Remote controlled system with computer-based remote control facilitator

• US 6,748,278 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Maymudes, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US09/524,125
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/18, 700/19, 700/20, 700/83, 340/3.1, 340/3.71, 340/825.22, 345/418, 345/419, 345/420, 345/650, 345/661, 345/676, 345/700, 345/816, 345/817, 709/217, 709/330, 455/3.03, 455/92, 455/352
• US Class Current: 700/17
• 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. In one implementation, the computer facilitator is a general-purpose computer that runs an open platform operating system. The computer facilitator runs an application that corresponds to the controlled device. The application contains program code, data, information, and any other intelligence that may be used by the facilitator to assist the remote controller in controlling 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 remote controller gains its power and flexibility from the general-purpose computer. 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 computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer to:

receive from a device having a user interface (UI device) data describing the UI;

send information to the UI device that enables a user to enter control data for controlling a different unrelated device to perform an action;

convert the control data returned from the UT device into commands for performing the action on the different device; and

send the commands to the unrelated different device so that the unrelated device will perform the action.

2. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the UI device is configured to conform to a universal plug and play (UPnP) architecture, further comprising instructions that direct a computer to discover the device using a UPnP protocol.

3. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 1, further comprising instructions that direct a computer to learn a schema of the UI device and store the schema.

4. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 1, further comprising instructions that direct a computer to form the information based on the schema learned from the UI device.

5. A method comprising:

detecting a presence of a device with a user interface (UI device);

receiving from the UI device data describing the UI;

sending information to the UI device that enables a user to enter control data for controlling a different unrelated device to perform an action;

converting the control data for controlling the different device received from the UI device into commands; and

sending the commands to the unrelated device so that the unrelated device will perform the action.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the UI device is configured to conform to a universal plug and play (UPnP) architecture, and the detecting comprises discovering the device using a UPnP protocol.

7. A method of claim 5, further comprising learning a schema of the UI device and storing the schema.

8. A method of claim 7, further comprising forming the information based on the schema learned from the UI device.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing acts comprising:

receiving from a first device having a user interface (UI) a description of the UI;

sending to the first device UI configuration information operable to configure the UI to receive user input associated with a second device;

receiving from the first device control data associated with user input received by the UI;

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

sending the control commands to the second device.

10. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the UI configuration information is further operable to configure the UI to display in formation related to the control of the second device by the first device.

11. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the UI includes a display screen and a plurality of user input components.

12. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein user input components include input buttons.

13. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein user input components include at a multi-position actuator pad.

14. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein user input components include a touch screen.

15. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the UI includes a display screen, and wherein the UI configuration information is further operable to configure the UI to display on the display screen a menu of options for controlling the second device.

16. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the UI includes a display screen and a plurality of user input components, and wherein the UI configuration information is further operable to configure the UI to display on the display screen a menu of options for controlling the second device, each option being associated with a user input component.

17. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the act of detecting a first device comprises:

detecting the first device using a Simple Service Discovery Protocol.

18. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the first device comprises a remote control device.

19. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the first device comprises a cellular telephone.

20. A method comprising:

receiving from a first device having a display means a description of the display means;

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

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

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

sending the control commands to the second device.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

detecting the first device prior to sending information to the first device.

22. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

detecting the first device using a Simple Service Discovery Protocol, prior to sending information to the first device.

23. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

receiving from the first device a description of the first device.

24. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the act of sending information to a first device comprises:

sending the information in accordance with a wireless communication protocol.

25. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the act of sending information to a first device comprises:

sending the information in accordance with BlueTooth wireless network protocol.

26. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the first device and the second device are physically connected.

27. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

exposing a set of universal plug and play (IPnP) application program interfaces (APIs) through which information may be communicated to the first device.

28. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

receiving and storing a schema of the first device.

29. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

receiving and storing a schema of the first device, the schema including a description of the first device.

30. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing acts comprising:

detecting a first wireless device having a user interface (UI);

receiving from the first wireless device information defining operational parameters of the UI;

sending information to the first wireless device to configure the UI of the first device to display information related to the control of a second device and to receive user input for the control of the second device;

receiving from the first device control data for controlling the second device; and

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

31. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 30, wherein the second device comprises a wireless device.

32. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 30, wherein the UI comprises a display screen.

33. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 30, wherein the UI comprises a display screen and user input means.

34. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 30, wherein the information defining operational parameters of the UI comprises a schema.

35. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing acts comprising:

receiving from the first wireless device information defining operational parameters of a user interface (UI) of the first wireless device;

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

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

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