Abstract:
A method and system are provided for remotely notifying a user of incoming information. The system comprises detection tools for detecting incoming information on a processing device and a signal generator for generating and sending a signal to a remote control device based on the detected incoming information on the processing device. The system additionally comprises signal reception apparatus on the remote control device for receiving the signal and an indicator on the remote control device for indicating the type of information to a user. The indicator is preferably a visible indicator including at least one LED.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular to communications within a household environment.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    With the increased usage of voice mail, email, and intelligent communication devices in the home, there is a greater need to notify persons within a household that information is available. Currently, individual devices perform the notification function when a household user activates the individual devices. For instance, a notification mechanism operating on a computer may notify household members that an email message has arrived. An answering machine connected with a telephone may notify household members that a voice message has arrived.  
           [0003]    Currently, no system exists for notifying household members of available information in a unified manner. For instance, while watching television or talking on the telephone, household members will be unaware of email that has been received. Household members using a computer or watching television may be unaware that a voice mail message has been recorded. Accordingly, a solution is needed that can notify a household member of available information regardless of the location and current activity of the household member and the nature or source of the newly received information.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to a method and computer application for remotely notifying a user of incoming information. The system includes detection tools for detecting incoming information on a processing device. The system additionally includes a signal generator for generating and sending a signal to a remote control device based on the detected incoming information on the processing device. The system further includes signal reception apparatus on the remote control device for receiving the signal and an indicator on the remote control device for providing the notification to a user.  
           [0005]    In yet another aspect of the invention, a remote control device includes control tools for controlling an audio or video apparatus and communication tools for communicating with at least one remote processing device that provides information to the remote control device. The remote control device additionally includes an indicator for alerting a user that information has been received from the remote processing device.  
           [0006]    In still a further aspect of the invention, a method is provided for remote notification using a remote control device. The method includes processing incoming information on a processing device to determine a type of information. The method additionally includes generating a signal based on the information received by the processing device and sending the signal to a remote control device. The method also includes notifying a user of the information transmitted using an indicator on the remote control device.  
           [0007]    Additional advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating components of a system for remote notification in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a controlling system environment suitable for use in implementing the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram illustrating processing tools for the controlling system used in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a remote control device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of circuitry provided within the remote control device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method for programming remote notification in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for remote notification in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating components of a system for remote notification in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A remote control device  10  communicates with a controlling apparatus  110 . The remote control device  10  may be used to control an audio/video device  200 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a suitable controlling apparatus environment  100  in which the invention may be implemented. In one embodiment of the invention, the controlling apparatus environment  100  includes a personal computer. However, the controlling apparatus environment  100  may also include an answering machine, a security system, or any other apparatus that receives information valuable to a system user. Whereas a personal computer could inform a user that email information has been received, an answering machine could provide remote voicemail information and a security system could provide remote status information. Additionally, multiple controlling devices such as a PC, an answering machine, and a security system may form the controlling apparatus  110 .  
         [0018]    In order to communicate with the remote control device  10 , the controlling apparatus  110  preferably includes an RF communication device  198 . The communication device  198  may include a transmitter for one-way communication or a transceiver for two-way communication. Alternatively, the controlling apparatus  110  may include infrared communication tools if the controlling apparatus  110  is located in the same area as the remote control device  10  such that a line of sight exists between the controlling apparatus  110  and the remote control apparatus  10 .  
         [0019]    The controlling apparatus environment  100  is only one example of a suitable environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention. Neither should the controlling apparatus environment  100  be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components illustrated in the exemplary operating environment  100 .  
         [0020]    The invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.  
         [0021]    With reference to FIG. 2, an exemplary system environment  100  for implementing the invention includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer or controlling apparatus  110  including a processing unit  120 , a system memory  130 , and a system bus  121  that couples various system components including the system memory  130  to the processing unit  120 .  
