Operator Initiated Patents (Class 340/4.31)
  • Patent number: 8232859
    Abstract: A controlling device is provided and is configured to detect a device and to control the detected device. Alternatively, a controlling device is provided and is configured to detect a device and to receive at least one command from a remote control device. The controlling device may control the device using the received command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Buyuan Hou, Zhenghan Wang, Bo Cao
  • Patent number: 8207829
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for commissioning a wireless communication link between a remote controller device (24) that transmits a signal and a remote controlled device (11) that receives the signal include a first button (40) that is recessed within the housing of the remote controller (24) that can be pressed to cause the remote controller (24) to transmit a commissioning signal. A second button (50) that is recessed within the housing of the remote controlled device (11) can be pressed to cause the remote controlled device (11) to receive and learn the commissioning. The remote controller (24) and the remote controlled device (11) have complementary mating structures carried thereon that will simultaneously operate the first and second buttons when the remote controller (24) and the remote controlled device (11) are physically mated with another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Ay Ling De Goederen-Oei, Dennis Van De Meulenhof, Ian McClelland, Wouter Lambertus Petrus Willaert, Paul Philip Thursfield
  • Publication number: 20120112877
    Abstract: Automated device/system setup based on user presence information is provided. When a user of one or more electronic devices or systems moves into the presence of the one or more devices or systems, detection or determination of the user's presence may be used to apply setup or settings changes to the one or more devices or systems. The user's presence relative to the one or more devices or systems may be detected according to a variety of means. A wireless device carried by the user may be detected by a wireless presence detector. Online/offline status of a user with respect to an Internet connection may be used to detect/determine presence of the user. Use of a wireline or wireless telephone, cable television set-top box or other device connected to a services provider may be used to determine presence information for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Cox Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas David Gravino, Gopinath Radhakrishnan, Michael L. Poffenberger
  • Publication number: 20120044045
    Abstract: An electronic device and a method for changing housing colors thereof are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Ziqiang Zuo, Shuqi Wang, Lingling Yao
  • Publication number: 20120001723
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a portion of a plurality of devices in a viewing area on an interface. The portion of the plurality of devices are controllable automatically through the interface. A selection of a device in the portion of the plurality of devices is received. A first set of devices in the plurality of devices is determined that includes a similar controllable feature as the selected device. A second set of devices in the portion of the plurality of devices that does not include the similar controllable feature is also determined. The method then replaces the second set of devices with the first set of devices in the viewing area. The similar controllable feature for the selected device and the first set of devices is controllable through the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA MOBILITY, INC.
    Inventor: Jim Hunter
  • Publication number: 20110285500
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products disclose a remote control device that controls multiple consumer electronics devices based on orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: John R. Stefanik
  • Publication number: 20110279224
    Abstract: A remote control method using a smartphone is disclosed. In the method, a smartphone adapted for mobility interworks with a stationary computer to overcome performance limitations thereof and to provide more advanced services. The method, for remotely controlling a stationary computer using a smartphone, includes: accepting user manipulation and sensing results; generating a control signal for an application running on the stationary computer through filtering and optimizing the accepted results; transmitting the control signal to the stationary computer; applying the control signal to the application; and receiving a response signal of the application from the stationary computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: KOREAFIRSTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: YOUNG KYU JANG
  • Patent number: 8049593
    Abstract: A universal remote control apparatus and method for controlling various types of devices and equipments, the universal remote control apparatus includes a service profile generator which generates a service profile based on first device information and second device information that are recognized from at least one device, a service profile management unit which stores and manages the generated service profile, a service profile-based control unit which universally controls the at least one device based on the service profile, and a user interface unit which receives from a user a first selection on a first device object corresponding to the first device information and a second selection on a second device object corresponding to the second device information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Hyeong Kim, Sang Do Park
  • Publication number: 20110241822
    Abstract: A user interface device (1) comprises a non-flexible part (3); at least one flexible part (5) coupled to the non-flexible part (3); and at least one sensor, for detecting bending of a respective flexible part (5) with respect to the non-flexible part (3), and for producing a command in response to sensing bending of the respective flexible part (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Constantin Alexandru Opran, Peter Tjin Sjoe Kong Tsang, Stuart Ronald Pill, Cornelis Petrus Joseph Bink
  • Publication number: 20110241880
    Abstract: A CPU 11, in the condition where the limited mode is not set, outputs the data arbitrarily selected by a user operation from a display unit 18 and a sound speaker 23, and in the condition where the limited mode is set, predetermined data is output instead of data specified by the user. As a result, in the case in which data is output according to the operation of a function included in an electronic device, even if no limitation is imposed to that function, the output of data or information, which the third party should not know about, can be prevented merely by setting the limited mode, in which limitations are imposed on the operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun ITOU
  • Publication number: 20110234369
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle or mechanism includes a portable displacement controller which permits a non-technical user to achieve effective control of the vehicle or mechanism, by moving the portable displacement controller intuitively with little learning effort. A first sensing device, attached to the displacement controller, detects the user's controlling motion. A second sensing device, attached to the object being controlled, detects motion thereof. An interface device receives signals from the sensing devices, processes those signals to determine relative motion of the controlling motion and the object's motion and outputs a control signal in accordance with the processed signals. The sensing devices each detect motion in six degrees of freedom; the sensing devices each include a three-axis accelerometer, a three-axis gyroscope, and a three-axis magnetometer. In specific embodiments, the accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers include micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Steven Cai, Paul J. LeBlanc, Thomas R. Ecsedy, Leslie W. Yoho
  • Publication number: 20110148568
    Abstract: Provided is a technology for controlling a contents player based on a grasping power information of a hand by measuring a change of the bundle shape of a tendons in an inside muscle of wrist, in which the device and method for controlling the contents player comprises a sensing unit that generates a grasping power information; a control state managing unit that manages a control state of the contents player; and a control order generating unit that generates a control order controlling the contents player based on the control state and the grasping power information, and transmits the control order, in which the control state can be changed or can be generates in response to the grasping power information, and the sensing unit can be existed in both hands, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jeong-Mook LIM, Dong-Woo LEE, Yong-Ki SON, Bae-Sun KIM
  • Publication number: 20110102131
    Abstract: A controlling device such as a remote control has programming for transmitting a signal response to a plurality of control environments, each environment including a signaling device. Each signaling device in receipt of the signal request sends a signal response having a unique ID which is chosen to be characteristically attenuated by the surroundings of the environment. Because the controlling device can only be in one environment at a given time, and given the attenuation characteristics of the signal response from each signaling device, only one signal response will be received by the controlling device in each environment. Location definitions associated with the received unique ID may be used by programming in the controlling device to recall saved devices states, commands sets, macros, and even to dynamically generate commands based on the location information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Stephan de Clerq, Christopher Chambers, Wayne Scott, Allen Yuh, Paul D. Arling, Robert Lilleness
  • Publication number: 20110032071
    Abstract: A system comprising a wireless audio headset hub (1), at least two peripheral electronic devices (3, 4, 5) which are wirelessly connected to and controlled via the headset (1). The system further comprises a wireless handheld terminal (2), which is wirelessly connected to the headset (1) and comprising a terminal user interface (7) for receiving user input. The headset (1) and the terminal (2) are adapted so that a user by means of the terminal user interface (7) can control each of the peripheral electronic devices (3, 4, 5) via the headset (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Claus Tondering