# US 9,883,132 B2 · Remote control activation based on predicted events > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,883,132 B2 - Document ID: US9883132B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/055,923 - Filed: 2016-02-29 - Published: 2016-12-29 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Applicants: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Inventors: Ross Gilson; Michael Sallas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883132B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)} - 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 21/42209: {for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic programme guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel} - 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 21/44008: {involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream (arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59)} - H04N 21/4436: {Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver (power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418)} - H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)} - H04N 21/42206: {characterized by hardware details} - 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: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Systems and methods for predicting trigger events, such as an advertisement during a video program, and activating a remote control device in response to the prediction are described. By activating the remote control device at a particular time, the remote control device may save energy when listening for data from one or more terminal devices. The time to activate the remote control may be based on one or more factors, including the current presentation position and/or presentation speed of the video program. A remote control device may take additional actions the next time it listens for data, including illuminating backlights, turning on a display, displaying content on the display, interacting with other devices, etc. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, via a microphone of a communication device and during a standby state, a voice command; in response to receiving the voice command, switching the communication device from the standby state to an active state, wherein the communication device is configured to send data to a terminal device or receive data from the terminal device during the active state; after switching the communication device from the standby state to the active state, transmitting, by the communication device and to the terminal device, the voice command; and during the active state, transmitting, by the communication device and to the terminal device, a request for data and monitoring for data from the terminal device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: while monitoring for data from the terminal device during the active state, receiving supplemental data from the terminal device; and displaying the supplemental data on a display of the communication device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the supplemental data corresponds to an advertisement presented on a display of the terminal device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: keeping the microphone of the communication device active during the standby state and during the active state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: illuminating a backlight of the communication device during the standby state and during the active state, wherein the backlight indicates that the microphone of the communication device is active. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to switching the communication device from the standby state to the active state, illuminating one or more lights of the communication device during the active state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a device configured to function as a two-way television remote control. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a mobile phone configured to control presentation of content on the terminal device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: during the active state, receiving, by the communication device, an indication of a time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state; and after receiving the indication of the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, switching the communication device from the active state to the standby state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: at the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, switching the communication device from the standby state to the active state. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: determining, by a computing device, a time for a communication device to switch from a standby state to an active state, wherein the communication device is configured to activate one or more microphones and to receive voice commands via the one or more microphones during the active state, and wherein the communication device is configured to deactivate the one or more microphones during the standby state; and transmitting, by the computing device and to the communication device, an indication of the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining a content item being output for display by a display device, wherein determining the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state is based in part on a time of an event occurring during output of the content item for display by the display device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the communication device is configured to monitor for data from one or more of the computing device or the display device during the active state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state comprises a start time of an advertisement occurring during output of the content item for display by the display device, the method further comprising: at the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, transmitting, to the communication device, advertisement data that supplements the advertisement occurring during output of the content item. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: at the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, transmitting, to the communication device, an instruction to illuminate one or more backlights of the communication device, wherein the one or more backlights indicate that the one or more microphones of the communication device is active. ### Claim 16 A method comprising: responsive to detecting reception of a voice command via a microphone, transmitting, to a communication device, an instruction for the communication device to switch from a standby state to an active state, wherein the communication device is configured to send data to a display device or receive data from the display device during the active state; and after transmitting the instruction for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, receiving, from the communication device and during the active state, the voice command. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: during the active state, transmitting, to the communication device, an indication of a future time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state; and after transmitting the indication of the future time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, transmitting, to the communication device, an instruction for the communication device to switch from the active state to the standby state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: during the active state, transmitting, to the communication device, supplemental advertisement data for display on a display of the communication device, wherein the supplemental advertisement data corresponds to an advertisement occurring during output of a content item by the display device. ### Claim 19 A system comprising: a communication device; and a computing device comprising: a processor; and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to: determine a content item being output for display by a display device; determine, based in part on a time of an event occurring during output of the content item for display by the display device, a time for the communication device to switch from a standby state to an active state, wherein the communication device is configured to receive voice commands via one or more microphones during the active state; and transmit, to the communication device, an indication of the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, wherein the communication device comprises: a processor; and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor of the communication device, cause the communication device to: receive, from the computing device, the indication of the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the memory of the communication device stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor of the communication device, cause the communication device to monitor for data from one or more of the computing device or the display device during the active state. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state comprises a start time of an advertisement occurring during output of the content item for display by the display device, and wherein the memory of the computing device stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor of the computing device, further cause the computing device to: at the time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, transmit, to the communication device, advertisement data that supplements the advertisement occurring during output of the content item. ### Claim 22 An apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: responsive to detecting reception of a voice command via a microphone, transmit, to a communication device, an instruction for the communication device to switch from a standby state to an active state, wherein the communication device is configured to send data to a display device or receive data from the display device during the active state; and after transmitting the instruction for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, receive, from the communication device and during the active state, the voice command. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the memory stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: during the active state, transmit, to the communication device, an indication of a future time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state; and after transmitting the indication of the future time for the communication device to switch from the standby state to the active state, transmit, to the communication device, an instruction for the communication device to switch from the active state to the standby state. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the memory stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: during the active state, transmit, to the communication device, supplemental advertisement data for display on a display of the communication device, wherein the supplemental advertisement data corresponds to an advertisement occurring during output of a content item by the display device.