Patent Application
20100053458
This invention relates to a method and system for remote-to-remote communications and in particular to a method and system for motion detection communications between remote control devices for granting or denying access of a remote control device to desired content, and for communicating between a remote device and a tuner device via an intermediary remote device.
The wireless devices are becoming an increasing part of our society. Cellular telephones, television remote control devices, the computer mouse and video game remote controllers are example of wireless products that are in common use by people every day. Although wireless remote devices are common, these wireless devices do not all operate that same. Some of these devices are motion-sensing devices that can sense a movement of the device and convert that sensed movement into a command. The wireless muse and some video game controllers can sense movement of the device by a user and produce responses based on this sensed movement.
Many of these motion-sensing devices contain an accelerometer that facilitates in the detection of the motion. An accelerometer is an instrument that measures acceleration. Because it is difficult to measure acceleration directly, the device measures the force exerted by restraints placed on a reference mass to hold its position fixed in an accelerating body. The output is usually either a varying electrical voltage or displacement of a moving pointer over a fixed scale. Specially designed accelerometers are used in varied applications: control of industrial vibration test equipment, detection of earthquakes (seismographs), and input to navigational and inertial guidance systems. The Wii Remote by Nintendo is an example of a wireless remote that uses an accelerometer is its' operations.
However, still, a typical remote control device transmits an infrared beam to a receiver device. With regards to television viewing, the device receiving the infrared transmission is a tuner box incorporated in or located in close proximity to a tuner device that controls the channel selection of a television. This beam containing tuning information is received at tuner and adjustments in the form of channel selection are made based on this received information. This type of data transmission is a point-to-point transmission. As a result of this type of transmission, and the stationary nature of the tuner, these data transmission must occur in the general proximity of the tuner device. In addition, the remote device must be oriented and pointed at the receiver device such that straight-line point-to-point connection and data transmission can occur.
Some efforts are currently underway to enhance the capabilities of a remote control device with regard to selecting and viewing television programs. Acoustic Research claims a remote with built-in WiFi capabilities. The built in WI-Fi technology allows the user to use their connection to get the latest weather, reports, sports scores, headlines and what's playing on their favorite channels right to the color LCD display on the remote control. An Electronic Program Guide is automatically updated through the remote's wireless Wi-Fi connection, enabling the family to continue watching TV while searching the on-remote screen for optional cable, satellite or analog or digital broadcast programming choices. With individual customization capabilities, the viewer can select “All Channels”, “My Channels,” “My Shows” or sort the guide to display HDTV movies, family or sports programming. Another convenience option is the ability to view program details and set “reminders” for select program times. The viewer is provided with updates through the Wi-Fi connection of national headline news, sports, weather information and program guide listings based on a user's postal ZIP codes.
There are offerings on the market such as the miniLCD 2-way RF Handheld Remote by Creston®, with the intended ability to control multiple devices and in addition offers bi-directional communication between the remote and devices. Some known art offers a user the ability to connect directly to a service provider via a remote with the option of direct content delivery. However, there are no provisions for remote-remote content sharing or access control.
In addition, the television watching audience still relies of the point-to-point operations of the conventional remote control device. Typically, people customize or control broadcast/cable/satellite/etc programming and viewer preferences by changing settings on a set-top box (tuner box) or equivalent built in TV module. Additionally with the set-top boxes as mentioned, there is only one point of entry or control, preventing multiple users from simultaneously modifying profiles or preferences.
There is a need for a method and system that can decentralize the programming activities such that the user is not required to be in the general proximity of the set top box. In addition, there is a need for a remote control device that can operate to provide basic television watching functions such as channel selection and volume control without the need for point-to-point remote controller operations.
Embodiments of the present invention describe a method and system that provides motion detection communications and conventional remote control communications between multiple remote control devices. These communications facilitate the sharing of data between the remote control devices and a system through which users control access to information.
The system of this invention comprises a primary remote control device and one or more secondary remote control devices. The secondary remote control devices have motion-sensing capabilities that can transmit the detection of an motion of the controller and transmit that detected motion to a sensing device. The motion-sensing device can have the capability to receive the transmitted detected motion and convert that detected motion into an executable command. The primary remote device can function as the sensing device.
In one embodiment, the sensing device can have an index of detectable motions and commands associate with that detected motion. The command determined from the detected motion would be processed and performed. A detected motion could be for changing a tuner upward. When the sensing receives and processes this motion, the tuner channel would be increase to a higher channel on the tuner.
