Mobile phone multimedia controller

• US 8,014,768 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Ackley, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agosta; Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US10/837,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20040259537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,685 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/68, 455/352, 455418-420, 455/425, 455/556.1, 455/557, 348/14.04, 348/14.05, 348/114, 348/211.99, 348/552, 348/734, 700/11, 700/17, 700/19, 700/65, 700/83, 340/3.1, 340/3.71, 340/5.61, 340/7.29, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 725/141, 725/153, 725/133, 463/37, 463/38, 463/41
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• 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: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

A system and method is provided for remotely controlling and interacting with a multimedia device using a mobile phone. This is accomplished by utilizing cell and mobile phones capable of establishing persistent Internet connections. A software application is provided for the mobile phone which receives inputs entered by a user on the mobile phone'"'"'s keypad and translates the inputs into commands that are recognized by a multimedia device. For example, the multimedia device may be a television, set top box, or a digital video recorder such as a Tivo or ReplayTV. The software application transmits the data input by the user to the device, either directly, or through at least one central server. Mapping of the commands entered on the mobile phone into commands recognized by the remote device may occur on the phone, at a central server, or at the device itself.

Claims

1. A central server, comprising:

a modem that establishes a network connection with a mobile phone and another network connection with a remote device separate from the mobile phone, the modem being configured to receive remote device commands form the mobile phone, the mobile phone being configured to simulate a remote control of the remote device and issue standard mobile phone commands being mapped by software on the mobile phone to remote device commands, the remote device commands being used to operate the remote device; and

a processor that transmits remote device commands to operate the remote device, the processor being configured to convey the remote device commands received from the mobile phone to the remote device in a format that can be recognized by the remote device;

wherein the central server is operatively connected to an audience display;

wherein the remote device comprises a multiplayer game device;

wherein the remote device commands correspond to multiplayer game commands configured to operate objects within a multiplayer game displayed on the audience display;

wherein the audience display comprises a queue display, and

wherein the queue display is located within a theme park.

2. The central server according to claim 1, wherein the central server is further configured to transmit mapping software to a plurality of mobile phones such that the plurality of mobile phones simulate remote controllers for the multiplayer game device.