Cell phone multimedia controller

• US 8,892,087 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Ackley, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US13/217,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20110312422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/68, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 348/14.04, 700/11, 700/17, 700/19, 340/3.71, 340/31, 725/133, 725/141, 463/37, 463/38, 463/41
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

A system and method is provided for remotely controlling and interacting with a multimedia device using a mobile phone. This is accomplished by utilizing cell and mobile phones capable of establishing persistent Internet connections. A software application is provided for the mobile phone that receives inputs entered by a user on the mobile phone'"'"'s keypad and translates the inputs into commands that are recognized by a multimedia device. For example, the multimedia device may be a television, set top box, or a digital video recorder such as a Tivo or ReplayTV. The software application transmits the data input by the user to the device, either directly, or through at least one central server. Mapping of the commands entered on the mobile phone into commands recognized by the remote device may occur on the phone, at a central server, or at the device itself.

Claims

1. A method of remotely controlling a remote device using a mobile phone, comprising:

accepting a persistent network connection at a central server from at least one mobile phone;

receiving commands at the central server from the mobile phone through the persistent connection;

providing software configured to translate the commands received from the mobile phone into commands recognized by a remote device;

wherein the remote device is a multimedia gaming device;

wherein said software is provided to a plurality of user mobile phones in a defined environment as a scalable user interface;

transmitting the commands recognized by the remote device to the remote device through a communications network, wherein the transmitting occurs by a mechanism selected from the group consisting of sending data through SMS messaging and utilizing a TCP/IP network protocol; and

updating a queue display located within a theme park responsive to said commands recognized by the multimedia gaming device;

wherein the commands correspond to multiplayer game commands configured to operate objects with a multiplayer game displayed on the queue display; and

wherein the multiplayer game is a quiz.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein commands from the mobile phone are input by a user through the mobile phone keypad.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprises providing software to said mobile phone to simulate a remote control of the remote device.