As with the prior application Ser. No. 12/199,300, the primary remote control device can communicate directly with a set top tuner device to control programming between the tuner and the multiple remote control device system, regardless of the physical location of each remote control device. The primary remote controller has the capability to store information about each secondary remote in the system. The primary remote can communicate with the tuner and secondary remotes through local area or wide area networks. This system of the present invention decentralizes control of an actual broadcast or recorded program away from a set-top tuner box, to a portable decentralized electronic device such as a specialized remote control device. With this system, a user could retrieve programming information without the need to be in close proximity to the tuner box. In one embodiment of this system, the primary remote controller may incorporate some of the functionality of a set-top tuner box that would not be incorporated into the secondary remote controllers. In this system each user has his/her own remote controller that may be used to access information permitted for that particular user. To prevent a user from accessing another user's remote controller along with private data or personal profile, strict access control can be implemented, such as but not limited to biometrics.
Embodiments of the present invention also disclose a method to manage and control TV viewing habits from a portable device, namely the primary remote controller. A user having a secondary remote device could interact with this enhanced primary remote via signal transmissions using a touch screen display. The remote assumes that a network exists where remote controllers may communicate with each other as well as with a service provider. Each profile in a group consisting of a primary remote and secondary remotes is stored in the primary remote or is otherwise accessible to the primary remote over a wireless network. A distinct user in this system has a unique profile associated with the remote that the user will operate. In an embodiment, whenever there is an access attempt by the secondary remote, the primary remote or other device storing the profile of this secondary remote, detects this access attempt via a wireless network. At this point, a determination is made as to whether the user making the access attempt is permitted to tune to the attempted channel. If the access attempt is to a permitted channel, the tuner receives the access request and tunes to the desired channel or retrieves programming information for that channel.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides for direct communication and information exchange between remotes, both primary and secondary. In this method the user of the secondary remote can initiate changes to its user profile or request access to channels or content that are otherwise restricted. The primary remote, or more accurately the authorized user of the primary remote, may grant or deny such a request by a user of a secondary remote in either an automated or manual fashion.
a and 6b show configurations for the storage of user profile information in the primary remote control device.
The system of the present invention comprises a sensor device and multiple remote control devices. The sensor device can be a primary remote control device as with the system on application Ser. No. 12/199,300. The critical device of the present invention is the wireless remote control device shown in
As shown in
The present invention contains embodiments that describe a method and system for decentralizing tuning activities using multiple wireless remote control devices.
A secondary remote controller 404 is equipped with the capabilities to access any channel available on the tuner 410. However, the actual channels to which a secondary controller will be permitted access are determined by the content of the user profile for that particular secondary remote that is stored in the primary remote. The secondary controller has the capability to communicate with the primary remote and the tuner box. This controller can request and retrieve information from the primary controller or the tuner box. Retrieved information is displayed on a screen contained on the secondary controller device.
The set top tuner device 410 contains all of the convention capabilities of a tuner. This device can be programmed to restrict access to certain channels identified by an authorized user. This tuner can also communicate via a local or wide network with a service provider or with an ad hoc collection of primary and secondary remote controllers. The tuner device 410 can contain verification software that may be enacted when a secondary remote controller attempts to interface with the tuner.
The remote control devices can have dual capabilities being able to detect and transmit motions and perform conventional remote transmissions. In this configuration, a secondary remote controller can communicate information to the primary remote or to another secondary remote. One application of this communication is exemplified when a user assigned a secondary remote controller submits a request to the primary remote controller to modify the access restrictions currently on that particular primary remote controller. Because of the networking communication capabilities, the primary and secondary remotes can exchange information over the communication network. In addition, other types of communication exchanges can occur such as requesting information from the primary remote controller and another secondary controller with regard to a particular program.
A primary application of the wireless remote devices having the capability to detect and transmit motions is in the implementation of the system described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/199,300. As mentioned, there is a user profile for each person that will use one of the secondary remotes. Each secondary remote controller will require a user profile.
Step 804 detects movement by the remote control device. This motion detection device will not detect any movement of the device. In this application, only movements that correspond to the movements in the index will actually be considered valid movements. The remote control device will have the capability to detect any movement, but there can be capabilities within the actual remote control device to determine if the movement is a valid one contained in the index. When the determination is that the movement is a valid movement, this validity can be an indication of an attempt to access a channel via the local tuner. When the determination is that the detected movement is valid, step 806 identifies the specific secondary remote control device that is making the movement. This detected motion transmitted to the primary remote or sensing device. In this sensing device, step 808 identifies the actual command desired by the user. The identification is based on the movement index of
Referring again to step 810, when the determination is that the detected motion is for a channel request, the method moves to step 814, which determines whether to grant access to the channel. Once the remote motion is converted into a command, the information in the channel access request command can be in the form of a record as discussed in
When multiple local networks have the same service provider, it is possible for remotes from different local networks or households to communicate with each other.
