Abstract:
A method for facilitating remote support of an appliance is disclosed. A controlled client installed in an appliance is connected via a server to the controlling client installed in a remote computer. Upon proper initiation the controlled appliance display is shown on the controlling client. The controlling client is able to see and affect the necessary support at the controlled client.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method of remotely controlling a device over Internet and more particularly to remotely controlling a device such as a television, cellular telephone or any device having a video output. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0004]    Web conferencing user (host) at a local computer initiates meeting conference at the web conferencing server. The host invites a user (attendee) at the remote computer to join a meeting by telling the attendee the web conferencing server address, meeting ID and password. Before the host and attendee can host/join a meeting, they must download a client software component from the server. After the download and installation, both client software modules connect to the server with the meeting ID and password for authentication purpose, which in turn links two computers (Local Computer and Remote Computer) together by routing data packets from one client to the other. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to remotely access from a remote computer a device equipped with a video display, capture the image on the screen as a user sees it, and assist with resolving the problems the user is experiencing. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to capture the remote control device the user is using to operate the device equipped with video display and operate it from the remote computer. 
         [0007]    Briefly, web conferencing technology is adopted by means of a software module implanted in device to be controlled so that it can be accessed by the remote computer that also has an adopted web conferencing software module implanted therein. A server is positioned to transmit information between the controlled device and the controlling device. The controlled device sends the information to the controlling device. The remote computer captures the image on the screen of the controlled device and issues the commands necessary to remedy the problems the user is experiencing. 
         [0008]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to those with ordinary skill in the art after having studied the following description, drawings and the claims. 
         [0009]    It is understood that while the drawings and the following discussion relate to a particular embodiment of the present invention, this embodiment merely represents what is presently regarded as the best mode of practicing the invention and other modifications may be made to the particular embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows the general architecture of the invention 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  diagrams the basic data flow 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 3   a.  shows an example of the display on the appliance 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows the registration process 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a typical support session. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the architecture  10  of a typical system is shown. Included are the controlled appliance  12  having a video display  14 , a controller  16  in the form of a keyboard, a mouse, digital writing system or a remote device and the controlled client software  18  installed in controlled appliance  12 . A person skilled in the art will be able to determine the type of software suitable for this application. Coupled to the controlled appliance  12  is any suitable firewall configuration  20 . Via the network  22 , which may typically be TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) or any other suitable network, the controlled appliance  12  is connected to the support service organization  30 . Included in the support service organization are a firewall  32 , support server  34 , remote support computer  36 , a video display  42 , a controller  40  in the form of a keyboard, a mouse, digital writing system or a remote device and the controlling client software  38  installed in the support computer  36 . A person skilled in the art will be able to determine the type of software suitable for this application. 
         [0016]    In a typical embodiment the controlled client software  18  captures the data to be displayed on display  14  or another display unit and transmits it via the support server  34  to the controlling client  38  to display at remote support computer  36  video display  42 . Since the connections between the support server  34  and the controlled client software  18  and the controlling client software  38  are outbound, the issue of firewall traversal does not arise. An inbound port in the TCP or other network employed needs to be opened to accept incoming connections from the controlled client software  18  and the controlling client software  38 . Similarly, user accounts need to be created in the server to allow the controlling client software  38  to communicate with the server  34 . 
         [0017]    The Internet address and the listening ports of the support server  34  need to be made known to the controlled client software  18  and the controlling client software  38 . Controlled client software  18  will subsequently receive the commands from the controlling client software  38  installed in the remote support computer  36 . The controlling client software  38  similarly receives the data from the controlled client software  18  and displays it on the display  42  of the remote support computer  36 . The controlling client software  38  also takes inputs from the controller  40  and transmits them to controlled client software  38  to control the appliance  12 . The flow chart showing the information flow from the controlled client software  18  to the controlling client software  38  via the support server  34  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The method described herein may be used in controlling television sets, cellular telephones and other appliances with video outputs. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 3   a  the remote support computer also displays the remote controller used to control the appliance  12 . This further enables remote operation of the appliance  12 . Clicking on the right key of the remote controller would cause the display as shown in  FIG. 3   a  and enable the controlling client software  38  to detect that action, generate the appropriate command and send it to the controlled client software  18  which in turn applies this command to the controlled appliance  12 . 
         [0019]    Once the controlled client software  18  is installed in appliance  12  the registration process may begin in order for appliance  12  to acquire the support server  34  Internet address and become an authorized appliance  12  at the support server  34 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the appliance  12  submits a registration request tailored to suit individual application, but it typically includes a serial number, a user determined activation code and other information as desired. As the first step, the support server may be required to authenticate a controlled client software  18  before proceeding with the support operation. Upon successful authentication, the registration server  60  informs the support server  34  of the new account with the account identification information and appliance  12  serial number and also supplies to the appliance  12  the account identification information. The registration information is then saved at the appliance  12  and subsequent connections with the support server  34  may now be made. In order to connect to the support server  34  the appliance  12  sends the identification information to the support server  34 . Upon verification the appliance  12  connects to the support server  34  in one of the two ways:
       1. Persistent connection. In this embodiment the appliance  12  is connected to support server  34  so that the support can be obtained without an attendant being present at appliance  12 . This may be useful in cases where specific activity needs to be affected on a regular schedule.   2. On-demand connection. In this embodiment the appliance  12  is connected to the support server  34  only upon making a specific request.       
 
         [0022]    Once the connection has been made a support session may begin. Typical sequence is shown in  FIG. 5 . After the support session has been provided the support agent may close the support session. For greater security, the appliance  12  user may elect to close the support session.