Method and system for user interface for interactive devices using a mobile device

A system for facilitating remote interaction with an interactive device in a physical space, comprising:

• a first set of computer-readable instructions that configure a handheld wireless device that is separate from the interactive device to determine location information that identifies the location of the handheld wireless device based on sensors onboard the handheld wireless device and transmit the location information and at least one user input across a wireless network, wherein the location information is derived by the handheld wireless device from a distance measurement between the handheld wireless device and at least one fixed-location terrestrial wireless networking device and the instructions instruct a user to calibrate a location of the interactive device using the handheld wireless device;
• and
• a server, remote from the handheld wireless device and in communication with the handheld wireless device, configured to execute:
• a second set of computer-readable instructions that configure the server to receive the location information and to approximate the location of the interactive device based on the location information received from the handheld device, and
• a third set of computer-readable instructions that configure the server to facilitate control of the interactive device in the physical environment in response to the location information and the at least one user input to the handheld device, including displaying content on a display of the interactive device that varies based on the current-location of the handheld in physical space relative to the interactive device, using a model of the physical space,
• wherein all sets of computer-readable instructions are stored on non-transitory media.

A method for facilitating interaction between a mobile device and an interactive device comprising steps of:

• observing by a processor on a handheld wireless device, utilizing an antenna and one or more sensors on the handheld wireless device, a plurality of distances relative to a plurality of fixed-location terrestrial network devices in a physical space and an orientation of the handheld wireless device to form the location and orientation information that reflects the location and orientation of the handheld wireless device within the physical space, and transmitting the location information from the handheld wireless device across at least one network during a registration process, the location of the handheld device corresponding to a physical location of the interactive device;
• receiving at a remote server, across the at least one network, the location information from the handheld wireless device;
• calculating, by a processor at the remote server, a location of the interactive device;
• determining, by at least one of the processors, at least one command input from a user of the handheld wireless device;
• transmitting by the remote server content to the interactive device in response to the step of determining and the location information;
• and
• duplicating, on a display of the handheld device, at least a portion of the user interface information of the interactive device,
• wherein the interactive device comprises a controllable element in the physical environment that can be controlled as the handheld device is moved relative to the interactive device in physical space, using a model of the physical space and has a display configurable to display the content received from the remote server.