Method and apparatus for providing a more powerful user-interface to device with a limited user-interface
First Claim
1. A method for controlling at least one first device having a limited user-interface by using at least one second device, wherein the first and second devices communicate via a wireless communication channel and support a common communications protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting the limited user-interface information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device;
providing an extended user-interface on the at least one second device, the extended user interface having more extensive capabilities than the capabilities of the limited user-interface of the at least one first device the extended user-interface utilizing the transmitted limited user-interface information and comprising extended functions so as to extend the capabilities of the limited user-interface;
accepting user commands input via the extended user-interface;
transmitting user commands from the second to the first device; and
executing the transmitted user commands on the first device.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a computer device with a limited user-interface via a remote computer device having a more powerful user interface. Both computer devices are interconnected via a wireless communication channel and both computer devices support a common communications protocol. User-interface information is sent from the computer device with a limited user-interface to the remote computer device to provide a user-interface at the remote computer device for receiving user input at the remote computer device. The user input controls the computer device with a limited user-interface to execute commands therein corresponding to the user input.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for controlling at least one first device having a limited user-interface by using at least one second device, wherein the first and second devices communicate via a wireless communication channel and support a common communications protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the limited user-interface information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device; providing an extended user-interface on the at least one second device, the extended user interface having more extensive capabilities than the capabilities of the limited user-interface of the at least one first device the extended user-interface utilizing the transmitted limited user-interface information and comprising extended functions so as to extend the capabilities of the limited user-interface; accepting user commands input via the extended user-interface; transmitting user commands from the second to the first device; and executing the transmitted user commands on the first device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for remotely controlling devices, said system comprising:
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a first device comprising a limited user-interface, a first processor, a first transceiver, a first memory, and a first user-interface manager; a second device comprising a second processor, a second transceiver, a second memory, and a second user-interface manager; and a wireless communications channel for communication between the first device and the second device, wherein the first user-interface manager transmitting the limited user-interface information to the second device via the first transceiver, the wireless communications channel and the second transceiver; the second user-interface manager providing an extended user-interface having more extensive capabilities than the capabilities of the limited user-interface of the at least one first device, the extended user-interface utilizing the limited user-interface information and comprising extended functions so as to extend the capabilities of the limited user-interface; the second device accepting user commands via the second user-interface; the second computer device transmits user commands to the first device via the second transceiver, the wireless communications channel, and the first transceiver; and the first device executes the user commands information received from the second device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer program device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for instructing a device including a limited user-interface, a processor, a transceiver for interfacing through a wireless communications channel with a remote device, a memory, and a user-interface manager, to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting the limited user-interface information through the wireless communications channel to the remote device; (b) receiving user input generated at the remote device via the wireless communications channel, said remote device providing an extended user interface, said extended user interface having more extensive capabilities than the capabilities of the limited user-interface of the at least one first device, said extended user-interface utilizing the received limited user-interface information and comprising extended functions so as to extend the capabilities of the limited user-interface; (c) executing the user input command; and (d) transmitting a confirmation signal to the remote device through the wireless communications channel.
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26. A computer program device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for instructing a device including user-interface manager, a processor, a memory, and a transceiver for interfacing through a wireless communications channel with a limited user-interface device, to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving limited user-interface information from the limited user-interface device through the wireless communications channel; (b) providing an extended user-interface under the control of the extended user-interface manager, said extended user interface having more extensive capabilities than the capabilities of the limited user-interface of the at least one first device, said extended user-interface utilizing the received limited user-interface information and comprising extended functions so as to extend the capabilities of the limited user-interface; (c) accepting user input commands via said extended user interface; (d) sending user input commands via the wireless communications channel to the limited user-interface device; (e) receiving a confirmation signal via the wireless communications channel from the limited user-interface device, said confirmation signal indicating that said input commands have been executed by the limited user-interface device; and (f) providing a notification to a user, said notification corresponding to the confirmation signal.
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Specification