Systems and methods for controlling appliances via a network

A remote control device (140, 600) controls the operation of an appliance. The remote control device (140, 600) includes a receiver (320) or transceiver (620), a controller (330, 630), and a transmitter (350, 650). The receiver (320) or transceiver (620) receives a network packet that includes at least one command. The controller (330, 630) analyzes the network packet to determine whether the packet is intended for the remote control device (140, 600). The transmitter (350, 650) outputs a signal to control operation of the appliance based on the command when the controller (330, 630) determines that the packet is intended for the remote control device (140, 600).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to remote control systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for remotely controlling appliances via a network.

B. Description of Related Art

In the last several years, home networks have become increasingly common throughout the world. Home networks are often radio frequency-based so that computers and printers in different places in the home can easily communicate with one another regardless of their location and without installing wires.

The vision of the future home often includes home appliances, such as telephones and heating and cooling equipment, integrated into the home network. Such an integration would permit the addition of new appliances and allow these devices to easily communicate with each other. One day, all household appliances from refrigerators to televisions may be integrated into this home network.

The problem with such an integration is that it requires the appliance to be manufactured with the networking capability built into it. Because individuals typically keep the same appliances for decades or more, it may be a very long time before all of the appliances in a typical household include the networking capability.

Some conventional appliances, such as stereos and televisions, include a wireless control device in the form of a remote control. To control the operation of one of these devices, a user must physically push a button on a uniquely associated or universal remote control. The user normally gets audio or visual queues that the requested operation was received and performed by the appliance (e.g., the television changes the channel after the user presses a button on the remote control device). These appliances are not, however, easily integrated in a home network.

As a result, a need exists for a mechanism that facilitates the integration of conventional appliances in a home network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention address this need by providing a mechanism that permits conventional appliances to be integrated in a home network, thereby permitting the appliances to be controlled via a device directly or indirectly connected to the home network.

In accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a remote control device controls the operation of an appliance. The remote control device includes a receiver or transceiver, a controller, and a transmitter. The receiver/transceiver receives a network packet that includes at least one command. The controller analyzes the network packet to determine whether the packet is intended for the remote control device. The transmitter outputs a signal to control operation of the appliance based on the command when the controller determines that the packet is intended for the remote control device.

In another implementation consistent with the present invention, a network with multiple appliances includes a device and a remote control. The device generates a command for controlling one of the appliances. The remote control receives the command from the device, generates a control signal based on the command, and transmits the control signal to the appliance to control operation of the appliance.

In yet another implementation consistent with the present invention, a device in a network, including at least one device connected to multiple appliances via at least one remote control, includes a graphical user interface and a processor. The graphical user interface presents to a user a list of appliances and control options. The processor broadcasts a request to identify remote controls connected to the network and capabilities of the remote controls, receives responses from the remote controls, and generates the list of the appliances and control options from the received responses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention facilitate the connection of conventional appliances to a home network. As such, the appliances may be controlled by a device either directly or indirectly connected to the network.

Exemplary Network

FIG. 1is a diagram of an exemplary network100consistent with the present invention. The network100may include a user device110connected to one or more appliances120via a network130and a remote control140. The user device110may also connect to a network device150via a network160. The user device110may include a personal computer, a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, or a similar device.

FIG. 2is an exemplary diagram of the user device110consistent with the present invention. The user device110may include a processor210, main memory220, a read only memory (ROM)230, a bus240, an input device250, an output device260, and a communication interface270.

The processor210may include any type of conventional processing device that interprets and executes instructions. Main memory220may include a random access memory (RAM), a large capacity storage device, such as a magnetic or optical recording medium and its corresponding drive, or another type of dynamic storage device. Main memory220may store information, instructions, and temporary variables for use by processor210. ROM230may include a conventional ROM device or another type of static storage device that stores static information and instructions for the processor210. The bus240may include a set of hardware lines (i.e., conductors) that permits data transfer among the components of the user device110.

The input device250may include conventional input mechanisms, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, biometric mechanisms, or the like. The output device260may include conventional output mechanisms, such as a display, a pair of speakers, or the like. The communication interface270enables the user device110to communicate with other devices/systems via any communications medium. For example, the communication interface270may include a wireless transmitter for communicating with a remote control140(FIG. 1) via the network130or a modem for communicating with the network device150via the network160. Alternatively, the communication interface may include any other type of interface that enables communication between the user device110and other devices or systems.

