Multifunctional two-way remote control device

• US 8,063,749 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: X-10 LTD.
• Original Assignee: X-10 LTD.
• Inventors: Phillips, James R. W., Leech, Leslie A., Rye, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam V
• Application Number:
  US11/383,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20070279247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/10.4, 340/10.1, 340/5.82, 341/176, 398/106, 398/115, 455/74, 455/414.1, 713/185, 710/73, 710/106, 348/61, 348/143
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A remote control device for communicating between a computer system and a plurality of electronic devices. The remote control device includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, a RF receiver, an optical transmitter, a memory unit, and a processor in data communication with the memory unit, the RF transmitter, the RF receiver, and the optical transmitter. The processor includes a first component that instructs the optical transmitter to emit at least one signal in response to information received by the RF receiver from a computer.

Claims

1. A remote control device comprising:

a radiofrequency (RF) transmitter;

a RF receiver;

an optical transmitter;

a memory unit;

a processor in data communication with the memory unit, the RF transmitter, the RF receiver, and the optical transmitter; and

an operator interface including at least one button, the operator interface in data communication with the processor,

wherein the memory unit comprises stored programming instructions operable by the processor, the programming instructions comprising;

a first component configured to cause the RF transmitter to send at least one previously stored code to a computer in response to the activation of the at least one button;

a second component configured to receive an input instruction at the RF receiver, the input instruction being sent from the computer in response to the transmitted at least one code;

a third component configured to receive the input instruction and cause the optical transmitter to emit at least one signal to a device, the at least one signal being based upon the input instruction received by the RF receiver; and

a fourth component configured to cause the RF transmitter to send a zip code or other geographic indicator to the computer, and a fifth component to receive from the computer, responsive to the sending of the geographic indicator, a plurality of optical codes to be used by the remote control device to associate the operator interface with the plurality of optical codes, wherein the optical codes are associated with the geographic indicator.

2. The remote control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone in data communication with the processor; and

a speaker in data communication with the processor,

wherein the programming instructions further include;

a sixth component configured to instruct the speaker to emit sound in response to an audio signal received by the RF receiver from the computer; and

a seventh component configured to instruct the RF transmitter to send audio information in response to a signal generated by the microphone.

3. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the at least one button is activated during a first television program on a first channel, wherein an RF signal is received at the end of the first television program, and wherein the IR signal instructs the device to change to a second channel.

4. The remote control device of claim 3, wherein the at least one button is activated by pressing a designated channel button twice.

5. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the programming instructions further include a sixth components configured to direct the processor to:

receive an alert signal from the computer, the alert signal based on an event sensed by a sensor in signal communication with the computer; and

perform an action based on the received alert signal.

6. The remote control device of claim 5, wherein the sensor is a motion sensor and wherein the programming instructions include a seventh components configured to instruct the processor to direct the optical transmitter to emit an optical signal based on the alert signal that causes the device to display an image from a security camera.