Methods for remote monitoring and control of appliances over a computer network
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an information appliance at a local location from a remote location, said method comprising:
- (a) identifying an information appliance capable of being controlled at the local location, the information appliance being electrically connected to a local computing device, and the local computing device capable of being electrically connected to a network of computers;
(b) obtaining, at a remote computing device at the remote location, status information for the information appliance at the local location;
(c) displaying a graphical user interface on the remote computing device at the remote location, the graphical user interface including at least (i) a portion of the status information pertaining to the information appliance and (ii) a plurality of selectable control actions for the information appliance, and the remote computing device capable of being electrically connected to the network of computers;
(d) receiving a selection of at least one of the control actions for the information appliance, the at least one of the control actions to be performed at the local location;
(e) forming a control message for the information appliance;
(f) electrically sending the control message from the remote computing device to the local computing device;
(g) sending control signals from the local computing device to the information appliance in accordance with the control message;
(h) controlling the information appliance based on the control signals;
wherein the information appliance receives television broadcasts over a plurality of channels, the information appliance being associated with a digital data storage device in the local location that is able to store a limited amount of digital data associated with the television broadcasts, andwherein the graphical user interface includes a selection screen for controlling selection of the channels to record the associated television broadcasts in the digital data storage device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The remote monitoring and controlling of controllable devices is provided by sending control information to and receiving status information from information appliances over a network. A user is able to monitor the information appliances from a remote location, and control the information appliances from the remote location. The remote monitoring and control can be facilitated by graphical user interfaces. The information appliance can be a home lighting system, a home alarm system, a home entertainment system, a water gardening system, a home heating system, a home cooling system, and a television system having recording capabilities.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an information appliance at a local location from a remote location, said method comprising:
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(a) identifying an information appliance capable of being controlled at the local location, the information appliance being electrically connected to a local computing device, and the local computing device capable of being electrically connected to a network of computers; (b) obtaining, at a remote computing device at the remote location, status information for the information appliance at the local location; (c) displaying a graphical user interface on the remote computing device at the remote location, the graphical user interface including at least (i) a portion of the status information pertaining to the information appliance and (ii) a plurality of selectable control actions for the information appliance, and the remote computing device capable of being electrically connected to the network of computers; (d) receiving a selection of at least one of the control actions for the information appliance, the at least one of the control actions to be performed at the local location; (e) forming a control message for the information appliance; (f) electrically sending the control message from the remote computing device to the local computing device; (g) sending control signals from the local computing device to the information appliance in accordance with the control message; (h) controlling the information appliance based on the control signals; wherein the information appliance receives television broadcasts over a plurality of channels, the information appliance being associated with a digital data storage device in the local location that is able to store a limited amount of digital data associated with the television broadcasts, and wherein the graphical user interface includes a selection screen for controlling selection of the channels to record the associated television broadcasts in the digital data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 19)
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6. A method for remotely controlling home appliances associated with a home over a network, comprising the operations of:
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identifying home appliances that are interconnected to a first processing unit located in the home, with the first processing unit capable of coupling to the network; receiving status information pertaining to at least one of the home appliances; presenting the status information on a graphical user interface associated with a second processing unit that is remotely located from the first processing unit and also capable of coupling to the network; communicating a control signal through the graphical user interface associated with the second processing unit that is remotely located from the first processing unit and also capable of coupling to the network; and wherein the control signal is directed to at least one of the home appliances via the network, and the control signal causes a change in an operating state of the at least one of the home appliances when received by the at least one of the home appliances; wherein the at least one of the home appliances is a digital data storage device associated with a television system receiving television broadcasts over a plurality of channels, the digital data storage device provided in the home and is able to store a limited amount of digital data associated with the television broadcasts, and wherein the graphical user interface includes one or more screens for presenting status information pertaining to the digital data storage device and for controlling selection of one or more of the associated television broadcasts to be recorded in the digital data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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7. A method for controlling a digital storage device at a local location from a remote location, said method comprising:
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identifying a user account; identifying a digital data storage device associated with the user account; presenting, on a remote computing device, at least one graphical control screen for (i) presenting current status information regarding the digital data storage device, (ii) configuring remote scheduling of one or more recordings by the digital data storage device, the graphical control screen permitting a remote user at the remote location to select one or more television broadcasts to be recorded at the local location; receiving at least a remote scheduling request from the remote user via the graphical control screen; configuring the digital data storage device at the local location to record the selected one or more television broadcasts based on the remote scheduling request; and thereafter recording the selected one or more television broadcasts using the configured digital data storage device at the local location, wherein the remote computing device and the digital data storage device are capable of being electrically connected to a network of computers, and wherein a central server connected to the network of computers receives the remote scheduling request from the remote computing device and electronically transmits at least one control message to the digital data storage device to thereby configure the digital data storage device to record the selected one or more television broadcasts based on the remote scheduling request. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code stored thereon facilitates control of a digital storage device at a local location from a remote location using a central server, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for identifying a user account; computer program code for identifying a digital data storage device associated with the user account computer program code for presenting, within at least one graphical control screen on a remote computing device, (i) current status information regarding the digital data storage device, and (ii) user interface controls for configuring remote scheduling of one or more recordings by the digital data storage device, the graphical control screen permitting a remote user at the remote location to select one or more television broadcasts to be recorded at the local location; computer program code for receiving at least a remote scheduling request from the remote user via the graphical control screen; and computer program code for causing configuration of the digital data storage device at the local location to record the selected one or more television broadcasts based on the remote scheduling request; wherein the selected one or more television broadcasts are thereafter recorded using the configured digital data storage device at the local location, wherein the remote computing device and the digital data storage device are capable of being electrically connected to a network of computers, and wherein the central server connects to the network of computers, receives the remote scheduling request from the remote computing device, and electronically transmits at least one control message to the digital data storage device to thereby configure the digital data storage device to record the selected one or more television broadcasts based on the remote scheduling request. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification