Remote control via local area network

• US 9,497,516 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, James Carlton Sr., Levine, David A., McClenny, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PARK, JUNG H
• Application Number:
  US14/537,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20150067731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6336 directed to decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method and system for remote control of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to establish a connection between a customer premises equipment (CPE) gateway and a local area network (LAN) device that is a personal user device. A user of the LAN device may be authenticated. Responsive to user input, the LAN device may send remote control messages corresponding to remote control functions for an MCDN terminal device. The CPE gateway may determine a network address for the MCDN terminal device, and forward the remote control messages to the addressed MCDN terminal device. The LAN device may so remotely control the addressed MCDN terminal device.

Claims

1. A remote control method, comprising:

detecting, by a customer premises equipment gateway configured to couple an access network for delivering multimedia content to a local area network, a local connection to a remote control emulator;

determining whether a user associated with the remote control emulator is an authorized user;

pairing the remote control emulator and a paired video decoding device, wherein the paired video decoding device is one of a plurality of video decoding devices connected to the gateway and configured to process multimedia content for display on a display device; and

responsive to receiving an emulated remote control signal, indicative of a remote control function executable by the paired video decoding device, sending a remote control message indicative of the remote control function to the paired video decoding device.

2. The remote control method of claim 1, wherein the remote control emulator comprises a personal computer.

3. The remote control method of claim 1, wherein the remote control emulator comprises a wireless communication device.

4. The remote control method of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a wireless telephone.

5. The remote control method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of video decoding devices is selected from:

a set top box and a gaming console.

6. The remote control method of claim 1, wherein the local connection comprises a wireless connection.

7. The remote control method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to detecting a status change associated with the paired video decoding device, sending information indicative of the status change to the remote control emulator.

8. The remote control method of claim 1, further comprising:

de-pairing the remote control emulator and the paired video decoding device.

9. The remote control method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a user identity associated with a user of the remote control emulator; and

authorizing the remote control message based on the user identity.

10. A customer premises equipment gateway device, comprising:

a processor;

a local network adapter;

an access network adapter; and

memory media, accessible to the processor, including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

detecting a local connection to a remote control emulator;

determining whether a user associated with the remote control emulator is an authorized user;

pairing the remote control emulator and a paired video decoding device, wherein the paired video decoding device is one of a plurality of video decoding devices connected to the gateway and configured to process multimedia content for display on a display device; and

responsive to receiving an emulated remote control signal, indicative of a remote control function executable by the paired video decoding device, sending a remote control message indicative of the remote control function to the paired video decoding device.

11. The gateway device of claim 10, wherein the remote control emulator comprises a first remote control emulator, the paired video decoding device comprises a first paired video decoding device, and wherein the operations include:

establishing a pairing between a second remote control emulator and a second paired video decoding device.

12. The gateway device of claim 10, wherein the paired video decoding device comprises a first paired video decoding device, and wherein the operations include:

establishing a second pairing between the remote control emulator and a second paired video decoding device.

13. The gateway device of claim 10, wherein the local connection comprises a wireless connection.

14. The gateway device of claim 13, wherein the paired video decoding device is selected from a set top box and a game controller.

15. The gateway device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of video decoding devices includes a first set top box and a second set top box, wherein the paired video decoding device comprises the first set top box.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable memory medium, including processor executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

detecting a local connection to a remote control emulator;

determining whether a user associated with the remote control emulator is an authorized user;

pairing the remote control emulator and a paired video decoding device, wherein the paired video decoding device is one of a plurality of video decoding devices connected to the gateway and configured to process multimedia content for display on a display device; and

responsive to receiving an emulated remote control signal, indicative of a remote control function executable by the paired video decoding device, sending a remote control message indicative of the remote control function to the paired video decoding device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the remote control emulator comprises a first remote control emulator, the paired video decoding device comprises a first paired video decoding device, and wherein the operations include:

establishing a pairing between a second remote control emulator and a second paired video decoding device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the paired video decoding device comprises a first paired video decoding device, and wherein the operations include:

establishing a second pairing between the remote control emulator and a second paired video decoding device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the local connection comprises a wireless connection.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the paired video decoding device is selected from:

a set top box and a game controller.