Communication system and method

• US 8,866,628 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• 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): YANG, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US12/455,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20100060477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 340/1.1, 340/12.1, 340/12.15, 340 1222- 123
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• 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 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• 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 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

A remote control unit for controlling a media device, comprising: a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source; a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source; a processor coupled to the first and second wireless transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second wireless transmitters and is arranged to be powered from the first power; and monitoring means arranged to monitor power levels of the second power source and provide power level information to the processor.

Claims

1. A remote control unit for controlling a media device, comprising:

a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source;

a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source;

a processor coupled to the first and second wireless transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to control transmission of data from the first and second wireless transmitters and is arranged to be powered from the first power source; and

monitoring means arranged to monitor power levels of the second power source and provide power level information associated with the second power source to the processor,

wherein the processor is further arranged to enable transmission of a status message to a television associated with the remote control unit to be displayed on the television comprising information associated with the second power source using the first wireless transmitter powered by the first power source, the information associated with the second power source comprising a notification that the second power source is completely depleted.

2. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to compare the power level information associated with the second power source to a predetermined threshold level, and transmit another status message using the first wireless transmitter if the power level information associated with the second power source is less than the predetermined threshold level.

3. A remote control unit according to claim 1, further comprising microphone circuitry arranged to provide audio information to the processor, and arranged to be powered from the second power source.

4. A remote control unit according to claim 3, wherein the processor is arranged to transmit data representing the audio information using the second wireless transmitter.

5. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless transmitter is an infra-red transmitter.

6. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless transmitter is a radio transmitter.

7. A remote control unit according to claim 6, wherein the radio transmitter is a Bluetooth transmitter.

8. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the first and second power sources are batteries.

9. A remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring means is arranged to monitor the voltage level of the second power source.

28. The remote control unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to:

detect when a user of the remote control unit has selected to answer an incoming call with one or more other users via a packet-based network;

responsive to detecting the user has selected to answer the incoming call, read the power level information associated with the second power source; and

transmit a message containing an indication of whether the user is able to accept the incoming call, the indication based, at least in part, on the power level information.

10. A system comprising a remote control unit, the remote control unit comprising:

a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source;

a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source;

a processor coupled to the first and second wireless transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second wireless transmitters and is arranged to be powered from the first power source; and

monitoring means arranged to monitor power levels of the second power source and provide power level information associated with the second power source to the processor,

wherein the processor is further arranged to;

transmit, via the first wireless transmitter, a first status message indicating the power level associated with the second power source has dropped below a certain threshold; and

transmit, via the first wireless transmitter, a second status message to a system unit associated with the remote control unit to be displayed on the system unit indicating the second power source is completely depleted of power.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the system unit comprises:

a memory storing a communication client application;

a communication processing means, 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;

a first wireless receiver arranged to receive signals from the first wireless transmitter of the remote control unit and coupled to the communication processing means; and

a second wireless receiver arranged to receive signals from the second wireless transmitter of the remote control unit and coupled to the communication processing means.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the system unit is one of a television receiver unit, a games console unit or a video-playback unit.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein:

the first wireless receiver is arranged to;

receive status messages from the first wireless transmitter; and

provide the status messages to the communication processing means; and

the communication processing means is arranged to generate at least one warning message for display to the user responsive thereto.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein at least one warning message indicates to the user that a call cannot be established over the packet-based communication network due to depletion of the second power source.

15. A system according to of claim 11, wherein the communication processing means is arranged to transmit a notification message to the one or more other users over the packet-based communication network responsive to receiving the status message from the remote control unit.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the notification message indicates to the one or more other users that a call cannot be established with the user over the packet-based communication network.

17. A system according to claim 11, wherein the system unit comprises television receiver means operable to receive broadcast television signals.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the television receiver means is arranged to be controlled by commands transmitted from the first wireless transmitter of the remote control unit and received at the first wireless receiver.

19. A television receiver system according to claim 11, wherein the system comprises one of a television set and a set-top box.

20. A television receiver system according to claim 11, wherein the client application is configured to establish a call with one or more other users via a peer-to-peer packet-based communication network.

21. A system according to claim 11, wherein the system unit is a video-playback unit comprising one of a video disc player and a personal video recorder.

22. A method of monitoring power in a remote control unit for controlling a media device, the remote control unit having a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source and a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source, the method comprising:

measuring a power level of the second power source;

comparing the power level of the second power source to a predetermined threshold; and

transmitting a status message to a television associated with the remote control unit to be displayed on the television using the first wireless transmitter in the case that the power level of the second power source is less than the predetermined threshold, the transmitting including an ability to transmit a status message indicating that the second power source is completely depleted of power.

23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of receiving a signal to accept an incoming call request from a user of the remote control unit, and wherein the steps of measuring, monitoring and transmitting are performed responsive to receiving the signal to accept an incoming call.

24. A method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of receiving a signal to initiate a call from a user of the remote control unit, and wherein the steps of measuring, monitoring and transmitting are performed responsive to receiving the signal to initiate a call.

25. A method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of starting a periodic timer, wherein the steps of measuring and monitoring are performed responsive to the expiry of the periodic timer.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the step of transmitting is performed responsive to the expiry of the periodic timer.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the step of transmitting is performed responsive to receiving a command to transmit a signal using the first wireless transmitter from a user of the remote control unit.

29. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the remote control unit further comprises an audio speaker powered by the second power source.

30. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the signal to accept an incoming call request is generated, at least in part, in response to detecting a physical motion of a movable microphone unit associated with the remote control unit.