Systems, methods and apparatus for locating a lost remote control

• US 8,339,246 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Langer, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US12/649,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20110156862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.22, 340/426.13, 340/5.6, 348/114, 348/211.99, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 in which transmission is by pulses

Abstract

Described herein are techniques for locating a lost remote control. The method includes receiving user input, at a controlled device, the user input requesting to locate a lost remote control for the controlled device. The method further includes lowering a volume of the output of content associated with the controlled device responsive to the user input and transmitting a message from the controlled device to the remote control, the message requesting the remote control to activate an indicator device (e.g., sound, visual, physical or the like) of the remote control.

Claims

1. A method of locating a lost remote control, the method comprising:

receiving user input, at a controlled device, the user input requesting to locate a lost remote control for the controlled device;

lowering a volume of the output of content associated with the controlled device responsive to the user input; and

transmitting a message from the controlled device to the remote control, the message requesting the remote control to activate an indicator device of the remote control.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein lowering the volume of the output of content further comprises:

muting the volume of content outputted by the controlled device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein lowering the volume of the output of content further comprises:

muting the volume of a presentation device associated with the controlled device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the message further comprises:

receiving a first query message at the controlled device from the remote control; and

transmitting a first reply message to the remote control from the controlled device responsive to the first query message, the first reply message referencing the user input requesting to locate the lost remote control.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a second query message at the controlled device from the remote control;

transmitting a second reply message from the controlled device to the remote control; and

deactivating the indicator device of the remote control responsive to the second reply message received from the controlled device by the remote control.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a duration of time between the transmission of the first query message and the second query message is determined based on a schedule that is independent of the content of the first reply message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a sound emitting device of the remote control responsive to the message received, from the controlled device, by the remote control.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlled device comprises a television.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlled device comprises an external television receiver.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlled device comprises an audio output device.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an input interface that receives user input requesting to activate an indicator device of a remote control for the apparatus;

an output interface that outputs presentation content;

control logic that processes the user input and responsively lowers a volume of the presentation content and generates a message for transmission to the remote control, the message requesting the remote control to activate the indicator device; and

a wireless interface that transmits the message to the remote control.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the input interface receives the user input in association with a lost remote control locator feature of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the output interface outputs the presentation content to an associated presentation device and wherein the control logic is operable to mute the volume of the presentation content outputted by the output interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the output interface outputs content to an associated presentation device and wherein the control logic is operable to initiate transmission of a command to the presentation device to mute the volume of the presentation device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the output interface is operable to present the presentation content and wherein the control logic is operable to mute the volume of the presentation content presented by the output interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wireless interface receives a first query message, from the remote control, and transmits a first reply message, to the remote control, responsive to the first query message, the first reply message referencing the user input requesting to locate the lost remote control.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the wireless interface receives a second query message at the controlled device from the remote control and transmits a second reply message from the controlled device to the remote control, the remote control operating to deactivate the indicator device responsive to the second reply message.

18. A system comprising:

a remote control including;

a sound emitting device;

first control logic;

a first wireless transceiver that transmits a first query message; and

an entertainment device including;

an input interface that receives user input requesting to locate the remote control;

an output interface that outputs a presentation stream for presentation on a presentation device;

second control logic that processes the user input and responsively lowers a volume of the presentation stream and generates a first reply message for transmission to the remote control responsive to the first query message, the first reply message requesting the remote control to activate the sound emitting device; and

a second wireless transceiver that transmits the first reply message to the first wireless transceiver;

the first control logic processing the first reply message and responsively activating the sound emitting device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the entertainment device comprises a television receiver.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the entertainment device comprises an audio output device.