Consumer electronic registration, control and support concierge device and method

• US 9,614,964 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NexStep, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NexStep, Inc.
• Inventors: Stepanian, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Kenneth M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Yuhui R
• Application Number:
  US13/344,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20120109384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 700275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• 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: 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 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1016 Telecontrol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5235 Dependent on call type or called number [DNIS]
• 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 21/4147 : PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 : Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 : biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 : Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 : Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 : Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

We disclose a concierge device that can be configured to register, control and support a consumer device. It can alternatively or redundantly connect to a home management bridge and/or cloud-based management servers. It can accept menus that allow a single concierge device to provide a wide range of functions for various consumer devices. The concierge device allows the user in a single action to initiate a support session, automatically identifying the consumer device. The concierge device can be configured for voice or video support calls. The concierge device in conjunction with a home management bridge or gateway can manage on boarding of components of an automated home, such as switches and lamps. Implementations of the concierge device that include a display can show supplemental information, such as advertising, optionally in coordination with media being played on a consumer device coupled in communication with the concierge device.

Claims

1. A method of on boarding both a control device and a controlled device, the method including:

receiving a first enrollment signal sent by a first controllable device via a two way wireless channel used by the first controllable device to receive command strings, wherein the enrollment signal includes a device identifier that identifies the first controllable device;

registering the first controllable device with a cloud based service and using its device identifier to determine from a cloud based or cached database its controllable functions and corresponding command strings to control the controllable functions;

receiving a second enrollment signal sent by a second control device with a device identifier that identifies the second control device;

registering the second control device with a cloud based service and using its device identifier to determine from a cloud based or cached database control commands that it produces in response to user operation;

receiving a dedication command and responsively configuring a combination of the first controllable device, a handheld concierge device, a control gateway, and the second control device so that user operation of the second control device is dedicated to controlling at least some of the controllable functions by causing the command strings to be sent to the first controllable device when the user operates the second control device;

configuring the handheld concierge device to replicate controls provided by the second control device and to send the command strings to the first controllable device, responsive to user control input at the handheld concierge device;

wherein

the command strings are sent from the second control device to the first controllable device via the handheld concierge device following user operation of the second control device, or

the command strings are sent from the second control device to the first controllable device by the control gateway, which is a separate physical device from the handheld concierge device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld concierge device replicates controls of multiple control devices configured to control multiple controllable devices, selectable by user selection among the multiple controllable devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the command strings are sent peer-to-peer from the second control device to the first controllable device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedication command is received from the user via a microphone on the handheld concierge device as an audible command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedication command is screen touch received via a display screen on the handheld concierge device.

6. The method of claim 1, further including requiring biometric authentication, via the handheld concierge device, of a user prior to carrying out the dedication command.

7. The method of claim 1, further including displaying supplemental information on a display of the handheld concierge device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the supplemental information on the display of the handheld concierge device is an advertisement.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedication command is accompanied by a selection of the first controllable device from a plurality of controllable devices and by a selection of the second control device from a plurality of control devices.

10. The method of claim 1, further including:

prior to processing the enrollment signals, establishing an inventory of uniquely identified control devices and controllable devices with the control gateway, the inventory including at least the first controllable device and the second control device;

matching information in the first enrollment signal to the inventory responsive to the first enrollment signal; and

matching information in the second enrollment signal to the inventory responsive to the second enrollment signal.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium impressed with computer instructions that, when executed on one or more processors of a handheld concierge device and a control gateway, cause performance of a method of on boarding both a control device and a controlled device, the method including:

receiving a first enrollment signal sent by a first controllable device via a two way wireless channel used by the first controllable device to receive command strings, wherein the enrollment signal includes a device identifier that identifies the first controllable device;

registering the first controllable device with a cloud based service and using its device identifier to determine from a cloud based or cached database its controllable functions and corresponding command strings to control the controllable functions;

receiving a second enrollment signal sent by a second control device with a device identifier that identifies the second control device;

registering the second control device with a cloud based service and using its device identifier to determine from a cloud based or cached database control commands that it produces in response to user operation;

