Tethered Digital Butler Consumer Electronic Device and Method

• US 20070042767A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NexStep, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NexStep, Inc.
• Inventors: Stepanian, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tethered digital butler consumer electronics product and method. The tethered digital butler, of a price and form factor suitable for consumer electronics markets of developed and developing countries, includes a communications and multi-media console and a wireless remote. The remote may resemble a handheld personal computer (HPC), a palm-held personal computer (PPC or PDA) or a smart phone, but has a low cost and feature set supported by the console that is novel in the consumer electronics market. In particular, this disclosure relates to combining telephone service, device control and, optionally, a fingerprint reader for easy user identification/authorization and personalization. As another option, a camera can be incorporated into the remote, thereby enabling video conferencing and other visual features. Alternatively, the remote may be packaged separately from a console and sold to interact with capabilities of a communications and console, set-top box, multi-media PC or other consumer electronics device from a different source, such as one running on a Windows, OS X or Linux platform, with or without telephone capabilities. The remote may include a media reader and remote USB port.

Claims

1. A multi-media and communications system, including:

a palm-held remote; and

a bread-box or smaller sized console in wireless communication with the remote;

wherein the palm-held remote integrates at least

a fingerprint reader,

a speaker, microphone and volume control adapted for use as a telephone,

a display at least capable of showing a telephone number,

a cursor control and trigger adapted to select and control resources of the console,

a compact keypad including numeric keys usable for telephone dialing,

the compact keypad further including alphabetic keys usable for web browsing,

wherein the bread-box or smaller sized console integrates at least a DVD/CD player, a network port and logic and resources adapted to

authenticate users of the palm-held remote and personalize their telephone network connection and their Internet browsing based on fingerprints received from the palm-held remote,

connect the palm-held remote to the telephone network,

connect the palm-held remote to the Internet and display web pages on a monitor or television,

control channels accessed by a video receiver,

drive speakers and provide volume control,

provide playback control for the DVD/CD player, and

access and playback digitally stored music;

whereby the palm-held remote allows a user of to select among and use the bread-box or smaller sized console'"'"'s user authentication and personalization, telephone network connection, Internet browsing, channel control, volume control, DVD/CD playback control, and digitally stored music access and playback.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a media card reader and the logic and resources of the console are further adapted to treat the media card reader as local to the console.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a media card reader and the logic and resources of the palm-held remote are further adapted to browse media inserted into the media card reader and preview the contents of files on the inserted media.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic and resources of the console to authenticate users based on fingerprints is further adapted to personalize the users'"'"' lists of favorite channels, web browsing and digitally stored music.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a USB connector and port and the logic and resources of the console are further adapted to treat the USB connector and port as local to the console.

6. A remote control for a media center, the media center including logic and resources to process wireless input, the remote control including:

a palm-held remote adapted to invoke glue logic running on the media center by wirelessly directing input to the media center;

wherein the palm-held remote integrates at least

a speaker, microphone and volume control adapted for use as a telephone,

a display at least capable of showing a telephone number,

a cursor control and trigger adapted to select and control resources of the console,

a compact keypad including numeric keys usable for telephone dialing,

the compact keypad further including alphabetic keys usable for web browsing,

wherein the glue logic invoked wirelessly by the remote control is adapted to

connect the speaker and microphone to a telecom module and

connect the keyboard, cursor control and trigger to

an Internet browsing module and

one or more media center controls of media selection, playback and volume control.

7. The remote control of claim 6, wherein:

the palm-held remote further invokes glue logic running on the media center that is adapted, upon successful authentication of the fingerprint reader data by the authentication module to personalize an authenticated user'"'"'s experience with lists of the user'"'"'s favorites and history the user'"'"'s recent activity at the media center.

8. The remote control of claim 6, wherein:

the palm-held remote further integrates a camera,

the display is at least capable of showing a caller at on a video conference, and

the palm-held remote invokes glue logic running on the media center that is adapted to connect camera data to a video conferencing module.

9. The remote control of claim 6, wherein:

the palm-held remote further integrates a camera,

the display is at least capable of showing a photograph, and

the palm-held remote invokes glue logic running on the media center that is adapted to connect camera data to a photographic capture module.

10. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a media card reader and the logic and resources of the media center are further adapted to treat the media card reader as local to the media center.

11. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a media card reader and the logic and resources of the palm-held remote are further adapted to browse media inserted into the media card reader and preview the contents of files on the inserted media.

12. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a USB connector and port and the logic and resources of the console are further adapted to treat the USB connector and port as local to the console.

13. The remote control of claim 6, wherein:

the display is adapted to show menu and control information from the media center;

the palm-held remote further integrates logic and resources adapted to reproduce menu and control information received from the media center and to invoke glue logic running on the media center by wirelessly directing menu and control navigation input to the media center; and

the glue logic invoked wirelessly by the remote control is adapted to process the menu and control navigation input and control features of the media center.

