Apparatus and methods for controlling an entertainment device using a mobile communication device

• US 8,639,287 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2011
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Echostar Corporation), Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Ergen, Charles W., Gratton, Max S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Batista, Marcos
• Application Number:
  US13/338,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566.1, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• 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 21/42204 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 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work

Abstract

Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for remotely controlling an entertainment device using a mobile communication device. A user utilizes a mobile communication device to input information that requests manipulation of playback of content outputted for presentation by an entertainment device. The mobile communication device transmits the user input to the entertainment device, and responsive to receiving the user input, the mobile communication device manipulates playback of the video content.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

an input device configured to receive user input, the user input directing playback of content by an entertainment device;

a light detection circuit configured to detect light and measure an intensity of the detected light;

a motion detector configured to determine a positional coordinate and a direction of motion of the mobile communication device relative to the light source based on the measured intensity of the detected light;

a processor configured to generate a command based on the user input and the positional coordinates and direction of motion of the mobile communication device relative to the light source, the command compatible with the entertainment device; and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the command to the entertainment device wherein the entertainment device is configured to utilize the command to output a cursor on a menu and direct playback of the content on a display device communicatively coupled to the entertainment device.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the input device includes a touch screen configured to display a virtual remote control.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to;

receive remote control identifying information from the entertainment device to download the virtual remote control; and

receive menu information from the entertainment device regarding a menu outputted for presentation by the entertainment device;

wherein the processor is configured to customize the virtual remote control based on the menu information.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 3 wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit identifying data regarding a user to the entertainment device in association with the command, the entertainment device configured to generate demographic information based on the identifying data.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 4 wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive data from the entertainment device, the data based on the demographic information, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the data to an application server.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 3 wherein the processor is configured to generate social networking data based on the identifying data and the user input, and wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the social networking data to an application server to populate a social networking profile of the user.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 6 wherein the social networking data includes viewing data associated with the user.

8. A method to remotely direct an operation of a television receiver with a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

receiving user input through the mobile communication device, the user input to direct playback of a television receiver;

receiving positional reference information from a light source;

determining positional coordinates of the mobile communication device and a direction of movement of the mobile communication device, the positional coordinates of the mobile communication device and the direction of movement of the mobile communication device derived from the received positional reference information;

translating the user input, the positional coordinates of the mobile communication device, and the direction of movement of the mobile communication device into a command compatible with the television receiver; and

transmitting the command to the television receiver, wherein the television receiver is configured to utilize the command to output a cursor on a menu to direct playback of the content.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving data from the television receiver; and

transmitting the data to an application server.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

downloading a virtual remote control from the television receiver; and

displaying the virtual remote control on a touch screen of the mobile communication device, wherein the user input is inputted using the touch screen.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting identifying data regarding a user to the television receiver in association with the command;

receiving demographic information generated by the television receiver based on the identifying data; and

transmitting the demographic information to an application server.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating social networking data based on the identifying data and the user input; and

transmitting the social networking data to the application server to populate a social networking profile of the user.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the social networking data includes viewing data associated with the user.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the social networking data includes buddy list data associated with the user.

15. A method to direct a presentation of content on a display device, the method comprising:

outputting presentation content with an entertainment device to a display device;

outputting positional reference information with a light source, the positional reference information receivable by a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device configured to generate coordinates of a cursor and a direction of motion based on the received positional reference information and the mobile communication device configured to communicate the coordinates of a cursor and a direction of motion to the entertainment device;

outputting a menu with the cursor for presentation on the display device, wherein a position of the cursor is based on the coordinates and direction of motion generated by the mobile communication device;

receiving user input from the mobile communication device; and

directing playback of the content based on the user input.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting a virtual remote control to the mobile communication device, the virtual remote control presenting functions available to direct playback of the content.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting data to the mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is configured to further transmit the data to an application server.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving identifying data regarding the user in association with the command from the mobile communication device;

generating demographic information regarding the television programming based on the identifying data; and

transmitting the demographic information to an application server.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating social networking data based on the identifying data and the user input; and

transmitting the social networking data to the mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is configured to transmit the data to the application server to populate a social networking profile of the user.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the social networking data includes viewing data associated with the user or a buddy list associated with the user.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the mobile communication device is configured to generate the position information based on an intensity of a received light signal from the light source.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the mobile communication device is configured to generate the position information based on a plurality of received light signals.