Returning toFIG. 1, the appliances120may include conventional devices, such as televisions, video cassette recorders (VCRs), digital versatile disk (DVD) players, stereos, camcorders, etc., that include infrared receiving ports. These conventional appliances120are designed to perform specific functions in response to commands received via their infrared (IR) receiving ports.

The network130may include a wireless network that permits the user device110to communicate with the remote control140using, for example, radio frequency (RF) technologies. The network160may include the Internet, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the public switched telephone network (PSTN), or another type of network. The network160permits the network device150to communicate with the user device110. The network device150may include a personal computer, a laptop, a PDA, a cellular or digital telephone, or the like, and may be configured similarly to the user device110described with respect toFIG. 2. The network device150may communicate with the user device110to control an appliance120via a remote control140.

The remote control140sends command signals to the appliances120to instruct the appliances120to perform certain operations, such as changing channels or volume, playing or recording a movie or a song, etc.FIG. 3is an exemplary diagram of the remote control140in an implementation consistent with the present invention. The remote control140may include an antenna310, a receiver320, a microcontroller330, a transmitter controller340, a transmitter350, input keys360, and an input controller370.

The antenna310may include a conventional antenna for receiving RF signals. The receiver320may include an RF receiver that interprets the RF signals received by the antenna310and an analog-to-digital converter that converts the RF signals to digital signals for use by the microcontroller330. The microcontroller330may include any processing device with simple networking capabilities. The microcontroller330analyzes the digital signals from the receiver320to determine whether the digital signals are addressed to the remote control140and whether the remote control140is capable of performing any command included in the digital signals.

The transmitter controller340may include a conventional control device that controls the transmission of IR signals via the transmitter350. The transmitter controller340receives inputs from the microcontroller330and the input keys360via the input controller370. The input keys360may include conventional input controls, such as buttons, that permit a user to input particular commands into the remote control140. The input controller370includes a conventional control device that interprets the operation of the input keys360and generates a command signal for transmission by the transmitter350. The transmitter350may include an IR transmitter that transmits an IR signal as instructed by the transmitter controller340.

Exemplary Processing

FIG. 4is a flowchart of processing for controlling an appliance in an implementation consistent with the present invention. Processing might begin with a user entering an instruction into the network device150or the user device110[step410]. The network device150and user device110may be preprogrammed with a list of appliances120and their capabilities. In this case, the devices150and110may present the user with a list of appliances120and corresponding options from which the user may select. The devices150and110may provide graphical user interfaces to the user to facilitate the user's selection.

FIG. 5is a diagram of an exemplary graphical user interface500for controlling a television that may be provided by the network device150and/or the user device110in an implementation consistent with the present invention. The graphical user interface500may include an appliance identifier510, such as “Sony 53 Inch Television,” to uniquely identify the appliance120being controlled, and one or more command components520, such as channel and volume command components, to control the operation of the appliance120.

Once the user enters the instruction, the network device150or user device110analyzes the instruction and generates a command signal therefrom [step420]. If the user enters the instruction via the network device150, the network device150transmits the command signal to the user device110via the network160. For example, the network device150might use a modem to transmit the command signal to the user device110.

The user device110generates a network packet from the command signal and transmits the network packet to the remote control140using conventional RF transmission techniques [step430]. The receiver320(FIG. 3) of the remote control140receives the network packet and may convert it from analog to digital form [step440]. The microcontroller330analyzes the packet to determine whether it is addressed to the remote control140. To make this determination, the microcontroller330might compare a destination address in the packet to the network address of the remote control140.

If the packet is not addressed to the remote control140, the microcontroller330may simply discard it. If it is addressed to the remote control140, the microcontroller330reads the packet to identify the command contained therein. The microcontroller330may then determine whether the remote control140can perform this command [step450]. To make this determination, the microcontroller330may compare the command to a table of known commands. For example, if the command includes an instruction to increase the volume on a stereo, the microcontroller330determines whether it has the capability to increase the volume on the stereo.

If the command is not one that the remote control140can perform, the microcontroller330may discard it. If it is one that the remote control140can perform, the microcontroller330sends appropriate signals to the transmitter controller340to instruct it to generate an IR signal corresponding to the command. The signals sent by the microcontroller330may emulate signals generated by the input controller370in response to the same command being input via the input keys360.