receiving a dedication command and responsively configuring a combination of the first controllable device, the handheld concierge device, the control gateway, and the second control device so that user operation of the second control device is dedicated to controlling at least some of the controllable functions by causing the command strings to be sent to the first controllable device when the user operates the second control device;

configuring the handheld concierge device to replicate controls provided by the second control device and to send the command strings to the first controllable device, responsive to user control input at the handheld concierge device;

wherein

the command strings are sent from the second control device to the first controllable device via the handheld concierge device following user operation of the second control device, or

the command strings are sent from the second control device to the first controllable device by the control gateway, which is a separate physical device from the handheld concierge device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the handheld concierge device replicates controls of multiple control devices configured to control multiple controllable devices, selectable by user selection among the multiple controllable devices.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the command strings are sent peer-to-peer from the second control device to the first controllable device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the dedication command is received from the user via a microphone on the handheld concierge device as an audible command.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the dedication command is screen touch received via a display screen on the handheld concierge device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the method further including requiring biometric authentication, via the handheld concierge device, of a user prior to carrying out the dedication command.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the method further including displaying supplemental information on a display of the handheld concierge device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the supplemental information on the display of the handheld concierge device is an advertisement.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the dedication command is accompanied by a selection of the first controllable device from a plurality of controllable devices and by a selection of the second control device from a plurality of control devices.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the method further including:

prior to processing the enrollment signals, establishing an inventory of uniquely identified control devices and controllable devices with the control gateway, the inventory including at least the first controllable device and the second control device;

matching information in the first enrollment signal to the inventory responsive to the first enrollment signal; and

matching information in the second enrollment signal to the inventory responsive to the second enrollment signal.

21. A system including a handheld concierge device and a control gateway, including at least one processor and memory holding computer instructions that, when executed on one or more processors of a handheld concierge device and a control gateway, cause performance of a method of on boarding both a control device and a controlled device, the method including:

receiving a first enrollment signal sent by a first controllable device via a two way wireless channel used by the first controllable device to receive command strings, wherein the enrollment signal includes a device identifier that identifies the first controllable device;

registering the first controllable device with a cloud based service and using its device identifier to determine from a cloud based or cached database its controllable functions and corresponding command strings to control the controllable functions;

receiving a second enrollment signal sent by a second control device with a device identifier that identifies the second control device;

registering the second control device with a cloud based service and using its device identifier to determine from a cloud based or cached database control commands that it produces in response to user operation;

receiving a dedication command and responsively configuring a combination of the first controllable device, the handheld concierge device, the control gateway, and the second control device so that user operation of the second control device is dedicated to controlling at least some of the controllable functions by causing the command strings to be sent to the first controllable device when the user operates the second control device;

configuring the handheld concierge device to replicate controls provided by the second control device and to send the command strings to the first controllable device, responsive to user control input at the handheld concierge device;

wherein

the command strings are sent from the second control device to the first controllable device via the handheld concierge device following user operation of the second control device, or

the command strings are sent from the second control device to the first controllable device by the control gateway, which is a separate physical device from the handheld concierge device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the handheld concierge device replicates controls of multiple control devices configured to control multiple controllable devices, selectable by user selection among the multiple controllable devices.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the command strings are sent peer-to-peer from the second control device to the first controllable device.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the dedication command is received from the user via a microphone on the handheld concierge device as an audible command.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the dedication command is screen touch received via a display screen on the handheld concierge device.

26. The system of claim 21, the method further including requiring biometric authentication, via the handheld concierge device, of a user prior to carrying out the dedication command.

27. The system of claim 21, the method further including displaying supplemental information on a display of the handheld concierge device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the supplemental information on the display of the handheld concierge device is an advertisement.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the dedication command is accompanied by a selection of the first controllable device from a plurality of controllable devices and by a selection of the second control device from a plurality of control devices.

30. The system of claim 21, the method further including:

prior to processing the enrollment signals, establishing an inventory of uniquely identified control devices and controllable devices with the control gateway, the inventory including at least the first controllable device and the second control device;

matching information in the first enrollment signal to the inventory responsive to the first enrollment signal; and

matching information in the second enrollment signal to the inventory responsive to the second enrollment signal.