Remote control extension with limited command duration
First Claim
1. A system for remote control of at least an appliance, the system comprising:
- a remote control device; and
an extender coupled to the remote control device via a network, wherein the extender is located in a line of sight of a receiver of the appliance, while the remote control device is not in the line of sight of the receiver of the appliance,the remote control device being adaptedfor transmitting messages containing a description of a repeat command to the extender via the network during a period of an expected repeat command of the remote control device having a variable time duration, wherein the expected repeat command of the remote control device corresponds with an effective repeat command generated by the extender based on the description of the repeat command, wherein the effective repeat command generated by the extender is to be transmitted from the extender to the appliance;
the extender being adaptedfor receiving the messages transmitted from the remote control device via the network, wherein the messages include one or more of a start message, an alive message, and a stop message that describe the repeat command,for transmitting the effective repeat command to the appliance for a limited command duration as long as the extender receives the messages containing the description of the repeat command from the remote control device via the network, andfor finishing the transmission of the effective repeat command to the appliance unequivocally, (i) if an expected message has not been received by the extender from the remote control device via the network within a predetermined time, wherein the expected message comprises one or more of the start message and the alive message and (ii) if one of the messages transmitted from the remote control device via the network to the extender is delayed beyond a predetermined time in case of perturbations on the network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remote control extension system for controlling appliances (60,70,80). A remote control (20) is connected by means of a network (30) to an extender device (40). The remote control (20) transmits messages (110,120) to the extender (40) during the period, that a command (14) is to be transmitted from the extender to an appliance. The command is for example a command having a variable duration, such as Volume UP. The extender (40) receives the messages. It transmits the command as long as it receives the messages from the remote control. It finishes the transmission of the command, if an expected message has not been received at a predetermined time. In this way, the duration of a command is limited in case of network disturbances.
21 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for remote control of at least an appliance, the system comprising:
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a remote control device; and an extender coupled to the remote control device via a network, wherein the extender is located in a line of sight of a receiver of the appliance, while the remote control device is not in the line of sight of the receiver of the appliance, the remote control device being adapted for transmitting messages containing a description of a repeat command to the extender via the network during a period of an expected repeat command of the remote control device having a variable time duration, wherein the expected repeat command of the remote control device corresponds with an effective repeat command generated by the extender based on the description of the repeat command, wherein the effective repeat command generated by the extender is to be transmitted from the extender to the appliance; the extender being adapted for receiving the messages transmitted from the remote control device via the network, wherein the messages include one or more of a start message, an alive message, and a stop message that describe the repeat command, for transmitting the effective repeat command to the appliance for a limited command duration as long as the extender receives the messages containing the description of the repeat command from the remote control device via the network, and for finishing the transmission of the effective repeat command to the appliance unequivocally, (i) if an expected message has not been received by the extender from the remote control device via the network within a predetermined time, wherein the expected message comprises one or more of the start message and the alive message and (ii) if one of the messages transmitted from the remote control device via the network to the extender is delayed beyond a predetermined time in case of perturbations on the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for remote control of at least an appliance in a system that comprises a remote control device and an extender coupled to the remote control device via a network, wherein the extender is located in a line of sight of a receiver of the appliance, while the remote control device is not in the line of sight of the receiver of the appliance, the method comprising the steps of:
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by the remote control device, transmitting messages containing a description of a repeat command to the extender via the network during a period of an expected repeat command of the remote control device having a variable time duration, wherein the expected repeat command of the remote control device corresponds with an effective repeat command generated by the extender based on the description of the repeat command, wherein the effective repeat command generated by the extender is to be transmitted from the extender to an appliance; by the extender, receiving the messages transmitted from the remote control device via the network, wherein the messages include one or more of a start message, an alive message, and a stop message that describe the repeat command, transmitting the effective repeat command to the appliance for a limited command duration as long as the extender receives the messages containing the description of the repeat command from the remote control device via the network, and finishing the transmission of the effective repeat command to the appliance unequivocally, (i) if an expected message has not been received by the extender from the remote control device via the network within a predetermined time, wherein the expected message comprises one or more of the start message and the alive message and (ii) if one of the messages transmitted from the remote control device via the network to the extender is delayed beyond a predetermined time in case of perturbations on the network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodied with a computer program comprising computer program code adapted to perform the following step, when said program is run on a computer:
by a remote control device transmitting messages containing a description of a repeat command to an extender via a network during a period of an expected repeat command of the remote control device having a variable time duration, wherein the expected repeat command of the remote control device corresponds with an effective repeat command generated by the extender based on the description of the repeat command, wherein the effective repeat command generated by the extender is to be transmitted from the extender to an appliance, wherein a duration of the effective repeat command is limited unequivocally at the extender (i) if an expected message is not received by the extender from the remote control device via the network and (ii) if an expected message is delayed beyond a predetermined time in case of perturbations on the network, wherein the expected message comprises one or more of a start message and an alive message.
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24. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodied with a computer program comprising computer program code adapted to perform the following steps, when said program is run on a computer:
by an extender receiving messages containing a description of a repeat command transmitted from a remote control device via a network during a period of an expected repeat command of the remote control device having a variable time duration, wherein the expected repeat command of the remote control device corresponds with an effective repeat command generated by the extender based on the description of the repeat command, the effective repeat command generated by the extender for being transmitted from the extender to an appliance, wherein the messages include one or more of a start message, an alive message, and a stop message that describe the repeat command, transmitting the effective repeat command to the appliance for a limited command duration as long as the extender receives the messages containing the description of the repeat command from the remote control device via the wireless network, and finishing the transmission of the expected repeat command to the appliance unequivocally, (i) if an expected message has not been received within a predetermined time, wherein the expected message comprises one or more of the start message and the alive message and (ii) if one of the messages transmitted from the remote control device via the network to the extender is delayed beyond a predetermined time in case of perturbations on the network.
Specification