The transmitter controller340generates the IR signal [step460] and transmits it to the IR receiving port of the intended appliance120[step470]. To facilitate the transmission of the IR signal, it may be necessary that the transmitter350of the remote control140be pointed in the direction of the appliance120.

Network Remote Control

FIG. 6is an exemplary diagram of a remote control600in another implementation consistent with the present invention. The remote control600has similar components to the remote control140ofFIG. 3, but differs from the remote control140in that the remote control600has more networking capabilities and acts as a node in the network100. The remote control600may include an antenna610, a transceiver620, a microcontroller630, a transmitter controller640, a transmitter650, input keys660, and an input controller670.

The antenna610may include a conventional antenna for transmitting and receiving RF signals. The transceiver620may include an RF transceiver that interprets the RF signals received by the antenna610, an analog-to-digital converter that converts the RF signals to digital signals for use by the microcontroller630, and a digital-to-analog converter that converts digital signals from the microcontroller630to analog RF signals for transmission via the network130.

The microcontroller630may include any processing device with networking capabilities that permit the remote control600to participate in the network130as a normal peripheral node. The microcontroller630may maintain information on the capabilities of the remote control600and respond to queries by providing this capability information to another device connected to the network130. The microcontroller630may acknowledge and analyze commands received from the network.

The transmitter controller640may include a conventional control device that controls the transmission of IR signals via the transmitter650. The transmitter controller640receives inputs from the microcontroller630and the input keys660via the input controller670. The input keys660may include conventional input controls, such as buttons, that permit a user to input particular commands. The input controller670includes a conventional control device that interprets the operation of the input keys660and generates a command signal for transmission by the transmitter650. The transmitter650may include an IR transmitter that transmits an IR signal as instructed by the transmitter controller640.

Exemplary Processing with Network Remote Control

FIG. 7is a flowchart of processing for controlling an appliance in another implementation consistent with the present invention. Processing might begin with the user device110(FIG. 1) determining what remote controls600are available on the network. For example, the user device110may transmit a query, such as a standard “service discovery protocol,” on the network130to determine what remote controls600are connected to the network130and their respective capabilities [step710]. Each of the remote controls600may respond to the user device110with its network address and capabilities [step720].

The user device110may provide the information received from the remote controls600to a user via a graphical user interface. For example, the user device110may present the user with a list of appliances120and corresponding options from which the user may select. If the user accesses the network130via a network device150, instead of the user device110, the network device150may obtain the information regarding the capabilities of the remote controls600from the user device110via the network160.

In either case, the user device110or network device150receives an instruction from the user [step730]. The user device110or network device150analyzes the instruction and generates a command signal therefrom [step740]. If the user enters the instruction via the network device150, the network device150transmits the command signal to the user device110via the network160. For example, the network device150might use a modem to transmit the command signal to the user device110.

The user device110may then generate a network packet from the command signal and transmit the network packet to a remote control600having the required capabilities [step750]. The user device110may use conventional RF transmission techniques to transmit the packet.

The transceiver620(FIG. 6) of the remote control600receives the network packet and may acknowledge its receipt [step760]. The microcontroller630may then analyze the packet to determine whether it is addressed to the remote control600. To make this determination, the microcontroller630might compare a destination address in the packet to the network address of the remote control600. If the packet is not addressed to the remote control600, the microcontroller630may discard it.

If the packet is addressed to the remote control600, the microcontroller630reads the packet to identify the command contained therein. The microcontroller630may then send the appropriate signals to the transmitter controller640to instruct it to generate an IR signal corresponding to the command. The signals sent by the microcontroller630may emulate signals generated by the input controller670in response to the same command being input via the input keys660.

The transmitter controller640generates the IR signal [step770] and transmits it to the IR receiving port of the intended appliance120[step780]. To facilitate the transmission of the IR signal, it may be necessary that the transmitter650of the remote control600be pointed in the direction of the appliance120.

CONCLUSION

Systems and methods consistent with the present invention permit conventional appliances to be controlled over a network. A user within a household may control the operation of one or more appliances using, for example, a personal computer. In addition, a user outside of the household may control these appliances using a device connected to a network, such as the Internet.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. For example, while series of steps have been described with regard toFIGS. 4 and 7, the order of the steps does not matter.

In addition, the preceding description described the remote control as controlling the operation of an appliance based on an instruction from a user. In another implementation consistent with the present invention, the user device110may be preprogrammed to automatically issue a command signal to the remote control for controlling the appliance based on what the user is doing on the user device.