Abstract:
A controlling device (10) location determination system and method. A controlling device (10) such as a remote control has programming for transmitting a signal response to a plurality of control environments (100, 130, 140), each environment including a signaling device. Each signaling device in receipt of the signal request sends a signal response having a unique ID (associated with location definitions relating to the environment from which he signaling device is located) which is chosen to be characteristically attenuated by the surroundings of the environment (i.e., IR signals in a room). Because the controlling device (10) can only be in one environment at a given time, and given the attenuation characteristics of the signal response from each signaling device, only one signal response will be received by the controlling device (10) in each environment (100). Location definitions associated with the received unique ID may be used by programming in the controlling device to recall saved devices states, commands sets, macros, and even to dynamically generate commands based on the location information.
Abstract:
A home control and automation system and method. The system generally includes one or more wireless remote controls (10), a plurality of appliances (12) (including network enabled appliances and traditional legacy appliances in the exemplary system), associated control centric devices (14), and associated content centric devices (16). Various methods for control and operation of appliances in the networked home control and automation environment (100) are disclosed. Specifically, methods are disclosed which enable advanced home control features such as location based control setup and operation, network enabled legacy appliances and system integration, save and recall capabilities for appliance and media states, generic command based appliance controls, dynamic/complex macro command generation, and Internet based control capabilities from remote locations are disclosed in conjunction with the system of the current invention.
Abstract:
A remote control transmission system. The system monitors remote control transmissions for the purpose of updated state tables for one or more remotely controllable appliances. The state tables may then be queried for the purpose of determining the present state of an appliance whereby the transmission of a command that would place an appliance in an unintended state may be avoided.
Abstract:
A controlling device (10) location determination system and method. A controlling device (10) such as a remote control has programming for transmitting a signal response to a plurality of control environments (100, 130, 140), each environment including a signaling device. Each signaling device in receipt of the signal request sends a signal response having a unique ID (associated with location definitions relating to the environment from which he signaling device is located) which is chosen to be characteristically attenuated by the surroundings of the environment (i.e., IR signals in a room). Because the controlling device (10) can only be in one environment at a given time, and given the attenuation characteristics of the signal response from each signaling device, only one signal response will be received by the controlling device (10) in each environment (100). Location definitions associated with the received unique ID may be used by programming in the controlling device to recall saved devices states, commands sets, macros, and even to dynamically generate commands based on the location information.
Abstract:
A system and methods for facilitation of user interactions with an electronic device. A number of user interface methods are described and may be used alone or in combination with one another to present an enhanced interface to a user. A method of providing user interaction using a compact status indicator is described. A method for providing a virtual scroll wheel to a user for interaction with content sets is described. A method for allowing a user to dynamically modify a scalable user interface is described. A method for providing gesture based input to a user via a virtual gesture pad is described. A method of providing an interactive graphic search query interface is described. A method for indicating and selecting available content type is described.
Abstract:
A set of media playback and device settings data from each home appliance of a first set of home appliances is stored on a central server and/or sent to a remote control device upon initiation of a suspend command by a user. The stored media and devices states may be used at a later time to control the first set of home appliances, or a user may, after relocating to a second set of home appliances, initiate a resume state command whereupon media playback and device settings data from the central server and/or remote control device controls each home appliance in the second set of home appliances to bring about the same or substantially similar media and device states as in the first set of home appliances.
Abstract:
A remote control transmission monitoring system. The system monitors remote control transmissions for the purpose of updating state tables for one or more remotely controllable appliances (12). The state tables may then be queried for the purpose of determining the present state of an appliance (12) whereby the transmission of a command that would place an appliance (12) in an unintended state may be avoided.
Abstract:
A set of media playback and device settings data from each home appliance of a first set of home appliances is stored on a central server and/or sent to a remote control device upon initiation of a suspend command by a user. The stored media and devices states may be used at a later time to control the first set of home appliances, or a user may, after relocating to a second set of home appliances, initiate a resume state command whereupon media playback and device settings data from the central server and/or remote control device controls each home appliance in the second set of home appliances to bring about the same or substantially similar media and device states as in the first set of home appliances.
Abstract:
A controlling device (10) location determination system and method. A controlling device (10) such as a remote control has programming for transmitting a signal response to a plurality of control environments (100, 130, 140), each environment including a signaling device. Each signaling device in receipt of the signal request sends a signal response having a unique ID (associated with location definitions relating to the environment from which he signaling device is located) which is chosen to be characteristically attenuated by the surroundings of the environment (i.e., IR signals in a room). Because the controlling device (10) can only be in one environment at a given time, and given the attenuation characteristics of the signal response from each signaling device, only one signal response will be received by the controlling device (10) in each environment (100). Location definitions associated with the received unique ID may be used by programming in the controlling device to recall saved devices states, commands sets, macros, and even to dynamically generate commands based on the location information.