WO2007107866A1 - A method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device - Google Patents

A method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007107866A1
WO2007107866A1 PCT/IB2007/000719 IB2007000719W WO2007107866A1 WO 2007107866 A1 WO2007107866 A1 WO 2007107866A1 IB 2007000719 W IB2007000719 W IB 2007000719W WO 2007107866 A1 WO2007107866 A1 WO 2007107866A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
electrical device
mobile communications
control
communications device
waveform
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2007/000719
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Darryl John Aquadro
Helen Margaret Aquadro
Original Assignee
Virtual Remotes (Pty) Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Virtual Remotes (Pty) Ltd filed Critical Virtual Remotes (Pty) Ltd
Publication of WO2007107866A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007107866A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C17/00—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
    • G08C17/02—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link using a radio link
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C2201/00—Transmission systems of control signals via wireless link
    • G08C2201/20—Binding and programming of remote control devices
    • G08C2201/21—Programming remote control devices via third means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C2201/00—Transmission systems of control signals via wireless link
    • G08C2201/40—Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C2201/00—Transmission systems of control signals via wireless link
    • G08C2201/90—Additional features
    • G08C2201/93—Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop

Definitions

  • THIS invention relates to a method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device.
  • Mobile communication devices such as cellular telephones have previously been used to control external electrical devices such as TVs, DVDs, garage doors and security gates to name but a few examples.
  • the cellular telephone is attempted to be transformed into a universal remote.
  • all of the waveforms necessary to control a number of electrical devices are stored in the application on the cellular telephone.
  • the present invention seeks to address this by providing an improved method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device.
  • a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device, the method including:
  • control waveforms each of which are able to control an electrical device by causing the electrical device to execute at least one function when the electrical device receives the control waveform via a receiver associated with the electrical device;
  • selecting at least one control waveform which is for controlling the identified electrical device and transmitting data representing the at least one selected waveform to the mobile communications device.
  • the data representing the at least one selected waveform may be transmitted to the mobile communications device via a communications network.
  • the data representing the at least one selected waveform transmitted to the mobile communications device is in a format that enables the mobile communications device to transmit a command signal via the Bluetooth protocol to an external Bluetooth unit.
  • the external Bluetooth unit is able to convert the signal received into an appropriate infra-red signal which is then transmitted to the electrical device.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system within which the present invention is implemented.
  • an external electrical device in the form of consumer unit 24 is the device that is controlled with a remote control unit 10.
  • the external electrical device 24 could be any electrical device such as a TV, video recorder, a DVD player, electrical gates or garage door or any other electrical device which is controlled with remote control signals.
  • the remote control signals are typically infrared waveforms transmitted from the remote control 10 to an infrared receiver associated with the electrical device 24.
  • the infrared waveform is encoded with data which is translated by a processor in the electrical device 24.
  • the electrical device executes at least one function. For a television set this might be to increase the volume, for a DVD player to advance to the next track, for an electrically controlled gate it might be to close. These are obviously a few example functions but the function could be any function of the electrical device.
  • the object of the present invention is to adapt a mobile communication device 18 to control the electrical device 24 thereby replacing the original remote 10.
  • the mobile communications device 18 is illustrated as a cellular telephone.
  • control waveforms from a plurality of remotes 10 are collected and transmitted to a server 14 where they are stored in an associated database 16.
  • control waveforms are collected using a training unit 12. Typically, each of a number of function buttons on the remotes 10 are pressed so that an infrared control waveform is transmitted from the remotes 10.
  • the training unit 12 is activated to receive and store these infrared waveforms. At some point in the future, these waveforms are transmitted to the server 14.
  • the database 16 will store a plurality of control waveforms each of which are able to control an electrical device by causing the electrical device to execute at least one function when the electrical device receives the control waveform via a receiver associated with the electrical device.
  • a request is received to adapt the mobile communications device 18 to control the electrical device 24.
  • the request will include an identification of the electrical device 24.
  • the request could be received by any one of a number of communication channels.
  • the request could be received via a mobile communications network or via the Internet to name but a few examples.
  • the request is routed straight into the server 14 which is able to automatically process the request.
  • the request may be received by an operator who then inputs the request into the server 14 using some type of human machine interface.
  • software executing on the server 14 selects at least one control waveform which is for controlling the identified electrical device 24 and data representing the at least one selected waveform is transmitted to the mobile communications device.
  • An application is delivered to the mobile communications device which has stored in it the appropriate waveforms to control the device 24, via the unit 5.
  • the data is transmitted via the mobile communications network.
  • the waveforms are stored in a memory on the mobile communications device.
  • An application operating on the mobile communications device 18 then allows a user to activate the application which in turn allows the user to press one or more buttons on the mobile communications device 18 which causes the mobile communications device 18 to transmit control signals to the electrical device 24.
  • the mobile communications device can control the device 24 directly via infra-red.
  • a Bluetooth unit 20 receives the waveform information via a Bluetooth connection from the mobile communications device, and uses the information to regenerate an infra-red signal which is transmitted to the device 24.
  • the Bluetooth device 20 can be fitted with a standard RF remote control whose buttons are actuated by relay, on command from the device 18, thus causing an instance of device 24 which is controlled by an RF remote (e.g. an automatic gate or garage) to be activated.
  • a standard RF remote control whose buttons are actuated by relay, on command from the device 18, thus causing an instance of device 24 which is controlled by an RF remote (e.g. an automatic gate or garage) to be activated.
  • the signals are typically transmitted via an infrared transmitter or a Bluetooth transmitter of the mobile communications device 18 to the Bluetooth unit 20.
  • the mobile communications device 18 has limited waveform information on it, the considerable intellectual property in the trained data base is protected. Also, the device 20 has no waveform information on it.
  • the Bluetooth device 20 does not have to be upgraded when additional devices need to be controlled. Further downloads simply need to be sent to the mobile communications device 18.
  • upgrades can be handled by standardised over the air downloads to consumer mobile communications devices 18, where the waveforms in the download correspond to the consumer's mobile communications devices 18 only, thus protecting the database.
  • the device 24 is shown in the diagram as a single consumer electrical device 24, but it represents the possibility of a number of electrical devices 24, all within range of the Bluetooth unit 20, and all of which can be controlled from the mobile communications device 18.
  • the consumer remote device 22 would represent the various discrete remotes, one for each of the devices 24.
  • the single unit 18, via Bluetooth unit 20, can then effect all of the functions that would be required from multiple consumer remote units 22.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

