Method and system for remotely controlling appliances

• US 8,121,109 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Sibileau, Nathalie
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Brenda H
• Application Number:
  US11/899,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20080064395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.22, 340/825.49, 455/420, 455/419, 455/422.1, 455/556.2, 370/384, 370/385, 370/349
• US Class Current: 370/349
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204

Abstract

A method of remotely controlling at least one domestic appliance, remote control of such domestic appliances is triggered automatically by detecting a mobile communications terminal entering or leaving a radio reception perimeter of a control device. The control device is a home gateway or more simply a modem provided with a radio access unit.

Claims

1. A method of remote control of at least one appliance, including the steps of:

detecting a user'"'"'s mobile communications terminal one of entering and leaving a radio detection perimeter of a control device;

sending, by the control device, a message over a telecommunications network to inform a management device of said detection;

receiving, at the control device, a command in return to be sent and an identifier of the at least one appliance to which said command is to be sent; and

sending, by the control device, said command to the at least one appliance identified by said identifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said command is sent to said appliance one of over a local telecommunications network to which said appliance is connected, over an electrical mains supplying power to said appliance and by a remote control signal sent independently of any telecommunications network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said message includes an identifier of said mobile communications terminal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control device receives from the appliance data resulting from a phenomenon one of measured and detected by a particular appliance;

and the control device sends the received data to the management device;

said command being sent to the appliance only if a condition relating to the received data is satisfied.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the control device converts a command received from said management device into a remote control signal to be sent to said appliance.

6. A device for remote control of at least one appliance, comprising:

means for detecting a user'"'"'s mobile communications terminal one of entering and leaving a radio detection perimeter of a control device;

means for sending a message over a telecommunications network to inform a management device of said detection;

means for receiving in return a command to be sent and an identifier of an appliance to which said command is to be sent; and

control means for sending said command to the appliance identified by said identifier.

7. A system for remotely controlling appliances, comprising:

a control device; and

a management device for remote control of at least one appliance;

wherein the control device includes;

means for detecting a user'"'"'s mobile communications terminal one of entering and leaving a radio detection perimeter of the control device;

means for sending a message over a telecommunications network to inform the management device of said detection;

means for receiving in return a command to be sent and an identifier of the at least one appliance to which said command is to be sent; and

control means for sending said command to the at least one appliance identified by said identifier;

wherein the management device includes;

means for receiving from the control device information relating to detecting a user'"'"'s mobile communications terminal one of entering and leaving the radio detection perimeter of the control device; and

means for sending the control device the command intended to be forwarded by the control device to the at least one appliance, the sending means being configured to be activated following reception of said information.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the control device forms part of an interconnection system between a first network and a second network, the first network being used to set up a communications link between the control device and the management device.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the second network is used to set up a communications link from the mobile communications terminal when the mobile communications terminal is within the radio detection perimeter of the control device.

10. A non-transitory computer storage medium encoded with a computer program executed by a computer that causes remote control of at least one appliance, the computer program comprising:

program code for detecting a user'"'"'s mobile communications terminal one of entering and leaving a radio detection perimeter of a control device;

program code for sending, by the control device, a message over a telecommunications network to inform a management device of said detection;

program code for receiving, at the control device, a command in return to be sent and an identifier of the at least one appliance to which said command is to be sent; and

program code for sending, by the control device, said command to the at least one appliance identified by said identifier.