Method, system, and computer program product for managing controlled residential or non-residential environments

• US 20060053447A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: OpenPeak Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Wayzen, Flores, Justin, Krzyzanowski, Paul, Pitts, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• 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 21/43615 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

Claims

1. A method of presenting programming information on a display coupled to a processing device, comprising:

accessing user input to activate a channel object depicted on the display and associated with a programming channel;

producing on the display a quick-view object that presents programming information for a program listed for transmission on the programming channel associated with the channel object when the channel object is activated for a first time period; and

producing on the display a jump-to-guide object that presents an electronic program guide listing programming information for a plurality of programming channels when the channel object is activated for a second time period that exceeds the first time period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a timer associated with the channel object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

producing on the display a timer graphic that includes two concentric circles having an inner circle and an outer circle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

filling the inner circle in a radial direction over a period of time equivalent to the first time period.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

filling the outer circle in a radial direction over a period of time equivalent to the second time period.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

canceling the display of the timer graphic when the channel object is deactivated prior to the expiration of the first time period.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

canceling the display of the timer graphic and the quick-view object if the channel object is deactivated prior to the expiration of the second time period.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

highlighting the programming channel associated with the channel object in the electronic program guide.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating the channel object prior to the expiration of the first time period.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending a control message that, when executed, controls an operation and/or a function of a remote device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein execution of the control message comprises:

converting the control message into executable instructions to switch the remote device to the programming channel associated with the channel object.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating the channel object prior to the expiration of the second time period.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

canceling the display of the quick-view object if the channel object is deactivated prior to the expiration of the second time period.

14. A method of presenting programming information on a display coupled to a processing device, comprising:

accessing user input to activate a channel object depicted on the display and associated with a programming channel;

transmitting instructions to switch a device to the programming channel associated with the channel object if the channel object is activated for a time period that does not exceed a specified value;

transmitting instructions to display a quick-view object that presents programming information for a program listed for transmission on the programming channel associated with the channel object if the channel object is activated for a time period equivalent to the specified value; and

transmitting a command to display a jump-to-guide object that presents an electronic program guide listing programming information for a plurality of programming channels if the channel object is activated for a time period exceeding the specified value.

15. A method of displaying programming information, comprising:

displaying a plurality of channel objects depicted on the user interface, wherein each channel object is associated with a programming channel;

displaying at least one timer associated with the plurality of channel objects, wherein the at least one timer is responsive to a signal indicating the activation of a channel object;

displaying a quick-view object that presents programming information for a program listed for transmission on the programming channel associated with an activated channel object, wherein the quick-view object is composited on an image that includes the activated channel object; and

displaying a jump-to-guide object that presents an electronic program guide listing programming information for the programming channels associated with the plurality of channel objects, wherein the jump-to-guide object is composited on an image that includes the activated channel object.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying a timer graphic that includes an inner circle and an outer circle, wherein the timer graphic is composited on an image that includes the activated channel object.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

modifying a visual characteristic of the inner circle over a time period that expires when a timer reaches a first time value, wherein the timer is initiated upon activation of the activated channel object.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

modifying a visual characteristic of the outer circle over a time period that expires when the timer reaches a second time value, wherein the second time value exceeds the first time value, wherein the timer is initiated upon activation of the activated channel object.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code functions embedded in the medium for causing a computer to present programming information on a display, comprising:

a first computer readable program code function that causes the computer to display a plurality of channel objects, wherein each channel object is associated with a programming channel;

a second computer readable program code function that causes the computer to access user input indicating activation of a channel object from the plurality of channel objects;

a third computer readable program code function that causes the computer to display a quick-view object that presents programming information for a program listed for transmission on the programming channel associated with the activated channel object; and

a fourth computer readable program code function that causes the computer to display a jump-to-guide object that presents an electronic program guide listing programming information for the programming channels associated with the plurality of channel objects.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

a fifth computer readable program code function that causes the computer to initiate at least one timer associated with at least one of the plurality of channel objects, wherein the second computer readable program code function is responsive to a signal indicating the activation of a channel object.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

a fifth computer readable program code function that causes the computer to display a timer graphic that includes an inner circle and an outer circle.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, further comprising:

a sixth computer readable program code function that causes the computer to modify a visual characteristic of the inner circle over a time period that expires when a timer reaches a first time value, wherein the timer is initiated upon activation of the activated channel object.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising:

a seventh computer readable program code function that causes the computer to modify a visual characteristic of the outer circle over a time period that expires when the timer reaches a second time value, wherein the second time value exceeds the first time value, wherein the timer is initiated upon activation of the activated channel object.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

a fifth computer readable program code function that causes the computer to transmit instructions to switch a device to the programming channel associated with the activated channel object if the channel object is activated for a time period that does not exceed a specified value.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the third computer readable program code function comprises:

computer readable program code that causes the computer to display the quick-view object if a timer associated with the activated channel object reaches a specified value.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the fourth computer readable program code function comprises:

computer readable program code that causes the computer to display the jump-to-guide object if a timer associated with the activated channel object exceeds the specified value.

27. A cradle for a remote control device, comprising:

a receptacle configured to hold the remote control device;

a communications interface for exchanging communications with a plurality of network components located throughout a controlled environment; and

a power supply port having an electrical connection to the receptacle, wherein the power supply port is configured to supply power to the remote control device when the remote control device is being held within the receptacle.

28. The cradle of claim 27, further comprising:

a control center for controlling an operation and/or a function of the network components.