In this method, step 900 stores a user profile for a secondary remote controller for that local network. As with the other embodiments, this profile contains channels to which the user can access or channels for which the user has prohibited access. If the user traveled to a different household having the same programming service, that user could possibly gain access to any programming provided by that service. The user can use the motion detection commands to submit a command to the sensing device of the different system. When the user of the remote from the first network makes a motion with the remote device, step 902 detects the movement and transmission of the remote device. This detection and transmission are received at the primary remote controller or sensing device of the second network or the tuner of the second network. Step 904 identifies the secondary remote from which the detected movement was transmitted. This identification step will occur at the device that detects the access attempt. The preferred approach is to have the primary remote for the second network detect and process the access attempt. If that device is not available, then the tuner for the second network can process the access attempt. With either device, next step 908 is to determine whether the movement is a channel access request. As with
Referring back to step 912, if the determination is that the secondary remote making the access request is not part of the particular local network where the request is made, step 920 identifies the local network of the remote making the request. Again, this identification is made from information contained in the network identity field 704 of the transmission request. Once the secondary remote making the request and its' local network has been identified, step 922 accesses the user profile for that remote. This user profile information can be stored in the server of the service provider. The method then moves to step 914 and proceeds to identify the target channel of the access attempt. Once the requested channel has been identified, step 916 determines whether the user of the secondary remote has permission to access that requested channel. In this step, the user profile for that remote is searched in the same manner as in step 816. If the search attempt results in the requested channel not being permitted, then the method moves to step 918, which denies the access attempt. If the determination is that the secondary remote controller making the access attempt does have permission to access the requested channel, the method moves to step 924, which allows access to the channel. This access can be allowed even when the secondary remote making the request is from a different local network. In other embodiments, there can prohibitions procedures in place to prevent such an access attempt when the attempt is from a remote controller that is not part of that local network.
Another embodiment of the present invention enables the primary remote and secondary remotes in a local network to communicate with each other. These types of communications between remotes usually occur when a secondary remote requests a change to the user profile of the secondary remote.
Referring to step 1008, when the determination is that the request is for a channel access, the method moves to step 1012 notifies the primary remote user of the access request. The notification will include the remote controller identity and the requested channel. In step 1012, the user of the primary remote controller can determine whether or not to allow the access request. When the user denies the access request, the method moves to step 1014, which denies the access request. At this point, the method terminates.
If in step 1012, the channel request is approved, the method moves to step 1016, which determines whether this access request is a one-time request or if it is a permanent request. In some situations, it may be desirable to grant temporary access to a secondary remote controller. In other situations, it may be desirable for the secondary user to have permanent access to a channel. For example, a new channel may become available from the service provider. This new channel may be acceptable to the primary remote control user. When the request is acceptable, step 1018 grants access to the channel. The secondary user making the request can now change the tuner to that channel for that secondary remote. To enact this change, the primary remote can make the change for the user of the secondary remote that made the request. Step 1020 determines whether the request is for a temporary change or a permanent change. The request could be for the purpose of watching a specific program on that channel one time. However, the request could also be to have access to that channel for an extended period of time. If channel request is more long term or permanent, it would be necessary to change the user profile for the user of that remote. Step 1022 updates the user profile to reflect a long-term change.
Another embodiment of the present invention shown in
Referring again to step 1104, when the determination is that the remote device does have the right to access the target channel, in step 1106, the tuner box tunes to the target channel. At this point, in step 1108, information related to the tuning of tuner box to the target channel is recorded. The recording can be either in the tuner box or in the primary remote. The initial recorded information is the start time that the tuner switched to the target channel. In one embodiment, the viewer will have to watch a television program for a minimum period of time for the information on that program to be recorded. This minimum period of time or threshold time could be set by the user or could match the parameters currently used to determine what percent of time one has to watch a program to meet the requirement for a watched program. To determine the time threshold, step 1110 starts a timer when the target channel is accessed. Step 1112 detects a program or tuner event. This event could be the end of a program, a change in channels at the tuner or turning off the tuner. When an event is detected, step 1114 makes a determination of whether the counter has reached the threshold time. If the elapsed time has reached the threshold time, step 1116 records the channel and time in a storage location. This information could be stored in the tuner box or transmitted to the service provider server. If the elapsed time has reached the threshold time, the timer information is discarded and the method returns to a monitor state in step 1118.
It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the context of a fully functioning data processing and television programming system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of instructions in a computer readable medium and a variety of other forms, regardless of the particular type of medium used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computer readable media include media such as EPROM, ROM, tape floppy disc, hard disk drive, RAM, and CD-ROMs.
This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/199,300 filed on Aug. 27, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12199300 | Aug 2008 | US |
| Child | 12433235 | US |
