U.S. patent number 7,194,259 [Application Number 10/605,058] was granted by the patent office on 2007-03-20 for remote control device having wireless phone interface.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Invention is credited to Jonathan DeLine.
United States Patent |
7,194,259 |
DeLine |
March 20, 2007 |
Remote control device having wireless phone interface
Abstract
A remote control device (RCD) typical of a television or home
entertainment system is adapted to be communicable with a mobile
phone. When a mobile phone receives a signal in a first wireless
protocol from a digital cellular network (DCN), the signal is
wirelessly forwarded to the RCD in a second wireless protocol for
processing such as answering a voice call or displaying message
data using the RCD. In addition, the RCD is wirelessly communicable
with one or more peripheral devices such as a television and/or
other components of a home entertainment system. The RCD can
further forward the signal or a component of the signal received
from the mobile phone to one of the peripheral devices for output.
Thus, if a mobile phone is not handy when a signal is received, it
can be passed to the RCD to be handled in a manner deemed
appropriate by a user.
Inventors: |
DeLine; Jonathan (Morrisville,
NC) |
Assignee: |
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications
AB (SE)
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Family
ID: |
34273155 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/605,058 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2003 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20050064860 A1 |
Mar 24, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/420; 370/365;
455/419; 455/550.1; 455/563; 455/567; 455/557; 455/458; 455/418;
370/343 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/42221 (20130101); H04N 21/6131 (20130101); H04N
21/42222 (20130101); H04N 21/42209 (20130101); H04M
1/72415 (20210101); G08C 17/02 (20130101); G08C
23/04 (20130101); H04N 21/43615 (20130101); H04N
21/4126 (20130101); H04N 21/42204 (20130101); H04N
21/478 (20130101); G08C 2201/93 (20130101); H04N
21/4333 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
3/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/420,550.1,563,418,419,567,458,557 ;370/365,343 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10 094070 |
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Jul 1998 |
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JP |
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WO/03/056790 |
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Jul 2003 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report, PCT/IB2004/001063, Sony Ericsson
Mobile Communications AB, Jul. 19, 2004. cited by other .
Written Opinion, PCT/IB2004/001063, Sony Ericsson Mobile
Communications AB, Jul. 19, 2004. cited by other .
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, International Application
Ser. No. PCT/IB2004/001063, "International Preliminary Report on
Patentability", Aug. 29, 2005. cited by other.
|
Primary Examiner: Feild; Joseph
Assistant Examiner: Nguyen; Khai
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Stephens; Gregory A. Moore &
Van Allen PLLC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A remote control device (RCD) comprising: a first wireless
interface for controlling and passing content data to one or more
peripheral devices; a second wireless interface for communicating
with a mobile phone; a speaker for outputting audio signals
received from the mobile phone; a microphone for receiving audio
signals to be transmitted to the mobile phone; and a processor for
processing wireless signals communicated between the RCD and the
mobile phone, wherein the RCD: receives control signals and data
from the mobile phone in response to the mobile phone receiving
wireless control signals and data from a digital cellular network
(DCN), wherein the data received by the RCD from the mobile phone
is data selected from the group consisting of a text data signal,
an audio data signal, a video data signal, and any combination
thereof; and transmits the data received from the mobile phone to
one of the one or more peripheral devices to be output.
2. The RCD of claim 1 wherein the signals and data received by the
RCD from the mobile phone is an audio signal and voice data used
for establishing a telephone call.
3. The RCD of claim 2 wherein processing the control signals and
data received from the mobile phone comprises using the RCD to
connect to a telephone call received by the mobile phone.
4. The RCD of claim 3 wherein the RCD transmits the audio voice
data received from the mobile phone to one of the one or more
peripheral devices to be audibly output.
5. A remote control device (RCD) communicable with a mobile phone
and one or more peripheral devices, the RCD comprising: means for
controlling the mobile phone to: process control signals and data
received from the mobile phone, wherein the data received by the
RCD from the mobile phone is data selected from the group
consisting of a text data signal, an audio data signal, a video
data signal, and any combination thereof; output data received from
the mobile phone; handle an incoming telephone call received by the
mobile phone from a digital cellular network (DCN); and means for
controlling and passing content data to the one or more peripheral
devices such that data received from the mobile phone can be
transmitted to the one or more peripheral devices.
6. The RCD of claim 5 further comprising: processing means for
processing control signals and data received from the mobile phone;
a speaker for outputting audio data received from the mobile phone;
and a microphone for inputting audio data to be sent to the mobile
phone.
7. The RCD of claim 6 wherein the remote control device further
comprises a user interface to control the output of data received
from the mobile phone.
