Handheld terminal with integrated wireless appliance control

• US 9,741,242 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jinrong Yang, Ramzi Khalil Maalouf
• Original Assignee: Jinrong Yang, Ramzi Khalil Maalouf
• Inventors: Yang, Jinrong, Maalouf, Ramzi Khalil
• Primary Examiner(s): Terrell, Emily C
• Application Number:
  US14/673,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20160240078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 340 125, 340 1252, 340 1222- 1229, 345169, 345172, 341176, 348114, 348734, 348725
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed is a terminal that integrates control of multiple appliances, where a corresponding control interface is provided in response to a physical design feature of the terminal. For example, in some cases the physical design feature may be a toggle switch, a pop-up button, or a deformable region of a flexible display. In this way, in response to activation of a physical design feature of a device, a user may use a single control interface integrating controls for multiple appliances to easily, immediately, and seamlessly control multiple different appliances.

Claims

1. A removable function module comprising:

one or more processors;

a transmitter;

a button;

an appliance control component configured to;

detect activation of the button;

provide a control interface such that the control interface provides command controls for multiple appliances;

receive, via the control interface, a command corresponding to an appliance of the multiple appliances; and

determine a transmission signal corresponding to the appliance;

a wireless component configured to;

transmit, via the transmitter, a message using a signal consistent with the transmission signal such that the message indicates the command;

wherein the removable function module is configured to lock into and withdraw from a mobile terminal; and

a display configured to deactivate when the removable function module is locked into the mobile terminal.

2. The removable function module of claim 1, wherein the removable function module comprises a circuit interface, and wherein to provide the control interface the appliance control component is further configured to:

establish communication with the mobile terminal via the circuit interface; and

provide, via the circuit interface, the control interface for display on a display screen of the mobile terminal.

3. The terminal of claim 2, wherein the control interface provided to the mobile terminal is scaled differently than a control interface provided to the display screen of the removable function device.

4. The terminal of claim 3, wherein the control interface provided to the display screen includes a differently configured layout of command controls and includes one or more different command controls.