Control device including a protocol translator
First Claim
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, and 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;
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, and wherein 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;
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;
to provide, for transmission by the first device interface, the second control signal;
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.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
14 Citations
20 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, and 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; 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, and wherein 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; 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; to provide, for transmission by the first device interface, the second control signal; 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. 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; 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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
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, and wherein the first device interface is configured to receive a further input signal from the first device, the further input signal being in accordance with the 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, and wherein 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; 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;
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; andthe 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;
whereinthe control signal is in accordance with the first communication protocol.
-
-
20. 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 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; receiving, by the second device, the output signal; using the output signal, ascertaining, by the second device, that the first device may perform the further function; 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.
-
Specification