8. The RCD of claim 7 wherein the remote control device further
comprises a video display to display video or text data received
from the mobile phone.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
When operated away from home, a mobile phone is typically found
within arm's reach of its user. At home, however, a mobile phone
and user are often easily separated. A user sometimes loses track
of a mobile phone's whereabouts as the user becomes occupied with
other endeavors or distractions, such as watching television or
listening to a stereo. Often, a mobile phone is placed in a
stationary cradle for recharging while at home. Given the increased
distance between a mobile phone and user, an incoming mobile phone
call can inconvenience the user when at home. Specifically, a
ringing mobile phone requires the user to track down the mobile
phone's location, identify the caller, and then answer the call.
This process typically forces the user to miss portions of the
television program or music the user was enjoying prior to the
incoming call. Further, after answering the incoming call, the user
has to watch television or listen to music while simultaneously
conducting a conversation via the mobile phone.
With today's advanced consumer electronic remote control devices
used to manage home entertainment systems, it is desirable to
develop a remote control device (RCD) that includes a wireless
interface communicable with a mobile phone. An RCD with a wireless
interface could greatly reduce the inconvenience a user faces when
encountering a mobile phone that rings at home.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A remote control device (RCD) typical of a television or home
entertainment system is adapted to be communicable with a mobile
phone. When a mobile phone receives a signal in a first wireless
protocol from a digital cellular network (DCN), the signal is
wirelessly forwarded to the RCD in a second wireless protocol for
processing such as answering a voice call or displaying message
data using the RCD. In addition, the RCD is wirelessly communicable
with one or more peripheral devices such as a television and/or
other components of a home entertainment system. The RCD can
further forward the signal or a component of the signal received
from the mobile phone to one of the peripheral devices for output.
Thus, if a mobile phone is not handy when a signal is received, it
can be passed to the RCD to be handled in a manner deemed
appropriate by a user.
The RCD seamlessly interfaces with the mobile phone. To interface
with a mobile phone, the RCD includes a first wireless interface
for controlling one or more peripheral devices and a second
wireless interface for communicating with a mobile phone. Since the
RCD can assume many of the tasks of a mobile phone, the RCD further
includes a speaker for outputting audio signals received from the
mobile phone, a microphone for receiving audio signals to be
transmitted to the mobile phone, and a processor for processing
wireless signals communicated between the RCD and the mobile phone.
In operation, the RCD receives a signal from the mobile phone in
response to the mobile phone receiving a wireless signal from a
digital cellular network (DCN).
The mobile phone passes the signal received from the DCN to the RCD
for processing. The processing depends on the type of signal that
the mobile phone sends to the RCD, voice or data. The RCD can act
as an extension phone for a voice call by connecting to an incoming
call and carrying out a full duplex conversation. The RCD can also
forward the audio portion of a signal received from a mobile phone
to a peripheral device under control of the RCD such as a
television.
The RCD can also process data signals received from the mobile
phone. Data signals can include a text data signal, an audio data
signal, a video data signal, or any combination thereof. This would
include SMS, MMS, and e-mail messages. The RCD can also relay
received data signals to one or more peripheral devices under
control of the RCD for a more robust video and audio output of data
originally intended just for the mobile phone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating certain components of the
present invention and their environment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the call handling process when a mobile
receives a call over the DCN.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of events occurring in the RCD during a call
handling process.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of events occurring in a peripheral device
during a call handling process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
For purposes of this description, the term "mobile phone" is used
to refer to a mobile phone operating on a wireless network. The
standards and/or protocols of the wireless network is immaterial to
the operation of the present invention. The present invention is
designed to be operable regardless of the wireless network protocol
used by a mobile phone.
FIG. 1 illustrates the environment and interaction among the
functional elements of a network in which the present invention
resides. A mobile phone 102 is capable of transmitting and
receiving multiple types of digital signals over a Digital Cellular
Network (DCN) 104. Typically, DCN 104 is a wireless telephony
network that can be based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM), or other telephony protocols. A header
embedded within incoming digital signals received by mobile phone
102 from DCN 104 indicates the type of digital signal received. The
most common type of digital signal is a voice signal for purposes
of a carrying on a full-duplex conversation. Data signals, however,
are becoming more common to DCNs as mobile phones become more
robust with respect to sending and receiving textual, audio, and
image or video data.
A received digital voice signal is typically decoded by mobile
phone 102 into an analog audio signal while a digital data signal
is processed internally by appropriate hardware and software within
mobile phone 102. A digital multimedia signal is handled by mobile
phone 102 as containing separate digital voice and digital data
components. Digital signals containing voice, data, or multimedia
content are processed according to known wireless standards such as
Short Messaging Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS),
or Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) for voice. Mobile phone 102 is also
capable of creating and transmitting a multimedia message over DCN
104 using an integrated microphone and camera if so equipped.
