379379-382, 379/29.03, 379/29.04, 379/106.05, 379/106.08, 379/93.27, 379/93.18, 379/93.05, 455/419, 455/403, 455/414
• US Class Current: 379/102.03
• 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 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

A method and system for enabling users to remotely activate a device using a router. The router may be accessed by communication over one or more networks including, but not limited to, the internet, wireless networks, cable networks, etc. A user accesses an emitter of the user'"'"'s router and, using transmitted DTMF tones, controls the device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling one or more remote targeted devices over a communication network by accessing a central computer, selecting a specific targeted device at a remote location, and entering instruction that will control future behavior of said targeted device at said remote location, comprising:

accessing a central computer using a plurality of remote data entry points;

accessing a central computer using a plurality of remote data entry modes;

a central computer able to process and store instructions inputted from a plurality of data entry points;

a central computer able to determine if incoming instructions are authorized to be accepted and forwarded to a specific remote location;

a central computer able to forward instructions over a communication system to a chosen remote location where said instructions will be relayed to a targeted device;

said targeted device accepting instructions that will control said device future behavior.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a central computer receiving one or more DTMF tones over said communication network; and

translating said tones into said instructions that can affect the future behavior of a specific device located at a remote location.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

a central computer determining what information is encoded within a string of DTMF tones by analyzing order in which DTMF tones are received; and

generating instructional coding that corresponds to the detected sequence of DTMF tones.

4. A method for controlling the future behavior one or more remotely located appliances at a remote site using instruction communicated over a communication network from a remote input terminal, comprising:

a) monitoring a communication network linked of a central computer to detect incoming instructions from a remote data entry terminal;

b) determining whether communication between a central computer and a remote site is established to transmit instructions to a device located at said remote site;

c) a central computer for storing, processing, and transmitting instructions received from a remote data entry terminal;

d) a central computer able to transmit the process instructions to a device located at a specific remote site;

e) a device located at a remote site able to determine whether the incoming instructions are authorized to be used at said specific remote site;

f) device able to transmitting any received instructions to a targeted appliance; and

g) controlling the future behavior of the targeted appliances based on said instructions.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

a server receiving DTMF tones over said communication network from a remote input terminal; and

translating said tones into instructions and information that is directed to a targeted remote site according to input received by the central computer.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

a central computer analyzing the position and nature of DTMF tones to decipher the information contained within said DTMF.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the DTMF tones encoding information are transmitted by a central server over a telecommunication network to a site remote to both the server and the remote data entry terminal.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein the DTMF tones encoding information are transmitted over the Internet to a central server where information and instructions are extracted and process before being passed on to a remote targeted site where said instructions will affect the future behavior of an appliance.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

a device at the remote site converting said DTMF tones received from the central computer into infrared light signals containing instructions that will control the behavior of the targeted appliance.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

a device at the remote site converting said DTMF tones received from the central computer into audio signals containing instructions that will control the behavior of the targeted appliance.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the device at the remote site converting said DTMF tones received from the central computer into electrical signals containing instructions that are conveyed by cable to the target appliance, and wherein said instructions will control the future behavior of the targeted appliance.

12. A system for controlling a specifically targeted appliance at a remote location using information entered from a remote input terminal to a central computer that relay the instructions to a targeted device via a communication network, comprising:

a means for central computer to monitor for incoming communication from a plurality of remote input terminals that are linked to said computer via a communication network;

a means for determining whether said incoming communication contains valid instructional information;

a means for processing, storing, and forwarding said instructional information from the central computer to a device at a targeted remote location;

a mean for the device at the remote location to determine whether any incoming information over a communication network is authorized to be accepted as valid and proper;

a means for the instructional information received by the device at the remote location being conveyed to said targeted appliance; and

controlling said appliance future behavior using the instructions received from the remote input terminal.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a means for the central computer to receive DTMF tones encoded instructions over a communication network;

a means for he remotely located device to receive instructional information in the form of DTMF tones over said communication network; and

a means for translating said tones into instructions that will control a targeted appliance future behavior.

14. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a means for analyzing the position of each DTMF tone in a string of DTMF tones to determine what information is encoded in the string; and

a means for translating said information into instructions that will control a specific appliance at a remote location.

