Communication system and method

• US 8,413,199 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Skype S.Ã R.L. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Laasik, Marek, Kaal, Madis
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles N
• Application Number:
  US12/455,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20100064328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 725 98- 99, 725/106, 348 1401- 1405
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82

Abstract

A media device comprising: a memory storing a communication client application; a processor, coupled to the memory and operable to execute the communication client application, wherein the client application is programmed so as when executed to allow a user to establish a call with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network; and a remote control unit comprising wireless communication means arranged to transmit data to the processor, a control means coupled to the wireless communication means and configured to control the wireless communication means, user input means coupled to the control means and arranged to receive input commands from the user and provide the input commands to the control means, and a microphone coupled to the control means and arranged to receive audio signals from a user, wherein, responsive to the control means receiving a command to establish a call from the user input means, the control means is arranged to activate the wireless communication means from a deactivated state, establish a wireless connection with the processor, and transmit data comprising audio signals from the microphone using the wireless communication means to the processor for transmission in a call over the packet-based communication network.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a media device comprising;

a memory storing a communication client application;

a processor, coupled to the memory and operable to execute the communication client application, wherein the communication client application is programmed so as to be executed to allow a user to establish a call with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network; and

a remote control unit comprising a first wireless communication means and a second wireless communication means each arranged to transmit data to the media device, a control means coupled to the wireless communication means and configured to control the first and second wireless communication means, user input means coupled to the control means and arranged to receive input commands from the user and provide the input commands to the control means, and a microphone coupled to the control means and arranged to receive voice input from a user,

wherein, responsive to the control means receiving a command to establish a call from the user input means, the control means is arranged to transmit a call establishment message to the media device via the second wireless communication means responsive to receiving the command to establish a call from the user input means, activate the first wireless communication means from a deactivated state, establish a wireless connection with the media device, and transmit data comprising audio signals from the microphone using the first wireless communication means to the media device for transmission in a call over the packet-based communication network.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication means is configured to communicate data to the media device while the first wireless communication means is in the deactivated state.

3. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the second wireless communication means is an infra-red transmitter.

4. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein in an event that a notification of an incoming call is received at the media device, the control means is arranged to transmit a call acceptance message to the media device using the second wireless communication means responsive to receiving the command to accept the incoming call from the user input means.

5. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein the processor is arranged to connect the call over the packet-based communication network responsive to receiving the call establishment message.

6. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is arranged to connect the call over the packet-based communication network responsive to the establishment of the wireless connection with the remote control unit.

7. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication client application is arranged to encode the audio signals received at the processor as voice over internet protocol packets for transmission over the packet-based communication network.

8. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication means comprises a radio transmitter.

9. A communication system according to claim 8, wherein the radio transmitter is a Bluetooth transmitter.

10. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the command to establish a call from the user input means is a command to accept an incoming call.

11. A communication system according to claim 10, wherein the microphone is retractable from the remote control unit, and the remote control unit is arranged to indicate acceptance of the incoming call responsive to the user retracting the microphone.

12. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the command to establish a call from the user input means is a command to initiate an outgoing call.

13. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the control means is further arranged to activate the microphone responsive to the control means receiving a command to establish a call from the user input means.

14. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication client application is arranged to generate notifications to the user of incoming communication events from other users.

15. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication client application is arranged to generate a user interface for output on a television screen.

16. A communication system according to claim 15, wherein the user interface comprises a list of one or more other users of the packet-based communication network associated with the user.

17. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control unit further comprises a speaker and a radio receiver, and wherein the processor is arranged to cause audio signals received from the packet-based communication network in a call to be transmitted to the radio receiver of the remote control unit, and the remote control unit is arranged to play the audio signals received from the packet-based communication network from the speaker.

18. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication client application is further arranged to establish an instant messaging session with one or more other users, and the remote control unit arranged to transmit alphanumeric data received at the input means to the media device using the first wireless communication means for transmission over the packet based communication network in the instant messaging session.

19. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication client application is programmed to allow the user to establish calls via a peer-to-peer connection in the packet based communication network.

20. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the media device comprises one of a television set, or a set-top box arranged to connect to a television set.

21. A communication system according to claim 20, further comprising a television receiver operable to receive broadcast television signals.

22. A communication system according to claim 21, wherein the processor is arranged to cause the volume of an audio component of the broadcast television signal received at the television receiver to be reduced responsive to an establishment of a call.

23. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the media device comprises one of a video disc player arranged to connect to a television set, or a personal video recorder arranged to connect to a television set.