Multimedia messages can be created by the mobile phone 102 via
direct user manipulation or remotely from RCD 100.
Mobile phone 102 is further capable of re-transmitting or relaying
a received digital signal from DCN 104 to RCD 100 and vice-versa.
Communication to and from RCD 100 is over a wireless protocol using
a licensed or unlicensed frequency band having enough bandwidth to
accommodate digital voice, data, or multimedia signals. For
example, it can be based on the Bluetooth.TM., the 802.11 (a, b, g,
h, or x) protocols, or other known protocol using the 2.4 GHz, 5.8
GHz, 900 MHz, or 800 MHz spectrum.
To facilitate interaction with RCD 100, mobile phone 102 uses a
separate lower power RF unit from the primary RF unit used for
interaction with DCN 104. If mobile phone 102 is not equipped with
the capability to interact with RCD 100, then a base unit 108 can
be used to interact with RCD 100. Mobile phone 102 can sit in base
unit 108 in such a way as to allow a digital signal received by
mobile phone 102 to be communicated over a serial communications
port to base unit 108. Likewise, base unit 108 is equipped with a
serial communications port to receive digital signals from mobile
phone 102. Base unit 108 is also equipped with an RF unit so as to
be able to interact with RCD 100. Further, base unit 108 can act as
an intermediary between mobile phone 102 and RCD 100. Specifically,
base unit 108 can transmit and receive digital signals between
mobile phone 102 and RCD 100.
Base unit 108 has access to an independent power source. Access to
a power source allows base unit 108 to transmit and receive signals
over longer distances than the mobile phone 102 is capable of
transmitting and receiving signals with its reduced power secondary
RF unit. In fact, base unit 108 may be used even if mobile phone
102 is equipped to interact with RCD 100 in order to accommodate
communication over a longer distance. The power source also allows
base unit 108 to perform its primary duty of re-charging the
battery in mobile phone 102.
As previously mentioned, RCD 100 is equipped with an RF unit for
interacting with mobile phone 102 and/or base unit 108.
Specifically, RCD 100 can transmit and receive digital signals to
and from mobile phone 102 and can transmit digital signals to other
peripheral electronic devices 110. Typically, those devices will be
part of a home entertainment system such as a television, a stereo
including associated speakers, or a personal computer (PC). RCD 100
also contains a digital signal processor (DSP)/microprocessor
having multimedia codec capabilities. RCD 100 is further equipped
with a microphone and speaker to enable a user to conduct a
conversation through mobile phone 102 in a full-duplex manner. By
including a microphone and speaker, RCD 100 can be used just like
an extension telephone to carry out a conversation that was
initiated by mobile phone 102.
RCD 100 further has the ability to access and control aspects of
mobile phone 102. For example, remote control 100 can access mobile
phone 102 to enable voice dialing or to create an SMS or MMS
message. RCD 100 has the ability to relay, re-route, or re-transmit
digital signals to other peripheral devices 110 that are under the
control of RCD 100. These other electronic devices may also be
controlled by RCD 100 using, for example, an infrared or RF link.
RCD 100 can either route re-transmit a digital signal from mobile
phone 102 or base unit 108 directly to other peripheral devices
110. A picture caller ID signal, received by mobile phone 102 from
DCN 104, for instance, can be automatically forwarded by either
mobile phone 102 or base unit 108 to RCD 100 and then on to a
television for display. RCD 100 also contains an internal,
rechargeable power supply to facilitate untethered operation.
If the peripheral device 110 is a television, for instance, the
television can receive re-transmitted or relayed digital signals
from RCD 100. For the convenience of the user, an incoming call can
trigger a chain of events that ensures the user does not miss
anything being watched on the television. Many televisions are now
equipped, either internally or via a controllable accessory, with a
digital video recorder that has the ability to pause live
television and save video data to a hard drive. Thus, if a call is
received on mobile phone 102 and mobile phone 102 is out of reach
of the user, then the call information and the call itself can be
forwarded to RCD 100. If the user decides to answer the call using
RCD 100, then RCD 100 could cause the television to pause until the
call is complete or the user overrides the pause function.