A method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device includes storing in a database a plurality of control waveforms each of which are able to control an electrical device by causing the electrical device to execute at least one function when the electrical device receives the control waveform via a receiver associated with the electrical device. Upon receiving a request to adapt a mobile communications device to control an electrical device, the request including an identification of the electrical device, at least one control waveform is selected for controlling the identified electrical device. Data representing the at least one selected waveform is transmitted to the mobile communications device.

Description

A METHOD OF ADAPTING A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE TO CONTROL AN EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
THIS invention relates to a method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device.
Mobile communication devices such as cellular telephones have previously been used to control external electrical devices such as TVs, DVDs, garage doors and security gates to name but a few examples.
In these applications, the cellular telephone replaces the normal remote which is used to do this. However, the manner in which this has been addressed suffers a number of drawbacks.
In particular, the cellular telephone is attempted to be transformed into a universal remote. Here all of the waveforms necessary to control a number of electrical devices are stored in the application on the cellular telephone.
However, because there is limited space on the cellular telephone, the database is of necessity limited. This means that some waveforms are incorrect due to a clustering of devices having the "same" waveform where the match is not actually close enough and that the special features on particular devices are not available because of the one size fits all approach.
In addition, upgrades are difficult to manage. If anything changes in the base waveform library, the entire installed database may need to be upgraded because it is not known which parts of the database are being used by any individual user.
Furthermore, rights management on cellular telephones is not that good and so the application can be transferred to other telephones. Because the whole database is on the telephone, the application is likely to be useful to the new recipient. Thus, competitors need only buy one copy of the application, reverse engineer it, and then they have access to the entire database.
The present invention seeks to address this by providing an improved method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device, the method including:
storing in a database a plurality of control waveforms each of which are able to control an electrical device by causing the electrical device to execute at least one function when the electrical device receives the control waveform via a receiver associated with the electrical device;
receiving a request to adapt a mobile communications device to control an electrical device, the request including an identification of the electrical device;
selecting at least one control waveform which is for controlling the identified electrical device; and transmitting data representing the at least one selected waveform to the mobile communications device.
The data representing the at least one selected waveform may be transmitted to the mobile communications device via a communications network.
Preferably, the data representing the at least one selected waveform transmitted to the mobile communications device is in a format that enables the mobile communications device to transmit a command signal via the Bluetooth protocol to an external Bluetooth unit.
The external Bluetooth unit is able to convert the signal received into an appropriate infra-red signal which is then transmitted to the electrical device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system within which the present invention is implemented.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1 , an external electrical device in the form of consumer unit 24 is the device that is controlled with a remote control unit 10.
The external electrical device 24 could be any electrical device such as a TV, video recorder, a DVD player, electrical gates or garage door or any other electrical device which is controlled with remote control signals. The remote control signals are typically infrared waveforms transmitted from the remote control 10 to an infrared receiver associated with the electrical device 24. The infrared waveform is encoded with data which is translated by a processor in the electrical device 24. On receipt of a valid infrared waveform, the electrical device executes at least one function. For a television set this might be to increase the volume, for a DVD player to advance to the next track, for an electrically controlled gate it might be to close. These are obviously a few example functions but the function could be any function of the electrical device.
It will be appreciated that the functions executed by the electrical device 24 will vary depending on the nature of the device.
