System for providing electronic media and commands via remote control and docking station

• US 9,088,748 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hilbrink, Marcel, Hayes, Patrick H., Black, Jeremy K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US11/179,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,662 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 455/66.1, 725/133, 710/303, 710/304, 361/600, 361/679.4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 HDMI
• 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 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57

Abstract

Media rendering system including a remote control device and associated docking station. The remote control device interfaces with a remote server to stream media content for local and/or external playback. The remote control device may interface with a docking station to playback rendered media on one or more entertainment appliances. The portable device preferably has standard remote control capability in order to enable advanced features and functions for media playback.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a hand-held, portable device having a library of remote control commands for remotely controlling functional operations of a plurality of different appliances; and

a docking station adapted to releasably receive the hand-held, portable device having an address readable by the hand-held, portable device when the hand-held, portable device is received within the docking station;

wherein the hand-held, portable device comprises programming which uses the address of the docking station to cause the hand-held, portable device to automatically configure itself to use command formats and sequences appropriate for remotely commanding functional operations of the plurality of appliances wherein the command formats and sequences comprise those remote control commands within the library of remote control commands of the hand-held, portable controlling device that are appropriate for remotely commanding functional operations of the plurality of appliances that have been pre-associated within the hand-held, portable device with the address of the docking station.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station recharges a battery of the hand-held, portable device when the hand-held, portable device is received within the docking station.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming of the hand-held, portable device further causes the hand-held, portable device to transmit one or more of the remote control commands to at least one of the plurality of appliances in response to the hand-held, portable device being be received into the docking station.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the programming of the hand-held, portable device causes the hand-held, portable device to transmit one or more of the remote control commands to at least one of the plurality of appliances in response to the hand-held, portable device being removed from the docking station.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an appliance adapted to render media in communication with the docking station wherein the hand-held portable device exchanges communications directly with both the docking station and the appliance adapted to render media and wherein the programming of the hand-held portable device causes the hand-held, portable device to automatically route media that is currently being rendered by the hand-held portable device to the appliance adapted to render media, via the docking station, for rendering by the appliance adapted to render media in lieu of the hand-held, portable device in response to the hand-held, portable device being be received into the docking station.