14. A multi-media and communications system, including:

a palm-held remote; and

a bread-box or smaller sized console in wireless communication with the remote;

wherein the palm-held remote integrates at least

a fingerprint reader,

a speaker, microphone and volume control adapted for use as a telephone,

a display at least capable of showing a telephone number,

a cursor control and trigger adapted to select and control resources of the console,

a compact keypad including numeric keys usable for telephone dialing,

the compact keypad further including alphabetic keys usable for messaging,

wherein the bread-box or smaller sized console integrates at least a DVD/CD player, a network port and logic and resources adapted to

authenticate users of the palm-held remote and personalize their telephone network connection and their messaging based on fingerprints received from the palm-held remote,

connect the palm-held remote to the telephone network,

send and receive messages across a communications network, displaying the messages on a monitor or television,

control channels accessed by a video receiver,

drive speakers and provide volume control, and

provide playback control for the DVD/CD player;

whereby the palm-held remote allows a user of to select among and use the bread-box or smaller sized console'"'"'s user authentication and personalization, telephone network connection, messaging, channel control, volume control, and DVD/CD playback control.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a media card reader and the logic and resources of the console are further adapted to treat the media card reader as local to the console.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a media card reader and the logic and resources of the palm-held remote are further adapted to browse media inserted into the media card reader and preview the contents of files on the inserted media.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the logic and resources of the console to authenticate users based on fingerprints is further adapted to personalize the users'"'"' lists of favorite channels, web browsing and digitally stored music.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a USB connector and port and the logic and resources of the console are further adapted to treat the USB connector and port as local to the console.

19. A multi-media and communications system, including:

a palm-held remote; and

a bread-box or smaller sized console in wireless communication with the remote;

wherein the palm-held remote integrates at least

a fingerprint reader,

a speaker, microphone and volume control adapted for use as a telephone,

a display at least capable of showing a telephone number,

a cursor control and trigger adapted to select and control resources of the console,

a compact keypad including numeric keys usable for telephone dialing,

the compact keypad further including alphabetic keys usable for web browsing,

wherein the bread-box or smaller sized console integrates at least a media card reader, a network port and logic and resources adapted to

authenticate users of the palm-held remote and personalize their telephone network connection based on fingerprints received from the palm-held remote,

connect the palm-held remote to the telephone network,

control with the palm-held remote retrieval, transfer and playback of digital content from the media card reader,

control channels accessed by a video receiver,

drive speakers and provide volume control, and

provide playback control for the DVD/CD player;

whereby the palm-held remote allows a user of to select among and use the bread-box or smaller sized console'"'"'s user authentication and personalization, telephone network connection, media card reader functions, channel control, volume control, and DVD/CD playback control.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a media card reader and the logic and resources of the console are further adapted to treat the media card reader as local to the console.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a media card reader and the logic and resources of the palm-held remote are further adapted to browse media inserted into the media card reader and preview the contents of files on the inserted media.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the logic and resources of the console to authenticate users based on fingerprints is further adapted to personalize the users'"'"' lists of favorite channels, web browsing and digitally stored music.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a USB connector and port and the logic and resources of the console are further adapted to treat the USB connector and port as local to the console.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the display on the palm-held remote is adapted to show menu and control information from the media center;

the palm-held remote further integrates logic and resources adapted to reproduce menu and control information received from the media center on the display and to invoke glue logic running on the media center by wirelessly directing menu and control navigation input to the media center; and

the glue logic invoked wirelessly by the remote control is adapted to process the menu and control navigation input and control features of the media center.

25. A remote control for a gateway device that is coupled to multimedia and communication resources, the gateway device including logic and resources to process wireless input and provide access to the multimedia and communication resources, the remote control including:

a palm-held remote adapted to invoke glue logic running on the gateway device by wirelessly directing input to the gateway device;

wherein the palm-held remote integrates at least

a speaker and volume control adapted for use as a remote speaker,

a fingerprint reader,

a cursor control and trigger adapted to select and control resources of the console,

wherein the glue logic invoked wirelessly by the remote control is adapted to

connect the speaker to a sound reproduction module and

connect the fingerprint reader to an authentication and personalization module that selects a user profile based on activation of the fingerprint reader and authentication of the user, the personalization module adapted to

present the user'"'"'s personalized favorite media access,

present the user'"'"'s personalized history lists,

automatically authenticate the user for digital rights management,

automatically authenticate the user for communication access, and

automatically authenticate the user for electronic wallet reproduction of purchasing credentials.

26. The remote control of claim 25, wherein the remote control further integrates a keyboard and the glue logic invoked wirelessly by the remote control is adapted to trigger to

an Internet browsing module and

one or more gateway device controls of media selection, playback and volume control.

27. The remote control of claim 25, wherein the palm-held remote further integrates a USB connector and port and the logic and resources of the console are further adapted to treat the USB connector and port as local to the console.

28. The remote control of claim 25, wherein:

the display is adapted to show menu and control information from the media center;

the palm-held remote further integrates logic and resources adapted to reproduce menu and control information received from the media center on the display and to invoke glue logic running on the media center by wirelessly directing menu and control navigation input to the media center; and

the glue logic invoked wirelessly by the remote control is adapted to process the menu and control navigation input and control features of the media center.