Controllable device selection based on controller location
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsEric R. Soldan, Bradley R. Pettit, Nosherwan Minwalla, Nicolae Surpatanu
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Abstract
Controllable device selection based on controller location is described. In embodiments, a companion utility is executed by a portable device to interface the portable device with a selected one of multiple controllable devices via a wireless network. A location of the portable device can be determined based on a positioning unit that is integrated with the portable device. A controllable device can then be selected that is proximate the location of the portable device for input control of the controllable device via the wireless network.
Claims20
A portable device, comprising:
- a positioning unit configured to indicate a location of the portable device;
- at least a memory and a processor that implement a companion utility configured to interface the portable device with a selected one of multiple controllable devices via a wireless network, the companion utility further configured to:
- determine the location of the portable device from the positioning unit;
- and
- select a controllable device that is proximate the location of the portable device for input control of the controllable device via the wireless network.
A method implemented by a portable device, the method comprising:
- executing a companion utility with a processor of the portable device, the companion utility configured to interface the portable device with a selected one of multiple controllable devices via a wireless network;
- determining a location of the portable device based on a positioning unit that is integrated with the portable device;
- and
- selecting a controllable device that is proximate the location of the portable device for input control of the controllable device via the wireless network.
A system, comprising:
- multiple controllable devices configured to render television media content for display;
- a portable device configured for input control of a selected controllable device that is proximate a location of the portable device, the location of the portable device being determinable from a positioning unit that is integrated with the portable device;
- and
- a wireless network configured to interface the portable device with the selected controllable device via wireless data communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.