15. A system for controlling one or more remotely targeted appliance by transmitting instructional information received from a remote input terminal over a communication system, comprising:

a means for a central server to collect information from a plurality of remote input points linked to said server via a communication system;

a means for monitoring a communication system for activity between a server at a central location and a remote input terminal;

a means for determining whether a device at a targeted remote location can detect incoming instructions over the communication system;

a means for determining whether the remote device is authorized to allow acceptance of input from the server;

a means for transmitting incoming instructional information to a targeted device when reception of incoming instructions is enabled;

a means for transmitting said instructions from said device to a targeted appliance; and

a means for controlling said appliance future behavior based on said instructions.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a means for said targeted device to receive one or more DTMF tones over said communication system; and

a means for translating any received DTMF tones into instructions that will control the behavior a targeted appliance located at the remote location.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a means for determining what information is encoded into a sequence of DTMF tones by analyzing order in which the tones are arranged; and

means for translating said information into an access code, targeted appliance location identify, and instructions to be used by the server to in affecting the behavior of said targeted appliance at the remote location.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the DTMF-tones are transmitted via a communication system to a central server from a remote input terminal and from the central server to the targeted device at a remote location.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said DTMF-tones are transmitted via the Internet to a central server from a remote input terminal and from the central server to the targeted device at a remote location.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a means for said device to convert said DTMF-tones into Bluetooth Technology signals containing said instructions that will affect the future behavior of a targeted appliance.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a means for said device to convert said DTMF-tones into audio signals containing said instructions that will affect the future behavior of a targeted appliance.

22. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a means for said device to convert said DTMF-tones into electrical pulses containing said instructions that will affect the future behavior of a targeted appliance.

23. A system for controlling a remotely located appliance by relaying instructions from a remote input terminal to a device over a communication system, comprising:

a device with a processor at a remote location configured for monitoring a communication system for incoming activity from a central computer;

a device further configured for determining whether incoming activity in a form of DTMF-tones over the communication system should be accept by said device;

a central computer having memory for storing incoming instructions from a remote input terminal;

a device at the remote location able to monitor the incoming activity on the communication system for the existence of a signal that enables the central computer forwarded instructions to be accepted as being authorized;

a device at the remote location able to transmit received instructions to said appliance; and

said instructions are able to control the future behavior of the appliance.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a device containing a decoder configured for translating DTMF tones into instructions by generating signals that the targeted appliance will recognize as valid incoming instruction code.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein a device is further configured for analyzing the position of a DTMF tone in a string of DTMF tones to determine what information is encoded in said string;

and

translating the string of DTMF tones into instructions.

26. A system for controlling one or more remote appliance with instructions communicated over a communication network from a input terminal remote to a central computer, comprising:

a device with a processor located at a remote location configured to monitor a communication network for incoming instructions from a central computer;

a plurality of remote input terminals configured to transmit information to a central computer via a communication network;

a central computer configured to receive information from a plurality of remote input terminals via a communication network;

a central computer with memory configured for processing and storing information received from a remote input terminal;

a central computer configured to determine whether a valid password, target location, and instructions are contained in the information received from a remote input terminal;

a central computer able to send said instructions to a targeted location using a communication network;

a device with a processor located at a remote location able to receive instructions over said network from said central computer and able to transmit the received instructions to a targeted appliance at said remote location; and

control said appliance future behavior with said instructions.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a processor within the device at a remote location configured for transmitting received electrical pulses that containing instructions to the targeted appliance.

28. The system according to claim 26, wherein information is encoded in electrical pulses transmitted to a central server over a communication network from a remote input terminal.

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein the said electrical pulses are transmitted via the Internet from a remote input terminal to a central server.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the device with a processor is further configured for converting said electrical pulses into Bluetooth Technology signals that encode the instructions that originated from the remote input terminal.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the device with a processor is further configured for converting said electrical pulses into audio signals that encode the instructions that originated from the remote input terminal.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the device with a processor at the remote location is further configured for converting received instructions into electrical pulses that are communicated to a microprocessor located in a targeted appliance via a cable.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the processor within the targeted appliance is further configured for processing electrical pulses that encode instructions that were forwarded from a central computer and said instructions will affect future behavior of said appliance.

34. The system according to claim 26, wherein the processor at a remote location is further configured for decoding instructions from a string of DTMF tones by analyzing the order in which tones are arranged in a string;

and said processor is further configured for transmitting the decoded instructions to a targeted device.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the electrical pulses containing said incoming instructions are transmitted from the device to a microprocessor located in the remote device.

36. The system according to claim 26, wherein the processor at a remote location is further configured for decoding instructions from a string of DTMF tones by analyzing order in which the tones are arranged in the string;

and said processor is further configured for transmitting the decoded instructions to a targeted device.

