Remote controlled system with computer-based remote control facilitator

• US 20040019395A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: David M. Maymudes
• Inventors: Maymudes, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,010,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/65
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31457 Factory remote control, monitoring through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways

Abstract

A remote controlled system employs a computer-based remote control facilitator to facilitate remote control of a controlled device from a non-dedicated remote controller. The computer facilitator is coupled to the remote controller and controlled device via a wireless or wire-based network. The computer facilitator runs an application that corresponds to the controlled device. Neither the remote controller nor the controlled device need have any awareness of the other, or any knowledge as to how to communicate with one another. The computer tells the remote controller what options to present to a user and translates the selection entered by the user into a command that is sent to the controlled device.

Claims

1. A remote controlled system comprising:

a remote controller; and

a general-purpose computer coupled to communicate with the remote controller and a controlled device to facilitate remote control of the controlled device by the remote controller.

2. A remote controlled system of claim 1, wherein the remote controller has a display and one or more input mechanisms that enable user input.

3. A remote controlled system of claim 1, wherein the remote controller is embodied as a cellular phone.

4. A remote controlled system of claim 1, wherein the controlled device is embodied as a home device selected from a group of home devices comprising a television, a stereo, a radio, a VCR, a set top box, lighting controller, and alarm controller.

5. A remote controlled system of claim 1, wherein the general-purpose computer is embodied as a desktop computer.

6. A remote controlled system of claim 1, wherein the general-purpose computer runs an open platform operating system.

7. A remote controlled system of claim 1, wherein the general-purpose computer is configured to expose a universal plug and play (UPnP) application program interface (API) through which the remote controller and the controlled device may make calls to the general-purpose computer.

8. A remote controlled system of claim 1, wherein the general-purpose computer is configured to communicate with the remote controller and the controlled device using a wireless communication protocol.

9. A remote controlled system of claim 1, further comprising an application program stored and executed on the general-purpose computer, the application program directing the computer to provide UI information to the remote controller that may be used by a user to enter control data for controlling the controlled device and to translate the control data received from the remote controller into commands that are sent to the second device to effectuate an action intended by the user.

10. A remote controlled system of claim 1, further comprising multiple remote controllers and multiple controlled devices, the general-purpose computer is coupled to communicate with the multiple remote controllers and the multiple controlled devices to facilitate remote control of any one of the controlled devices by any one of the remote controllers.

11. A remote controlled system comprising:

a first device having a user interface (UI); and

a facilitator communicatively coupled to the first and a second device to facilitate remote control of the second device by the first device, the facilitator providing UI information to the first device that may be used by a user to enter control data for controlling the second device to perform an action, the facilitator translating the control data received from the first device into commands that are sent to the second device to effectuate the action intended by the user.

12. A remote controlled system of claim 11, wherein the facilitator comprises a general-purpose computer.

13. A remote controlled system of claim 11, wherein the facilitator comprises a general-purpose computer that runs an open platform operating system.

14. A remote controlled system of claim 11, wherein the facilitator is configured to expose a universal plug and play (UPnP) application program interface (API) through which the first and second devices may make calls to the facilitator.

15. A remote controlled system of claim 11, wherein the facilitator is configured to communicate with the first and second devices using a wireless communication protocol.

16. A remote controlled system of claim 11, wherein the UI of the first device comprises one or more input components to permit user entry of the control data, the UI information being associated with the input components so that selection of a particular input component by the user results in generation of particular control data.

17. A remote controlled system of claim 11, wherein the UI of the first device includes a display and the UI information includes text strings for display on the UI display.

18. A clock radio comprising:

a clock;

a user interface (UI) to enable user input;

one or more speakers; and

a general-purpose computer, remote from but communicatively coupled to the UI and speakers, to facilitate remote control of the speakers by the UI.

19. A clock radio of claim 18, wherein the clock, the UI, and the speakers are integrated in a common housing.

20. A clock radio of claim 18, wherein the general-purpose computer runs an open platform operating system.

21. A clock radio of claim 18, wherein the general-purpose computer is configured to expose a universal plug and play (UPnP) application program interface (API) through which the UI and the speakers may make calls to the general-purpose computer.

22. A clock radio of claim 18, wherein the general-purpose computer is configured to communicate with the UI and the speakers using a wireless communication protocol.

23. A computer, comprising:

one or more processors;

computer-readable media including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer to;

send information to a first device to configure a display means in the first device to display information related to the control of a second device;

receive from the first device control data for controlling the second device;

convert the received control data into control commands for the second device; and

send the control commands to the second device.

24. A computer as defined in claim 23, wherein the first device and the second device are physically connected.

25. A computer as defined in claim 23, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to expose a set of universal plug and play (IPnP) application program interfaces (APIs) through which information may be communicated to the first device.

26. A computer as defined in claim 23, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to receive and store a schema of the first device.

27. A computer as defined in claim 23, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to receive and store a schema of the first device, the schema including a description of the first device.

28. A system comprising:

a remote controller having a user interface (UI); and

a general-purpose computer in communication with the remote controller; and

computer-readable media including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the general-purpose computer, cause the general-purpose computer to;

receive from the remote controller information defining operational parameters of the UI;

send information to the remote controller to configure the UI to display information related to the control of a controlled device and to receive user input for the control of the controlled device;

receive from the remote controller data for controlling the controlled device; and

send control commands to the controlled device, the control commands being based on the received control data.

29. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the controlled device comprises a wireless device.

30. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the UI comprises a display screen.

31. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the UI comprises a display screen and user input means.

32. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the information defining operational parameters of the UI comprise a schema.

33. A system comprising:

means for sending information to configure a user interface (UI) in a first wireless device;

means for receiving from the first wireless device control data for controlling a second wireless device, the control data being based on user interaction with the UI of the first wireless device; and

means for sending control commands to the second wireless device, the control commands being based on the received control data.