29. The cradle of claim 28, wherein the communications interface includes:

first means for exchanging communications between the remote control device and the control center; and

second means for sending a control request to one or more of the network components.

30. The cradle of claim 27, wherein the communications interface includes an Ethernet interface that communicatively couples the cradle with at least one of the network components.

31. The cradle of claim 27, wherein the communications interface includes a wireless interface that communicatively couples the cradle with at least one of the network components.

32. The cradle of claim 27, wherein the communications interface includes an infrared interface that communicatively couples the cradle with at least one of the network components.

33. The cradle of claim 27, wherein the communications interface includes a bridge interface for converting packet-based data signals to infrared signals or serial signals.

34. The cradle of claim 27, wherein the communications interface includes a serial interface for communicatively coupling the cradle with a serial-enabled legacy device.

35. The cradle of claim 27, wherein the communications interface includes a powerline interface that communicatively couples the cradle to a powerline network.

36. The cradle of claim 27, wherein the power supply port includes a powerline interface that communicatively couples the cradle to a powerline network.

37. The cradle of claim 27, further comprising:

an LED indicator for indicating a status of power connectivity or network connectivity.

38. A system for distributing information within a controlled environment, comprising:

a plurality of network components located throughout the controlled environment;

a remote control device configured to send a control request to one or more of the network components; and

a cradle, wherein the cradle includes a receptacle for holding the controller means, and wherein the cradle further includes a communications interface for exchanging communications with one or more of the network components.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the cradle is a platform for a control center that controls an operation and/or a function of the network components.

40. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

positioning means for tracking and/or monitoring a location or a movement of at least one of the network components.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the remote control device is configured to interact with the positioning means, and wherein the remote control device is further configured to send a control request to one or more of the network components located within a vicinity of the remote control device.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the communications interface includes a power supply port having an electrical connection to the receptacle, wherein the power supply port is configured to supply power to the remote control device when the remote control device is being held within the receptacle.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the communications interface includes an Ethernet interface that communicatively couples the cradle with at least one of the network components.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein the communications interface includes an infrared interface that communicatively couples the cradle with at least one of the network components.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the communications interface includes an LED indicator for indicating a status of power connectivity or network connectivity.

46. A method of distributing information within a controlled environment, comprising:

operating a remote control device to send a request to a control center located in a cradle that includes a receptacle for holding the portable device;

receiving the request and processing the request by the control center; and

controlling an operation or a function of one or more devices or applications in response to the request.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

supplying power to the remote control device when the portable device is being held within the receptacle.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the controlling comprises:

communicating a control signal over an Ethernet interface to control the operation or the function of the one or more devices or applications.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the controlling comprises:

communicating a control signal over a wireless interface to control the operation or the function of the one or more devices or applications.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the controlling comprises:

communicating a control signal over an infrared interface to control the operation or the function of the one or more devices or applications.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the controlling comprises:

communicating over a bridge interface; and

converting packet-based data signals to infrared signals or serial signals to thereby control the operation or the function of the one or more devices or applications.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the controlling comprises:

communicating a control signal over a serial interface to control the operation or the function of a serial-enabled legacy device.

53. The method of claim 46, wherein the controlling comprises:

communicating a control signal over a powerline interface to control the operation or the function of the one or more devices or applications.

54. A system for managing a plurality of network components within a controlled environment, comprising:

a control center for controlling an operation and/or a function of the plurality of network components; and

a platform for enabling communications among the network components and the control center over a wired or wireless medium, wherein the platform is a ceiling fan, a light fixture, a wall switch, a carbon dioxide detector, or a wall outlet.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the platform comprises:

first means for enabling communications with the network components over a wireless medium; and

second means for enabling communications with the control center over a wired medium.

56. The system of claim 54, further comprising:

an infrared-serial bridge coupled to the platform, wherein the infrared-serial bridge includes means for enabling communications among the network controller and the network components over a wireless medium.

57. The system of claim 54, further comprising:

a remote control device that is configured to send a control request to one or more of the network components.

58. The system of claim 54, further comprising:

positioning means for tracking and/or monitoring a location or a movement of at least one of the network components.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the remote control device is communicatively coupled to the control center and the positioning means, and wherein the remote control device is further configured to send a control request to one or more of the network components located within a vicinity of the remote control means.

60. The system of claim 54, further comprising:

a remote control device that is configured to send a control request to one or more of the network components.

61. The system of claim 60, further comprising:

a cradle that includes a receptacle for holding the remote control device, wherein the cradle is a platform for a control center that controls an operation and/or a function of the network components.

62. The system of claim 60, further comprising:

a cradle that includes a receptacle for holding the remote control device, wherein the cradle includes a communications interface for exchanging communications with a plurality of network components located throughout a controlled environment.

63. A device for managing a plurality of network components within a controlled environment, comprising:

transmitter means for sending communications to at least one of the network components over a wireless medium,

wherein the device is a ceiling fan, a light fixture, a wall switch, a carbon dioxide detector, or a wall outlet.

64. The device of claim 63, further comprising:

receiver means for accessing communications from at least one of the network components over wireless medium.

65. The device of claim 64, wherein at least one of the receiver means or the transmitter means include a wired interface to at least one of the network components.

66. The device of claim 63, further comprising:

a control center for controlling an operation and/or a function of the plurality of network components.

67. The device of claim 63, wherein the device is communicatively coupled to a control center for controlling an operation and/or a function of the plurality of network components, wherein the control center is remotely located from the device.