A television includes integrated speakers capable of broadcasting
audio. Further, many televisions are capable of displaying both
digital and analog video as well as displaying and/or broadcasting
multimedia in commonly know wireless executable formats including,
but not limited to, MMS, SMS, Caller ID, Picture Caller ID, and
Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG). Similarly, audio may be
broadcasted in a variety of formats including, but not limited to,
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) or MPEG Audio Layer 3
(MP3). Voice, data, audio, or MMS message executions can be
displayed in a "picture in picture" window on a television. Thus,
data originally intended for and received by mobile phone 102 can
be routed or re-transmitted to a television via RCD 100 to enhance
the look and sound of the data on a larger screen display.
A television may also be compatible with other peripheral devices
in a home entertainment system including, but not limited to,
high-power speakers, a digital video recorder (DVR), digital video
disc (DVD) players, videocassette recorders (VCRs), and gaming
systems. A television may also contain multimedia codec abilities.
The codec provides the television with the capability to
synchronize audio and video for displaying multimedia messages
without frame lagging, echo, or delay while simultaneously carrying
on a full-duplex conversation with its speaker output and audio
input received from RCD 100 via mobile phone 102 or base unit
108.
High-power speakers can receive audio from a wired connection from
a television or from a tuner, amplifier, or other similar audio
device common in a home entertainment system. Alternatively, the
speakers can be fitted with an RF unit to be compatible with RCD
100. If the speakers are wireless-capable, they can output audio
from mobile phone 102, base unit 108, RCD 100, or a television.
Audio generated at mobile phone 102 or base unit 108 can be routed
directly to he speakers through a decision enacted at RCD 100.
Similarly, a DVR can be wired directly to a television or
alternatively can contain an RF unit compatible with RCD 100. A DVR
is capable of automatically recording signals displayed by a
television when an incoming signal from DCN 104 is received by
mobile phone 102. This capability allows the incoming communication
to/from DCN 104 to override the normal video and audio capabilities
of the television. The audio and video capabilities of the
television can then be employed for communication interaction with
DCN 104 while the DVR ensures that any audio or video displaced by
this feature is not lost but is instead captured for later
display.
Peripheral devices 110 can include, but are not limited to,
personal video recorders, DVD players, VCRs, and gaming systems.
Peripheral devices 110 can be fitted with an RF unit compatible
with RCD 100. This compatibility allows peripheral devices 110 to
recognize when mobile phone 102 receives an incoming signal from
DCN 104. When an incoming signal is recognized by a peripheral
device 110 such as a television, it can automatically pause
operation so that the television can be used to interact with the
incoming communication. Pausing operations may include, but are not
limited to, pausing a recording operation, pausing a game, or
pausing a movie display depending on the peripheral device in
question.
FIG. 2 presents a logic diagram of how an incoming signal is
processed according to one embodiment of the present invention. An
incoming signal can represent a voice signal such as a typical
phone call or a data signal such as an SMS, MMS, or e-mail message.
The data signal may contain textual, audio, and/or video
components. FIG. 2 illustrates two potential scenarios. The first
scenario describes using an RCD as the destination device meaning
that the incoming signal is passed from the mobile/base unit to the
RCD to be processed accordingly. For instance, an incoming phone
call can be passed from the mobile phone or base unit to the RCD
where the user can answer the call and converse using the RCD. The
second scenario uses the RCD as a conduit between the mobile
phone/base unit and one or more peripheral devices capable of audio
and/or video (A/V) output. That is, in order to transmit a signal
from a mobile phone to a peripheral device, the signal must first
be sent to the RCD. The RCD then relays or re-transmits the signal
to an appropriate peripheral device.
The call handling process, or incoming signal handling process,
begins with a mobile phone receiving a digital signal from an
external DCN 200. This step entails receiving a wireless digital
signal over the DCN using a known wireless protocol. The mobile
phone detects the digital signal using a first RF unit communicable
with the DCN using standard mobile phone techniques.
After receiving the digital signal, the mobile phone attempts to
relay or re-transmit the received signal to the RCD wirelessly over
another shorter range wireless protocol that is distinct from the
wireless protocol used by the mobile when communicating with the
DCN. If the mobile phone is docked in a base unit, then the mobile
phone forwards the received digital signal to the base unit. Th
base unit then relays or re-transmits the received signal
wirelessly to the RCD using the shorter range wireless protocol.
Since there are at least two distinct wireless protocols employed,
the mobile phone performs any required encoding and decoding of
signals to ensure communicability between source and destination
devices.
For example, the mobile phone may be receiving voice and data
signals from the DCN using a GSM (voice) and GPRS (data) protocol
while the wireless protocol utilized between the mobile phone and
RCD is based on an unlicensed 2.4 GHz 802.11x protocol. In such a
case, the mobile phone will decode an incoming voice or data signal
(including control data) from the DCN and encode it for 802.11x
before relaying it to the RCD. The process is reversed when the RCD
is the source and the DCN is the destination.