         [0022]    Computer  110  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. The system memory  130  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  131  and random access memory (RAM)  132 . A basic input/output system  133  (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer  110 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM  131 . RAM  132  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit  120 . By way of example, and not limitation, FIG. 2 illustrates operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 .  
         [0023]    The computer  110  may also include other removable/nonremovable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only, FIG. 2 illustrates a hard disk drive  141  that reads from or writes to nonremovable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive  151  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk  152 , and an optical disk drive  155  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk  156  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/nonremovable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive  141  is typically connected to the system bus  121  through an non-removable memory interface such as interface  140 , and magnetic disk drive  151  and optical disk drive  155  are typically connected to the system bus  121  by a removable memory interface, such as interface  150 .  
         [0024]    The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 2, provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer  110 . In FIG. 2, for example, hard disk drive  141  is illustrated as storing operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 . Operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147  are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer  110  through input devices such as a keyboard  162  and pointing device  161 , commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  120  through a user input interface  160  that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor  191  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  121  via an interface, such as a video interface  190 . In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers  197  and printer  196 , which may be connected through an output peripheral interface  195 .  
         [0025]    The computer  110  in the present invention may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  180 . The remote computer  180  may be a personal computer, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  110 , although only a memory storage device  181  has been illustrated in FIG. 2. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 2 include a local area network (LAN)  171  and a wide area network (WAN)  173 , but may also include other networks.  
         [0026]    When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  110  is connected to the LAN  171  through a network interface or adapter  170 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  10  typically includes a modem  172  or other means for establishing communications over the WAN  173 , such as the Internet. The modem  172 , which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus  121  via the user-input interface  160 , or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  110 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation, FIG. 2 illustrates remote application programs  185  as residing on memory device  181 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.  
         [0027]    Although many other internal components of the computer  110  are not shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that such components and the interconnection are well known. Accordingly, additional details concerning the internal construction of the computer  110  need not be disclosed in connection with the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating processing tools that may be used for facilitating communication between the controlling apparatus  110  and the remote control device  10 . The applications programs  135  and/or  145  may include a program module  80  that enables a user to determine the manner in which the controlling apparatus  110  will communicate with the remote control device  10 .  
         [0029]    The program module  80  preferably includes event selection tools  82 , notification selection tools  84 , detection tools  86 , and a signal generator  88 . The aforementioned components operate at the request of the user to activate indicators on the remote control device  10 .  
         [0030]    Event selection tools  82  allow the user to direct the controlling apparatus  110  to provide notification upon occurrence of a specific event. In the controlling apparatus  110  shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a list of events may include such options as: (1) receipt of regular email on a first account; (2) receipt of a high priority email on the first account; (3) receipt of a regular email on a second account; (4) receipt of a high priority email on the second account; and (5) the occurrence of an event listed on a calendar. If additional controlling devices are included in the controlling apparatus  110 , or if peripheral devices communicate additional types of information to the controlling apparatus  110 , events may further include receipt of a voice mail message, receipt of a security alert, or receipt of an alarm sounding. Other events may also be included.  
         [0031]    After selecting an event using the event selection tools  82 , the user may select a notification method using notification selection tools  84 . The notification selection tools may allow a user to select a color such as red, green, blue, or purple. The LED colors available may be combined to create an expansive spectrum of colors for notifying a user of a vast quantity of different types of events. The user may also select a flash rate from a plurality of available flash rates. Typical flash rates may range from five flashes per second to one flash per every two seconds. Other flash rates may also be available. Alternatively, the LEDs, once activated, may remain on, without any flashing. Different flash rates and different colors can be used to indicate different types of events as described above, such as different forms of information and/or different target recipients of the information.  
