Device control interface cable and associated control systems

• US 9,509,934 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Barnett, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Sun, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/200,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20150256785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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

Abstract

Methods and implementations of using a device interface cable assembly are described herein. In some examples, a modular cable and device interface cable assembly may connect a control system such as a home automation control system to a device control port on a device such as a television. A controller device may use the device interface cable assembly and modular cable to send or receive commands and status messages to or from a remote device. Customized commands may provide direct access to all of the functionality in the remote device, and may avoid the need to navigate a series of menus on the remote device. The modular cable and device interface cable assembly may provide two-way communication between the control system and the remote device. Two-way communication may include verification of command message or gestures, or may include retrieval of remote device status information.

Claims

1. A system for interfacing with a controllable device, the system comprising:

a device interface cable assembly, wherein the device interface cable assembly includes a device cable, a device barrel connector plug disposed at a first end of the device cable, and an eight position eight contact (8P8C) connector disposed at a second end of the device cable, wherein the device cable includes at least three conductive wires disposed between the 8P8C connector and the device barrel connector plug, and wherein the 8P8C connector includes;

a first modular contact in electric communication with a transmit line wire of the device cable;

a second modular contact in electric communication with a receive line wire of the device cable; and

a third modular contact in electric communication with a ground line wire of the device cable;

a controllable device communicatively coupled to the device interface cable assembly; and

an external control system communicatively coupled through the device interface cable assembly to the controllable device, wherein;

the external control system is configured to send a plurality of command messages to the controllable device; and

the external control system is configured to receive a plurality of status messages from the controllable device.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a modular cable disposed between the external control system and the device interface cable assembly.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the device barrel connector plug includes a distal device contact, a medial device contact, and a proximal device contact, wherein the proximal device contact is proximate the device cable.

4. The system of claim 3, further including a device interface crossover cable assembly disposed between the modular cable and the external control system.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the device interface crossover cable assembly includes a crossover barrel connector plug;

the crossover barrel connector plug includes a distal crossover contact, a medial crossover contact, and a proximal crossover contact; and

the proximal crossover contact is proximate the modular cable.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein when the modular cable is connected between the device interface crossover cable assembly and the device interface cable assembly:

the distal crossover contact is in electric communication with the medial device contact;

the medial crossover contact is in electric communication with the distal device contact; and

the proximal crossover contact is in electric communication with the proximal device contact.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the 8P8C connector, device barrel connector plug, and device cable are contained within a single molded housing.

8. A device interface cable assembly, the device interface cable assembly comprising:

a modular connector;

a device barrel connector plug; and

a device cable including at least three conductive wires disposed between the modular connector and the device barrel connector plug, wherein the at least three conductive wires includes a transmit line wire, a receive line wire, and a ground line wire;

wherein the modular connector includes an eight position eight contact (8P8C) connector, and wherein the modular connector includes;

a first modular contact in electric communication with the transmit line wire;

a second modular contact in electric communication with the receive line wire; and

a third modular contact in electric communication with the ground line wire.

9. The device interface cable assembly of claim 8, wherein the device barrel connector plug includes a distal device contact, a medial device contact, and a proximal device contact, wherein the proximal device contact is proximate the device cable.

10. The device interface cable assembly of claim 8, wherein the distal device contact is in electric communication with the receive line wire, the medial device contact is in electric communication with the transmit line wire, and the proximal device contact is in electric communication with the ground line wire.

11. The device interface cable assembly of claim 8, wherein the modular connector, device barrel connector plug, and device cable are contained within a single molded housing.

12. A method of using a device interface cable assembly, the method comprising:

sending a command from an external control system through the device interface cable assembly to a controllable device, wherein the device interface cable assembly includes;

a modular connector;

a device barrel connector plug; and

a device cable including at least three conductive wires disposed between the modular connector and the device barrel connector plug, wherein the at least three conductive wires includes a transmit line wire, a receive line wire, and a ground line wire;

wherein the modular connector includes an eight position eight contact (8P8C) connector; and

wherein the modular connector includes;

a first modular contact in electric communication with the transmit line wire of the device cable;

a second modular contact in electric communication with the receive line wire of the device cable; and

a third modular contact in electric communication with the ground line wire of the device cable.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the device barrel connector includes a distal device contact, a medial device contact, and a proximal device contact, wherein the proximal device contact is proximate the device cable.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the distal device contact of the device barrel connector plug is in electric communication with the receive line wire;

the medical device contact of the device barrel connector plug is in electric communication with the transmit line wire; and

the proximal device contact of the device barrel connector plug is in electric communication with the ground line wire.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the modular connector, the device barrel connector plug, and the device cable are contained within a single molded housing.

16. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising:

receiving information from the controllable device through the device interface cable assembly at the external control system.