With the mobile phone docked in the base unit, the base unit
receives the digital signal from the mobile phone 204 and then
forwards the digital signal to the RCD 206 using the shorter range
wireless protocol. This procedure entails the base unit receiving
the digital signal over a serial port from the mobile phone before
wirelessly transmitting the digital signal to the RCD where it is
received 208.
If the mobile phone is not docked in the base unit 202, and if the
mobile phone is not communicable with the RCD 210, then the mobile
phone processes the incoming signal from the DCN normally 212. If
the mobile phone is communicable with the RCD 210 but out of range
of RCD 214, the mobile again processes the incoming signal as it
normally would without interaction with the RCD. If, however, the
mobile phone is in range of the RCD 214, then the mobile phone
relays or re-transmits the received digital signal to the RCD 216
where it is received 208.
The RCD uses a RF unit communicable with the mobile phone and or
base unit to receive a digital signal 208 from the base unit or
mobile phone. The RCD examines the header (control data) attached
to the digital signal in order to determine the type of digital
signal received. After determining the signal type (voice or data)
the RCD processes the digital signal accordingly.
Once the RCD has received and preliminarily processed an incoming
signal from either the mobile phone or base unit, the RCD
determines if there are any peripheral devices that are currently
communicable with the RCD 218. If not, the RCD acts as an extension
of the mobile phone and processes the incoming call 220 keeping A/V
output on the RCD. Thus, a user could use the RCD to converse if
the incoming signal was a voice call. Or the RCD could display an
incoming data message if equipped with a small display screen. If
there are currently available peripheral devices communicable with
the RCD, then the RCD can re-transmit the incoming signal to be
displayed and or heard on an appropriate peripheral device 222.
For instance, caller ID data can be displayed on a television
before the user decides to answer a call. Or, upon answering a
call, the RCD can route the audio to be played by speakers coupled
with a television or stereo system. If the incoming signal is a
data signal comprised of text, audio, and/or video, the RCD can
seize control of the television in order to "play" the message. If
the television happens to be equipped with a digital video
recording (DVR) device, the RCD can automatically cause the source
signal into the television to be paused so that the user can resume
viewing without having missed anything once the RCD/mobile
communication is complete.
FIG. 3 provides more detail on how the RCD processes a received
signal. The RCD begins by determining whether the received signal
is either a voice or a data (text, audio, and/or video) signal 300.
Following a determination 302, a voice signal is flagged for voice
signal processing 304 and a data signal is flagged for data signal
processing 306. For voice signal processing, if the user of the RCD
opts to send received audio signals to a peripheral device 308,
then the RCD transmits the audio signal to the selected peripheral
device 310 to be output. If the user opts not to send received
audio signals to a peripheral device 308, then the RCD uses its own
speaker(s) to output the received audio signal 312. At any time
during a call, the user can opt to send received audio signals to a
peripheral device.
Similarly, a data signal (text, audio, and/or video) is forwarded
for data signal processing 306. If the user of the RCD opts to send
received data signals to a peripheral device 308, then the RCD
transmits the data signal to the peripheral device 310. If the user
of the RCD opts not to send received data signals to a peripheral
device 308, then the RCD outputs the received data signal on its
own 312. At any time the user can opt to send received data signals
to a peripheral device.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a peripheral device receives a signal from
the RCD via a wireless link that can be RF or IR (infrared) based
400. Following a determination of the type of signal 402, voice
signals sent to the peripheral device from the RCD are forwarded
for voice signal processing 404 and data signals are forwarded for
data signal processing 406. For voice signal processing 404, the
peripheral device uses integrated speakers to output the audio
signals while the RCD uses an integrated microphone to transmit
voice signals from the user back to the mobile phone 408. For data
signal processing 406, the peripheral device outputs the data in a
format appropriate to the data 410.
For instance, an MMS message containing voice and audio can be
displayed and audibly output by a peripheral device such as a
television. The television would be capable of displaying common
video formats including, but not limited to, JPEG or MPEG and audio
formats including, but not limited to, wav, midi or mp3. SMS text
messages can also be displayed by a television.
Specific embodiments of an invention are disclosed herein. One of
ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the invention
may have other applications in other environments. In fact, many
embodiments and implementations are possible. The following claims
are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention
to the specific embodiments described above. In addition, any
recitation of "means for" is intended to evoke a
means-plus-function reading of an element and a claim, whereas, any
elements that do not specifically use the recitation "means for",
are not intended to be read as means-plus-function elements, even
if the claim other-wise includes the word "means".
* * * * *