The object of the present invention is to adapt a mobile communication device 18 to control the electrical device 24 thereby replacing the original remote 10.
In the illustrated example embodiment, the mobile communications device 18 is illustrated as a cellular telephone.
In any event, the control waveforms from a plurality of remotes 10 are collected and transmitted to a server 14 where they are stored in an associated database 16.
The control waveforms are collected using a training unit 12. Typically, each of a number of function buttons on the remotes 10 are pressed so that an infrared control waveform is transmitted from the remotes 10. The training unit 12 is activated to receive and store these infrared waveforms. At some point in the future, these waveforms are transmitted to the server 14.
Thus it will be appreciated that the database 16 will store a plurality of control waveforms each of which are able to control an electrical device by causing the electrical device to execute at least one function when the electrical device receives the control waveform via a receiver associated with the electrical device.
At some point, a request is received to adapt the mobile communications device 18 to control the electrical device 24. The request will include an identification of the electrical device 24.
The request could be received by any one of a number of communication channels. For example, the request could be received via a mobile communications network or via the Internet to name but a few examples. Ideally, the request is routed straight into the server 14 which is able to automatically process the request. However, the request may be received by an operator who then inputs the request into the server 14 using some type of human machine interface.
In response, software executing on the server 14 selects at least one control waveform which is for controlling the identified electrical device 24 and data representing the at least one selected waveform is transmitted to the mobile communications device. An application is delivered to the mobile communications device which has stored in it the appropriate waveforms to control the device 24, via the unit 5.
Typically, the data is transmitted via the mobile communications network.
Once the data is received by the mobile communications device, the waveforms are stored in a memory on the mobile communications device.
An application operating on the mobile communications device 18 then allows a user to activate the application which in turn allows the user to press one or more buttons on the mobile communications device 18 which causes the mobile communications device 18 to transmit control signals to the electrical device 24.
In some instances the mobile communications device can control the device 24 directly via infra-red. In an alternative embodiment a Bluetooth unit 20 receives the waveform information via a Bluetooth connection from the mobile communications device, and uses the information to regenerate an infra-red signal which is transmitted to the device 24.
In addition, the Bluetooth device 20 can be fitted with a standard RF remote control whose buttons are actuated by relay, on command from the device 18, thus causing an instance of device 24 which is controlled by an RF remote (e.g. an automatic gate or garage) to be activated.
Thus, the signals are typically transmitted via an infrared transmitter or a Bluetooth transmitter of the mobile communications device 18 to the Bluetooth unit 20.
It will be appreciated that because the number of waveforms stored on the mobile communications device 18 is limited, this will address some of the problems referred to above. In addition, no waveforms are stored in the Bluetooth unit 20, thus no upgrades will be required in order to use it to control different devices.
For example, as the mobile communications device 18 has limited waveform information on it, the considerable intellectual property in the trained data base is protected. Also, the device 20 has no waveform information on it.
Furthermore, the Bluetooth device 20 does not have to be upgraded when additional devices need to be controlled. Further downloads simply need to be sent to the mobile communications device 18. In addition, upgrades can be handled by standardised over the air downloads to consumer mobile communications devices 18, where the waveforms in the download correspond to the consumer's mobile communications devices 18 only, thus protecting the database.
It should also be noted that the device 24 is shown in the diagram as a single consumer electrical device 24, but it represents the possibility of a number of electrical devices 24, all within range of the Bluetooth unit 20, and all of which can be controlled from the mobile communications device 18. For example, a TV, satellite decoder and DVD player all within a single living room. In this scenario, the consumer remote device 22 would represent the various discrete remotes, one for each of the devices 24. The single unit 18, via Bluetooth unit 20, can then effect all of the functions that would be required from multiple consumer remote units 22.

