System and method for two way communication and controlling a remote apparatus

• US 8,019,867 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2011
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infrared5, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brass Monkey, Inc.
• Inventors: Allen, Christopher, Zupko, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin; Kyung H
• Application Number:
  US13/042,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20110219131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 190 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/220, 709/218, 709/203, 714/2, 700/17, 700/18
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2567 for reachability, e.g. inquiring the address of a correspondent behind a NAT server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A system for controlling a remotely controlled apparatus includes executing, by a remotely controlled apparatus, a program for controlling actions of the remotely controlled apparatus. The system includes a first network connection between the remotely controlled apparatus and a network hub device configured to extend the range of a computer network may be established. The system also includes second network connection between the network hub device and an endpoint device executing an application for controlling the remotely controlled apparatus may be established. An endpoint device may send data over the first and second network connections for controlling the remotely controlled apparatus. An application executing within a web browser may process the data. A method for controlling a remotely controlled apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a remotely controlled apparatus comprising:

running, by a computing device coupled to a computer network, an application within a web browser;

executing, by a remotely controlled apparatus in communication with the computer network, a program designed to control actions of the remotely controlled apparatus;

establishing, by the program, a first network connection for carrying loss-tolerant and loss-sensitive data between the remotely controlled apparatus and a network hub device in order to transmit, therebetween, data for controlling the remotely controlled apparatus;

creating, by a control application executing on an endpoint device, a second network connection for carrying loss-tolerant and loss sensitive data between the network hub device and the endpoint device in order to transmit, therebetween, data for controlling the remotely controlled apparatus;

transmitting, by the remotely controlled apparatus, the endpoint device, or both, loss-tolerant and loss-sensitive data over the first and second network connections for controlling the remotely controlled apparatus; and

processing, by the application within the web browser, data for controlling the remotely controlled apparatus sent over the first and second network connections.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of establishing includes connecting a first and second socket connection between the remotely controlled apparatus and the network hub, and the step of creating includes opening a first and second socket connection between the endpoint device and the network hub.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

the step of connecting includes carrying the loss-sensitive data over the first socket connection; and

the step of creating includes carrying the loss-sensitive data over the first socket connection.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of connecting and the step of creating further include effectuating a TCP connection.

5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

the step of connecting includes transmitting the loss tolerant data over the second socket connection; and

the step of creating includes transmitting the loss-tolerant data over the second socket connection.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of creating further include effectuating a UDP connection.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising placing the network hub device in a location to extend range of operation between the remotely controlled apparatus and the handheld endpoint device.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of processing further includes displaying processed data on a display coupled to the computing device.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising sending, by the application executing within the web browser, a communication to an address registration server including a private network address of the computing device.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising sending, by the program, the application executing on the endpoint device, or both, a communication to an address registration server including a public and private network address of the remotely controlled apparatus, the endpoint device, or both.

11. A system for controlling a remotely controlled apparatus comprising:

a remotely controlled apparatus in communication with a computer network and designed to execute a program for controlling actions of the remotely controlled apparatus;

a network hub configured to extend range of operation of the computer network and to establish a first network connection with the remotely controlled apparatus for carrying loss-sensitive and loss tolerant data for controlling the remotely controlled apparatus;

an endpoint device designed to execute an application configured to establish a second network connection with the network hub for carrying loss-sensitive and loss-tolerant data, and to send loss-sensitive and loss-tolerant data over the first and second network connections in order to control the remotely controlled apparatus; and

a computing device in communication with the network and configured to execute an application within a web browser in order to collect and process the data sent over the first and second network connections by the endpoint device and the remotely controlled apparatus so as to control the remotely controlled apparatus.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein at least one of the network connections includes a first and second socket connection.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first socket connection is configured to carry the loss-sensitive data.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first socket connection is a TCP connection.

15. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the second socket connection is configured to carry the loss-tolerant data.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the second socket connection is a UDP connection.

17. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the computing device is further configured to display processed data on a display.

18. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the application executing within the web browser is further configured to send a communication to an address registration server including a private network address of the computing device.

19. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the program, the application executing on the endpoint device, or both are further configured to send a communication to an address registration server including a public and private network address of the remotely controlled apparatus, the endpoint device, or both.