         [0032]    After the event selection tools  82  and notification selection tools  84  have been activated, detection tools  86  operate to detect the occurrence of the selected events and a signal generator  88  operates to generate a signal for providing notification in accordance with the settings provided by the notification selection tools  84 . After being prompted by the detection tools  86 , the signal generator  88  may send the remote control device  10  a message every time an LED is to be turned on or off For example, the signal generator  88  would send a message twice every second, once to turn the LED on and once to turn the LED off, if the LED were to flash once every second. The signal generator  88  may repeat the message until the notification is turned off. In this instance, the remote is “dumb”. It may be preferable to have a more “intelligent” remote. In such an embodiment, the signal generator  88  only needs to send one message to the remote control device  10 . Both the “intelligent” and “dumb” embodiments of the remote control device are further described below.  
         [0033]    An embodiment of the remote control device  10  is shown in FIG. 4. The remote control device  10  preferably can communicate through infrared signals with a remote control receiver built into the audio/video device  200 . Alternatively, the remote control device  10  may communicate with the audio/video device  200  using RF technology such that no line of sight is required. In this instance, the remote control device  10  would be able to control the audio/video device  200  from any room in the house. The audio/video device  200  may be a television, VCR, stereo, CD, DVD, or any other electronic apparatus. The remote control device  10  preferably has the capability to turn on the audio/video device  200 , raise or lower the volume, change the channels, adjust brightness or tone, and to turn off the device  200 .  
         [0034]    In the displayed embodiment, the remote control device  10  preferably includes a front housing  12  and a rear housing  14  as shown in FIG. 4. The front housing  12  may include a plurality of panels (not shown). The panels may include a first panel with openings and a second panel having protruding push buttons  30  for extending through the openings. The buttons  30  include controls  42  for adjusting volume, controls  44  for changing channels, and a cancel control  46  for canceling notifications sent from the control apparatus  110 . Other pushbuttons  30  may be provided in order to offer the functionality generally provided by remote control devices.  
         [0035]    In the illustrated embodiment, a translucent portion  20  in the front housing  12  preferably accommodates light emitting diodes  22 ,  24 , and  26 . The light emitting diodes  22 ,  24 , and  26  are preferably varied in color, such that one of the three diodes is a red diode, another of the three diodes is a green diode, and a last of the three diodes is a blue diode. Alternatively, each of the diodes  22 ,  24 ,  26  may be individually capable of projecting multiple colors. The embodiment using three diodes is merely exemplary. One or two multi-colored diodes may be used or more than three diodes may be used as deemed preferable. The location and configuration of the light emitting diodes  22 ,  24 , and  26  may be varied in any manner as long as the light emitted by the diodes  22 ,  24 , and  26  is visible to a user of the remote control device  10 .  
         [0036]    In other embodiment of the invention, the provided diodes  22 ,  24 ,  26  may combine into a single light channel, by using a piece of translucent plastic or similar device, to form one spot of light coming from the remote control device  10 . The colors from each LED combine to form any other color. By using the three colors red, green and blue, any color from the visible spectrum may be created.  
         [0037]    In another embodiment of the invention, the entirety of the front housing  12  and the rear housing  14  may be made from a translucent material such that the entirety of the remote control device  10  changes colors and/or flashes at different rates. The same concept can be supplied to a specific portion of the remote control device. For example, using either of the aforementioned configurations could illuminate the buttons. Such an embodiment is typically called backlighting.  
         [0038]    In order to communicate with the audio/video device  200 , additional LEDs  32  and  34  may be provided at another location on the housing for facilitating infrared communication. In order to communicate with the controlling apparatus  110 , an RF transceiver  40 , shown in FIG. 5, may be provided within the remote control device  10 . Any known RF technology such as Bluetooth or 802.11b could be used.  
         [0039]    As an alternative to an RF transceiver  40 , additional LEDs could be provided for allowing infrared communication between the controlling apparatus  110  and the remote control device  10 . If infrared communication is used, a line of sight would be provided between the controlling apparatus  110  and the remote control device  10 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5 illustrates circuitry  50  contained within an embodiment of the remote control device  10 . The notification LEDs  22 ,  24 , and  26  as well as the IR communication LEDs  30  and  32  may be coupled to a central processing unit (CPU) or microcontroller  52 . Alternatively, a dedicated integrated circuit (IC) or any other suitable device could be used. As set forth above, the CPU or microcontroller  52  may have “intelligent” components such that it is able to receive multiple instructions for the LEDs and activate the LEDs accordingly.  
