System and method for a mobile computing device to control appliances
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an appliance comprising:
- establishing a wireless communication link between the appliance and a mobile computing device; and
controlling the appliance with the mobile computing device including at least one of selectively determining an available content for the appliance, selecting the content used by the appliance, and applying an user preference to the appliance.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An appliance control system of the present invention comprises an appliance and a mobile computing device configured for controlling the appliance by at least one of determining an available content for the appliance, selecting the content used by the appliance, and applying user preferences to the appliance.
A method of controlling an appliance of the present invention comprises establishing a wireless communication link between an appliance and a mobile computing device, and controlling the appliance with the mobile computing device includes at least one of determining an available content for the appliance, selecting the content used by the appliance, and applying user preferences to the appliance.
173 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an appliance comprising:
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establishing a wireless communication link between the appliance and a mobile computing device; and
controlling the appliance with the mobile computing device including at least one of selectively determining an available content for the appliance, selecting the content used by the appliance, and applying an user preference to the appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of controlling an appliance comprising:
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wirelessly exchanging user preference information between a mobile computing device and an appliance;
operating the appliance with the mobile computing device based on the user preference information.
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7. A method of controlling an appliance comprising:
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supplying content to the appliance with a mobile computing device; and
selecting content in the appliance with the mobile computing device.
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8. A method of selecting content for an appliance comprising:
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providing a mobile computing device with at least one of an audio monitor including audio-based content selections, a video monitor including video-based content selections, a data monitor including data-based content selections, a communication monitor including telecommunication selections, and an internet monitor including internet selections; and
selecting content with the mobile computing device from at least one of the audio monitor, the video monitor, the data monitor, the communication monitor, and the internet monitor. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method of controlling household appliances comprising:
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wirelessly establishing communication between a mobile computing device and a household appliance including at least one of a thermostat, a beverage maker, an alarm, and a lighting device; and
selectively activating and controlling the household appliances with the mobile computing device.
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11. A method of controlling appliances comprising:
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establishing wireless communication between a mobile computing device and an appliance;
automatically applying an user preference of the mobile computing device to the appliance;
automatically requesting the appliance to perform a task using a preferred content that is at least one of a content available through the appliance and a content supplied from the mobile computing device to the appliance; and
observing the appliance perform the requested task using the applied user preferences.
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12. An appliance control system comprising
a mobile computing device configured for controlling an appliance including selectively determining an available content for the appliance, selecting the content used by the appliance, and applying an user preference to the appliance.
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17. An appliance control system comprising:
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a mobile computing device including;
a controller;
a memory configured for storing content and user preferences;
a wireless communicator configured for wireless communication with an appliance;
a display with a user interface; and
an appliance content selector configured for selecting content to be performed by an appliance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A computing system comprising:
a computing workstation including;
a wireless communicator;
a storage media selector configured for selecting a memory destination that is at least one of unrestricted access and external only access; and
a mobile computing device including;
a wireless communicator; and
a memory configured for storing data files and including a virtual disc drive monitor configured for using the mobile computing device substantially the same as an internal hard drive of the computing workstation.
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21. A mobile computing device including:
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a wireless communicator; and
a memory configured for storing data files;
a virtual disc drive monitor configured for using the mobile computing device substantially the same as an internal hard drive of the computing workstation.
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22. A method of public computing comprising:
providing a computer workstation in a public venue including at least one of a retail mall, an airport, and a commercial suite, with the computer workstation including;
an operating system;
an application software program including at least one of a word processor, a financial spreadsheet, presentation program, and generic file reader program; and
a user interface for permitting a user to access the application software; and
establishing wireless communication between the computing workstation and a mobile computing device having a memory; and
using at least one of the application software and the operating system to at least one of retrieve a file from the memory of the mobile computing device and store a file to the memory of the mobile computing device.
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23. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of controlling an appliance, the method comprising:
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establishing a wireless communication link between the appliance and a mobile computing device; and
controlling the appliance with the mobile computing device including at least one of selectively determining an available content for the appliance, selecting the content used by the appliance, and applying an user preference to the appliance. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of setting and applying user preferences for controlling an appliance with a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
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grouping the appliances, to carry substantially the same user preferences, by at least one of an appliance location, an appliance type and custom criteria;
automatically performing select tasks with the appliances with at least one of the following user-determined functions;
volume level, lighting level, file interactions and file transfers, appliance auto-activation, and default media selections including default program and default station lists; and
entering the user preferences for storage in the mobile computing device from at least one of computer workstation and another appliance via a web page of an embedded web server of the mobile computing device.
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26. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of selecting content for an appliance, the method comprising:
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providing a mobile computing device with at least one of an audio monitor including audio-based content selections, a video monitor including video-based content selections, a data monitor including data-based content selections, a communication monitor including telecommunication selections, and an internet monitor including internet selections; and
selecting content from at least one of the audio monitor, the video monitor, the data monitor, the communication monitor, and the internet monitor, wherein the method further comprises;
providing the audio monitor to include at least one of an audio station selection list, an audio song selection list, an audio program selection list, and an audio file selection list;
providing the video monitor to include at least one of a television network station selection list, a television program selection list, a program recorder with a play selection list and a program list;
providing the data monitor to include at least one of a document selection list, an editor activator, a virtual disc drive selector, and a document scanner receiver selector;
providing the communications monitor to include at least one of a phone book selection, a call list selection, an address book selection, a land/cell switcher selection, a fax selection; and
providing the internet monitor to include at least one of a browser favorites selection list and a cookies selection list.
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27. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of public computing, the method comprising:
providing a computer workstation in a public venue including at least one of a retail mall, an airport, and a commercial suite, with the computer workstation including;
an operating system;
an application software program including at least one of a word processor, a financial spreadsheet, presentation program, and generic file reader program; and
a user interface for permitting a user to access the application software; and
establishing wireless communication between the computing workstation and a mobile computing device having a memory; and
using at least one of the application software and the operating system to at least one of retrieve a file from the memory of the mobile computing device and store a file to the memory of the mobile computing device.
Specification