Systems and methods for facilitating home automation
First Claim
1. A set-top box configured to facilitate home automation, the set-top box comprising:
- a memory;
a home device manager of the set top box stored on the memory, the set-top box configured to receive television programming, the home device manager configured, when executed, to;
receive control information from a remote home device configured to control an electro-mechanical system in a residence, the control information including an identifier of the remote home device and a specification of one or more commands for invoking capabilities of the remote home device;
in response to receiving the control information, output at least one of one or more user interface controls for presentation by a display screen communicatively coupled to the set-top box;
receive, via a remote control input device communicatively coupled to the set-top box, an indication that the presented user interface control has been selected by a user; and
control the remote home device by the receiving the indication that the presented user interface control has been selected by a user triggering transmitting the command corresponding to the selected user interface control.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments facilitate home automation via a receiving device. In one embodiment, a home device manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The home device manager is configured to discover home devices and to obtain device control information from the discovered devices. The home device manager is further configured to, based on the obtained device control information, present a user interface operable by a user to specify commands for controlling a home device, receive a specified command, and control the home device by transmitting the specified command to the home device. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A set-top box configured to facilitate home automation, the set-top box comprising:
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a memory; a home device manager of the set top box stored on the memory, the set-top box configured to receive television programming, the home device manager configured, when executed, to; receive control information from a remote home device configured to control an electro-mechanical system in a residence, the control information including an identifier of the remote home device and a specification of one or more commands for invoking capabilities of the remote home device; in response to receiving the control information, output at least one of one or more user interface controls for presentation by a display screen communicatively coupled to the set-top box; receive, via a remote control input device communicatively coupled to the set-top box, an indication that the presented user interface control has been selected by a user; and control the remote home device by the receiving the indication that the presented user interface control has been selected by a user triggering transmitting the command corresponding to the selected user interface control. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method in a set-top box for facilitating home automation, the method comprising:
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receiving, in the set top box, television programming; receiving, in the set top box, a command for controlling a remote home device; in response to receiving the command, displaying an interface control corresponding to the received command; receiving, in the set top box via a remote control input device communicatively coupled to the set-top box, an indication that an interface control displayed by a display screen communicatively coupled to the set top box has been selected by a user; and the selection of the interface control triggering transmission from the set top box the command corresponding to the selected interface control to control the remote home device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium whose contents enable a receiving device to facilitate home automation, by performing a method comprising:
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determining a command for invoking a capability of a home device, wherein determining the command includes; receiving from the home device a specification of one or more commands for invoking capabilities of the home device; in response to the determining the command for invoking the capability of the home device, outputting an interface component that corresponds to the determined command for presentation by a display screen communicatively coupled to the receiving device; receiving, via a remote control input device communicatively coupled to the receiving device, an indication that the presented interface component has been selected; and the selection of the interface control triggering transmission of the determined command to the home device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification