# US 2014/0152899 A1 · User proximity recognition and hands-free control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152899 A1 - Document ID: US20140152899A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/706,043 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C. - Applicants: Echostar Technologies L.L.C. - Inventors: Nicholas B. Newell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152899A1 ## CPC - H04N 5/44: Receiver circuitry {for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards} (H04N5/14 takes precedence) - 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)} - H04N 21/42203: {sound input device, e.g. microphone} - H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)} - H04N 21/43637: {involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth®, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] (arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114)} - H04N 21/4415: using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning {(cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861)} - H04N 21/44227: {Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network (configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811)} - H04N 21/4532: {involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04N 21/4751: {for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children} - H04N 21/42208: {Display device provided on the remote control} - H04N 21/4222: {Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy (remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415)} - H04N 21/42222: {Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device} - H04N 21/42224: {Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A set-top box provides for touch free operation of home entertainment system. The set-top box detects the mobile phone of a of a user and initiates a configuration of the home entertainment system according to the preferences of the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A set-top box comprising: control circuitry; a first transmitter coupled to the control circuitry and configured to transmit an interrogation signal; a first receiver coupled to the control circuitry and configured to receive an identification signal from a portable electronic device in response to the interrogation signal, the identification signal including a user identification code; and a memory coupled to the control circuitry, the control circuitry configured to compare the identification code to a plurality of registered identification codes stored in the memory and to execute an initial command included in a user profile associated with the user identification code, the user profile being stored in the memory, wherein the first transmitter transmits the interrogation signal when the set-top box is in a low power mode and the control circuitry exits the low power mode and executes the initial command upon receiving the identification code. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The set-top box of claim 1 wherein the initial command is to issue an audible request for instructions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The set-top box of claim 2 comprising a microphone coupled to the control circuit, the microphone configured to receive an audible command in response to the audible request for instructions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The set-top box of claim 2 comprising a speaker configured to issue the audible request for instructions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The set-top box of claim 2 comprising an output port configured to interface with an external speaker and to cause the external speaker to issue the audible request for instructions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The set-top box of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is configured to retrieve the user profile from memory and to display media content according to the user profile. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The set-top box of claim 1 comprising a second receiver couple to the control circuit and configured to receive control commands, the control circuit configured to execute the control commands. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The set-top box of claim 1 wherein the first transmitter and the first receiver are configured to operate according to a wireless communication protocol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The set-top box of claim 8 wherein the wireless communication protocol is a blue tooth protocol. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The set-top box of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect how close the portable electronic device is to the set-top box and to execute the initial command when the portable electronic device is within a selected distance from the set top box. ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The set-top box of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is configured to execute control commands received from the portable electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The set-top box of claim 1 comprising an output port configured to couple with a display, the control circuit configured to turn on the display upon receiving the user identification signal. ### Claim 14 A method comprising: transmitting an interrogation signal from a set-top box while in a low power mode; receiving a user identification signal in the set-top box from a portable electronic device, the user identification signal including a user identification code; retrieving, from a memory of the set-top box, a registered identification code stored in the memory and corresponding to the identification code of the identification signal; retrieving from the memory a user profile corresponding to the registered identification code; exiting the low power mode in response to receiving the user identification signal; and executing an initial command stored in the user profile. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the initial command includes turning on a display coupled to the set-top box and displaying media content on the display according to the user profile. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the initial command includes controlling one of an audio system, a remote control, and an electronic media device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 comprising executing a second command when the first portable electronic device is no longer in range of the interrogation signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the second command includes powering down the set-top box. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 comprising: receiving in the set-top box a second user identification signal from a second mobile electronic device, the second user identification signal including a second user identification code; retrieving, from a memory of the set-top box, a second registered identification code stored in the memory and corresponding to the second portable electronic device; determining an order of priority between the first and second identification codes; if the first portable electronic device is in range of the interrogation signal, determining a priority order between the first and the second user identification codes; and executing a command associated with the identification code having a highest priority. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein executing the initial command includes outputting an audible request for instructions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 comprising: receiving an audible command in response to the audible request for instructions; performing a speech recognition process on the audible command; and executing the audible command. ### Claim 22 A set-top box comprising: a first transmitter configured to output an interrogation signal when the set-top box is in a low power mode; a first receiver configured to receive an identification signal transmitted from a mobile electronic device in response to the interrogation signal, the identification signal including an identification code; a memory configured to store a plurality of user profiles, each user profile including a respective registered identification code and a respective initial command; and control circuitry configured to compare the identification signal to the registered identification codes stored in the memory, to exit the low power mode in response to receiving the identification signal, and to execute the initial command corresponding to a registered identification code that matches the identification code of the identification signal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The set-top box of claim 22 comprising an input port coupled to the control circuitry and configured to receive media content from a media content provider. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The set-top box of claim 23 comprising an output port coupled to the control circuitry and configured to output the media content to be displayed on a display coupled to the output port. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The set-top box of claim 24 wherein the output port is configured to display media content selected according to the user profile corresponding to the identification code of the identification signal.