Control Device

• US 20140253298A1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Srivastava, Apoorv
• Granted Patent: US 9,188,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25204 Translate between different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a control device for remotely controlling other devices. The control device comprises a first device interface for transmitting control signals to a first device that is remote from the control device, a second device interface for receiving an input signal from a second device, a user interface corresponding to a function of the first device, and a protocol translator. The control signal is in accordance with a first communication protocol. The input signal is in accordance with a second communication protocol. The user interface is operable by a user so as to cause a control signal to be transmitted by the first device interface, for use by the first device. The protocol translator is configured to convert signals received by the second device interface from being in accordance with the second communication protocol to being in accordance with the first communication protocol.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a first device interface for transmitting a control signal for use by a first device, the control signal being in accordance with a first communication protocol, the first device being remote from the control device;

a second device interface for receiving an input signal from a second device, the input signal being in accordance with a second communication protocol, the second communication protocol being different to the first communication protocol;

a user interface operatively coupled to the first device interface, the user interface corresponding to a function performable by the first device, the user interface being operable by a user so as to cause a first control signal to be transmitted by the first device interface; and

a protocol translator operatively coupled to the first device interface and the second device interface, the protocol translator being configured;

to convert the input signal received by the second device interface from being in accordance with the second communication protocol to being in accordance with the first communication protocol, thereby producing a second control signal; and

to provide, for transmission by the first device interface, the second control signal.

2. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first control signal is such that, when it is received by the first device, the first device performs the function.

3. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the input signal specifies a further function performable by the first device; and

the second control signal is such that, when it is received by the first device, the first device performs the further function.

4. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the first device interface is further configured to receive a further input signal from the first device, the further input signal being in accordance with the first communication protocol;

the second device interface is further configured to transmit an output signal for use by the second device, the output signal being in accordance with the second communication protocol; and

the protocol translator is further configured;

to convert the further input signal received by the first device interface from being in accordance with the first communication protocol to being in accordance with the second communication protocol, thereby producing the output signal; and

to provide, for transmission by the second device interface, the output signal.

5. A control device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the further input signal and the output signal specify information that is usable by the second device to ascertain that the first device may perform the further function.

6. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the first device interface is an infrared interface comprising an infrared transmitter; and

the first communication protocol is an infrared communication protocol.

7. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the second device interface is a radio frequency interface comprising a radio frequency transmitter; and

the first communication protocol is a radio frequency communication protocol.

8. A control device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first communication protocol is a radio frequency communication protocol selected from the group of radio frequency communication protocols consisting of:

a ZigBee communication protocol, a Radio Frequency for Consumer Electronics (RF4CE) communication protocol, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Wi-Fi.

9. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second device is a computer selected from the group of computers consisting of:

a tablet computer. a desktop personal computer, a laptop computer, a mobile station, an entertainment appliance, a wireless telephone, a smartphone, a netbook, and a video game console.

10. A control device in accordance with claim 1, the control device further comprising one or more attachment components configured for detachably attaching the controlling device to the second device.

11. A control device in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

the control device further comprises a rechargeable battery for powering components of the control device; and

the attachment components are configured to enable charging of the rechargeable battery by a power source of the second device.

12. A control device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the one or more attachment components comprise one or more magnets, the one or more magnets arranged to be attached to one or more corresponding magnets or metal connectors of the second device, the one or more magnets being configured to enable inductive charging of the rechargeable battery by a power source of the second device.

13. A control device in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

the second device is a tablet computer; and

the one or more attachment components are arranged to enable attachment of the control device to any side of the tablet computer.

14. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a control element selected from the group of control elements consisting of:

one or more remote control keys, a touch screen display, a touch pad, and a click wheel.

15. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises one or more remote control keys selected from the group of remote control keys consisting of:

a power on/off control key, a D-pad, a volume control key, a channel changing direction key, a menu key, a back key, and a mute key, and a media playback command key.

16. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the control device further comprises one or more sensors operatively coupled to the second device interface; and

the second device interface is further configured to transmit one or more measurement signals corresponding to measurements taken by the one or more sensors, the measurement signals being for use by the second device, the measurement signals being in accordance with the second communication protocol.

17. A control device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the one or more sensors include a sensor selected from the group of sensors consisting of:

an accelerometer, a microphone, and a camera.

18. A method of controlling a first device using a control device, wherein

the control device comprises:

a first device interface for transmitting a control signal for use by the first device, the control signal being in accordance with a first communication protocol;

a second device interface for receiving an input signal from a second device, the input signal being in accordance with a second communication protocol, the second communication protocol being different to the first communication protocol;

a user interface operatively coupled to the first device interface, the user interface corresponding to a function performable by the first device, the user interface being operable by a user so as to cause a first control signal to be transmitted by the first device interface; and

a protocol translator operatively coupled to the first device interface and the second device interface, the protocol translator being configured to convert the input signal received by the second device interface from being in accordance with the second communication protocol to being in accordance with the first communication protocol, thereby producing a second control signal, and to provide, for transmission by the first device interface, the second control signal; and

the first device is remote from the control device;

the method comprising;

operating, by a user, the user interface, the user interface corresponding to a function performable by the first device; and

in response to the user operating the user interface, transmitting, by the first device interface, a control signal for use by the first device, thereby triggering the first device to perform the function;

wherein

the control signal is in accordance with the first communication protocol.

19. A method of controlling a first device using a control device, wherein:

the control device comprises;

a first device interface for transmitting a control signal for use by the first device, the control signal being in accordance with a first communication protocol;

a second device interface for receiving an input signal from a second device, the input signal being in accordance with a second communication protocol, the second communication protocol being different to the first communication protocol;

a user interface operatively coupled to the first device interface, the user interface corresponding to a function performable by the first device, the user interface being operable by a user so as to cause a first control signal to be transmitted by the first device interface; and

a protocol translator operatively coupled to the first device interface and the second device interface, the protocol translator being configured to convert the input signal received by the second device interface from being in accordance with the second communication protocol to being in accordance with the first communication protocol, thereby producing a second control signal, and to provide, for transmission by the first device interface, the second control signal; and

the first device is remote from the control device;

the method comprising;

receiving, by the second device interface, an input signal from a second device, the input signal being in accordance with the second communication protocol;

converting, by the integrated protocol translator, the input signal from being in accordance with the second communication protocol to being in accordance with the first communication protocol, thereby producing a control signal; and

transmitting, by the first device interface, the control signal for use by the first device, thereby triggering the first device to perform the function.

20. A method according to claim 19, the method comprising, prior to the step of receiving, by a second device interface, the input signal:

receiving, by the first device interface, a further input signal from the first device, the further input signal being in accordance with the first communication protocol;

converting, by the integrated protocol translator, the further input signal from being in accordance with the first communication protocol to being in accordance with the second communication protocol, thereby producing an output signal

transmitting, by the second device interface, the output signal for use by the second device; and

receiving, by the second device, the output signal; and

using the output signal, ascertaining, by the second device, ascertaining that the first device may perform the further function.