US 8,897,897 B2 · Companion control interface for smart devices

Abstract

A companion remote control system is usable with smart devices for controlling a plurality of controlled components. An overall control system includes: a companion remote configured for remote communication, and providing command options for a user desiring to interact with a controlled component; a software application configured for running on smart devices, which typically includes a graphical interface for the user to select desired controlled component from plurality of controlled components; and a control processor capable of communicating with companion remote, smart device and controlled components. The control processor is programmed to correlate user commands received from companion remote to appropriate instructions for a specific controlled component selection received from smart device. The control processor instructing the controlled component based on those commands, thereby allowing user to interact with selected controlled component using companion remote as if it was dedicated to that controlled component.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A companion remote control system to be used with a smart device for controlling a plurality of controlled components, the system comprising:

a companion remote control unit configured for remote communication, the companion remote control unit providing a predetermined set of labeled buttons corresponding to a plurality of user commands available to a user desiring to interact with a controlled component;
a software application configured for running on the smart device, the software application providing a graphical interface for the user to designate a selected controlled component from the plurality of controlled components;
and
a control processor capable of communicating with the companion remote, the smart device and the plurality of controlled components, the control processor programmed to receive communication from the smart device identifying the selected controlled component and to receive communication from the companion remote indicative of the user commands, the control processor further programed to correlate the user commands received from the companion remote to appropriate instructions for the selected controlled component, with the control processor thus instructing the selected controlled component based on the user commands received from the companion remote, thereby allowing the user to interact with the selected controlled component using the companion remote as if the companion remote was dedicated to the selected controlled component.

1 more element

A method of controlling a plurality of controlled components using a companion remote control system in conjunction with a smart device, the method comprising:

providing a companion remote control unit configured for remote communication, the companion remote control unit presenting command options for a user desiring to interact with a one of the plurality of controlled components, and transmitting signals indicative of any selected command options;
providing a software application configured for running on the smart device, the software application creating a graphical interface for the user to select a desired controlled component from the plurality of controlled components, the software application further configured to cause the smart device to transmit a signal indicative of the selected desired controlled component;
providing a control processor capable of communication with the companion remote, the smart device and the plurality of controlled components;
programming the control processor to receive the signals from the companion remote control unit and the smart device, and to correlate the user commands received from the companion remote to appropriate instructions for the desired controlled component as selected by the smart device;
and
instructing the desired controlled component based on the correlated commands, thereby allowing the user to interact with the selected controlled component using the companion remote as if the companion remote was dedicated to the desired controlled component.

3 more elements

A system for providing the coordinated control of a plurality of controlled components using alternative interfaces, the alternative interfaces including a smart device which has the ability to provide control signals via a network to the plurality of controlled components, the system comprising:

a companion remote having a plurality of defined interface buttons, a transmitter and a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller coordinates the transmission of control signals which correspond to the defined interface buttons;
and
a control processor having a memory, a network connection and a receiver, the memory storing programming to coordinate the overall control of the controlled components based upon signals received from the companion remote and the smart device, wherein the control processor receives signals from the smart device via the network connection and establishes a selected controlled component based upon the signals received from one of the alternative interfaces, and wherein the control processor further receives signals from the companion remote via the receiver corresponding to a desired operation, the stored programming within the control processor thus processing the signals received from the companion remote and providing appropriate signals to the selected controlled component to achieve the desired operation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Companion control interface for smart devices

Life of this patent

Companion control interface for smart devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17