37. A computer readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for controlling at least one remote device over a communication system, comprising:

code for enabling a remotely located computer to monitor a communication system for activity;

code for enabling a computer to determine whether an incoming activity from an input terminal contains instructions for controlling a device at a remote location;

code for enabling a remotely located processor to accept incoming instructions from a computer;

code for enabling a remotely located processor to determine whether incoming instructions over a communication system are authorized to be relayed to a device at a remote location;

code for storing incoming instructions when activity on the communication system enables reception of incoming instructions;

code for enabling a remotely located processor to transmit said incoming instructions to said device; and

code for controlling said device based on said instructions.

38. A method for controlling future behavior of least one remotely located device via a communication system, comprising:

a server able to monitor a communication system for activity for incoming information containing an access code, remote location id, and instructions;

determining whether the incoming information is authorized to be accepted by the server;

processing and storing said incoming information when said activity on the communication system contains a signal indicating that the incoming information should be process and forwarded to a remote device; and

controlling the behavior of said device with the instructions received from the server.

39. A system for controlling the future behavior of at least one remotely located appliance, comprising:

a means for a server to monitor a communication system for information from a remote input terminal;

a means for detecting whether activity on the communication system contains coding authorizing reception of any incoming information;

a means for directing information stored on a server to a remote location according to direction received from a remote input terminal; and

a means for transmitting information that will affect the future behavior of a targeted device.

40. A system for controlling behavior of an appliance using a communication system to transmit time delayed instructions received from a remote input device, comprising:

a central server containing executable software code stored for monitoring a communication network for activity incoming from a plurality of remote input terminals;

a central server containing code for storing and validating and processing incoming instructions received over a communication network from a remote input device;

a central server containing code for determining whether instructions forwarded from said server over a communication network are authorized to be accepted at a remote location;

a device at a remote location able to accept instructions forwarded from said server and transmit said instructions to a targeted appliance; and

affect the behavior of the appliance with said instructions.

41. A system for affecting behavior of a remotely located appliance using a communication system to transmit time delayed instructions received from a remote input device, comprising:

a means for monitoring a communication system for incoming instructions from a remote input terminal;

a means for determining whether incoming instructions are accompanied by a valid authorizing password for controlling a targeted device at a remote location;

a means for enabling reception of any incoming instructions from a central computer;

a means for storing said incoming instructions when authorization received over the communication system enables reception of incoming instructions; and

a means for transmitting said incoming instructions to said remote appliance.

42. A computer readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for controlling at least one remote device over a communication system, comprising:

code for enabling a remotely located computer to monitor a communication system for activity;

code for enabling a computer to determine whether an incoming call from an input terminal contains instructions for controlling a device at a remote location;

code for enabling a remotely located processor to accept incoming instructions from a computer;

code for enabling a remotely located processor to determine whether incoming instructions over a communication system are authorized to be relayed to a device at a remote location;

code for storing incoming instructions when activity on the communication system enables reception of incoming instructions;

code for enabling a remotely located processor to transmit said incoming instructions to said device; and

code for controlling said device based on said instructions.

43. A remotely located server programmed for controlling a remotely located appliance by transmitting instructions over a communication system, comprising:

a central computer accessible to a plurality of remote input terminals via a communication system;

a central computer able to store and process information received from a plurality of remote input terminals;

a central computer able to response to received information from each remote input terminal by directing output to a specific remote location corresponding to the received information;

a central computer able to response to received information from each remote input terminal by directing an access coded and instructions to a specific remote location corresponding to the received information;

a device at the remote location is able to accept instructions received over a communication network once a valid access code is detected;

a device able to transmit received instructions to an appliance and effect said appliance behavior.

44. A remote input device able to relay instructions to a targeted device at remote location by transmitting instructions and an access code over a communication system to a server and said server re-transmitting the access code and instructions to an appliance at a remote location, comprising:

an input terminal able to transmit instructions and an access code over a communication system to a server for processing;

a server able to monitor a communication system for incoming information from a remote input terminal;

a server able to determine whether a received input from the input terminal should be accepted, process and stored in memory for future forwarding to a previously added location;

a server able to forward the process information over the communication system to a specific remote location;

a device at the remote location able to check for a valid access code before accepting the information forwarded from the server to the remote location;

a device able to transmit information received from the server to a targeted appliance at the remote location;

and affect the future behavior of said appliance.

45. A method for controlling at least one remote device over a communication system, comprising:

monitoring a communication system for activity;

detecting whether an outgoing call is being made;

determining whether activity on the communication system contains instructions;

storing incoming instructions when activity on the communication system contains a signal indicating that the incoming instructions are authorized to be process and forwarded to a remote device; and

controlling behavior of a targeted appliance with the instructions the remote device received and relayed to said appliance.

