System, method and interface for controlling multiple electronic devices of a home entertainment system via a single control device

• US 7,436,346 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Edward, Diroo, Yolius
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US11/037,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 341/174, 341/175, 341/5.61, 341/5.64, 348/552, 348/569, 348/706, 348/731, 348/734, 345/156, 345/157
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A portable communication device is provided and includes a display. At least one remote control soft button is presented at the display and an electronic device control command is associated with each remote control soft button. Further, the electronic device control command is enabled in response to a code received at the portable communication device from a service provider. The portable communication device also includes a keypad that can be used to select the remote control soft button. Further, the electronic device control command is selected from the group consisting of: play, stop, pause, volume up, volume down, record, channel up, channel down, fast forward, and rewind. Additionally, the portable communication device includes a text input field and a send button that are presented at the display. The portable communication device selectively can control a selected remote electronic device using the at least one electronic device control command.

Claims

1. A portable communication device, comprising:

a display;

a keypad; and

a plurality of remote control soft buttons presented at the display, wherein an electronic device control command is associated with at least one remote control soft button of the plurality of remote control soft buttons, wherein scrolling through the plurality of remote control soft buttons is enabled via the keypad, wherein selection of the at least one remote control soft button of the plurality of remote control soft buttons is enabled via the keypad, wherein an indication that a selected device is not enabled is presented and wherein a query to provide a model number of the selected device is presented and wherein a cost to purchase a device code is received from a service provider; and

wherein the electronic device control command is enabled in response to the device code received at the portable communication device from the service provider.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device includes a cordless telephone and is adapted to communicate with a cordless telephone base station, and wherein the portable communication device is further adapted to be charged by the cordless telephone base station when seated in a cradle of the cordless telephone base station.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic device control command is selected from the group consisting of:

play, stop, pause, volume up, volume down, record, channel up, channel down, fast forward, and rewind.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising a text input field and a send button presented at the display.

5. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device selectively controls a selected remote electronic device using the at least one electronic device control command.

6. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the selected remote electronic device is selected from the group consisting of:

a digital video disc player, a compact disc player, a television, an MP3 player, an audio receiver, and a set top box.

7. The portable communication device of claim 5, further comprising a radio frequency transceiver, wherein the portable communication device communicates the at least one electronic device control command to the selected electronic device via the radio frequency transceiver.

8. The portable communication device of claim 5, further comprising an infrared transceiver, wherein the portable communication device communicates the at least one electronic device control command to the selected electronic device via the infrared transceiver.

9. The portable communication device of claim 5, further comprising a short message system module, wherein the portable communication device communicates the at least one electronic device control command to the selected electronic device via the short message system module.

10. A method of controlling a remote electronic device, comprising:

receiving a selection of the remote electronic device at a portable communication device, the portable communication device adapted to communicate voice data and text message data to a public switched telephone network via a base station, the portable communication device further adapted to be charged when cradled at the base station;

determining whether a control interface corresponding to the electronic device is enabled at the portable communication device, wherein upon a determination that the control interface is not enabled an indication that the control interface is not enabled is presented and a query for a model number of the electronic device is presented;

transmitting a request to a service provider for a device code associated with activating the control interface; and

receiving a cost to purchase the device code from the service provider.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the device code.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising unlocking control of the electronic device in response to receiving the device code at the portable communication device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting payment information to the service provider via the portable communication device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a control command from the portable communication device to the remote electronic device via one or more radio frequency signals.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a control command from the portable communication device to the remote electronic device via one or more infrared signals.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a control command from the portable communication device to the remote electronic device via one or more text messages.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the portable communication device communicates with the service provider via a public switched portable communication device network.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the portable communication device communicates with the service provider via a wireless communications network.

19. A user interface displayed on a display area of a portable communication device, the user interface comprising:

a selectable list of electronic devices that are remotely controllable via soft buttons at a display of the portable communication device, wherein the soft buttons are navigable and selectable via a keypad of the portable communication device, the portable communication device adapted to communicate voice and text data to a public telephone network via a base station, the portable communication device further adapted to be charged when cradled at the base station, wherein after an electronic device is selected, the user interface presents an indication that the electronic device is not enabled and presents a query for a model number of the electronic device and the user interface presents a query regarding a device code associated with the electronic device to enable control of the electronic device; and

wherein a cost to purchase the device code is received via the public telephone network.

20. The user interface of claim 19, further comprising an electronic device control interface associated with at least one of the electronic devices identified on the list.

21. The user interface of claim 20, wherein the electronic device control interface is presented after the at least one electronic device is selected from the list of electronic devices.

22. The user interface of claim 21, wherein the electronic device control interface comprises a control icon associated with a function of the at least one electronic device.

23. The user interface of claim 22, wherein the electronic device control interface further comprises a text input field and a send button.

24. The user interface of claim 23, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of:

a digital video disc player, a compact disc player, a television, an MP3 player, an audio receiver, and a set top box.

25. The user interface of claim 22, wherein the control icon is selected from the group consisting of:

play, stop, pause, volume up, volume down, record, channel up, channel down, fast forward, and rewind.