Methods and apparatus for a universal device controller using peer to peer communication
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communications device, comprising:
- receiving a first wireless signal from a remotely controllable device;
adding said remotely controllable device to a list of controllable devices in wireless communications range of said communications device;
initializing a lifetime value for said remotely controllable device;
enabling control of the remotely controllable device via a user interface on the communications device;
determining, based on said lifetime value, whether or not to remove the remotely controllable device from said list, said determining including comparing the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device to a drop threshold; and
re-initializing the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device in response to receiving a second wireless signal from said remotely controllable device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus relating to wireless remote control are described. A communications device, such as a cell phone with peer to peer signaling capability, supports remote control functionality. The same communications device can be used as a universal wireless remote controller for a plurality of different remotely controllable devices including, e.g., a television, a DVD player, a light switch, a garage door opener, etc. The communications device monitors for and detects peer to peer signals from remotely controllable devices in its local vicinity. The communications device maintains a list of remotely controllable devices in its vicinity based on the detected peer to peer signals. The universal remote control user interface is configured in accordance with the maintained list. The universal remote controller provides a user interface which varies based on the device to be controlled.
23 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communications device, comprising:
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receiving a first wireless signal from a remotely controllable device; adding said remotely controllable device to a list of controllable devices in wireless communications range of said communications device; initializing a lifetime value for said remotely controllable device; enabling control of the remotely controllable device via a user interface on the communications device; determining, based on said lifetime value, whether or not to remove the remotely controllable device from said list, said determining including comparing the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device to a drop threshold; and re-initializing the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device in response to receiving a second wireless signal from said remotely controllable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A communications device, comprising:
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means for receiving a first wireless signal from a remotely controllable device; means for adding said remotely controllable device to a list of controllable devices in wireless communications range of said communications device; means for initializing a lifetime value for said remotely controllable device; means for enabling control of the remotely controllable device via a user interface on the communications device; means for determining, based on said lifetime value, whether or not to remove the remotely controllable device from said list, said means for determining including means for comparing the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device to a drop threshold; and means for re-initializing the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device in response to receiving a second wireless signal from said remotely controllable device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program product for use in a communications device, the computer program product comprising:
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a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising; code for causing at least one computer to receive a wireless signal from a remotely controllable device; code for causing said at least one computer to add said remotely controllable device to a list of controllable devices in wireless communications range of said communications device; code for causing said at least one computer to initialize a lifetime value for said remotely controllable device; code for causing said at least one computer to enable control of the remotely controllable device via a user interface on the communications device; code for causing said at least one computer to determine, based on said lifetime value, whether or not to remove the remotely controllable device from said list, said code for causing said at least one computer to determine including code for causing said at least one computer to compare the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device to a drop threshold; and code for causing said at least one computer to re-initialize the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device in response to receiving a second wireless signal from said remotely controllable device.
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15. A communications device comprising:
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at least one processor configured to; receive a first wireless signal from a remotely controllable device; add said remotely controllable device to a list of controllable devices in wireless communications range of said communications device; initialize a lifetime value for said remotely controllable device; enable control of the remotely controllable device via a user interface on the communications device; determine, based on said lifetime value, whether or not to remove the remotely controllable device from said list, said processor being further configured to compare the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device to a drop threshold as part of being configured to determine whether or not to remove the remotely controllable device from said list based; and re-initialize the lifetime value for said remotely controllable device in response to receiving a second wireless signal from said remotely controllable device; and memory coupled to said at least one processor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification