APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING AN ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE USING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20090233593A1
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Dish Network Corporation), Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Ergen, Charles W., Gratton, Max S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,210,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work

Abstract

Various embodiments of apparatus and/or methods are described for remotely controlling an entertainment device using a mobile communication device. A user utilizes a mobile communication device to input information that requests manipulation of playback of content outputted for presentation by an entertainment device. The mobile communication device transmits the user input to the entertainment device, and responsive to receiving the user input, the mobile communication device manipulates playback of the video content.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

an input device that receives user input requesting manipulation of playback of content outputted for presentation by a television receiver;

a motion detector that determines positional information regarding the mobile communication device;

a processor communicatively coupled to the input device and communicatively coupled to the motion detector that translates the user input and the positional information into a command compatible with the television receiver;

a wireless transmitter that transmits the command to the television receiver wherein the television receiver utilizes the command to output a cursor on a menu and manipulate playback of the content on a display device communicatively coupled to the television receiver; and

a wireless receiver that receives data from the television receiver, and wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the data to an application server.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a touch screen displaying a virtual remote control for the television receiver.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor downloads the virtual remote control from the television receiver.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 2, wherein the wireless receiver receives menu information from the television receiver regarding a menu outputted for presentation by the television receiver, and wherein the processor customizes the virtual remote control based on the menu information.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein tie mobile communication device transmits identifying data regarding a user to the television receiver in association with the command, and wherein the identifying data is utilized by the television receiver to generate demographic information.

6. A television receiver comprising:

a tuner that receives television programming from a programming source;

an interface module that wirelessly communicates with a mobile communication device and receives user input and positional information from the mobile communication device;

a processor communicatively coupled to the tuner that manipulates playback of the programming on a display device based on the user input, and that outputs a menu for presentation on the display device, generating a cursor of the menu based on the positional information; and

wherein the interface module transmits data to the mobile communication device, the mobile communication data further transmitting the data to an application server.

7. The television receiver of claim 6, wherein the interface module transmits a virtual remote to the mobile communication device for display by the mobile communication device.

8. The television receiver of claim 6, wherein the interface module receives identifying data regarding the user in association with the command from the mobile communication device, and wherein the processor generates demographic information regarding the television programming based on the identifying data.

9. The television receiver of claim 6, wherein the interface module receives identifying data regarding the user in association with the command from the mobile communication device, and wherein the processor utilizes the identifying data to populate a social networking profile of the user based on the user input.

10. A method for remotely operating a television receiver, the method comprising:

receiving user input, through a mobile communication device, requesting manipulation of playback of content outputted for presentation by a television receiver;

determining positional information regarding the mobile communication device;

translating the user input and the positional information into a command compatible with the television receiver;

transmitting the command to the television receiver, wherein the television receiver utilizes the command to output a cursor on a menu and manipulate playback of the content;

receiving data from the television receiver; and

transmitting the data to an application server.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

downloading a virtual remote control from the television receiver; and

displaying the virtual remote control on a touch screen of the mobile communication device, wherein the user input is inputted using the touch screen.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an updated virtual remote control from the television receiver, wherein the virtual remote control is updated to correspond with the menu outputted by the television receiver.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting identifying data regarding a user to the television receiver in association with the command;

receiving demographic information generated by the television receiver based on the identifying data; and

transmitting the demographic information to an application server.

14. A method for presenting content on a display device, the method comprising:

outputting content for presentation on a display device;

receiving positional information from a mobile communication device;

outputting a menu with a cursor for presentation on the display device, wherein a position of the cursor is based on the positional information;

receiving user input from the mobile communication device;

manipulating playback of the content based on the user input; and

transmitting a virtual remote control to the mobile communication device, the virtual remote control presenting functions available to manipulate playback of the content.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting data to the mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device further transmits the data to an application server.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving identifying data regarding the user in association with the command from the mobile communication device;

generating demographic information regarding the television programming based on the identifying data; and

transmitting the demographic information to an application server.

17. A method for presenting content on a display device, the method comprising:

outputting content for presentation on a display device;

receiving user input from a mobile communication device;

receiving identifying data regarding a user in association with the user input from the mobile communication device;

manipulating playback of the content based on the user input; and

populating a social networking profile of the user based on the user input.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein populating a social networking profile of the user based on the user input further comprises:

tabulating a list of television programs frequently watched by the user based on the data and the user input; and

populating the social networking profile with the list of the television programs.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein populating a social networking profile of the user based on the user input further comprises:

populating the social networking profile with a message indicating that the user is presently watching television.