46. A method for controlling future behavior of a remotely located appliance by transmitting instructions over a communication system using a central computer and a plurality of remote input terminals, comprising:

monitoring a communication system for activity;

determining whether the communication system is able to relay instructions from a remote terminal to a central computer;

determining whether an incoming call is made from the central computer that is transmitting instruction to a remote location;

determining whether activity on the communication system contains a valid password that will enable reception of any incoming instructions;

storing said incoming instructions when valid authorization password enables reception of incoming instructions;

transmitting said incoming instructions to said device; and

controlling said device based on said instructions.

47. A remote input device able to relay instructions to a targeted device at remote location by transmitting instructions and access codes over the Internet to a server and said server re-transmitting the access code and instructions to an appliance at a remote location, comprising:

an input terminal able to transmit instructions and an access code over a communication system to a server for processing;

a server able to monitor the Internet for incoming information from a remote input terminal;

a server able to determine whether received input from the input terminal should be accepted, process and stored in memory for future forwarding to a previously added location;

a server able to forward the process information over the Internet to a specific remote location;

a device at the remote location able to check for a valid access code before accepting the information forwarded from the server to the remote location;

a device able to transmit information received from the server to a targeted appliance at the remote location;

and affect future behavior of said appliance.

48. A device able to affect future behavior a targeted appliance at a remote location by enabling the reception of instruction from a remote input terminal, comprising:

a means for a server to monitor a communication system for activity incoming from a remote input terminal;

a means for a server to determine whether activity incoming over a communication system from a remote input terminal contains information should be process and stored;

a means for a server store any incoming information from a remotely located terminal when it contains an access code, a remote location identifier, and instructions;

a means for the server to transit the information over a communication system to a targeted remote location;

a means for the transmitted information to be convey to a selected appliance at the remote location; and

controlling said appliance behavior with said instructions.

49. A method for controlling future behavior of a remotely located appliance by transmitting instructions over a communication system using a central computer and a plurality of remote input terminals, comprising:

a means for a server to monitor a communication system for incoming activity containing instructional information and a valid access code;

a means for a server to process and store information received over a communication system;

a means for a server to transmit the process information to a targeted appliance at a remote location; and

affect the appliance behavior with the transmitted information.

50. A system for controlling at least one remote appliance, comprising:

a means for a server to monitor a communication system for incoming information related to controlling an appliance located at a remote location;

a means for monitoring information inputted into a server over a communication system from a remote input terminal;

a means for determining whether the communication system has established a connection between the server and a device at a remotely targeted location;

a means for determining whether the remotely targeted device attached to the communication system is authorized to accept incoming information;

a means for a device at the remote location to transmit received information as electrical impulses that are conducted to the targeted appliance via a connecting cable; and

controlling said appliance based on said information.

51. A system for controlling behavior at least one remotely located appliance using a communication system, comprising:

a means for a server to monitor a communication system for incoming information related to controlling an appliance located at a remote location;

a means for monitoring information inputted into a server over a communication system from a remote input terminal;

a means for determining whether the communication system has established a connection between the server and a device at a remotely targeted location;

a means for determining whether the remotely targeted device attached to the communication system is authorized to accept incoming information;

a means for a device at the remote location to transmit received information as Bluetooth Technology signals to the targeted appliance; and

controlling said appliance based on said information.

52. A system for controlling future behavior one remotely located appliance using a communication system, comprising:

a means for monitoring a communication system for incoming activity in the form of an access code and instructions from a plurality of remote data input terminals;

a means for the server to determine when to forward the information received from a remote input terminal;

a means for the server to establish contact with a targeted remote location over the communication system;

a means for a server to determine whether a device at a remote location is able to accept information;

a means for a device at a remote location to determining whether the incoming information from the server is correctly targeted the remote location;

a means for the device at the remote location to transmit received information to a targeted appliance at said remote location; and

for said information to control future behavior of said appliance.

53. A system for controlling a remotely located appliance with instructions forwarded from a remotely located input terminal, comprising the steps of:

a remotely located input terminal able to transmit instructions to a central server over a communication system;

a remotely located server able to monitor a connection to a communication system for incoming information from a remote input terminal;

a server able to determine whether the information communicated over a communication system should be accepted by said server;

a server able to process and store information received over a communication system and later transmit the process information to a remote location;

a server able to detect a valid access code, a remote location identification, and instructions in the information received from the remotely located input terminal;

a remote location able to accept information from a remote server and determine whether said information contains a valid access code;

ability to convey instructions from said server to a targeted appliance; and

control future behavior of said appliance based on said instructions.