         [0041]    An LED driver  60  may be included between the LEDs  22 ,  24 ,  26  and the LEDs  30  and  32  in order to provide sufficient current for the LEDs without overloading the CPU or microcontroller  52 . Optionally, A RAM  54  or other storage device may also be coupled to the CPU  52  and may be backed up by a battery  56 . Although this memory device may be included, it is not required to implement the disclosed invention. The battery  56  may be a lithium battery or other suitable battery. A keypad encoder  58  may also coupled to or incorporated in the CPU or microcontroller  52 . The keypad encoder encodes the button presses into key codes that the microcontroller or CPU  52  can interpret. An RF communication device  40  may include a transceiver for two-way communication with the controlling device  110  or a receiver for one-way communications with the controlling device  110 .  
         [0042]    The battery  56  may be a typical removable battery or a rechargeable battery. In order to conserve battery life, the remote control device  10  could periodically poll the controlling device  110  looking for new instructions or notifications rather than maintaining continuous communication with the controlling device  110 .  
         [0043]    As described above, the controlling device  110  and the remote control device  10  may be constructed for either a one-way or a two-way communication mode. The one-way mode is typically less expensive to implement than the two-way mode. The one-way mode requires the controlling device  110  to include a transmitter as its RF communication device and the remote control device  10  to include a receiver as its RF communication device. In the one-way mode, after the user receives notification on the remote control device  10 , the user may return directly to the controlling device  110  in order to turn off the notification. Alternatively, the user may use the cancel notification button  46  on the remote control device  10  to terminate the flashing on the remote control device  10  without notifying the controlling device  110 .  
         [0044]    In the two-way scenario, both the controlling device  110  and the remote control device  10  include transceivers as RF communication devices. When the user views a notification on the remote control device  10 , the user can activate the cancel button  46 . The remote control device  10  uses its transceiver to send a message back to the controlling device  110  indicating that the user has viewed the notification. The controlling device  110  can then cancel the notification.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method for setting the notifications of the remote control device  10 . This method may be performed using the controlling apparatus  110 . The user may start in step A 0  by gaining access to the controlling apparatus  110 . In step A 10 , the user implements the event selection tools  82  to select an event, such as the reception of an email to a first email account. In step A 20 , the user may use the notification selection tools  84  to select a type of notification. The user may select for example “activate red”, “activate blue” or “activate purple”, in step A 20 . The event setting and the notification setting will cause the remote control LED to have a an illuminated portion having the requested color whenever an email is received in the selected account. The CPU  52  or the processing tools  80  determine the appropriate LEDs for creating the requested color and the optimal intensity for each selected LED. If in step A 30 , the user desires additional notifications, the user may return to the steps A 10  and A 20 . The user may select “high priority” emails in step A 10  using the event selection tools  82 . In step A 20 , the user may implement notification selection tools  84  to select, for example, “flash blue LED”. These selections will cause a blue LED to flash whenever a high priority email is received. When the user finishes selecting events and notifications, the process ends in step A 40 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the notification procedure after the selection process of FIG. 6 has been performed. Upon activation in step B 0 , the controlling apparatus  110  uses detection tools  86  to detect relevant events as provided by the event selection tools  82 . In step B 20 , the controlling apparatus  110  determines the type of notification that is required for the detected event. In step B 30 , the signal generator  88  sends a signal corresponding to the detected event. In step B 40 , the remote control device  10  receives the signal and in step B 50 , the remote control device  10  activates the appropriate LEDs and the process is complete in step B 60 . Upon viewing the LED notification, a user may cancel the notification and deactivate the LEDs by pressing the cancel button  46  on the remote control device.  
         [0047]    The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its scope.  
         [0048]    From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with other advantages, which are obvious and inherent to the system and method. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated and with the scope of the claims.