Claims

CLAlMS:
1. A method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device, the method including:
storing in a database a plurality of control waveforms each of which are able to control an electrical device by causing the electrical device to execute at least one function when the electrical device receives the control waveform via a receiver associated with the electrical device;
receiving a request to adapt a mobile communications device to control an electrical device, the request including an identification of the electrical device;
selecting at least one control waveform which is for controlling the identified electrical device; and
transmitting data representing the at least one selected waveform to the mobile communications device.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the data representing the at least one selected waveform is transmitted to the mobile communications device via a communications network.
3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the communications network is a mobile communications network.
4. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the data representing the at least one selected waveform transmitted to the mobile communications device is in a format that enables the mobile communications device to transmit a command signal via the Bluetooth protocol to an external Bluetooth unit.
5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the external Bluetooth unit is able to convert the signal received into an appropriate infra-red signal which is then transmitted to the electrical device.
6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the data representing the at least one selected waveform transmitted to the mobile communications device is in a format that enables the mobile communications device to transmit a command signal via infra-red to the electrical device.
7. A method according to any preceding claim wherein an application is delivered to the mobile communications device which has stored in it the selected control waveform to control the electrical device.
PCT/IB2007/000719 2006-03-23 2007-03-23 A method of adapting a mobile communications device to control an external electrical device WO2007107866A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA2006/02392 2006-03-23
ZA200602392 2006-03-23

Publications (1)

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WO2007107866A1 true WO2007107866A1 (en) 2007-09-27

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010033462A1 (en) 2008-09-16 2010-03-25 Universal Electronics Inc. Communicating codeset information as part of a native application

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5201067A (en) * 1991-04-30 1993-04-06 Motorola, Inc. Personal communications device having remote control capability
EP1087355A2 (en) * 1999-09-24 2001-03-28 Nec Corporation Portable radio terminal with remote control
WO2001073720A1 (en) * 2000-03-24 2001-10-04 Tvcompass Ltd. Remote control interface for converting radio remote control signals into infrared remote control signals

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5201067A (en) * 1991-04-30 1993-04-06 Motorola, Inc. Personal communications device having remote control capability
EP1087355A2 (en) * 1999-09-24 2001-03-28 Nec Corporation Portable radio terminal with remote control
WO2001073720A1 (en) * 2000-03-24 2001-10-04 Tvcompass Ltd. Remote control interface for converting radio remote control signals into infrared remote control signals

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010033462A1 (en) 2008-09-16 2010-03-25 Universal Electronics Inc. Communicating codeset information as part of a native application
EP2332259A1 (en) * 2008-09-16 2011-06-15 UEI Cayman Inc. Communicating codeset information as part of a native application
EP2332259A4 (en) * 2008-09-16 2013-12-18 Uei Cayman Inc Communicating codeset information as part of a native application

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